NEWS RELEASE

Governor Jon S. Corzine

October 24, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Robert Corrales

609-777-2600

GOVERNOR CORZINE CREATES NEW JERSEY ARAB-AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION

PASSAIC – Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an Executive Order establishing the New Jersey Arab-American Heritage Commission.

“The creation of the New Jersey Arab-American Commission underscores the importance of New Jersey’s diversity and reaffirms our continued commitment to ensuring that all of our residents have the chance to fully participate in civic life and pursue the American Dream,” Governor Corzine said.  “This Executive Order is an important step in recognizing the economic, social, and cultural contributions of Arab-Americans and, the Commission will provide opportunities to educate the general public and our students about these contributions.” 

New Jersey is one of five states, along with New York, California, Michigan, and Florida, where, collectively, almost half of all Americans of Arab ancestry reside. Arab-Americans comprise nearly 1 percent of the state population in New Jersey, making Michigan the only state with a higher percentage of Arab-Americans as a portion of their state population.

The New Jersey Arab-American Heritage Commission will survey, design, encourage, and promote the implementation of Arab-American cultural and educational programs in the State.  The Commission will have the responsibility for the coordination of events that will provide awareness of and honor and celebrate the culture, history, heritage, and language of Arab Americans on a regular basis throughout New Jersey.

The membership of the New Jersey Arab American Heritage Commission consists of 25 members.  Sixteen public members are appointed by the Governor; the legislature recommends two members, one member recommended by the Senate President and one member recommended by the Assembly Speaker.  The rest of the members are ex-officio and represent the departments of Education, State, and Law and Public Safety, and also include the Director for the Division on Civil Rights; the President of State Board of Education; the chair of the Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council, and the chair of the New Jersey Human Relations Council.  The Governor selects the chair and the Commission members select the vice-chair.

The Executive Order is below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 123

            WHEREAS, 1.2 million Americans are of Arab ancestry representing a highly diverse group, in ancestral country of origin, religion, and historic identity, which also shares a common linguistic and cultural heritage; and

            WHEREAS, New Jersey is home to 70,000 Americans of Arab ancestry and is one of five states, along with New York, California, Michigan, and Florida, where, collectively, almost half of all Americans of Arab ancestry reside, and the counties of Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, and Passaic have a high concentration of Americans of Arab ancestry; and

            WHEREAS, Americans of Arab ancestry contribute to the economic, social, cultural, and civic vitality of the State and the nation; and

            WHEREAS, nationally, Americans of Arab ancestry, and those perceived as of Arab ancestry, were among the secondary victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001: children have been subject to bullying, harassment, and bias in schools; and adults have been subject to discrimination, hate crimes, and other hostilities in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation; and

            WHEREAS, it is imperative that all citizens be treated fairly, with dignity, respect, and tolerance, and that the rights of all citizens be protected; and

            WHEREAS, dissemination of knowledge of the heritage, culture, and history of Arabs and Americans of Arab ancestry is important to the State of New Jersey; and 

            WHEREAS, it is necessary and proper to educate the citizens of New Jersey about the heritage, culture, and history of Arabs and Americans of Arab ancestry;

            NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

            1. There is hereby established, in the Department of State, the New Jersey Arab-American Heritage Commission (“Commission”).

            2. The Commission shall be composed of twenty-five (25) members. The following officials, or their designees, shall serve on the Commission, ex officio, and with a vote: the Secretary of State; the Commissioner of the Department of Education; the Attorney General; the Director of the Division on Civil Rights; the President of the State Board of Education; the Chair, Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council; and the Chair, New Jersey Human Relations Council.  

            3. The Commission shall also consist of one public member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, one public member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, and sixteen (16) public members appointed by the Governor.   The Governor shall select a chair and the members shall elect annually from among their members a vice-chair.

            4. The public members shall be residents of the State, chosen with due regard for geographic representation, diversity, education, knowledge, experience, and academic post-graduate level degrees related to the heritage, culture, and history of Arabs and Americans of Arab ancestry.

            5. The Governor shall appoint each public member for a term of three years, except that of the public members first appointed, one-third shall be appointed to a three-year term, one-third shall be appointed to a two-year term, and one-third shall be appointed to a one-year term.  Public members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner provided for the original appointment.  Public members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. 

            6. The Commission shall meet as soon as practical after the chair and a majority of the members have been appointed.   The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the Commission shall constitute a quorum and shall be required for the conduct of official business.  

            7. The responsibilities and duties of the Commission are as follows:

a. To recognize, study, and share information on Arab heritage, culture, and history;

b. To coordinate events observing the heritage, culture, and history of Americans of Arab ancestry, including an annual Arab Heritage Month in April of each year. 

c. To provide expertise to and to collaborate with the Department of Education to continue to develop content and curriculum guides on the heritage, culture, and history of Americans of Arab ancestry in the State’s Core Curriculum Content Standards in Social Studies;

d. To study and report on programs to promote tolerance and respect for all of the citizens of this State; and

e. To coordinate events with the Department of State observing the heritage, culture, and history of Americans of Arab ancestry.

            8. The Department of Education shall assist the Commission in the dissemination to educators, administrators, and public school districts in the State educational information and other materials on Arab culture and the contributions of Americans of Arab ancestry to society.  Such information and materials also shall be made available to non-public schools.

            9. The Commission is authorized to raise funds, through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone or with other groups, and accept gifts, grants and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, public and private organizations and institutions, to defray the Commission’s administrative expenses and carry out its purposes as set forth in this Executive Order.    

            10. The Commission is authorized to call on any department, office, division, or agency of State government to provide such information, resources, or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order.  Each department, office, division, and agency of this State, to the extent not inconsistent with law, is hereby required to cooperate with the Commission and to furnish it with such information and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order. The Commission may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of its mission.

            11. The Commission shall establish a schedule of meetings and report periodically to the Governor on its activities and recommendations.  An initial report to the Governor shall be submitted within six months from the date of the first meeting and annually thereafter. 

            12. This Order shall take effect immediately.

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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available

in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/