New survey aims to identify needs of Arab American business owners

Reda Taleb is the New Economy Initiative project manager with the Arab American Women’s Business Council, an organization that empowers businesswomen and provides mentorship opportunities.

She’s working on a new survey that aims to draw attention to the Arab American community’s unique opportunities and needs in business.

“We’ve been able to successfully support over 150 Arab American small business owners. So we are on par right now to serving 200 total small businesses by the end of the year,” said Taleb.

By conducting the one-on-one surveys, the group found that Arab American women needed networking, marketing and support with things like getting health care.

She says it’s important to collect data on the Arab American community, which is an “invisible minority.”

“Unfortunately, we still aren’t recognized by the federal government in terms of collecting data on us and counting us accurately in the census. And so there’s a lack of data and metrics and knowledge about our community, and specifically our community’s need,” Taleb said.

The survey is a way to meet people where they are and find ways to provide additional resources.

“And we hope to continue partnering with other organizations as we create an experience of an authentic sense of belonging… where entrepreneurs come to gain knowledge, where they have opportunities for mentorship and where they can be connected to the resources they need,” she says.

She says that looks like creating an online one-stop-shop for people to find resources in an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Taleb says businesses who still want to participate can reach out to AAWBC here.

AAWBC is having its Signature Brunch on Nov. 16 in Dearborn, where people can learn more about this work.