Devon Akmon’s professional updates and news on adventure and travel.
I was digging through the AANM Flickr photostream and rediscovered a bunch of old photos of me. Having worked behind the camera for a fair amount of time, I’m still not entirely comfortable being in front of the lens. Here’s a quick photo dump of some of the more tolerable images. There’s plenty more that I wish would just disappear.
Thanks to Aaron Mondry and Metromode Media for the coverage of the Arab American National Museum’s upcoming tenth anniversary. Dearborn, Mich. has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States. The Arab American News, the largest and oldest Arab American newspaper in the country, is published there. The city’s police chief, Ronald Haddad, is Arab American. Without question, Dearborn is the center of Arab American culture. It’s no surprise, then, that the preeminent museum dedicated to documenting andRead More
The Arab American National Museum was honored to present the Patriots & Peacemakers exhibit at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda in Washington, D.C during the week of Veterans Day. Speaking to this, we were able to showcase the dedication of Arab Americans who have served our country in the heart of our nation’s capital; such a fitting and deserving way to recognize their contributions and heroism. The opening reception—on November 12 in the majestic Kennedy Caucus Room—was an amazingRead More
Veterans Day holiday coincides with historic Arab American Nat’l Museum presentation Nov. 10-14 at Russell Senate Office Bldg. America’s only museum celebrating the Arab American experience is bringing an original exhibition on public service to Capitol Hill in time for Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country will be on public display in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building, 2 Constitution Ave. NE, Monday, Nov. 10 through Friday,Read More
Late last year I had the honor of being photographed by the noted French photographer Gilles Perrin for an exhibit called Detroit Resurgent. I am humbled and honored to be included in this exhibit, which is on display at the MSU Museum through January 2014. The exhibition will travel to Detroit and will be hosted at the MSU Detroit Center from May-December 2014. Here’s more on the exhibition: Detroit Resurgent is an exhibition that runs from September 8, 2013 throughRead More
The Arab American National Museum was featured in the 2013 Giving Guide, published by Crain’s Detroit Business. Here I discuss our goal of building the endowment to $10 million by 2017. Exit strategy: More nonprofits, donors turn to endowments for lasting impact “Through the recession, we learned arts and culture was not the No. 1 priority for certain foundations and corporations,” said Devon Akmon, director of the Arab American National Museum. Endowment “is a way of building a more sustainableRead More
A heartfelt congrats to all the other awardees of the Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40. And much love to the Arab American National Museum and ACCESS staff for making their leaders look so good. They do the heavy lifting that makes our organization shine!
I’m honored to be recognized by Crain’s Business Detroit as one of the 2013 “40 Under 40” business leaders. Since 1991, Crain’s Detroit Business has honored 40 of the community’s high achievers with its 40 under 40 awards. This year’s winners launched companies, helped grow established firms, created products, swung international deals, improved health care and aided nonprofits. The goal is to honor the best and brightest in Southeast Michigan who have made their marks in business before age 40.Read More
“We realize that if people want to be receptive to our story, we have to be receptive to other stories.” Devon Akmon, Director of the Arab American National Museum. One of Metro Detroit’s newest cultural institutions has earned national credibility. The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, an honor most museums don’t have. Museum director Devon Akmon tells me it’s the gold standard for institutions of its kind.
Hot off the local press. Published on September 4, 2013 by the Press & Guide. DEARBORN: New director of growing Arab American National Museum thinking beyond its walls