Mark Jacobsen created this video of our volunteers working with some local refugees to make decorations for Halloween, sharing culture and learning from each other.

The video was originally posted in 2017 but we are reposting it now as a reminder of working together to keep hope alive. Refugees continue to arrive in our area and we need to be ready to help them not just with financial and in-kind aid, but also to help them feel comfortable in their new community and make friends. It is so important to engage with the refugees to make sure they are adjusting to their new homes and community and identify any problems that may need our assistance in resolving early on.

Thank you Mark for putting this together!

Please note that this event has been cancelled. The Seattle Men’s Chorus hopes to reschedule the event in the future and we will keep you posted. You can still donate to our New Life Fund to continue to aid the LGBTQ refugees. Thank you for your support during these difficult times.

On March 20 and 21, the Seattle Men’s Chorus will be performing at Benaroya Hall with a program that is intended to spotlight Seattle as an epicenter of an “underground railway” to bring LGBTQ people from areas where they face persecution and threat of death for being LGBTQ. Members of the Chorus have made it their life’s mission to conduct this pathway to safety.

SCM Medical Missions is joining with the Seattle Men’s Chorus to help provide a safe route to refugees, who find themselves in camps or other countries where they are persecuted, attacked and threatened, to obtain asylum in Canada through Rainbow Refugee. You can read more about the Seattle Men’s Chorus and their program, and we hope you will consider attending the concert. SCM will have a table in the lobby providing more information about SCM and our efforts to help protect the most vulnerable refugee populations such as LGBTQ people. You can also donate to our NEW LIFE FUND to help these refugees find safety.

We’re excited to announce that Rita Zawaideh, of SCM Medical Missions will be part of a Post-Show Dialogue following the evening performance of People of the Book on Sept 15.

For more information about the performance and tickets, click here: https://acttheatre.org/season/2019-2/peopleofthebook/

About the play:

In this world premiere play by ACT 2018 Core Member, Yussef El Guindi, Jason returns from war to literary glory after writing an international best-seller, but his celebrity is underscored by his marriage to Madeeha, an Iraqi woman he saved. When he reunites with old friends, Amir and Lynn, questions emerge about the veracity of the book and its particular patriotic American gaze. Lust, jealousy, and personal politics bring things between old friends to a boiling point and we are asked “what is the expense of lies – personally and as a country?”

Also joining the after-show discussion is Jeb Wyman, of Antioch University Seattle. Hope to see you there!

Anera is hosting an interfaith Iftar and fundraiser in Seattle on Wednesday, May 30th at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Skinner Auditorium in the Saint Nicholas Building. The event will feature Teen Vogue’s chef Abeer Naijar, who will be giving a cooking demonstration. While Ramadan and Iftar being the theme of the dinner, we invite and encourage communities of all faiths to attend in solidarity with refugees. All proceeds will go to sending food and relief to families in Palestine and Lebanon. This is vital to supporting those affected by the critical situation in Gaza.

More information is available on the Facebook event page: ANERA Iftar & Fundraiser Event

Come and enjoy a delicious dinner buffet of Middle Eastern food while supporting our friends in #Gaza and #Lebanon. We are featuring a young Palestinian-American chef, Abeer Najjer, who has been highlighted in Teen Vogue and was Lifetime Magazine’s selection to represent Illinois in HER AMERICA: 50 WOMEN, 50 STATES.

Abeer will talk about her experience as an immigrant, her passion for food, and Ramadan traditions. We’ll also get to enjoy one of her decadent desserts. Space is limited, please get your tickets today.
** Several vegetarian and non-vegetarian items available**

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to sending one month’s supply of food to families in Gaza & Lebanon.

This event is sponsored by Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Arab Alliance Chamber of Com of Wa St, Voices For Palestine, Middle East Focus Group, and the Salaam Cultural Center.

All are welcome!

About the Musicians

Here is a little bit about the musicians that will be featured for our benefit concert on September 24, 2017 at the Center for Spiritual Living (5801 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105). The doors open at 5pm and you can get your tickets by clicking here: BUY TICKETS

We hope you will join us! We will have children’s songs and songs of Syria in addition to the performances by the three main artists. Refreshments will be served and all proceeds will go to support SCM refugee programs.

Amal Alissa: Amal started her music journey at the early at age 4 in Syria playing piano and taking lessons where she played many concerts, after high school Amal took the professional route where she joined the High Institute Of Music in Damascus, a very high regarded music school in the Middle East, studied Piano as a student of Prof. Cynthia Alwadi and got her bachelor degree.
Amal was the soloist for the Syrian Symphony Orchestra where she played many concerts with different international conductors, and accompanied Choirs and many International Opera singers.

To continue pursuing her academic dreams, Amal moved to Lyon France to finish her graduate studies in the Conservatoire National De Region de Lyon where she earned her DPS in Piano and Harpsichord with Professor Marie-Annick Chamarande and Marie-Christiane Pinget.

Professor Bassam Bishara: Professor Bassam Bishara, musical Director, Composer, Oud (violin, Qanoun) and a Lead Vocal, was born in Rama-Upper Galilee, to a Palestinian music family. He started his music education at the Robin Conservatory in Haifa, and graduated from the music department of the Hebrew University. Bassam taught Middle Eastern music at the Music Academy in Jerusalem. He eventually went on to teach in private schools and formed a Middle Eastern Orchestra quickly becoming sought after throughout Palestine. In 1983, he was appointed Music Director for Alhakawati Theatre in Jerusalem, where his concerts, music and songs were dedicated to the Palestine cause. He also performed internationally as a soloist, blending tradition and innovation, and forging important musical links between the Middle East and the West, from traditional Arab compositions and arrangements to jazz, documentary films, and orchestral scores.

Bassam has received several awards: the “Award of Honor” for his achievements in linking traditional Arabic music and the music of the West; the “Jerusalem Encouragement Award” for his contribution to the revival of cultural heritage; the “Arabic Radio Broadcast Award” for his contribution in the revival of Folk songs of the land; and the “Arab Women Association Award” (London, England) for his role in reconstructing classical and traditional Arabic repertoires. He has performed in Canada, England, Germany, Palestine, Sweden, and at several universities in the United States. Bassam produced several CDs of traditional music and songs among which a recording of various Arabic instruments that he plays and mix in the recording studio, producing a final recording of “One Man Band”. Bassam moved to Canada in 2001. He teaches Middle Eastern music at York University and is the music director and composer for Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra.

Nader Kabbani: Pianist Nader Kabbani is VP of Amazon’s Global Transportation Solutions. He has been with Amazon for over 11 years and has been deeply involved in Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and in launching the Amazon Kindle and Amazon’s digital music and video services.

Nader holds an M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering degrees both from Texas A&M University. In addition to his talent as a classical pianist, he is an avid swimmer and squash player. Nader, his wife Oraib and their four daughters live in Bellevue, Washington, and have been long time supporters of SCM.