The Arab American Civic Council is proud to announce it will honor longtime Arab American community leader Rima Nashashibi during its 4th annual Arab American Heritage Gala on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove. She will receive the Joseph R. Haiek Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Rima Nashashibi, President of Global Hope 365, a local nonprofit in Tustin, and a partner in SelectFirst Insurances Services, a boutique agency providing insurance coverages to businesses is an Internationally Recognized Speaker, Political and Community Leader/Activist with more than 20 years of experience in public speaking, conducting seminars, and media appearances promoting openness, equal opportunity, tolerance, fairness, and justice for persons of all genders, ethnicity, religious backgrounds, and political persuasions. Ms. Nashashibi has been a guest speaker locally, nationally, and internationally including hosted by the U.S. Department of State in places such as Jerusalem, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. In addition, Ms. Nashashibi trained the women in Saudi Arabia in August 2015 on how to run for office in anticipation the historical election held in December 2015 where women participated for the first time in the history of the Kingdom.
Founded and led local, regional, national, and international organizations such as the Coalition of Women from Asia and the Middle (Educating on/Preventing Domestic Violence), the Arab American Democratic Caucus at the CA Democratic Party; One Voice In Unity PAC; and the Latino Arab American Advisory Committee. She was the First Arab American Woman to hold the offices of Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County for 10 years, President of the National Women Political Caucus of Orange County, and the first Arab American Woman to run in California for a Statewide office in 1998. Ms. Nashashibi was also elected Deputy Director, District 2, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC-CA).
Recipient of Numerous Awards including the Partner of the Year by the Irvine Chamber of Commerce in 2017, “In honor of Women Making a Difference in Orange County 2012” by the California State Senate. “In honor of many years of dedicated service and leadership 2012” a US Congressional Recognition Award; the Harry S Truman Lifetime Achievement Award by Democratic Party of Orange County, 2006; Leadership Award by the Rebuilding Alliance, and an Appreciation Award from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA;
Selected as one of 10 public figures, elected officials, and activists profiled in Paul Findley’s book Silent No More: Confronting America’s False Images of Islam (Amana Publications, 2001).
Ms. Nashashibi is currently a member of the Advisory Board of Friends of UNRWA, USA and the Arab American National Museum, a member of the board of directors of International Visitors Council of Los Angeles and immediate past president of the Newport Beach Women Democratic Club, California and co-Chair of the International Development Committee and the task force leader of the World Trade Week committee for the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce.
