2023 Annual Report

A Word from the Executive Director and Board President

Throughout 2023, our commitment to our mission to sustain and strengthen ties to Palestinian heritage, while empowering the success and well-being of the entire community has been unwavering and steadfast despite the challenges that we have faced. In the last few months, we have been challenged in ways that we have never been challenged before and we have risen to the occasion with your support. With dedicated efforts across five focus areas, we have not only made significant strides but also fostered positive change and resilience within our community.

Palestine Education: You made substantial progress in educating and engaging our community on Palestinian history and culture. You launched 3 issues of Falastin. You hosted over 15 Palestine Mondays, providing enriching opportunities for learning and dialogue. From interactive youth events to insightful book clubs, you created inclusive spaces for exploration and understanding. Our virtual “Ask Me Anything about Palestine” session served as a platform for collective healing and knowledge-sharing, bringing together Palestinians and allies in meaningful discourse. Over the last few months, our operations have been profoundly affected as we’ve redirected many resources towards responding to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. We put together a detailed response report here: www.paccusa.org/actions-for-palestine.

Community Empowerment: Empowering our community remains a cornerstone of our mission, you continued to foster empowerment through various initiatives. You hosted the second annual Palestine Way Street Festival attracting 7,000 community members.

Dear PACC Family,

You conducted 7 Workshop Wednesdays, cultivated a thriving community garden, and facilitated 4 enriching book clubs. Your commitment to women’s empowerment was evident through 11 engaging brunches. We hosted and co-sponsored numerous rallies in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Additionally, our Solidarity and Advocacy Toolkit equipped our community with essential resources for effective advocacy and support.

Civic Engagement: Your dedication to civic engagement was evident in our diverse collaborations and partnerships. We took proactive roles in advocating for Palestinian rights through meeting with local, state and federal officials. We have met with Governor Murphy, Senator Booker, Congresswoman Sheryll, Congressman Kim, Assemblywoman Sumter among many others. We have been at the forefront of advocating for Palestine. In addition, we partook in advocating for a MENA category and the language access bill.

Social Services: You expanded our reach and impact through vital social service initiatives. You conducted 4 blood drives, saving over 200 lives, and organized mutual aid drives, supporting over 100 families in need. Your relief efforts extended globally, from earthquake relief drives for Turkey and Syria to supporting families in Gaza. Through generous donations and community support, we raised substantial funds for disaster relief, exceeding $36,000 for earthquake-affected communities. You also raised over $350,000 for humanitarian relief projects in Gaza.

Referrals: You played a pivotal role in advocacy and community support throughout 2023. We stood in solidarity with Teaneck High students organizing a walkout in support of Palestine, despite facing threats. Recognition for our efforts came in the form of the Community Service Awards affirming the impact of our advocacy and service. Additionally, our efforts facilitated the safe return of family members stuck in Gaza, exemplifying our commitment to community support and unity.

Everything we do is centered on our theory of change: If we empower individuals in our community, then our community will be organized and stronger. If we empower our community, then we will enable positive change in our society here and in Palestine. If we empower change grounded in the pursuit of equality and justice for all, then we will see a free Palestine. This model is what has always grounded and will continue to ground us. Thank you for empowering and organizing our community and actively working towards a positive impact on our society here and in Palestine.

This is your community. This is your legacy. This is your Palestinian American Community Center.

Rania Mustafa Executive Director

Diab A Mustafa President of the Board of Directors

2023 Milestones

Fundraised for Syria and Turkey Earthquake Relief where we collected donations for two 40-foot container and fundraised $36,000 Led a Reject IHRA Campaign

January

Hosted a Discovery Day at PACC with Tatreez, Dabka, Palestine History and a Story Time Rotation

July

Organized 700 community members to say no to IHRA in Clifton

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February

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Expanded our Homeland Project to include day-trips

August

Held our 5th annual virtual PACC Conference Advocated for the Language Access Bill

Executed a successful PACC Summer Fun Program

09

Hired a new Palestine Education Director, Basma Bsharat Sponsored Palestine Writes Festival

Helped with 10,000 comments for MENA Campaign Launched our Grassroot Organizing Team

April

May

Held our 2nd Annual Palestine Way Street Festival Commemorated 75 years of the Nakba Relaunched our Community Garden

Facilitated the Sister City Agreement between Ramallah and Paterson Premiered our first documentaryStories of the Nakba: 75 years later

June

Transformed our Fall Fest into a Community Healing and Empowerment Event

Led a United for Palestine Rally with over 5,000 attendees

Started meeting with local, federal and state officials to advocate for Palestine

October

Held a Children’s Press Conference in solidarity with the children of Gaza Launched our monthly Tatreez Workshops

Hosted a Young Professionals Networking Event and started our community working groups

December

November

Participated in the largest Washington DC Protest for Palestine Continued to respond to Media Requests

Launched a campaign to put up billboards for Palestine

“For the first time in a long time I’ve seen an organization that truly empowers and strengthens the community of Arabs and Palestinians. I wish I were a millionaire so I could donate more. God bless you all and I hope this grows more and more.”

- PACC Community Member

Looking Ahead: 2024 Goals

Celebrate and commemorate 10 years of PACC!

Engage in a thorough community needs assessment to refocus PACC’s efforts on meeting the growing needs of our community and transform this into a strategic plan for the next 3 to 5 years.

Make PACC a more welcoming space by transforming different parts of our space and expanding our community garden.

Increase social media following by continuing compelling Palestine Advocacy monthly campaigns. Launch a shipping model for our PACC store to expand our reach and increase Palestinian Pride across the country.

Continuously advocate for a Free Palestine by sitting with decisionmakers and policy shifters. Launch the Palestinian Speaks: Gaza Stories Video Series and send at least one shipping container of relief items to Gaza.

Empower voices and organize the community around Palestine by publishing 3 issues of Falastin, hosting Palestine Week, planning a Palestine Day on Palestine way, and launching our working groups.

With your support, we plan to make 2024 the most successful year to date.

Begin working on the Museum Project Initiative and expand and build out our children and Palestinian library.

Increase capacity by hiring the following positions: Youth Leader, Grant Writer, Executive Assistant, Office Manager, Advocacy and Civic Engagement Manager, and Director of Marketing.

Revisit the Homeland Project and work with a travel agency to systemize the process and expand offerings to families on an annual basis.

Prioritize voter registration for the 2024 elections by planning to register 500 people to vote, launching our 4th cohort of the Advocacy and Civic Engagement Team, and expanding our Grassroot Organizing Team.

Transform social service efforts by expanding vocational classes, providing employment and mentorship training, and expanding scholarships to help 10 community members.

Continue community programming with winter, spring, summer, and fall sessions of programs. Expand programming by launching private classes for Dabka and Cooking, organizing social events for various age groups, relaunching our PACC family discount, and starting weekly community workshops at PACC.

Expand Palestine Education Offerings by holding monthly Palestine Monday lectures, a hybrid PACC Conference,

Arabic Sunday Series, Palestine electives or workshops at local schools, and 20 Palestinian Education workshops in other institutions.