AAI President James Zogby to Speak Across Iowa on U.S. Policy in the Middle East and What Iowans Can Do About It: Lecture Series to Hit Major Iowa Colleges, Universities Next Week
By Andy Sabino                                                           

Arab American Institute (AAI) President James Zogby will be speaking across Iowa next week, giving a series of talks on U.S. policy in the Middle East and on how Iowans can effectively raise these policy issues as presidential candidates campaign in the state.

The trip is Zogby’s second this year to the first caucus state, where AAI has been working to promote issues of concern to the Arab American community in the presidential elections.  AAI’s Iowa efforts are part of its broader, national “Yalla Vote 08” campaign to promote Arab American involvement in the presidential elections and elevate issues of particular concern to Arab Americans.  Concerned Iowans have been working throughout the year to promote discussion on reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process on the presidential campaign trail, as former President Jimmy Carter suggested in his April speech in Iowa City.  Zogby last visited Iowa in April, speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines.
 
Zogby will first deliver his talk, entitled “The Mess We’re In: How U.S. Leaders Have Failed Us in the Middle East and What You Can Do,” at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23.  The event is not open to the public, but is open to the press.  Zogby will also speak at the Iowa City Public Library as part of the University of Iowa International Mondays series, at Iowa State University as part of the Iowa State World Affairs Lecture Series, at Kirkwood Community College, at the University of Northern Iowa, and at Grinnell College.  These college and university events are free and open to the public.

A complete listing of Zogby’s speaking engagements is below:

The events below are free and open to the public

Mon., Sept. 24
12 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library
123 S Linn St.
Iowa City, Iowa
Part of the University of Iowa International Mondays series.

2:30 p.m.
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Hall, Room 234
6301 Kirkwood Blvd., SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

8 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
Maucker Union Expansion
1227 W. 27th St.
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Tuesday, Sept. 25
12 p.m.
Grinnell College
Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Grinnell, Iowa
 
8 p.m.
Iowa State University
Memorial Union Sun Room
Ames, Iowa
Part of the Iowa State World Affairs Lecture Series.

MORE INFO
Visit www.aaiusa.org/zogby_iowa_tour

About the Arab American Institute
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent.  AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities. For more information on AAI, please visit www.aaiusa.org or call 202-429-9210.