Anaheim, CA | adc.org | September 23, 2023 — We are incredibly excited to be less than two weeks away from the 2023 Alex Odeh Memorial Conference and Banquet . This year the conference and banquet will focus on empowering community members and honoring the life and legacy of Alex Odeh. The conference will be held in Anaheim, CA on October 6th – 7th at the Delta Marriott – Anaheim Garden Grove Hotel.
The conference will begin with a Friday Evening Cultural Reception. On Saturday ADC partnered with ReThink Media to provide a full day of communications strategy training. The training will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn important communications skills and strategies. A description of the topics covered in the training, along with additional program information is provided below.
On the evening of October 7th, ADC will honor the life and legacy of Alex Odeh at the Saturday Evening Banquet held in his honor and memory. The program will honor community members who embody everything that Alex stood for. The Master of Ceremonies of this year’s Banquet will be Comedian and Performer Reem Aden. ADC is proud to announce that Mayor Farrah Khan of Irvine will deliver special remarks during the evening.
Honorees include Dr. William Lafi Youmans and Jason Osder who will be presented with the Alex Odeh Advocacy Award. Ms. Rida Hamida will be presented with the Rose Nader Award, and Dr. Laila Al-Marayati will be presented with the Dr. Raymond Jallow Lifetime Achievement Award.
Renowned Oud player and composer Peter A. Hanna will captivate audiences with his musical artistry and his tribute to Alex Odeh during the banquet. The evening will also feature the Jafra Dabke Group, formed by the Palestinian American Women’s Association. The evening will include a special art segment featuring local artists honoring the life and legacy of Alex Odeh.
This will be a memorable conference, and we look forward to having you with us. Registration is still open and can be accessed by clicking here. Additionally, scholarship opportunities are available to students who want to attend the training sessions and banquet – to inquire please email adc@adc.org. If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, click here .
If you are coming in from out of town, special hotel rates are still available, but space is running out. To take advantage of the special room rates book by Monday September 25th by clicking here.
If you haven’t registered yet, today is the day to secure your spot!
Program Schedule and Highlights
Friday, October 6th
7:00 P.M. – Cultural Celebration Reception – Kick-off the weekend with a lively celebration embracing our unique culture and heritage. Special performer to be announced soon.
Saturday, October 7th
8:30 AM – Registration is open, breakfast provided to conference attendees
9:00 AM – ReThink Media Training – Welcome and Goals Setting
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM – ReThink Media Training Session 1 – Crafting Story Pitches
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Break
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Training Session 2 – Crisis Communication
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM – ADC Working Lunch – Minority Business and Legislative Update
2: 15 PM – 3:45 PM – Training Session 3 – Strategic Communication
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM – Training Closing Session
Alex Odeh Banquet Highlights
6:30 PM – Reception Begins
7:00 PM – Doors to Banquet Hall open
7:30 PM – Alex Odeh Gala Banquet Program Begins
Ms. Reem Eden – Master of Ceremonies
Reem Edan is an Iraqi-American content creator, award-winning writer, actress and internationally touring stand-up comedian. She can be seen performing in Arabic on Shahid VIP’s “The Stand Up Sketch Show,” and has written for companies like Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, NBC and more. She’s also gained several million views online for her comedy sketches that discuss the nuances of her Arab and Muslim-American identity… all in hopes of one day having her parents admit that this is a REAL job.
Special Remarks by Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan
Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan will be speaking at the banquet, adding her unique perspective to the evening. Having made history as the first woman of color and the first Muslim woman to lead a large U.S. city, her remarks are sure to be a highlight.
Honorees
We are honored to announce this year’s recipients for their remarkable contributions to our community. The awardees include Dr. William Lafi Youmans and Jason Osder who will be presented with the Alex Odeh Advocacy Award. Ms. Rida Hamida will be presented with the Rose Nader Award, and lifelong activist Dr. Laila Al-Marayati will be presented with the Dr. Raymond Jallow Lifetime Achievement Award.
Special Performances
Renowned Oud player and composer Peter A. Hanna will captivate audiences with his musical artistry, while the Jafra Dabke Group, formed by the Palestinian American Women’s Association, will present a compelling Dabke performance that embodies the spirit and struggle of Palestinian women. There will also be a special art segment honoring Alex Odeh.
Accommodation & Special Rate
We’ve secured an exclusive room rate of $169 for our out-of-town attendees at the Anaheim Garden Grove, located at 12021 Harbor Boulevard, Garden Grove, California 92840. Act quickly as rooms are booking fast and the deadline for the special rate is this Monday, September 25!
Conference Registration
If you haven’t secured your conference registration yet, this is your chance to register and be a part of an unforgettable evening of celebration, recognition, and community spirit.
Individual tickets to the Saturday Evening Banquet are also available .
Sponsorship
Interested in contributing more to the event? Explore our sponsorship opportunities by emailing us directly at adc@adc.org.
We eagerly await your attendance as we come together to celebrate, learn, and remember.
See you in Anaheim!