MOVE Summit unites Arab Americans with BIPOC allies in Dearborn

A summit designed to advance and strengthen the Arab American community will take place later this week.

The MOVE Summit, which stands for Mobilize, Organize, Vocalize and Empower is a three-day convening of Arab American artists, researchers and philanthropists from across the nation.

Rana Abbas Taylor, director of strategic initiatives at the Arab Community for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), says MOVE is a one-of-a-kind gathering bringing multidisciplinary people together. The summit is organized with three other national institutions. 

“The idea was to bring them all together for one convening because many of them convened annually, but they convened around the issues that were relevant to them and that was great, but we realized there was also power in bringing these folks together and moving towards social change in the arts and philanthropy, and activism and research,” Taylor says. 

The first MOVE Summit saw over 500 attendees in 2017 but, as with most in-person events, went on hiatus after the COVID-19 pandemic started. This year is the first event since 2020.

“How often do you get to put in one room, activist and community organizers with funding sources,” Taylor says. “You’re connecting them, you’re building bridges.”

This year’s themes will explore the importance of including a Middle Eastern North African (MENA) category on the Office of Management and Budget — which oversees federal funding — mental health and substance abuse.

Taylor believes there’s strength in bringing Arab American communities together with allies.

“We realize that while there are some aspects or elements of it that are unique to the Arab American community, it is very much in line with the struggles of many other vulnerable communities and communities of color,” Taylor says.

The MOVE Summit is open to Arab Americans and allies. It takes place April 26-28 at the Henry Hotel in Dearborn.