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By Miriam RafteryMay 16, 2024 (San Diego) – Arab-Americans have long been excluded from being counted on government forms, from the U.S. census to state and county documents. But that’s changing here in San Diego County, which has one of the state’s largest populations of people of Middle Eastern or North African descent.
By a unanimous vote, San Diego County Supervisors on May 1 became the first jurisdiction in California to approve creating a “Middle Eastern or North African” (MENA) category on County forms for individuals to self-identify as MENA.
In addition to approving the local measure proposed by Supervisor Joel Anderson, County Supervisors also voted to support Assembly Bill 2763, the MENA Inclusion Act.
Members of the California MENA Civil Rights Coalition are celebrating the measure’s passage.
A press release from the Arab-American Civic Council notes that El Cajon, in San Diego’s East County, is home to over 50,000 Arab-Americans, including Iranian, Somali, Syrian and other communities, all integral to the region’s economy and social fabric. Organizations such as Majdal, the Arab Community Center of San Diego in El Cajon, and Somali Family Services in La Mesa provide invaluable services and assistance to this dynamic population.
“This is a critical measure because for too long, our communities have lacked proper representation,” says Ramah Awad, Executive Director of Majdal Center in El Cajon. “With a MENA Category, we’re hoping that our communities will gain visibility and the necessary resources needed to thrive in our community.”
Supervisor Joel Anderson's measure aligns with the #CountMENAInCA Campaign, spearheaded by the CA MENA Coalition, which advocates for the inclusion of MENA communities across intake forms at state departments, agencies, and commissions.
At the state level, Assembly Bill 2763 is pending in the California State Legislature that would add a MENA category for demographic forms used in California.
At the federal level, on March 28, the White House Office of Management and Budget announced that new standards will be used to collect federal data on race and ethnicity, including the addition of a Middle Eastern or North African category for the 2030 Census.
The agenda description for Anderson’s measure stated:
“The Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities in San Diego County face a significant challenge due to the absence of a specific ethnicity category in data collection for this population. Despite being home to one of the largest refugee settlement communities in California, San Diego County residents of MENA descent often self-identify as Caucasian/White on U.S. Census and other government forms because there is no dedicated ethnicity category for them."
Noting the federal government’s recent action, the county overview concluded, “In light of the federal changes to the collection of MENA information and the potential changes to state law regarding the collection of data for MENA groups, the County should provide for the self-identification for the MENA population living in the San Diego region. By providing a more inclusive and accurate representation of the MENA community, we can ensure that their voices are clearly heard, their needs are addressed, and their contributions are recognized."
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I'm of Bay State descent,