Conducting a Pilot Community Needs Survey of the Arab-American Population in Southwest Brooklyn

The Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) is a grassroots nonprofit that aims to support and empower the Arab immigrant community by providing services to help them adjust to their new home and become active members of society. The Capstone team worked with AAANY to conduct the first ever social-service community-needs assessment of Arab Americans in Southwest Brooklyn. With guidance from AAANY, the Capstone team designed a bilingual survey instrument and implementation plan. The team analyzed the survey results to determine descriptive demographic information about AAANY’s potential and current client base; barriers experienced by Arab Americans in accessing social services; and opinions about the most significant issues facing the community. Based on the pilot survey’s implementation, the Capstone team developed recommendations that will assist AAANY in enhancing future assessments so that the organization can better understand, serve, and support the Arab immigrant community.