Many of you undoubtedly saw news coverage of Palos Township trustee Sharon Brannigan’s anti-Muslim statements and the subsequent protest and calls for her resignation. One of the women who helped lead this protest will join us at The Frunchroom this Thursday and talk about her life as a native South Sider who built a social service agency that serves Arab Americans in the surrounding area. We’re very honored to host Nareman Taha, co-director and co-founder of Arab American Family Services. (Her fellow director and founder Itedal Shalabi was originally scheduled to appear, but is now unable to make it.)

In 2001, Nareman Taha and Itedal Shalabi co-founded Arab American Family Services (AAFS). AAFS is among the first leading social service organizations in the Southwest suburbs established to serve and advocate for Arab Americans within the Chicago land area. Located strategically in Bridgeview, Illinois, AAFS’s mission to change and impact the quality of life by serving and building stronger and healthier generations of Arab Americans in our communities has created a profound impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families.

Nareman and Itedal took the office from a non-existent budget to a budget close to $1,010,000 last year alone. Under their leadership and management, in 2016 AAFS saw 8,333 families, impacting over 29,192 individuals.

They have been recognized for their leadership and dedication to the agency and community. Under their leadership, AAFS has received several awards for outstanding community service, taking AAFS from a tw-staff agency to 28 staff, one Fellow, and six interns in past fifteen years.

Nareman Taha oversees and works within the various areas of administration, management, advocacy, community service, fund raising and development to improve and provide quality life to underserved and underrepresented Arab Americans and immigrant families and individuals. As a community catalyst, Nareman devotedly coordinates the agency’s efforts to identify and eradicate barriers to the participation of Arab/Muslim based/community groups in accessing services.

Nareman Taha is a highly accomplished, passionate and motivated public service leader. She has a broad background in community development and social service delivery at the local, state and federal levels, as well as extensive experience in community affairs. Nareman is a firm advocate in developing, educating, empowering smart and strategic giving within the community. By helping advance the cause of philanthropy in the Chicago land area; Nareman has driven the proliferation of non- profit philanthropic contributions within the community.

Nareman received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1999. In 2006 she graduated with a Master’s of Science in Public Services Management from DePaul University. She serves on a number of boards both local and national.

Join Nareman and the rest of our readers at The Frunchroom at Beverly Woods at 730pm tonight.