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UPDATE January 2008
Women’s eNews has selected “Cross Atlantic Connector” Iman Belali as one of its 21 Leaders for the 21st Century! She is a women dedicated to improving the lives of women in their homes, in their communities, in their nations, and across the globe. She will be honored at a dinner reception in New York City on May 21.
From the Women’s eNews award announcement: “It started with a 2004 trip to deliver 80 bags full of school supplies to Chefchaouen, Morocco, the birthplace of her grandparents. Iman Belali, then 12 years old and living in Issaquah, Wash., was tired of media stereotypes driven by Sept. 11 terrorist fears and inspired by the young women she met on her journey. In response, she decided to start the American Moroccan International Exchange for young women.” --more-->
Most freshmen have their hands full managing the transition to high school, juggling classes and activities, friends and family, and work and play. Liberty's Iman Belali, however, has tackled an additional challenge: world peace.
Belali was recently awarded the Farhat J. Ziadeh Youth Leadership Award by the Northwest's Arab-American community for creating and leading the American Moroccan International Exchange (AMIE), a non-profit organization that bridges the cultural divide between Americans and Moroccans.
"Iman exemplifies a student with determination, passion and an understanding of what it takes to be a global citizen," said Liberty Principal Mike Deletis.
After visiting her family's native city of Chefchaouen in Morocco, Belali at the age of 12 decided she'd had enough of negative stereotyping: the American media portrayed Arabs as crazed terrorists, and Arabs perceived Americans as heavy-handed invaders in the Middle East, she said.
Using $5,000 from her own college fund, Belali created AMIE in 2004 and began an exchange program for teens. Specifically, Belali wanted Moroccan and American teenage girls to meet and experience each other's culture, inspiring a new generation from each country to commit to understanding and peace.
"I would like Americans to know that although Arabs might have different cultures, dress differently, eat different foods, or speak another language, in the end we are all human beings," Belali said. "We all have 
the same aspirations and dreams; dreams of a better and fulfilling life for us and generations that come after us."
So far, about 60 girls have participated in exchanges. A Moroccan delegation came to Issaquah the summer of 2005; an American delegation went to Morocco the summer of 2006; and AMIE is currently recruiting families to host a Moroccan delegation this summer.
Belali even rallied the City of Issaquah in December to establish an official sister-city connection with Chefchaouen. A group from Issaquah-including the mayor and representatives from the City Council and Issaquah Chamber of Commerce-will travel to Morocco in April for a sister-city signing ceremony with Chefchaouen's mayor and the U.S. ambassador to Morocco.
For more information about AMIE or to inquire about hosting a Moroccan exchange student for the summer program, go to www.amieonline.org.