A cultural center nestled in the southeastern part of Michigan, Dearborn provides a rare opportunity to glimpse a rich Muslim community.

Home to Ford Motor Co., the Detroit suburb of Dearborn has the highest concentration of people of Arab descent outside the Middle East -- about 30,000 residents in a town of 100,000.

Walking through the neighborhoods of Dearborn, 315 miles from Indianapolis, one encounters bakeries with an array of enticing fresh pastries and butcher shops selling halal meats, in accordance with Islamic law. Shops with signs in flowing Arabic fill the area around Warren Avenue and Dix Street.

For a real treat, try the bird's nest, a shredded-wheat-like pastry nestled with honey and pistachios that resemble eggs.

Or take in one of the many tiny, hole-in-the-wall authentic restaurants. Let the scents of mint, licoricelike anise and garlic lead you in to sample the various kebabs, hummus, tabouli and falafel.

Picky eaters can always fill up on soft, fresh-from-the-oven pita bread -- supermarket pita tastes like crackers compared with the homemade version. Try Al-Ameer and Al-Ajami restaurants and Golden Bakery, all on Warren Avenue, and La Shish restaurant, which has various locations, including two on Michigan Avenue.

No matter which restaurant you try, be sure to order baklava, another delectable pastry.

The variety of food is a natural result of the eclectic origins of the Muslim community in Dearborn.

The largest group of Arab-Americans is originally from Lebanon. They arrived in the early 20th century to work in the automobile industry. Today they are joined by more recent immigrants of Yemeni, Jordanian, Iraqi and Palestinian descent.

Be sure to visit the Islamic Center of America, which bills itself as the largest mosque in North America, where you can examine the ornate dome. Tours of the center, on Ford Road, should be scheduled in advance.

The mosque includes a prayer hall with carpeted space oriented for praying toward Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest site in Islam. As Muslims arrive for services, the call to prayer echoes throughout the "masjid," or house of worship, and its surrounding grounds.

Another must-see in Dearborn is the Arab American National Museum, the only one of its kind. It was opened in 2005 in response to an outpouring of interest in Arab affairs and Islam. Videos and murals portray Arab-Americans in all walks of life, putting their experiences into the context of the larger melting pot of immigrant America.

The entire community is incredibly welcoming, as Y-Press reporters discovered during a weeklong look at Arab-American experiences post-9/11. "I love when people come and they ask me questions," said Reema Abusalah, 15. She's Palestinian and wears a "hijab," or head covering. "Those are the people that don't hold stereotypes, that are actually trying to get to know us and our religion." ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amber Carter, 18. REPORTERS: Jake Thornburgh, 14; and Rachel Gardner, 12.

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Events in Dearborn

"Engaging the Other: The Power of Compassion," Oct. 25-28. The international conference, sponsored by the Michigan-based Common Bond Institute, is bringing together 60 presenters representing various cultures, countries and disciplines to explore ways to enhance world compassion, peace and understanding. Information at www.cbiworld.org or (269) 665-9393.

"The 4th Annual Arab American National Museum Concert Gala," 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Fundraiser features the Umm Kulthoum Egyptian Orchestra for a night of classical Arabic music. It will be at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St. For ticket information, go to www.arabamericanmuseum.org.

"Third Annual Arab Film Festival," Nov. 2-4. Films by and about Arabs and Arab-Americans at the Arab American National Museum. Go to the museum Web site for more information.

To learn more

City of Dearborn: www.cityofdearborn.org.

Arab American News: www.arabamericannews.com.

Islamic Center of America: www.icofa.com.

To learn more about Y-Press, go to www.ypress.org.

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About this story

A team of Y-Press reporters and editors traveled to Dearborn, Mich., this summer to work with another group of youth journalists, 8-18 Media from Marquette, Mich.

The nine researched the lives of Muslim youths and interviewed kids about their commitment to culture and faith, and the discrimination they've faced. The youths also explored the city and interviewed Mayor John O'Reilly Jr. and Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, who leads the Islamic House of Wisdom. The trip was funded by a peer-to-peer grant from the Arsalyn Program of the Ludwick Family Foundation of Glendora, Calif. Arsalyn is dedicated to encouraging youths to become politically involved as lifelong voters and dedicated to improving their communities. Youths in Marquette have broadcast their work on WMQT-FM and WNMU-FM in their area.

Copyright 2007 Y-Press