Executive Committee

Anan is a survivor of the 1948 Nakba. She was only three years old then. She grew up seeing her father cry, grieving the loss of Palestine. That never left her. Nor did the flood of refugees who arrived in Jordan after the 1967 Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.

These events, coupled with a deep feeling of injustice, is what shaped her. They drive her, not only to fight for Palestinian rights, freedom, and justice, but also to fight for the rights of all oppressed people around the globe.

Anan is a sociologist, writer, and activist. She is the founder of the Arab American National Museum and Palestine Aid Society of America. She immigrated to the USA in 1974 and is currently retired, living with her husband in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She strives to live to see Palestine free from occupation, oppression, and apartheid.

Rabia, a native of Nablus, Palestine, was born in 1946 and was deeply impacted by the events surrounding the Nakba. Despite plans to return to her homeland, the Israeli Occupation altered her course in 1967, leading her to make Ann Arbor her home.
A dedicated educator, Rabia spent 33 years teaching elementary school while raising her three children with her husband Farouq.

Passionate about raising awareness for the struggles of the Palestinian people, Rabia co-founded the Palestine Aid Society (PAS) in 1978, focusing on supporting displaced women in the West Bank and South Lebanon. Through PAS’s annual Embroidery sale, Palestinian women’s resilience and talent shine, offering hope and solidarity for over two decades. With a steadfast commitment to advocacy and justice, Rabia continues to lead PAS in its mission to provide essential support to those in need amidst the worsening situation in Palestine.

Linda’s journey in the Detroit suburbs of Michigan echoes her resilience and compassion, deeply influenced by her family’s tale of migration across continents. From Jerusalem to Jordan, and then Sydney, Australia, before settling in the United States, Linda’s roots inspired her to overcome challenges with grace.

Having experienced displacement firsthand, she learned the value of perseverance and the importance of rebuilding one’s life. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she forged a successful career as a real estate agent in Ann Arbor while nurturing her role as a devoted mother. Guided by a passion for community service, Linda dedicates her time to PAS, channeling her entrepreneurial skills and empathy to drive positive change. Embracing diversity and collective responsibility, she envisions a world where everyone can thrive together.

Wisal grew up in Majd al-Kurum, within the 1948 borders of Occupied Palestine, where she experienced life as a second-class citizen, facing discrimination solely because of her Palestinian identity. These challenges, along with the ongoing struggles of Palestinians worldwide, inspire her relentless advocacy for justice in Palestine and around the world.

Her journey with PAS has been instrumental in advancing these efforts. After meeting her husband in 1997, she relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Together, they run several businesses and are raising two strong, independent daughters. Despite the distance, a majority of her family members still reside in Occupied Palestine, allowing her to remain close to her roots. Wisal holds a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Eastern Michigan University and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Technion Institute. She believes education lays the foundation for resilience.

Melissa was born the daughter of a German immigrant mother and a father of Russian Jewish descent. She was raised as a Jew and had her first interactions with Palestinians while on a college study abroad trip to Germany. In her first week, she was invited to dinner by a group of Palestinians.

That dinner was the beginning of an intensive education about Palestine in contrast to the Western narrative that she had previously been exposed to. Since that moment, she has embarked on the re-education of herself and those around her, teaching about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the community that she now considers family.

Lama, a proud daughter of Palestinian immigrants who settled in Brooklyn, New York, grew up inspired by her grandmother’s resilience and her mother’s steadfast dedication to education. Educated at parochial schools in the United States and internationally, Lama attended Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in Psychology and Arab Studies, and later earned her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Wayne State University.

She went on to found a pediatric therapy clinic, where she serves as Chief Clinical Officer, that has treated over 1,800 children across Southeast Michigan. Residing in Bloomfield Hills with her family, Lama is deeply committed to advancing educational opportunities, fostering social-emotional learning, and supporting well-being within her community.