Dec. 16 Concert to Benefit Syrian Refugees!

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Date: Wednesday December 16, 2015
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Red Room at Cafe 939
939 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115
 

Curated and organized by musicians Gabriela Martina (CH), Sophie Maricq (ESP/UK/BE) and Jussi Reijonen (FIN) in collaboration with Berklee College of Music’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, SONIC RELIEF is a humanitarian fundraising concert to gather donations and raise awareness to aid refugees of the war in Syria. Now in its fifth year, the war has cost the lives of more than 250,000 people, and displaced over 11 million people, creating a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.

 

This concert brings together musicians from around the world who will perform classical repertoire of their respective traditions to promote social awareness of the Syrian humanitarian crisis. Performing onstage will be world-renowned Arabic oud (11-string fretless lute) and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen, as well as the Lee Swensen Katz Trio with Cleveland Quartet founding member and Grammy-award winning cellist Paul Katz. All artists are forgoing their performance fees to support the cause.

 

All proceeds will be donated towards humanitarian aid in refugee camps and conflict-affected areas in Syria and Jordan via Questscope, an international 501(c)(3) organization based in Jordan. All gifts to Questscope qualify as charitable contributions and are 100% tax-deductible.

 

Also appearing as a guest speaker and sharing his experience as a Syrian displaced by the conflict will be Mr. Razek Siriani from Aleppo, as well as Ms.Nadia Rhodes Schroeder from Questscope giving a presentation on the organization’s work in the conflict-affected areas.

 

Tickets can be purchased through the following link: http://bit.ly/1TQNttn

 

If by any means you can’t make it but still would like to contribute, you can donate through the following direct link: http://www.classy.org/sonicrelief

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

The SONIC RELIEF Team

 

December 11th Film Screening

 

The CAC and Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT Present:

 

TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO

“The story of the first democracy in the Arab world.”
A Film by Feriel Ben Mahmoud
 
December Film

 

We will be joined by Guest Speaker Professor Rachid Aadnani
for a discussion after the film.

Date: December 11, 2o15

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Center for Arabic Culture

191 Highland Av. Suit 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

About the Film:

On January 14th, 2011, the people of Tunisia took to the streets in mass protest and toppled the government of Ben Ali. The event has a tremendous impact in the region which triggers the Arab Spring. Following the revolution, Tunisians make the radical choice to draft a new state constitution. Called to the urns for the first free elections of their history, the citizens of Tunisia will have to choose which model of society they wish to live in. Islam, secularism and women’s status become the major themes of a campaign under high pressure.

Following the events day by day, TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO tells the story of a difficult birth: that of the first democracy in the Arab world. In 6 months, no less than 110 political parties were created. In this political turmoil, a few of them emerge: the Islamist party Ennhada seduces those disappointed with the revolution. Some other modernist parties, such as Ettakatol and the PDP, are divided on the content of their policies as well as on which strategy to adopt. Leading the polls, Ennahdha will confirm its success in the elections with more than 90 seats out of 217.

How could these results be predicted? TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO gives the reasons for the outcome of the elections.

This Event is Free and Open to the Public

Donations Welcome

 

Keep Arabic Culture Alive!

Donate to CACKeep Arabic Culture Alive!

 

Zobian Family

“We are very proud and happy to be part of the CAC family, where we made many new friends and rekindle old friendships, while our children learn our language and culture in a wonderful family environment.”
 
Dr. Assef Zobian and Family

 

The Center for Arabic Culture (CAC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes Arabic language, culture and the Arab American experience at its best, through its Arabic school at Mt. Ida College in Newton and its Center at the Armory in Somerville.

CAC’s main goal is to build bridges and open exchanges between the Arab-American community and the New England Community at large. CAC is reaching its 10-year mark and its existence is only possible because of generous donors like you, the vision of its founders and current Board, the hardworking staff member, its teachers and the many volunteers.

Why support CAC?

  • At the CAC Arabic School we pride ourselves in offering a secular education embracing everyone and for all age groups starting from 3 year olds to adults, holding small class sizes.
  • Our organization succeeded in establishing the first Arab American Children Choir in New England. With 25 members, the choir introduced Arabic music through various concerts in the Greater Boston Area.  It sang with the NY Arabic Orchestra at the 2015 annual CAC spring Celebration.
  • We are becoming a valuable resource to numerous organizations in Massachusetts. The Boston Public Library, the American Cancer Society, the Somerville Office of Commissions and the Aga Khan Documentation center at MIT, to name a few, have all relied on CAC for advice, inquiries, events, and educational resources.
  • In 2015, CAC featured Arab-American artists, Arabic films, exhibitions, and held cooking classes, Arabic colloquial classes and a fashion show at the Armory in Somerville.  It organized and sponsored comedy shows and concerts, as well as talented musicians from Boston together with musicians from New York under the direction of our ardent supporter and musician Bassam Saba.
  • CAC was able to train and supervise more than 20 interns during 2014 and 2015, the vast majority of whom are of non-Arab descent and interested in learning about the Arabic Culture.

    Mark Naylor

    “I started learning Arabic six years ago for work reasons, but I’ve continued my studies (and started my children learning here) because of the warm welcome, support, encouragement, and professionalism of the CAC staff, teachers, and families. We couldn’t ask for a better environment in which to learn about Arabic culture and language!”
    Mark Naylor, founder of Partner Capital,
    a company focused on US real estate
    investing by Middle East clients

We pride ourselves in having created all this programming with only one paid staff member and a large team of volunteers.  With your support we can continue to bring more content.

Please continue to be generous as our services are unique and are not offered elsewhere in Massachusetts. We aim to offer an intensive summer course for children this summer and we hope to grow our extra-curricular activities for them.  Your funding makes our programming for you possible.  The school tuition barely pays for the rent and the teachers.

All our contributing donors above $100 will automatically become CAC members and enjoy our membership benefits according to their level of contribution. CAC is a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  Donations are tax-exempt.

Your gift is what keeps CAC going.

Donate to CAC

 

 

 

 

Photos By: Jan Komsta

The Aida Camp Alphabet

Come hear about this bilingual storybook made by children of Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, The West Bank!

Book Reading Event with Professor Amahl Bishara

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Saturday, December 5, 4:30-6:00

191 Highland Av. Suite 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

Middle Eastern Reception & Light refreshments will be served. Free to the Public 

Children of Aida Refugee Camp at Lajee Center made this bilingual storybook. It is for people of all ages (5-105) to learn about everyday life in a Palestinian refugee camp. You will pick up some Arabic, too!

Copies are $20, bulk rates available. Also available is The Boy and the Wall (2005, $15), a bilingual children’s book about how a young boy dreams of resisting the wall that oppresses his community every day, and how his mother supports his dreams for freedom and his imagination. Both books feature collage art made collectively by children at Lajee Center.

For more information, email Amahl Bishara at friendsoflajee@gmail.com.

All proceeds benefit Lajee Center, www.lajee.org.

Thank you for your support of our work!

Mujid S. Kazimi Memorial Fund

Mujid S. Kazimi Memorial Fund

The MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering has established an endowed fund in honor of our dear friend Professor Mujid Kazimi to support graduate students. Mujid passed away suddenly in July while on business in China.

Professor Kazimi, a pillar of the Arab-American community in the United States, was a staunch advocate for education and a strong supporter of the Center for Arabic Culture.
To read more about the Kazimi Memorial Fund and make a contribution, please click on the following link:

November 2015 Cook With CAC Session!

Class if Full! Registration is now closed

Check our website for the next class date! We will announce it soon!

Cook With CAC! Kunafa Nabulsieh Lesson!

kunafa

Join the New Cook with CAC session at Union Kitchen on November 13! Enjoy home-style Arabic authentic cooking you cannot find at any culinary school. We’ll learn a popular Arabic dessert “Kunafa”! It is a very famous Arabic dish and an excellent addition to the table during Thanksgiving and the holidays! It is a hands on Class! Learn and Dine!

Location: Union Kitchen 121 Washington St. Somerville, MA 02143

Date: Friday Nov. 13, 2015 6:15- 9:00 pm

Registration Fee: $35/ person

To Register today Click Here

Künefe

October Film Screening

 

The Center for Arabic Culture &
The Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT
Present
Creative Dissent Exhibit Film Screening of

October Film

A Documentary by Lillie Paquiett

Going beyond the headlines, this story—filmed in the fourteen months leading up to the Revolution— highlights the years of mounting resentment against the ruling regime. Filmmaker Lillie Paquette follows key opposition figures and young democracy activists as they struggle against extraordinary odds to remove an uncompromising US-backed authoritarian regime determined to stay in power.

Date: Friday October 30, 2015

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Center for Arabic Culture

191 Highland Av. Suit 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

Free and Open to the Public

Followed by an Open Discussion with director Lillie Paquette

Fall 2015 Film Screenings

The CAC & the Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT
Are collaborating this fall
to present 3 award-winning documentaries! 
These films are part of the  Creative Dissent Exhibit at MIT.

CAC logoMIT


November Film

November filim

Directed by Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi

“Winner at the Sundance Film Festival, 5 Broken Cameras is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements.”

Date: Friday November 20, 2015

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Center for Arabic Culture

191 Highland Av. Suite 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

Free and Open to the Public


December Film

TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO

“The story of the first democracy in the Arab world.”

December Film

A Film by Feriel Ben Mahmoud

On January 14th, 2011, the people of Tunisia took to the streets in mass protest and toppled the government of Ben Ali. The event has a tremendous impact in the region which triggers the Arab Spring. Following the revolution, Tunisians make the radical choice to draft a new state constitution. Called to the urns for the first free elections of their history, the citizens of Tunisia will have to choose which model of society they wish to live in. Islam, secularism and women’s status become the major themes of a campaign under high pressure.

Following the events day by day, TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO tells the story of a difficult birth: that of the first democracy in the Arab world. In 6 months, no less than 110 political parties were created. In this political turmoil, a few of them emerge: the Islamist party Ennhada seduces those disappointed with the revolution. Some other modernist parties, such as Ettakatol and the PDP, are divided on the content of their policies as well as on which strategy to adopt. Leading the polls, Ennahdha will confirm its success in the elections with more than 90 seats out of 217.

How could these results be predicted? TUNISIA, YEAR ZERO gives the reasons for the outcome of the elections.

Date: Friday December 11, 2015

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Center for Arabic Culture

191 Highland Av. Suit 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

Free and Open to the Public


October Film

October Film

A Documentary by Lillie Paquiett

Going beyond the headlines, this story—filmed in the fourteen months leading up to the Revolution— highlights the years of mounting resentment against the ruling regime. Filmmaker Lillie Paquette follows key opposition figures and young democracy activists as they struggle against extraordinary odds to remove an uncompromising US-backed authoritarian regime determined to stay in power.

Date: Friday October 30, 2015

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Center for Arabic Culture

191 Highland Av. Suit 6B. Somerville, MA 02143

Free and Open to the Public

Followed by an Open Discussion with director Lillie Paquette

 


Art Exhibition: Creative Dissent

 

Creative Dissent: Arts of the Arab World Uprisings

 

This exhibit explores the visual arts and other expressive media of the recent Arab World Uprisings.

Art Exhibition September 10 – December 23, 2015

Opening Reception Thursday, September 17, 2015, 5:30-7 pm

The Elliot K. Wolk Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 9AM – 5PM. The gallery is located in MIT Building 7, Room 338, at 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2948.1758734081213!2d-71.09415999999997!3d42.36009099999999!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x89e370aaf51a6a87%3A0xd0e08ea5b308203c!2sMassachusetts+Institute+of+Technology!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1441293312379&w=400&h=300]

 

About the Exhibition:

Images are often used as communicative devices to present politicized messages. During the recent Arab World uprisings, demonstrators created images to express opposition to incumbent governments and members of the ruling elite. Over and again, activists, protesters, artists, and other individuals adopted the expressive media—including videos, photographs, painted and digital images, as well as slogans, music, and even puppets—to create visualized and performed modes of dissent within public space, both in the streets and online.

www.artsofthearabworlduprisings.com

 

The CAC will be showing three films this Fall as a part of the Creative Dissent Exhibition – Stay tuned for more information!

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