The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is a human services organization committed to the development of the Arab American community. ACCESS helps low-income families, as well as newly arrived immigrants adapt to life in the United States. Its goal is to foster a greater understanding of Arab culture in the U.S. and in the Arab world. ACCESS provides social, mental health, educational, artistic, employment, legal, and medical services. History ACCESS began operating out of a storefront at Dearborn’s South End in 1971. Staffed by volunteers, ACCESS’ first board president was George Khoury, accompanied by Hajjah Aliya Hassan as the first volunteer director. Without the help of The Association of Arab-American University Graduates (AAUG), and its donation of the first months rent, the opening of ACCESS on Vernor Highway would not have been possible. In subsequent years, ACCESS moved to Hashemite Hall until it burned down. In 1973, the building on Saulino Court was purchased by the Yemeni Benevolent Association, and offered to ACCESS free of charge, where the administrative offices still reside today. The expansion of ACCESS has grown to five locations, including the Arab American National Museum (AANM), which was founded on May 5, 2005. Social Services With two walk-in offices in Dearborn and one outreach office in Hamtramck, Social Services continues to assist the community. Services include finding jobs, immigration needs, and health services. Services Information and Referral — provides assistance with completion of forms from the Michigan Department of Human Services (welfare), Social Security Administration, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (unemployment offices), utility companies, and health systems. Advocacy - provides assistance with government and private entities. Translation of documents. Interpreter services. Emergency Services Program (rent/mortgage assistance and utility shut-off prevention, THAW, emergency food assistance) MI CAFE programs — Food Stamps Assistance Program targeting seniors Immigration Services - Family reunification, National Visa Center Processing, swear-in ceremonies and immigration services. Senior services. Legal assistance. ACCESS partners with companies in Michigan to provide services. Partnerships Department of Human Services (DHS). City of Dearborn. Social Security Administration. United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Wayne-Metropolitan Community Action Agency. Legal Aid and Defender Association (LADA). Senior Alliance. Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA). Employment and training The Employment and Training Department at ACCESS is a Certified Michigan Works One-Stop Employment Services Center. Each year the Employment and Training department holds six job fairs servicing 100 employers and drawing