June 2026 Newsletter
Alif Institute Hydrangeas - May 2026
Dear Alif Community,
Growing up in Augusta, GA as one of the few Arab kids for miles around, I always felt like we had a slice of Syria right at home, and even more so in the summer.
My brother and I would spend long days with family, soaking up their stories sprinkled amongst our daily activities. Car rides to karate became a game of twenty questions with our grandfather about his political life before he became Jiddo. Picking blueberries and figs became the perfect time to learn Arabic nursery rhymes with our grandmothers. And as we got older, making falafel and hummus with our mother and aunt for the Augusta Saturday Market became our summer tradition to share with our community.
We were surrounded by abundance – in food, storytelling, culture, and love. And whenever I walk into Alif, I feel that same overflowing spirit of abundance.
Created by and for the community, the Alif Institute gives us all a slice of home, in which we can share the riches of our stories, gifts, and cultures with each other and the broader Atlanta community. It’s a place that grows and thrives with the participation of all of its members. This June, we have many events, from oud and tabla workshops to kids’ summer camps to generous home-cooked meals at Sahtain wa Hana. We hope you'll join us and share in the bounty of our amazing community.
Dima Alchoufi
Board Member
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Upcoming Programs & Events
JUNE 04
JUNE 08
JUNE 06
JUNE 12
JUNE 13
JUNE 26
World Cup Watch Party
Alif Institute is proud to join a citywide initiative lead by GAMCC and OneVita, celebrating the World Cup through some community watch parties that bring our community together via sports, culture, and food.
These events are more than just a match, they are an opportunity to connect with neighbors, celebrate cultural diversity, and share in the universal language of sport, all for free, and open to the public. Whether you're a devoted soccer fan or simply looking for a fun evening with the community, we invite you to be part of the experience.
At Alif, we will be hosting two watch parties. Join us on June 13th & June 24th as we cheer on the Moroccan team in their matches against Brazil and Haiti. We'll be projecting the game on the big screen 16’WX 8”H, while enjoying the excitement that only international soccer can bring. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Please note that we chose these specific games because they are playing at the best viewing local times, and with no overlap with our programs. We wish all our Arab teams good luck and great success. We are so proud of this historical representation of Arab soccer teams in the World Cup for the first time.
Please RSVP for each game accordingly:
Alif Institute
Ali Events
One Ummah Project
Spend your summer connecting with language, culture, and community through Arabic Language Classes!
For Adults, we have two programs:
- Summer Intensive starting June 8 to June 26Classes are from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and are in-person at Alif Institute
- Integrated Arabic (Levantine/MSA) starting June 8 to July 31Classes are from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM and are Live-Online, via Zoom
For Kids (ages 5 years old and up), we are offering:
- Virtual Arabic Language Classes via Zoom starting June 6 to August 1Classes are on Saturdays, are 1 hour long and start between 11 and 12:30, depending on level and age.
Click the banner above for more information. Questions? EMAIL US and we’ll be happy to help you decide which class is best for you.
“I had the time of my life!” said an adorable 5-year-old camper who attended Zaytoona (Arabic for "olive") last year.
Our popular Arabic Cultural Immersion Summer Camp, Zaytoona, is back and already almost full! We only have a few spots left, so if your summer plans have changed at the last minute, there's still time to register your child.
Campers will spend one or both weeks playing, dancing, cooking, creating, and learning – all in Arabic and in a fun, interactive environment!
Session 1: June 8 - June 12
Session 2: June 15 - June 19
Kids can be registered for one week or both.
Space is limited: click HERE or EMAIL US for more information.
Every year, more than 8,000 people attend our festival, making it one of the largest celebrations of Arab cultures in the Georgia. This is your chance to showcase your work, connect with thousands of visitors, and grow your audience.
Do you have a product or brand you'd love to share?
- Art
- Fashion
- Beauty
- Jewelry & Accessories
- Home Goods & Design
- Handmade Products
- Food & Specialty Items
- Non profit Organizations
We'd love to have you join us! Apply today and let our community discover what makes your business special.
Can't be with us at the festival? Consider becoming a sponsor and put your brand in front of thousands of potential clients, while supporting arts, culture, and community. You can also support the festival as a community member and sponsor the festival at any level you are comfortable with.
May Recap
May 01: Trivia Night
What a night! We loved having everyone over for Alif’s first Trivia Night! The Alif Youth really shined in both organizing and hosting the evening. Together we laughed, ate, competed, and sang together, we can’t wait to have you over next year for the next one!A special thank you to our generous sponsors, the Ayoub family, CAIR Georgia and Mrs. Chirine Chehab, and congratulations to the CAIR Georgia team for winning 1st place!
Would you like to sponsor the next one? Email us here.
May 02: Arabic Storytime
Our May Arabic Storytime was a cozy and intimate gathering, led by our Executive Director, Mouna, who brought the story to life for the children who came.
Programs like Arabic Storytime help nurture a love of language from an early age, giving children the opportunity to hear, engage with, and connect to Arabic in a fun and welcoming environment. Through stories, songs, and imagination, young learners build not only vocabulary, but also a deeper connection to culture, identity, and heritage.
Thank you to the families who joined us, and to Mouna for sharing the gift of language through storytelling. See you and your little ones on June 6 at 1:15pm for our next Storytime.
May 02: Sahtain wa Hana “Mujaddara” Lentils & Rice Pilaf
Guests gathered at Alif to enjoy the delicious Mujaddara – a beloved lentil and rice dish topped with caramelized onions, enjoyed throughout the Arab world. Conversations flowed, stories were shared, and new friendships were made over a meal that has brought families together for generations.
Thank you to Narjis, Helen, Ghada, Liz and Hana for making this dish, and to everyone who joined us and helped make the meal so warm and welcoming. Food truly has a special way of building community – one plate at a time.
Join us on Saturday June 6 for our next Sahtain wa Hana community lunch from 12:00 - 2:30 pm.
May 08: Movie Night “Captain Abu Raed”
Our community gathered for a special screening of Captain Abu Raed, the award-winning Jordanian film that continues to touch audiences around the world with its themes of hope, imagination, and human connection.
Movie nights like these offer more than entertainment – they create opportunities to experience stories from the Arab world, explore different perspectives, and come together in conversation. Through film, we connect with cultures, histories, and experiences that might otherwise remain unfamiliar.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of cinema, discussion, and community. We look forward to seeing you at the next screening!
May 8: Trickum Middle School International Night
As part of our Outreach Program, we were invited to participate in Trickum Middle School's International Night, where we displayed our "Windows of the Arab World" exhibit for students, teachers, and families to explore and learn more about the Arab world. The exhibit remained on display for an entire week, extending its impact well beyond the event itself.
Like many of our educational exhibits, "Windows of the Arab World" is due for a refresh. While it has served our community well for many years, we would love to update both its content and design to better reflect the richness, diversity, and contemporary realities of the Arab world.
Interested in sponsoring the redesign of our "Windows of the Arab World" exhibit? We'd love to hear from you. Email us to learn more.
May 09: The Art of Arabic Cooking “Palestinian Musakhan”
What you missed at our Musakhan Cooking Class with the talented Yasmine Makhlouf!
From the aroma of sumac and caramelized onions to the warmth of gathering around the table, participants learned how to make one of Palestine's most cherished dishes – a recipe passed down through generations.
Food has a special way of bringing people together, and this evening was no exception. Join us for our next Cooking Class on June 13!
May 14: Mother's Day Brunch with Arab American Women’s Society of Georgia
A heartfelt thank you to the Arab American Women's Society of Georgia for partnering with us on this special annual gathering. And thank you to everyone who joined us – for breaking bread together, sharing stories, reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and filling the afternoon with warmth and laughter. The weather was beautiful as we gathered beneath the trees, enjoying the simple joy of community.
A special thank you to Mrs. Ghada Muhanna for her moving poetry reading, and to Suheil Sedran for providing a beautiful oud soundtrack throughout the event, creating a truly memorable atmosphere.
We were also delighted to host our $1 raffle, and extend our gratitude to Healthier with Rola, Café Le Bon, and Rêve Wellness for their generous contributions.
To top it all off, attendees enjoyed a special preview from our Yalla Nghani instructor, who introduced the ladies to the joy of singing together as part of our upcoming chorus program.
Thank you all for making the day so special.
May 16: Haflatuna
As with every end of semester, the Arabic Language instructors have their students perform songs, plays and recitals in Arabic, to their parents and guests, on the Alif stage! This semesters theme was “Our Language is Our Identity”. The material they played reflected this theme through song selection and poetry reading, and many students even came dressed in their traditional Arab clothing. A year to be proud of, and get this young generation of Arab Americans proud of their own roots.
Want to enroll your kids in Arabic Language Classes? CLICK HERE for more information, or email us if you need any guidance.
May 20: Toy Drive for refugee children for Eid Al-Adha with Ethaar
Another successful collaboration within our amazing community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the toy drive was a huge success! Dozens of donation boxes were filled with gifts. Ethaar volunteers and our Alif Youth eagerly sorted and organized the toys for distribution. Their excitement was contagious as they prepared gifts that will help refugee children feel welcomed, celebrated, and remembered this Eid Al-Adha.
Thank you to everyone who donated, spread the word, and helped make this campaign possible. Together, we turned kindness into action and brought joy to countless families.
A big thank you to the vendors that offered their space as collection locations:
Alif Institute - Chamblee Tucker/ Shibam Coffee/ Motw cafe - Alpharetta/ 967 Cafe - Roswell/ Jerusalem bakery/ Levant oven - Marrietta
Together we can achieve so much!
Thank you for the new Audio System!
Thanks to the generous donations of Mr. Kasim Abu Aisheh, Mrs. Rania Renno, and Mr. Dimitri Shrekengost, we were able to upgrade our audio system with new speakers, microphones, and a mixer!
We are also grateful to DJ SAS for his guidance in helping us select the right equipment for our space, and to Ashraf Jaber for expertly handling the installation.
These improvements will enhance the experience of our classes, performances, lectures, and community events for years to come. Thank you for investing in our community and helping us continue to share Arab arts and culture with Atlanta!
Thank you May volunteers!
A big thank you to all the volunteers that lent a helping hand during this busy month of May. Because if your help the work on the library is nearly done. A couple more group volunteers and we should be ready to open the library for public use. You enable us to make bigger impact and reach more people. Thank you ...
- Library Archiving: Malek, Andrea, Amal, Amir
- Trivia Night: Ayah
- Toy Drive: Alif Youth, Fawzi, Adam, Amer, Leen, Luna and ETHAAR volunteers
- Gate fixing: Kasim and Jiddo!
- Sahtain wa Hana: Narjis, Helen, Ghada, Liz and HanaWant to help with projects like these? We especially need more volunteers to help us set up the library! Please CLICK HERE to join our volunteer list!
Community Announcements
Send us your community events and we’ll be happy to post them here!
Feast of
Eid Al Adha
June 7, Sunday
Mosaique Club
Ahmad Saad
June 18, Thursday
Our Office Hours:
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10 AM - 5 PM, not including other programs and events. You can always reach us via email at info@alifinstitute.org.
Copyright (C) 2026 Alif Institute. All rights reserved.
