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UID:36182@arabamerica.com
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T123219Z
URL:https://www.arabamerica.com/events/stories-of-belonging-immigration-ar
 t-and-community/
SUMMARY:Stories of Belonging: Immigration\, Art and Community
DESCRIPTION:FAIRFAX\, VA\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThrough storytelling\, performance\
 , and advocacy\, the conversation explores how creative expression can res
 hape narratives of migration\, cultivate a sense of belonging\, and challe
 nge dominant portrayals of displacement.\n\n\n7:00 PM – 8:30 PM\nGeorge 
 Mason University\, 4400 University Drive\, Fairfax\, Virginia 22030. Lectu
 re Hall Building (Building 34)\, Lecture Hall 1\n\n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\n
 Arts &amp\; Culture\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare\n\n 	X\n 	Facebook\
 n 	LinkedIn\n 	Email\n 	Print\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Middle East Institute’
 s Arts and Culture Center and George Mason University’s Institute for I
 mmigration Research are pleased to present Stories of Belonging: Immigrat
 ion\, Art\, and Community\, a keynote panel featured in the Leaving and B
 elonging symposium\, hosted by George Mason University (April 17–18).\n
 \nThe program will feature live performances by acclaimed artists Omar Of
 fendum and Yasmin Elhady\, whose work spans spoken word\, music\, and co
 medy. They will be joined in conversation by Cara Mertes\, a multiple awa
 rd-winning independent media leader and Founding Executive Director of the
  International Resource for Impact &amp\; Storytelling (IRIS)\, and Monna
  Kashfi\, an Emmy Award–winning VP of Content and Communications at Welc
 ome.US\, a national nonprofit that mobilizes Americans to support and welc
 ome refugees and newcomers. The conversation will be moderated by Lyne Sne
 ige\, MEI’s Arts and Culture Center Senior Director.\n\nThrough storytel
 ling\, performance\, and dialogue\, the panel will explore how creative ex
 pression can reframe migration narratives\, foster a sense of belonging\, 
 and challenge dominant portrayals of displacement. It will also highlight 
 how collaboration across the arts\, research\, advocacy\, and media can tr
 ansform creative practice into meaningful social impact.\n\nThis panel is 
 MEI’s featured program in celebration of National Arab American Heritage
  Month.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPanelists\n\n\n\n\n\nYasmin Elhady\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nY
 asmin Elhady\n\n\n\nComedian\, Attorney\, and Host of Hulu’s Muslim Matc
 hmaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMonna Kashfi\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMonna Kashfi\n\n\n
 \nVP\, Content &amp\; Communications\, Welcome.US\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCara 
 Mertes\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCara Mertes\n\n\n\nFounding Director\, the Interna
 tional Resource for Impact and Storytelling (IRIS)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOmar
  Offendum\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOmar Offendum\n\n\n\nRapper\, Spoken Word Poet\
 , and Theatrical Storyteller\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLyne Sneige\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\
 n\nStaff\nLyne Sneige\n\n\n\nDirector\, Arts &amp\; Culture Center\n\n\n\n
 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGeorge Mason University\n4400 University Drive\, Fairfax\,
  Virginia 22030\nLecture Hall Building (Building 34)\nLecture Hall 1\nPARK
 ING: Visitor parking is available on campus in the Rappahannock (closest t
 o symposium) or Mason Pond parking decks (findable on GPS).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\
 nIn Partnership with\n\n\n\nWith support from the AbuSulayman Center for G
 lobal Islamic Studies at George Mason University.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\
 n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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LOCATION:George Mason University\, 4400 University Drive\, Fairfax\, VA\, 2
 2030\, United States
GEO:38.833875;-77.316019
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