UPDATE TO OUR COMMUNITY

As promised, we are providing an update to our ADC community on leadership and governance developments over the past week. 

The Board of Directors and ADC leadership team are actively strengthening ADC’s structure and strategy to maximize our impact at a time when our community continues to face intensifying civil rights challenges.

We also want to address and correct reports currently circulating. While we typically do not comment publicly on personnel matters, recent threats, harassment, doxxing and defamation directed at our staff, board members and partners have necessitated this response.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

ADC maintains a zero-tolerance policy on harassment, discrimination, intimidation and retaliation. We encourage anyone with concerns to contact us directly at [email protected], so they can be reviewed.  

Since 2014, three concerns have been brought to the Board’s attention. Each was promptly addressed in accordance with our policies. 

• An ADC member accused an ADC board member of alleged unwanted sexual advances at an ADC event. In response to those concerns, the board immediately initiated appropriate steps, resulting in the board member’s resignation.
• More than five years ago, ADC members and employees expressed discomfort with a member’s behavior at an ADC event. These allegations were reviewed, and the member was prevented from running for the Board. 
• In 2026, an individual filed a complaint that a board member raised their voice and acted disrespectfully toward them at a 2025 ADC event. We engaged independent, third-party legal counsel, unaffiliated with ADC, to conduct an ongoing investigation. 

Although additional claims have circulated on social media, no sexual misconduct or specific information regarding any other type of misconduct has been presented to ADC leadership, staff or the Board. We remain committed to upholding the high standards of accountability, governance and integrity that guide our mission. 

ADVANCING OUR MISSION THROUGH STRONGER LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

Over the past year, the board has initiated meaningful governance best practices, including structural updates, bylaw review and proposed revisions, and clearer separation between Board and executive functions. All of us at ADC, including our Board members, remain focused on strengthening organizational performance. While no organization is perfect, we are committed to continuous improvement and accountability, and we actively review all feedback related to governance and workplace culture. 

That said, recent claims related to the removal of a Board Chair-appointed director are false and omit critical context and information. Per our 2016 Bylaws, any director appointed by the Board Chair can be removed by the Board Chair, and that process was followed. We reject any assertions that this decision was retaliatory.  

Prior to the director’s removal, the Board was also diligently reviewing its governance practices to ensure it adhered to best practices. This process included ensuring that new directors signed agreements acknowledging their fiduciary duties and their duty to protect confidential information, which includes communications regarding personnel and privileged legal communications, a best practice that has been in place for over a decade.

As we do every year, based on board term expirations, our annual advertisement for new board members was last initiated in December 2025 after being publicly announced at ArabCon in September 2025. Because of the current geopolitical, anti-Arab political climate, we unfortunately did not receive any willing nominees. As a result, we sought volunteers for appointment to the Board by the Board Chair. We continue our efforts to expand our board, including the appointment of a new board member last week: Johnny Simon, an attorney at the law firm of Simon Law. We are always looking for dedicated, highly qualified individuals interested in serving on the board, and we welcome them to reach out to either run for a three-year term or be considered for appointment to a one-year term.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we continue to strengthen our leadership and governance, we are excited to share that we have prioritized: 

• Establishing interim leadership and transition team to stabilize and improve the organization
• Ongoing efforts to expand and diversify the Board
• Development of a new Advisory Board that will serve as a new volunteer leadership pipeline 
• Expanding governance training, sexual harassment training and leadership development planning for the Board
• Scheduling sexual harassment and hostile work environment training for our staff
• Updating all job descriptions with measurable goals and clear reporting structures

We have also proudly appointed Jenin Younes as Interim President, a role for which we were trying to identify a qualified candidate for more than four years. In this role, Jenin has already begun leading several key organizational improvements, including enhanced financial management, collaboration, accountability and organizational structure. 

Finally, we have separated from our former Executive Director. We thank him for his service and contributions, as we advance ADC’s mission under new leadership. We have appointed Nabil Mohamed as Interim Executive Director to work alongside Jenin. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL ARAB AMERICANS

ADC remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability and open communication with the community we have proudly served since 1980. We will continue to share updates through our official channels and engage openly with our constituents.

ADC belongs to the Arab American community. ADC is a secular, nonpartisan, grassroots organization representing Arab Americans of every religion and political party. Our actions summarized today and governance expectations for the future reflect that responsibility.