In service to the community

By Ashourina Slewo

“Service is about community,” says Saad Marouf, 68, former chairman of the Chaldean Federation of America. Truly serving any community, he says, is about serving and doing what you can for someone without expecting anything in return. 

Born in Iraq, Marouf learned much about service from his own father, who even in the face of opposition and naysayers, did what he believed was right for his community.

Iskander Marouf taught his son the importance of serving his community, says Marouf.

As a journalist and newspaper owner in Iraq, Marouf’s father faced much scrutiny, especially as he did not shy away from speaking on the politics that dominated the region. 

On one occasion, Marouf’s father criticized an elected official, which lead to the shutting down of his newspaper. Without hesitation, he started another one. Over the course of his life, Iskander started a total of newspapers, each time more eager than the last to write about the plight of his community.

“The government shut down his paper, but that did not stop him,” said Marouf. “I can’t remember the name of them all, but he had four newspapers total. A Christian writing and speaking out, it was unheard of.”

Beyond his writings and his work within the church, Marouf’s father ran for a seat on Iraq’s Parliament in the 1940s. 

“A shamasha running for Parliament,” Marouf says in awe. “People thought he was crazy; crazy that a Christian wanted to run for Parliament. But he was doing it to give our people a voice, so we could be represented by one of our own.”

With the political landscape of Iraq, Marouf felt that much of his father’s activism and work in the community directly put him in the line of fire. Well aware of the potential danger he faced, Iskander moved forward, willing to sacrifice himself for his people.

Marouf feels similarly about his own work within the community. If he can help just one person, it will all be worth it, he says. 

The two-time Chaldean Federation Chairman became active within his community long before he came to the United States. He worked with church and youth groups; the Legion of Mary being one of the main groups he worked with. The Legion of Mary would eventually extend into the states through Marouf’s encouragement among the youth.

Coming to the U.S. as a young adult in November 1973, Marouf focused on his studies as a full-time student at University of Detroit Mercy, while simultaneously balancing a full-time job with his community engagement.

“At that time, the emphasis was not on education,” he explained. “I remember my classmates and I would go to a café to study and the older men, who we respected very much of course, would tell us that we were wasting our time.”

While the perception around pursuing higher education was not the most positive or encouraging, Marouf persisted.

Recognizing his business acumen in addition to his persistence when it came to higher education, Marouf established a business alongside his family.

In the midst of all of this, he maintained his presence within the community. The fervor to serve intensified during Marouf’s time in Oak Park. With his children attending Oak Park Schools, he noticed a gap in representation between students. 

“There was no one in the administration or on the Oak Park School Board that understood what our kids needed,” he explained. “How are they supposed to know what Chaldean kids from Iraq need. They don’t even speak the same language.”

Thus came the decision to run for Oak Park School Board.

“I won that election by a landslide,” Marouf proclaimed proudly.

At this point, Marouf had been in the country for just 13 years, but had developed a strong enough connection with his community that they entrusted him with their vote, electing him to the Oak Park School Board.

Taking his service to the Oak Park community one step further Marouf ran for Oak Park City Council. While the race was unsuccessful, he is proud of the work he put in as he lost by just over 10 votes. 

His work in the Oak Park community and with the Chaldean Federation of America is just the tip of the iceberg. Marouf’s work across communities span across several years as the father and grandfather has dedicated the majority of his life to his community.

In recent years, the community advocate has slowed down, taking extra time to be with his children, Amelia, 38, and Alex, 33, and their children. 

Speaking of her father’s work, Amelia recalls her father dedicating as much time to her and her brother as he did to his outreach. 

“I don’t know how, but he was always there for us,” she recalled fondly. “It didn’t matter what was happening or how tired he was, he always made sure he was there for us.”

For Marouf, service is in his blood; he serves his community, relentlessly advocating for the progress and betterment of the whole. Even as he has slowed down over the years, he is dedicated to serving as voice for those who need it.

“If my community needs me, I will be there, no matter what,” he says with gusto. “I cannot see people be deprived of their rights. I have to rise up and help them. I have to fight for them.”