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ACCESS and Ford Build on Community Strength

11 March 1999

ACCESS and Ford Motor Company One Stop Resource Facility Builds on Community Strength

    DEARBORN, March 10 -- The Arab Community Center for Economic
and Social Services (ACCESS) and Ford Motor Company are helping meet
the high demand for comprehensive job training with a new One Stop Employment
& Human Services facility.  The center, introduced today, offers all of the
services needed to help those entering the workforce.  The One Stop facility
will feature the Ford Employment and Training Services Center.
    The One Stop Employment & Human Services facility is designed to integrate
high technology with comprehensive job training and social services.  Its
multi-lingual staff will provide assistance with employment and social
services.  The building has been established through ACCESS' Vision 2000
capital campaign.
    "The state-of-the-art facility will allow us to provide employment and
human services to tens of thousands of area residents," said Ismael Ahmed,
executive director, ACCESS.
    Ford Motor Company, a long-standing ACCESS supporter, has donated $400,000
toward the Vision 2000 campaign for the new building -- the largest corporate
contribution ever made to an Arab-American human services organization.  The
Ford Employment and Training Services Center will provide a wide range of
employment and career development services, including career counseling, job
training and placement services.
    "Ford Motor Company is proud to underscore its support of ACCESS and its
One Stop Employment & Human Services facility with the new Ford Employment and
Training Services Center," said Peter Pestillo, vice chairman and chief of
staff, Ford Motor Company.  "The new center will allow us to continue to help
improve employment opportunities throughout Metro Detroit and beyond."
    Ford has historically been a leader in hiring Arab American employees.
Ford has more minority dealerships than any other automaker.
    "It's extremely rewarding to see how the whole community has come together
to make this center a reality," said Stephen Yokich, president of the United
Auto Workers and chairman of ACCESS' Vision 2000 Capital Campaign.  "It will
allow ACCESS to improve its already outstanding range of services and give
thousands of workers a centralized and state-of-the-art location where they
can prepare for the jobs of the future."
    ACCESS was established in 1971 to help provide for the basic needs of the
large number of immigrant families from the Middle East who settled in the
Dearborn area.  It has expanded its activities to become a non-sectarian,
community-based human services agency dedicated to providing comprehensive
social services to all area residents.
    The new 24,000 square foot One Stop facility, designed by Ghafari and
Associates, is the result of several years of planning and collaboration.  It
is located in the heart of Dearborn's Middle Eastern community at 6451
Schaefer Rd., between Ford Rd. and Warren Ave.
    Major contributors include:  Ford Motor Company, MacGregor Fund, United
Way Community Services, The Kresge Foundation, General Motors Corporation,
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Comerica Inc., DaimlerChrysler Corp.,
Detroit Edison Foundation, Henry Ford Health System, Dr. Frank Fayz, and
United Auto Workers.