Who We Are
Six coordinating organizations
the steering committee
Who We Are
The Lebanese American Coordinating Committee (LACC) represents a coalition of Lebanese-American organizations working together to support Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and democracy. It does so by calling for the respect of the inherent rights of all Lebanese citizens, cherishing Lebanon’s diversity as an enriching factor, advocating to hold its leaders to higher standards of governance, ensuring that elections will happen freely, fairly, transparently, and on time, supporting a free and independent judiciary, and affirming that Lebanon’s security be maintained only through the legitimate Lebanese Armed and Security Forces. To advance its objectives, the LACC developed a set of principles which governs its operations and advocacy efforts with officials and decision-making centers in Washington, D.C. The LACC also partners with like-minded organizations in Lebanon and across the diaspora. Alongside its core member organizations, the LACC has formed a robust Advisory Committee comprising experts across various fields who can guide the Committee’s work.
The Lebanese American organizations that are working together are:
- Assembly for Lebanon (AFL)
- Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP)
- Lebanese Information Center (LIC)
- Our New Lebanon (ONL)
- Shields of United Lebanon (SOUL)
- World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU)
- LEBANESE FOR LEBANON FOUNDATION (LFLF)
- American Lebanese Policy Institute – PAC (ALPI-PAC)
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Lebanese Advisory Organizations : Civic Influence Hub (CIH)
The Member Organizations
Assembly for Lebanon (AFL)
A nonprofit grass root organization in Michigan. It works with Lebanese Americans in the state of Michigan to unite their voice concerning their priority issues, mainly an independent, free, and sovereign Lebanon.
Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP)
A non-profit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the relationships of entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesspeople between the Americas and Lebanon in compliance with international law.
Lebanese Information Center (LIC)
The U.S.’s largest grassroots organization of Americans of Lebanese descent, committed to building a free, sovereign, and democratic Lebanon for the good of the Lebanese people and in the interest of the United States of America. Headquartered in Washington DC, founded in 1999.
Our New Lebanon (ONL)
A national nonprofit organization powered by the Lebanese American community with the goal of reshaping Lebanon as a democratic sovereign nation and as a land of integrity and stability by strengthening the ties between the US and Lebanon.
Shields of United Lebanon (SOUL)
A non-profit organization lobbying for human rights, civil liberties, and women empowerment in Lebanon.
World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU)
An organization that promotes the cultural aspects of the Lebanese people throughout the world. It strives to unite descendants of Lebanese origin and friends of Lebanon into one worldwide organization with the aim to promote and preserve Lebanese culture and heritage and to ensure its spirit for generations to come.
LEBANESE FOR LEBANON FOUNDATION (LFLF)
We strive to educate, and to promote the advancement of human rights, minority rights, and basic democratic principles in Lebanon and the Middle East.
We also strive for the study of important political, social and economic issues which affect Lebanon and its people and the peoples of the Middle East.
American Lebanese Policy Institute – PAC
ALPI PAC, the nonpartisan political action committee, is the only PAC aimed solely at representing the interests of the United States, and the American Lebanese community. It is critically important that all ALPI PAC members be active participants in the political process, through either ALPI PAC or related ALPI PAC legislative programs.
The Steering Committee
Dr. Joseph Gebeily
The Honorable Walid Maalouf
Former US Delegate to the United Nations
Former Director Public Diplomacy USAID
Mr. Walid Maalouf is Director of the Board of Applied Bank of Delaware. He is currently a Private Banking and Foreign Policy expert, he has been a professional businessman and diplomat in the metropolitan Washington, DC area for more than 20 years, tackling international issues on financial, cultural…
Pierre Maroun
International Business Consultant
Pierre A. Maroun is a graduate of Master of Arts in History from Youngstown State University; he has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Kent State University; and he received a certificate on Terrorism & counterterrorism from Georgetown University. He is presently an International Business Consultant. Maroun…
May Rihani
Expert in International Development
Former Co-Chair of the United Nations Girl’s Education Initiative (UNGEI)
Former Director of the Gibran Chair at The University of Maryland
May Rihani is a pioneer in girls’ education and a tireless advocate of women’s rights…
Ferris Wehbe
Educator and a Real State Executive
An immigrant from Lebanon, Ferris and his wife had operated F&D Properties, one of the few real estate companies willing to invest in Hollywood when others were abandoning it since 1983. During this time, Ferris’s family-owned and operated the acclaimed Hollywood Schoolhouse founded in 1945…
Milad Zohrob
Owner of Survey Instrument Sales, Inc.
Grew up in Lebanon. Studied at the American University of Beirut and graduated with a Bachelor degree in business administration. Immigrated to the United States in 1977 during the Lebanese war with the PLO. Enrolled at the University of Detroit/ Mercy…
Joseph Hage
Executive Director American Lebanese Policy Institute –PAC
Joseph Hage is a political analyst and commentator on International Affairs particularly Middle Eastern affairs and Terrorism.
Sami Elkadi
President and Founder of the Lebanese for Lebanon Foundation
Sami ElKadi is the president and founder of the Lebanese for Lebanon Foundation, a U.S. non-profit organization, and the owner of Kadi Enterprises Inc., a food distribution company in California.
Thomas G. Abraham
Chairman of the Board, Anthony R. Abraham Foundation
Thomas G. Abraham is a nationally recognized business entrepreneur and civic leader. He is the son of the late Genevieve and Anthony R. Abraham who was the last living member of the founding members of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in…
Lebanese Advisory Organizations
CIVIC INFLUENCE HUB (CIH)
A non-profit, non-partisan pressure group, formed in 2012 by Lebanese citizens who share the same passion and commitment for the creation of a better Lebanon through the pursuit of good governance.
ZIAD EL SAYEGH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Expert on Public Policies. A researcher on the Palestinian Refugees issue in Lebanon and Peace Negotiations in the Middle East, on Syria Refugees and on Labor Policies and Social Protection. Expert Member of the Political National Committee working on refugees issue at the Presidency of the Council of Ministries (March 2017 – June 2021). He is Senior Policy Fellow at the Issam Fares Institute – IFI/AUB (December 2019 – December 2020). Member of ACT Alliance Peace and Human Security Reference Group – Geneva (November 2019 – December 2020). Policy Advisor in Adyan Foundation (2017-2019). Senior National Policy and Communication Advisor to the Ministry of State for Displaced Affairs (February 2017 – January 2019). Coordinator of “Better Lebanon Initiative” (December 2016 – December 2020). Policies and Communication Advisor to the Middle East Council of Churches – MECC (Sept 2018 – Dec 2020).
The Advisory Committee
A Letter from the Steering Committee
Shared Values & Strong Ties
The Lebanese Americans share fundamental moral values which are the building blocks of great nations. With an unparalleled loyalty to the flag, profound patriotism to the land, and strong protection of human rights and coexistence, the two nationalists are a powerhouse that can drive advocacy for the greater good of the two sister nations.
Our goal is to create a strong U.S. – Lebanon alliance by nurturing impactful diplomatic relations with Pro US-Lebanon Congress Members who will aid in the development and execution of U.S. foreign policies that favor protecting Lebanon as a strategic ally in the Middle East. We are true believers that positioning Lebanon as an autonomous and progressive country in an otherwise turmoil region will pave the way for other fellow countries to democratize.
We encourage our American brothers and sisters who support stronger US-Lebanon relations to take an active role in learning foreign affairs policies related to US-Lebanon and evaluating their direct impact on the safety and growth of both countries.
We advise you to educate your family, friends, neighbors, and the community at large of how your engagement in politics and voting in local and national elections can have a tremendous impact on strengthening the relations between the US and Lebanon. We ask you to show your support to candidates who favor a stronger ties between the two countries, whether it’s by spreading the word, volunteering at voting polls, or donating funds to the campaign.
The Steering Committee
The Steering Committee
“From this small country… we build wherever we wish a Lebanon.” -Said Akl