Detroit launches project to showcase Arab, Chaldean histories in city

Detroit is the first city in the nation to receive a $50,000 grant from the National Park Service to recognize Arab and Chaldean immigrant and community histories, city officials announced Monday.

The first Arab and Chaldean immigrants arrived in the state's largest city more than a century ago, but there are no historic districts or properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places related to the communities. A project by Detroit's Historic Designation Advisory Board seeks to change that.

The board is using its Underrepresented Communities Grant from the park service to fund an historic property survey of Detroit sites related to Arab and Chaldean community history. Officials say they will work with community partners and are seeking participation from residents to share local family histories and photographs.

Based on community feedback, a site related to Arab and Chaldean history will become a listed place in the National Register. The study will include businesses, churches, mosques, restaurants, grocers, schools and community centers.

City Council President Mary Sheffield said the grant allows Detroit to "honor the diverse tapestry of our city's history."

“This grant not only acknowledges the significance of the Arab and Chaldean communities in shaping Detroit's story, but also underscores the importance of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of underrepresented communities," she stated in a news release. "Through this project, we will continue to build bridges of understanding and ensure that every voice contributes to the rich narrative of our beloved city. Detroit's past is a mosaic of countless stories, and it is our duty to ensure that each chapter is recognized, respected, and remembered."

The grant is part of a multi-year Historic Designation Advisory Board initiative to document and highlight underrepresented communities in Detroit. Other recent grant projects include the Eight Mile/Wyoming area, the oldest Black neighborhood in northwest Detroit and an ongoing study of Detroit’s Latinx community history in southwest Detroit.

The city of Detroit will host a community meeting about the history project at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at Wayne County Community College District (Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus) in the Frank Hayden Community Room (Room 236).

Detroit's largest border is the city of Dearborn, home to one of the largest concentrations of Arab Americans in the nation and the National Arab American Museum.

The project is partly funded by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The preservation fund has granted more than $2 billion since its inception in 1977.

srahal@detroitnews.com