Arab American Heritage Month

Celebrating Arab American Resilience and Diversity

For the month of April, Western recognizes Arab Americans past and present, celebrates the diverse heritages and acknowledges our Arab community here on-campus.

Events

WWU Libraries Display for Arab American Heritage Month

April 1st-April 30th in Haggard Hall 2nd Floor and online

During the month of April please join Western Libraries in recognizing Arab American Heritage Month. A mix of media recommendations will be available on display throughout the month on the 2nd floor of Haggard Hall. Western Libraries celebrates AAHM with this collection of books and music highlighting the diverse contributions and stories of Arab Americans.

You can check out these highlights online.

The Centers Lunch & Learn: Spring Identity/Heritage Months

Wednesday, April 3rd at 12pm, VU 735

Please join The Centers for a community celebration. Multicultural Student Services, LGBTQ+Western and the Blue Resource Center are coming together to celebrate the cultural and heritage observations for April. We are celebrating Arab American Heritage Month, Undocu Month and GAYpril. There will be free food, a clothing swap, great conversation, and more!

2024 Ramadan Banquet

Friday April 4th 6pm-9pm VU MPR

Hosted by the WWU Muslim Student Association (MSA). The event Ticket purchase is $10 and we welcome everyone to join including WWU students, faculty, and Bellingham Community. Please join us Thursday April 4 in Viking Union MPR. Program Begins 6:30. Iftar provided by Tandoori Bites.

Arab Poetry Night

Thursday April 11th at 7-9pm in the Underground Coffee House VU 3rd floor

Hosted by the Arab Student Association, PALS WWU Poetry Club and the Residence Life Inclusion Assistants. Join us to learn about Arab poetry and enjoy tea and snacks from Mediterranean Specialties Café. You will participate in a writing workshop with writers Hana Saad and Emily Khilfeh as facilitators. Hana Saad is a Lebanese-American storyteller from Tulsa, OK. She was a 2023 artist-in-residence at the National Arab American Museum, and currently is an MFA candidate in poetry at Arizona State University. Emily Khilfeh is a half-Palestinian poet from Seattle, WA. Her work has previously appeared in Pinwheel, and she was a 2017 fellow at the Bucknell Seminar for Undergraduate Poets.

Station Takeover

Arab American Heritage “station takeover” at Viking Commons

Week of April 15th hosted by Chef Adam and Chef Mark from Chartwells

Flyer featuring a high res picture of a fresh green salad with crunchy bread crusts and red onions, with a small insert of the Arabiyya cookbook cover

Arab American Heritage Month Celebration

Thursday April 18, 5pm at The Eatery at Ridgeway Commons

Featuring recipes inspired by Arabiyya, by Reem Assil

Lunch and Learn mini flyer, featuring colorful text and a portrait of speaker sonj basha in a black shirt and tan hat

The Centers Lunch & Learn: Being Queer & Arab

Wednesday, April 24th at 12pm, VU 735

Join us for lunch in the Multicultural Center! Joining us for a dynamic community dialogue is sonj basha who is a facilitator and community organizer. We will be engaging the community in a dialogue about identity intersectionality of Queer and Arab identities. After this community event there will be additional opportunities to engage in an affinity space for the campus community. Catering provided by Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine

Benefit Dinner mini-flyer, featuring a deep red background and gold decorative graphics

World Relief Organization

Friday April 26th, 6pm in the VU MPR

Hosted by the Arab Student Association and Residence Life Inclusion Assistants. Join us as we collect donations to support the work of the World Relief organization. Representatives from World Relief Western Washington will be present to share more about the work being done in our local community. We will have a dinner celebration including a raffle fundraiser. Join in on some social activities as we honor and support the services of World Relief. We ask that attendees RSVP through this form: AAHM Benefit Dinner RSVP. Space is limited, so please share with your networks and encourage them to RSVP.

"Palestine Solidarity Events at Western"

Filmmaker Jen Marlowe and Scholar Dana M. Olwan will visit Western for a series of events foregrounding the challenges and possibilities of transnational Palestinian solidarity movements.

These events are organized and hosted by the departments listed below.

Screening and Discussion of ‘There is a Field’

Monday, April 29 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in Fraser Hall 102

This event will feature a screening of the film “There is a Field” followed by a discussion led by the filmmaker Jen Marlowe and WWU professor Dr. Nada Elia. The film tells the story of Aseel Asleh, a 17-year old Palestinian citizen of Israel killed by police in October 2000. Based on interviews and primary sources collected over fourteen years, the play offers a uniquely personal lens for understanding inequality as the root of state violence and impunity. Jen’s screening and discussion is generously co-sponsored by the Center for Education, Equity, and Diversity; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Fairhaven College, and the Department of English.

Jen Marlowe with arms up in victory at the top of a mountain

Feminist Solidarities Roundtable

Tuesday, April 30 from 1:00 - 2:50 pm in Fraser Hall 102

Dr. Olwan will join scholars and activists from WWU including Dr. Dolores Calderón, Dr. Veró Vélez, Dr. Mariangela Mihai, Asch Qattawi, and Dr. Nada Elia to foreground the challenges, possibilities, and ongoing praxis to build worlds beyond violence with an emphasis on queer and feminist formations. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Tamara Lea Spira.

Palestine and the Politics of Feminist Solidarities

Tuesday, April 30, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 pm in Miller Hall 138

Dr. Olwan will deliver a lecture and Q&A session. This talk will consider: Where, how, and why does feminist solidarity work, falter, or fail? And what forms of transnational feminist solidarity are necessary to confront multiple and overlapping forms of oppression within and across varying geographies? Dr. Olwan’s talk and roundtable are generously co-sponsored by the Center for Education, Equity, and Diversity; the Education and Social Justice Minor; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Fairhaven College; the Department of Anthropology, and the Department of English. Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is greatly appreciated. Please email spirat@wwu.edu to arrange for accommodations.