Alif Institutes June 2025 Newsletter Corrected

June 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,

As we reach the midpoint of the year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support over the past five months. I hope you’ve enjoyed Alif’s programs as much as we’ve enjoyed planning and presenting them.

The summer months are a wonderful time to relax, recharge, and prepare for what’s ahead. At Alif, we’ll be using this time to reflect and to finalize an exciting lineup of programs for the second half of the year. We look forward to continuing our journey together — using our programs as a platform to celebrate, share, and preserve our rich and beautiful heritage, and to ensure our voices are heard at a time when it’s more important and crucial than ever.

Looking ahead, the 18th Atlanta Arab Festival is just a couple of months after summer ends, and we’re already gearing up for what promises to be another incredible event. This beloved annual celebration has grown year after year, and that’s thanks to the unwavering support of our amazing community.

As we prepare for this year’s festival, we’re asking for your help. Each member of the Alif community has the power to make a lasting impact. Our goal is to raise 200 individual donations of $250. (If you know any businesses that would like to sponsor, we also offer corporate sponsorships.) This collective effort will ensure the festival remains free and open to all — a vibrant space where our culture can be honored and shared with pride.

If you’re able, please consider contributing during the month of June. Together, we can make this year’s festival the most successful one yet.

Wishing you a joyful and restful summer. As always, if you have questions, comments, or ideas please EMAIL US. We’d love to help!

In appreciation,

Mouna Abdelhamid

Executive Director

Newsletter Sponsors

Thank you, newsletter sponsors! We couldn’t do it without your support!

Upcoming Programs

JUN 05

JUNE 9-20

JUN 9-28

JUN 13

JUN 14

JUN 16

JUNE 17

JUN 27

AUG 02

OCT 4 & 5

Arabic Music Workshops & Jam Sessions

Don’t have the time to commit to a semester of music classes? Just want to explore a new instrument? Try our workshops!

Play an instrument and just want to have fun with other musicians? Try our Saturday Jam Sessions on the first Saturday of each month! Open to both amateur and professional musicians.

JUN 17

AUG 2 (1st SAT/month)

Regular classes for adults and two great options for accelerated learning!

Summer Camp 2025

There’s still time to register for summer camp at Alif!

We’re excited to welcome campers ages 4 to 11 years old back to Alif this summer! We have two sessions available; join one or both.

For more information, visit the WEBPAGE or EMAIL US at info@alifinstitute.org.

May Recap

5/3/25 - Sahtain wa Hana, Kan ya Makan, AYSO Soccer

At Alif, every first Saturday of the month is bursting with cultural programming—and May 3 was no exception! From Sahtain wa Hana and Kan Ya Makan Arabic Storytime & Crafts to AYSO soccer and Music Jam, the day was full of energy and community spirit.

The Sahtain wa Hana ladies prepared a generous homemade lunch featuring fasoulya khadra (green beans) and roasted chicken with potatoes—a true feast! We were deeply honored to welcome Brian Mock, Mayor of the City of Chamblee, who joined us for lunch and a visit to the Institute.

A special thank-you to Lina Shehadeh for leading a joyful Arabic Storytime session, and kudos to our young athletes as we wrapped up the Spring season with Atlanta Youth Soccer Organization at Alif. We’re already looking forward to kicking off our Fall/Winter semester—see you soon!

5/3/25 - AAWSG Book ClubContinuing a cherished tradition, Alif welcomed the Arab American Women’s Society of Georgia for one of their engaging book club discussions. This time, the group delved into Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott, exploring its powerful themes and serious social issues. The thoughtful conversation was a perfect reminder that reading becomes even more meaningful when shared in good company and thoughtful dialogue.

5/15/25 - AAWSG & Alif Institute’s Mother’s Day Brunch

For the second year in a row, the Arab American Women’s Society of Georgia and Alif Institute hosted a heartfelt Mother’s Day brunch beneath our beautiful dogwood tree.We gathered to celebrate the incredible mothers who have raised—and are raising—Arab Americans with confidence, resilience, and pride in their heritage. It was a wonderful day filled with meaningful conversations, laughter, and the kind of bonding that nourishes the soul.

The poetry and spontaneous singing sparked excitement for our newest program, Yalla Nughani! The joyful atmosphere gave everyone a taste of what’s to come as we celebrate Arab musical traditions together.

5/17/25 - Haflatuna

May 17 was a lively and memorable day at Alif! The morning began with Haflatuna, our joyful end-of-year celebration for students, families, and teachers from both the Chamblee and Roswell locations. Students proudly showcased how much they had learned this year, followed by sweet treats and heartfelt goodbyes as we welcomed the summer break.

5/17/25 - Cooking Class & Oud Workshop

As families began to leave after Haflatuna, Alif quickly transitioned into a hub of activity getting ready for two cultural workshops. In the event room, guest chef Rania Renno led a hands-on cooking class, delighting participants with expert tips on preparing flavorful shish tawook and refreshing tabbouleh. Meanwhile, in the library, Suheil Sedran introduced a group of eager students to the enchanting sounds of the oud, offering a beautiful introduction to this iconic instrument of Arab musical heritage.

5/20/25 - Tabla / Derbakeh Workshop

We had a full house at our May 20 Tabla Workshop! Seven eager students explored the fundamentals of Arabic drumming with our gifted instructor, Matias Hazrum. Beyond leading rhythmic drills, Matias answered questions and even treated participants to a demonstration of the qanoun, another beautiful Arabic instrument. Missed this session? You can still join our summer tabla classes or reserve a spot for the next workshop on June 17!

5/22/25 - Art Workshop with Teresa Abboud

Five lucky ladies spent a creative afternoon under Azizah, our majestic dogwood tree, with the talented local artist Teresa Abboud. Despite her busy schedule, Teresa enthusiastically led a hands-on acrylic painting workshop, guiding participants in creating vibrant, colorful landscapes. The results were beautiful—and a true testament to the joy of art and community. Well done, ladies! If you missed this one, don’t worry—more workshops are on the way. Stay tuned and come create with us!

5/23/25 - Movie Night: Voy! Voy! Voy!After a month long break from Movie Nights, we kicked off the second half the year with a fun Egyptian movie based on the true story of a man who fakes loosing his sight to join a blind soccer team to pursue his dream of living in Europe. To set the mood, some guests arrived early to enjoy a delicious plate of koshari, Egypt’s beloved national dish.

Thanks to our May Alif Volunteers!

Dyl and Meredith for helping set up our Mothers Day Brunch.
Lara and Lina for leading May’s Kan ya Makan Storytime & Crafts.
Guest chef Rania Renno for our May Cooking Class.
Sahtain wa Hana ladies Narjis, Helen, and Liz for preparing and serving at our May Sahtain wa Hana.

Alif Announcements -

18TH ANNUAL ATLANTA ARAB FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 4 & 5

VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR:

Artists & Artisans
Caterers
Businesses
Nonprofits

CALLING ALL SPONSORS:

Community, Corporate, and In-Kind sponsorships are available.
Sponsorships are tax-deductible!
Let us know your suggestions for sponsor outreach!

INSTRUCTORS, VOLUNTEERS, & INTERNS NEEDED: Alif is looking for two instructors to help us expand our cultural class offerings! To apply, please send an email with your resume to info@alifinstitute.org. And, please share our call for applications in your circles.

Tabla Instructor - Teach children 5 - 14 years old on Saturdays from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM at Alif Institute and Sundays from 12 PM - 1:30 PM in Roswell.
Arabic Calligraphy Instructor - In person at Alif Institute.
General Volunteers - We always need volunteers! Send us an email and we can add you to WhatsApp and/or email 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.

JUN 5

JUN 10

SEP 20

NOV 1

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