From Palestine to Ann Arbor

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Washtenaw County Trial Court judge Archie Brown “met them twenty-five years ago when I was in private practice [as an attorney]. They love to be involved … so don’t be surprised if you see more of them in the community as the younger generation gets more involved.”

There are about 150 Issa family members in the area, and the younger generation is already confirming Brown’s prediction: Marwan was a candidate in the Third Ward city council primary in 2010. He lost, but will likely try again.

The older generation, meanwhile, remains as busy as ever. “When we retire, we’ll still keep working, maybe [cutting back to] sixty-seventy hours a week,” says Anwar.

Mohamad already has a project in mind. “My dream after I retire,” he says, “is to write a book on how you can make it in the United States.”   

[Originally published in June, 2012.]