Alif Institutes December 2025 Newsletter

December 2025 Newsletter

OUR MISSION:To foster the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of Arabic cultures.

OUR VISION: One world, united through the power of Arts & Culture.

Dear Alif community,

WOW! I can hardly believe how quickly the past 12 months have flown by. It feels as though it was only yesterday that I was thanking you for the incredible support and dedication you continue to show year after year to your invaluable institution in its mission.

Despite the harsh challenges of the past two years, our community has demonstrated remarkable resilience, compassion, and collaboration. Together, we have continued to move forward with strength, purpose, and a great deal of creativity, reinforcing the values that define who we are as Arab Americans and why our work truly matters.

Thanks to your continued support, this year we were able to touch the lives of over 19,000 individuals across diverse backgrounds and age groups, telling our stories, sharing our heritage, and most importantly, connecting with one another.

Our institution continues to grow, and our programs continue to develop, reflecting the diversity and interests of the community we serve.

As we step into the New Year, I look forward to all that we will continue to build together. Wishing you all a safe, peaceful, and joyful 2026.

In appreciation,

Mouna AbdelhamidExecutive Director

2026 HOLIDAY HOURS -

Alif Institute is closed and will resume normal operating hours on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Until then, you can always reach us via email at info@alifinstitute.org. Have a safe and happy holiday break!

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Upcoming Programs & Events

JANUARY 6

JANUARY 10

JANUARY 11

JANUARY 17

JANUARY 20

JANUARY 24

FEBRUARY 7

Join us for an advanced screening of the movie everyone is talking about, All That’s Left of You. The movie begins at 3:00 pm but come at 2:15 pm and have a Palestinian-style lunch of maftool with chickpeas, onions & chicken in a tomato sauce (vegetarian version without chicken), salad, dessert. Grab your tickets ($10) and lunch ($15) by visiting our Movie Nights page.

Click the banner above to find out about all our Arabic Language classes for KIDS and ADULTS starting in January! If you are new to the program, be sure to connect with us at the in-person Open House at ALIF INSTITUTE on January 10 (12pm -3pm) or virtually on January 17 (12pm - 1pm). Questions? EMAIL US and we’ll be happy to help.

Alif’s Winter/Spring 2026 Arabic Music Program is open for registration! Offerings include oud and tabla/derbakeh classes and workshops, Ladies Arabic Chorus, and Arabic Music Jam Sessions. Click HERE or EMAIL US for more details.

Announcing our Summer 2026 Zaytoona Arabic Cultural Immersion Camp for children! REGISTRATION is now open. Last year was a huge success and the word is spreading fast! Space is very limited, so don’t wait until the last minute…Click HERE or EMAIL US for more information.

November/December Recap

11/1 & 12/6 - Sahtain wa Hana & Kan ya Makan

Thanks to our incredible volunteers who feed both our tummies and our hearts with delicious Arabic food and heartfelt stories. November and December are always big months at Alif, and this year was no exception. Our Sahtain wa Hana volunteers prepared soulful meals that brought our community together, with their soups becoming a huge hit at A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World Bazaar. Special thanks to Angela Khoury for leading and supporting this dedicated team—we are so grateful and look forward to many more shared meals ahead in 2026. Join us on January 10 from 12 pm - 3 pm for a delicious start to the New Year!

Kan Ya Makan Arabic Storytime & Crafts continues to spark joy for our youngest community members. Lara Karam Dempsey did a wonderful job, as always, reading stories and leading engaging activities for children and their parents—helping instill a love of reading and Arab cultures from an early age. This beloved program is free and open to all children, from infants to 6 years old. We hope you can join us at the first Kan ya Makan of 2026 on Saturday, January 10 from 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm!

11/4 & 12/2 - Music Jam

Musicians and music lovers—newbies and professionals alike—bonding over their shared love of Arabic music, with an impromptu tabla lesson along the way…this is what our Arabic Music Jam is all about! Our November and December jams continued to gain momentum, bringing together a vibrant, welcoming community. If you’d like to join the next Music Jam, please EMAIL US. It’s completely free and a wonderful way to connect with fellow musicians and music enthusiasts.

11/11 - Dabkeh Workshop

The amazing Samir Hasan of Al Fursan Dabkah & Zaffah Group put the “fun” in “fundamentals” during his November dabkeh workshop! Participants left with a strong grasp of the basic dabkeh steps—ready to jump right in at the next wedding, party, or celebration. If you’d like to connect more deeply with this beloved tradition, stay tuned—we’ll be announcing our 2026 dabkeh workshop schedule soon!

11/19 - Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum & AAWSG

The Arab American Women’s Society of Georgia (AAWSG) and Alif Institute love adding a touch of Arab culture to Fernbank Museum’s annual Winter Wonderland. We are honored to be invited back year after year to decorate a tree with cultural items and curate a display of Arabic artifacts. Heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this year’s display another beautiful and meaningful celebration. Winter Wonderland is still up through January 11, so be sure to pass by!

11/20 - ALIF INSTITUTE at The Kiwanis Club of Buckhead

For the past several years, the Kiwanis Club of Buckhead has invited Alif Institute to share our work and celebrate Arab cultures. This year, we were honored to have Alif parent and former board member Teresa Abboud El Rassi represent us. Speaking from the heart, Teresa shared her life and experiences as a Lebanese American artist, her meaningful involvement with Alif Institute, and the beauty and richness of her culture. Thank you, Teresa, for being such a wonderful ambassador for our community!

11/22 - Cooking Class: Pumpkin Kibbeh

Guest chef, Teresa Abboud El Rassi, led a truly special cooking class that beautifully illustrated how culture helps preserve memory. After the recent loss of her mother, Teresa chose to honor her mom by teaching her grandmother’s cherished recipe, handed down to her by her mother, with the assistance of her two daughters. She expertly guided us through creating this delicious and nourishing dish, turning the experience into a meaningful celebration of family, heritage, and remembrance.

12/6 - A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World Artist & Artisan Bazaar

This year, 32 artists, artisans, and caterers came together in a beautiful expression of community. A wonderfully diverse group of vendors and attendees joined Alif’s board, staff, and volunteers to create this beloved holiday favorite. We were also proud to unveil our newest exhibit, A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World, celebrating the rich and varied Christmas traditions across the Arab world. Heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this special event possible!

12/6 - Yalla Nghani

Led by Alif’s oud instructor, Mr. Suheil Sedran, the Yalla Nghani Ladies Arabic Chorus delighted everyone at the Taste of Christmas in the Arab World Bazaar with a special holiday performance. Their joy and camaraderie were infections! If you’d like to join this wonderful group, the first session of 2026 will take place on January 17 from 1:30–3:30 pm at Alif Institute. Click HERE for more details and to register.

12/12 & 12/13 - Atlanta International Night Market in Norcross

Alif Institute proudly represented Arab cultures at the Atlanta International Night Market in Norcross. For December, the weather was pleasantly chilly, creating the perfect backdrop for sharing our A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World exhibit alongside our regular tent showcasing Alif’s programs, events, and cultural items. A special thank-you to Al Fursan Dabkah & Zaffah Group for their wonderful performance on Sunday afternoon!

12/16 - School Visit: Mill Springs Academy

We spent a lovely morning with teachers and students from Mill Springs! We were honored to be selected as part of their Winter Learning seminar, “Around the World in Two Weeks: A Cultural Kaleidoscope,” a course designed to help students experience global cultures through lectures, field trips, and hands-on activities. After learning some basics about Arab cultures and the Arabic language, students rolled up their sleeves to make hummus and explore geometric art inspired by Arabesque art.

Movie Nights - 11/ 7: Asl Aswad, 11/21: To A Land Unknown, 12/5: You Will Die at Twenty, 11/28 & 12/8: Palestine 36

We wrapped up our 2025 Movie Nights program with an outstanding lineup of films from Egypt, Palestine, and Sudan. A last-minute addition made the season even more special—our collaboration with Watermelon Films to host an advanced screening of Palestine 36. On November 28, a large and enthusiastic audience braved the cold to watch the film, followed by a thoughtful post-screening discussion with Dr. Rashid Naim, Principal Senior Lecturer (Middle East Studies Center, Political Science) at Georgia State University.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our film series this year! We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, January 11, for All That’s Left of You, our first film of 2026.

Arabic Language Program - 11/15: Potluck, 11/21-23: Kinda Hanano @ ACTFL conference, 12/13: Haflatuna

The past two months flew by for our Arabic students and instructors. In November, we kicked off the holiday season with a delicious potluck lunch that brought our community together. Soon after, our Arabic Language Program Director, Kinda Hanano, traveled to New Orleans to attend the ACTFL conference, where she participated in sessions on language instruction and connected with colleagues from across the country and around the world.

We wrapped up the Fall/Winter semester, as always, with Haflatuna: a heartwarming celebration honoring the hard work of our youth and their families. And of course, we extend special thanks to our instructors, whose passion and creativity shine through in the accomplishments of their students.

Registration is now open for the Winter/Spring semester. Click HERE for more information and to enroll.

Thanks to our November & December VOLUNTEERS!

November and December programs were supported by the following amazing volunteers:

Sahtain wa Hana - Angela, Liz, Ghada, Narjis, Liz, Helen, Reem, Emily
Kan ya Makan - Lara
Cooking Class - Teresa, Emily
A Taste of Christmas in the Arab World - Helen, Frannie, Danny, Muzna, Andrea, Reem, Hana, Zaina, Reham
Christmas tree decoration - Yasmine
Yalla Nghani - Suheil Sedran,
Library - Margaret, Malik, Samir, Nora, Andrea
Donated refrigerator delivery - Sohel, Abe
Haflatuna - Fouad

Want to help with projects like these? CLICK HERE to join our volunteer list!

Community Announcements:

Send us your community events and we’ll be happy to post them here!

As a service to the community, we offer this space as a bulletin board to announce events in the community. The following events are not planned, endorsed, or verified by Alif Institute. Please click on the images and reach out directly to the event organizers for more information.

DEADLINE: 1/9

JANUARY 12

JANUARY 16

JANUARY 25

SUMMER INTERNSHIP DEADLINE: 2/9

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