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17 (2) Public Comment From:Theresa Bass Sent:Saturday, August 20, 2022 5:18 AM To:Public Comment Subject:Fwd: \[EXTERNAL\] Re: Little Arabia Materials - Proposal Attachments:Designate Little Arabia Proposal, August 2022.pdf Begin forwarded message: From: Amin Nash <amin@aaciviccouncil.org> Date: August 19, 2022 at 8:23:57 PM PDT To: Trevor O'Neil <TONeil@anaheim.net>, Jose Diaz <JoDiaz@anaheim.net>, "Gloria S. Ma'ae" <GMaae@anaheim.net>, Jose Moreno <JMoreno@anaheim.net>, Avelino Valencia <AValencia@anaheim.net>, Stephen Faessel <SFaessel@anaheim.net> Cc: Cameron Wessel <CWessel@anaheim.net>, Sarah Bartczak <SBartczak@anaheim.net>, Sara Catalan <SCatalan@anaheim.net>, Karen Romero Estrada <KRomeroEstrada@anaheim.net>, Valeria Sandoval <VSandoval@anaheim.net>, Luiz Torres <LTorres2@anaheim.net>, Nam Bartash <NBartash@anaheim.net>, Theresa Bass <tbass@anaheim.net>, Jim Vanderpool <JVanderpool@anaheim.net>, Rashad Al-Dabbagh <rashad@aaciviccouncil.org> Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Re: Little Arabia Materials - Proposal Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message. Correction to Proposal Document: We incorrectly put the name "Cassandra Perez" for "Carolina Mendez." Attached is the corrected version. No one named Cassandra Perez was involved in drafting the proposal. My apologies. On Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 8:11 PM Amin Nash <amin@aaciviccouncil.org> wrote: Dear City of Anaheim Council Members and Staff, On behalf of the Arab American Civic Council and associated community organizations, I would like to thank the City of Anaheim for engaging on the topic of Little Arabia. We hope that August 23rd is a robust and healthy conversation. Attached to this email are materials that have been prepared with years of hard work, community engagement, and professional input. A working proposal containing a Little Arabia Concept Plan for your review is included. Also included are letters of support from the President of California State Fullerton and other organizations as well as a previous Cultural 1 Commission Proposal from 2021. Finally, included are surveys, data, and articles to assist with the contextual background of Little Arabia. The Arab American Civic Council wished to share these documents to provide insight into the community's vision for Little Arabia and provide context on who the community is. We hope these materials and files will be considered as the City Council begins its discussion on the matter. Once again, thank you all for your robust work. Best - Amin 2 Designate Little Arabia Proposal Introduction 2 Background 2 Proposal Objectives 2 Vision Statement 2 Goals 3 History, Studies, and Surveys 4 History 4 Data and Studies 5 Timeline 6 Boundary Proposals 7 Map 1: Crescent to Katella 7 Historical Maps 8 Concept Plan 10 Community Engagement 13 Community Outreach 13 Long-term Improvements 13 Guiding Principles: Five Facets of Growth 14 Principle 1: Promote Little Arabia as an Essential Part of Anaheim’s Fabric 14 Principle 2: Community Development and Education 14 Principle 3: Quality of life (Promote Physical, Social, and Spiritual Health)14 Principle 4: Cultural Engagement 15 Principle 5: Economic Development 15 Conclusion 16 Contributors: Arab American Civic Council, CAIR-LA, ADC, Nizar Milbes, Mirvette Judeh, Omar Masry, Carolina Mendez, and various Anonymous Business Contributors. Introduction This living document serves as the initial proposal for our community’s vision regarding the future of Little Arabia. As we continue to engage both residents and stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue, this document is expected to evolve to reflect the incorporation of their insight. Background As one of the most established cultural epicenters in Orange County, Anaheim's Little Arabia district is recognized far and wide for its decades-long cultural and economic contributions to the local community. Situated on a 3 ½ mile stretch extending along Brookhurst Street from Crescent to Katella, Little Arabia has been home to many thriving businesses since the early 1980s and continues to service a loyal consumer base. Today, that consumer base is composed of people of all backgrounds. Regardless of where they come from, countless visitors and locals trust the quality of the goods and services provided in this dynamic, vibrant hub. Little Arabia provides consumers with a diverse wealth of goods, as evidenced by its many popular restaurants, health stores, bridal shops, and boutiques. In addition to this, visitors can access valuable services that address medical, religious, and legal needs. For many MENA-identifying peoples, Little Arabia imbues them with a sense of belonging, while non-Arabs are granted proximity to new, enriching experiences that expand cultural awareness and appreciation. Proposal Objectives ●Provide historical context for the existing needs for the District's formal Designation ●Illustrate potential community-focused geographic boundaries of the District ●Highlight avenues of development to address current challenges faced by the District Vision Statement To sustain a culturally-inclusive and economically-thriving district for all the residents, constituents, and visitors of Little Arabia in Anaheim's Brookhurst Corridor. Goals ●Announce the Little Arabia District as a Cultural District. ●Develop a Little Arabia District that celebrates and contributes Arab Culture to Anaheim while adding, revitalizing, and encouraging inclusivity in West Anaheim. ●Promote Anaheim’s Little Arabia District as a destination that builds understanding and relationships between all communities. ●Encourage visitors to foster a humanized and genuine understanding of people that have been historically misrepresented, disenfranchised, and misunderstood. History, Studies, and Surveys History ●1996:Ahmad Alam began promoting the concept of Arab Town, which transitioned to Little Arabia in the early 2000s. ●2002: Arab Town transitions to “Little Arabia.”Ahmad Alam’s Arab Day Festival is subjugated to prejudice after 9/11. ●2004: More than 50 community leaders gathered at Access California Services, a culturally sensitive community-based organization dedicated to empowering underserved populations, focusing on Arab-American and Muslim-American communities . Former Representative Loretta Sanchez (D- 46), Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby, and Anaheim City Councilmember Richard Chavez were in attendance. One of the topics discussed was the Designation of Little Arabia. ●2010: Local Arab American groups began using Social Media to officially "test" the name "Little Arabia." Local leaders conducted community outreach to promote a positive image for Little Arabia. ●2014: A “Shawarma Summit” was held in Little Arabia ,where then-Mayor Tom Tait discussed the potential of Little Arabia being a tourist attraction. Included in the meeting were Anaheim community members and leaders, and Little Arabia was placed on the Visit Anaheim listing. ●2014: Advocates attend ACLU Meetings and advocated for the presence of Little Arabia in District 2. ●2016 - 2018: The Arab American Civic Council held town halls and community forums to engage community leaders with Little Arabia.Many Council hopefuls said they would support the Designation. ●2019: State Senator Ling Ling Chang submitted a proposal for the Little Arabia District. ●2021: Rida Hamida submits a Cultural Heritage Proposal for Little Arabia. ●2021-2022: Continued Push for Little Arabia Designation, including visitations of City Council Members. Data and Studies In 2021, a survey of ~332 Anaheim voters was conducted by the US Immigration Policy Center at UC San Diego. The study ultimately found that: ●75% of those visiting Little Arabia "approve" or "strongly approve" of the Designation. ●58.2% of all Anaheim voters “approve” or “strongly approve” the Designation. In 2022, the Arab American Civic Council conducted a community history and needs survey of Little Arabia’s stakeholders. The study identified the following themes and needs: ●Themes: ○Promotion and awareness ○Renovations and beautification of the District ○Education and community development ○New immigrant opportunities ○Systemic changes in policy and social levels ○Encouragement of a women's market ○Assistance from the city or the government ●Needs: ○Education ○Safety ○Housing ○Jobs Timeline Goals Dates Phase One To have Anaheim’s City Council agendize the Designation of Little Arabia and officially designate the Little Arabia district using a map provided by community leaders. Why?This will prompt City Staff to consider reviewing the district and conduct studies on the Little Arabia District. 2022 Phase Two An engagement with Anaheim's Cultural and Heritage Committee and similar organizations to regularly attract visitors through cultural contributions. Acquisition of grants to improve and enhance the District encourages and attracts more visitors. Why?Anaheim's Little Arabia is a Cultural District.Working with Anaheim's Cultural and Heritage Committee will allow Little Arabia stakeholders to curate an identity for Little Arabia and to tell the story of the District as a part of Anaheim's history. December 2022 - December 2027 Phase Three Develop committees to promote business and infrastructure developments. Why?A district-wide business committee will be capable of representing the District and providing internal and external recommendations. By January 2028 Boundary Proposals Map 1: Crescent to Katella ●Map 1 runs from Crescent to Katella and contains the majority of Arab and MENA-owned businesses in the Little Arabia district. ●Included are the Linbrook Bowling Alley and some residential communities. Residents of the area are of mixed ethnicities, races, and socioeconomic statuses. Historical Maps Concept Plan Community Engagement Since the late 1990s, Little Arabia and the community around Brookhurst have regularly met to improve the Corridor. Among the primary goals of these meetings is to ensure inclusivity and safety for all residents of Anaheim, including immigrant-born residents and business owners. The Little Arabia Project aims to provide a location in Anaheim that is welcoming, accepting, and inclusive of all people while uplifting the well-being of the people. Regular community engagement meetings, including galas, forums, and community activities, will help ensure Little Arabia's success for many years. Community Outreach ●Hire local artists, including high school artists, to create murals and district-identifying illustrations ●Street fairs to benefit all merchants in the West Anaheim Area ●Working with the City of Garden Grove to bring improvements to South Brookhurst Long-term Improvements ●Coordinate with Public Works for more considerable infrastructure improvements ●Undergrounding power lines (sooner rather than later) ●Sidewalk upgrades, decorative pavers ●Sample design font set for Arabic language signage to create a clean/consistent look ●Affordable housing that integrates community centers Guiding Principles: Five Facets of Growth The following guiding principles are meant to scaffold and support the Little Arabia Vision and inform the District's development strategies. Principle 1: Promote Little Arabia as an Essential Part of Anaheim’s Fabric ●Little Arabia has been a destination point in Anaheim that has provided services and experiences to patrons from all walks of life. The District aims to be inclusive to arriving immigrants and provides a safe place for Arabs, Muslims, and other Americans of Middle East and North African heritage. ●The District has been a destination for non-Arab and non-Muslim Americans to engage with Arab and Muslim neighbors. The District has employed many Anaheim residents and has provided services to many more. Further, Little Arabia is a destination to allow individuals to learn, engage, and acquire an authentic Middle Eastern experience. Principle 2: Community Development and Education ●In a 2022 survey, Education was the number one concern for Little Arabia stakeholders. Seeking ways to provide knowledge, skills, and new professions will help improve the quality of people’s lives. ●Promote unity and understanding between community development activities, such as collaboration and joint-effort projects. ●Work with public libraries, schools, and other major institutions to provide knowledge and representation of the community. ●Keep the community informed on local issues and teach them new techniques and skills to improve their livelihoods. Principle 3: Quality of life (Promote Physical, Social, and Spiritual Health) ●Many immigrant residents often establish themselves in apartments and low-cost housing within West Anaheim. Once financially secure, they tend to move to other parts of Southern California. Many, if not all, of these individuals either continue to work in Anaheim or visit weekly. ●Providing new housing options will not just benefit the Arab community but also the broader community in West Anaheim. ●Housing options will help combat homelessness and reduce homes dense with generations of families. Principle 4: Cultural Engagement ●Conduct regular activities across Brookhurst, such as a Taste of Little Arabia, an Eid Festival, a Christmas celebration, and an Arab American Day Festival. ●Expand partnerships with communities serving Arab Christian communities. ●Attract artists, musicians, poets, and writers to curate and uplift the identity of Anaheim’s Little Arabia. ●Celebrate Arab cultural contributions through outdoor art installations. ●Within five years of Designation, promote four artists-in-residence to add to Little Arabia's story. Principle 5: Economic Development ●Continue Little Arabia’s success in bringing jobs and tax revenue to the city. ●Establish Little Arabia as an attraction point that brings commerce and traffic from all over America. ●Through an agreed-upon body (such as a District-wide Business Association or Committee), provide economic and financial representation for the community. This approved body will plan and gather resources for possible district-wide developments. ●Engage small businesses in social media training. Conclusion The Little Arabia Project aims to showcase community pride and potential. Within the soils of Anaheim grew a community that has offered immensely to West Anaheim. A Little Arabia District will provide Anaheim with an attractive hub that celebrates the contributions of West Asian and North African cultures. A Little Arabia district will provide culture to Anaheim, improving the District economically and financially, with a projected contribution towards the millions. Finally, the Little Arabia District will assist with Anaheim's forward-looking vision and aligns itself with the future of Anaheim.