The Bay Ridge community paid tribute to Dr. Ahmad Jaber, a Palestinian immigrant and co-founder of the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), during a street renaming ceremony on Saturday.
The intersection of 5th Avenue and Ovington Avenue is now Dr. Ahmad Jaber Way, according to a news release.
Jaber, who arrived in the United States from Palestine in 1975, ran an OB/GYN clinic and helped found AAANY in 2001. The nonprofit was initially a small, volunteer-run agency supporting low-income Arab immigrants in the city, but the organization expanded its role after 9/11 to advocate against surveillance, hate crimes and community isolation, the press release said.
Through his work with numerous mosques, community organizations and institutions, Jaber provided medical care, education, social services and immigration support to immigrants from all over the world. His commitment to community empowerment and well-being helped AAANY thrive, and it remains a
vital non-profit today.
"This ceremony is deeply personal for me, as Dr. Jaber was not only a friend and partner but also my brother," said Habib Joudeh, the board president of AAANY. "As the president of the Arab American Association of New York, he made a huge impact on countless lives, and I was privileged to serve as vice president alongside him. Naming this street after him is our way of honoring his legacy and all the positive changes he brought to our community."
There were many elected officials who attended the ceremony alongside Bay Ridge residents, faith leaders and friends and family of the Jaber family, including City Council Members Alexa Avilés and Justin Brannan, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senators Iwen Chu and Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes.
“Dr. Ahmad Jaber was an extraordinary human being and a visionary leader for Bay Ridge, and his impact on our community reverberates far beyond this amazing neighborhood," said Marwa Janini, the executive director AAANY. "From the humble beginnings of a small OB/GYN clinic (and yes, he did bring a couple of my siblings into the world), he founded AAANY, transforming it into a cornerstone of support and care to all who enter its doors."
