Chaldean News - June 2019

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CONTENTS THE CHALDEAN NEWS

38

21

departments 6

FROM THE EDITOR

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO

Proud mama moment 8

YOUR LETTER

BY DR. RAMSAY F. DASS

Helping Middle Eastern Christians 10

on the cover

20 AN APP FOR EDUCATION

BY LISA CIPRIANO

21 PIANO PRODIGY RAISES SPIRITS

BY PAUL NATINSKY

22 A PARTING GIFT

BY MONIQUE MANSOUR

features

IRAQ TODAY

24 THE ROAD TO OPPORTUNITY

BY LOUISA LOVELUCK AND MUSTAFA SALIM

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO

Iraq is pushing to build an isolation camp for 30,000 Iraqis who lived under ISIS in Syria

Governor Whitmer outlines her path to fix the damn roads and more

NOTEWORTHY

14

CHAI TIME

16

ECRC CORNER

18

OBITUARIES

29

CHALDEAN ON THE STREET

BY HALIM SHEENA

Thoughts on continued threat of deportation ONE ON ONE

BY STEVE STEIN

One on One with Raad Kathawa 36

Fort Report: Closure in Iraq

12

32

36

GUEST COLUMN

BY U.S. REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY

11

JUNE 2019

VOLUME 16 ISSUE V

EVENTS Annual Awards Gala Chaldean Voice Cultural Evening

25 BEFORE THERE WERE

BORDERS: REVIEW

BY ASHOURINA SLEWO

26 A SWEET TASTE OF HOME

BY LISA CIPRIANO

27 HOPE FOR A HOME

BY MONIQUE MANSOUR

The need for foster care parents continues

28 IN THE GARDEN OF MINT

BY SALLY WENCZEL

30 DEALING WITH DIVORCES, ANNULMENTS

BY LISA CIPRIANO

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 5

from the EDITOR

PUBLISHED BY

The Chaldean News, LLC

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF

Vanessa Denha Garmo MANAGING EDITORS

Denha Media Group Writers CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lisa Cipriano Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Monique Mansour Paul Natinsky Ashourina Slewo Halim Sheena Sally Wenczel

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alex Lumelsky Montez Miller Razik Tomina

OPERATIONS Interlink Media

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Martin Manna CLASSIFIEDS

Ashourina Slewo

SALES

Interlink Media Tania Yatooma SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Interlink Media Sana Navarrette MANAGERS

Vanessa Denha Garmo Martin Manna Michael Sarafa SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 PER YEAR THE CHALDEAN NEWS 30095 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 101 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM PHONE: (248) 851-8600 Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published monthly; Issue Date: June 2019 Subscriptions: 12 months, $25. Publication Address: 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334”

Proud mama moment

I

had a very proud mama gums causing severe pain, moment this past May. she stayed in character and I watched my daughfinished the scene. ter perform in the school I was worried about her play. It was her 4th St. Fakeeping up with school work bian School production, and memorizing her lines her 6th or 7th play in her but not only did she do both, life but her first time garnershe truly emerged into charing a main role. She played acter on stage and wowed us.

VANESSA Violet in Willy Wonka, Jr. It was a proud mama which is an Off-Broadway DENHA-GARMO moment for sure!

EDITOR IN CHIEF production.

This cover story features CO-PUBLISHER St. Fabian Catholic some very talented teens School in Farmington Hills whose moms I am sure are has a dedicated Theater Department just as proud of their kids as I am of and along with stellar academics, remy own. One high school student alizes the importance of the arts. It is created an APP, another teen is being a STREAM school – Science, Techdubbed a piano prodigy while another nology, Religion, Arts and Math. is being highlighted by her teachers As someone who has performed for a very poignant biographical essay. in other plays and seven ice shows As parents, we are called to help as a figure skater, Elayna has learned our children hone in on their Godthat no matter what happens during given talents and develop those into a performance, the show must go on. skills for the greater good and hopeDuring the first two of the five fully one day to “Glorify God.” Our Willy Wonka shows, she experikids are not only resilient but each enced a costume malfunction – not has his or her own gifts that as adults exactly like Janet Jackson during the we need to nurture.

Super Bowl in 2003 – thank God – A related story includes dozens but it was a mishap regardless. Elayna of girl scouts who are selling boxes of didn’t miss a step or beat. She contincookies that are ultimately being sent ued on during the scene and waited to military troops; it was a collaborauntil the end of the show to express tive effort between a local orthodontist her frustration. Even on the last day and multiple Girl Scout troops. I, perwhen all the gum chewing caused a sonally, am not a big fan of the Girls baby tooth to crack in half, resulting Scouts because of some troops being in pieces of tooth to wedge into her aligned with Planned Parenthood but

I do think their work with the military is a worthy cause and wished they focused their efforts on organizations NOT affiliated with abortion.

While many of us are proud mamas, there are so many kids who don’t have parents to pat them on the back and say, “job well done.” These are kids in the Foster Care Program and recently have included Chaldean children. Writer Monique Mansour shares that story in this June issue.

It is a fact that surprised me to hear.

I had no idea we had Chaldean kids in foster care. There are more than 13,000 kids in Foster Care today and yes that includes Chaldeans. These kids are children of God and have their own gifts and talents but lack the support to see them flourish.

I pray each and everyone of these 13,000 find families to love and care for them.

They all deserve to have a mama who is proud of them!

Alaha Imid Koullen (God Be With Us All) Vanessa Denha-Garmo vanessa@denhamedia.com Follow her on Twitter @vanessadenha Follow Chaldean News on Twitter @chaldeannews

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CHALDEAN NEWS 7

your LETTERS

Helping Middle Eastern Christians

What is Integrative Medicine?

At Comprehensive Integrative Health Care our approach to treating a person with mental and emotional challenges such as depression and anxiety, is to provide alternative methods to assist with recovery, healing, and long-term maintenance of positive mental health.

When first evaluating a patient that exhibits emotional challenges that impact their daily life, we determine whether conventional or alternative treatment would appropriately address the symptoms of the individual. For example, when treating a patient with anxiety, we first determine whether the emotion is caused by everyday life issues such as health, school or finances. We obtain blood work to rule out if the anxiety is caused by any underlying medical condition, such as an overactive thyroid.

Once we have assessed the patient by interview, physical examination and any essential studies that we feel is appropriate, we then work together with the patient to determine the plan of action best suited for their needs and type of challenge so that they can start on the path to balanced mental health. Our first line of therapy, may not be prescribing medication, often we find that guiding patients to adapting changes in their lifestyle can remedy much of their brain chemistry. Research has demonstrated that changes such as eating a clean and well-balanced diet, incorporating exercise, a healthy sleep regimen, and the use of supplements can often modify and even alleviate symptoms. We work closely with the patient to track their symptoms and determine if another plan of action is needed which may include medication in addition to alternative methods. If you or a family member is suffering from mental illness, please do not hesitate to make an appointment at our office.

Dear Friends, As we are celebrating the Triduum of Easter with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we were saddened by the continuation of terrorist attacks against Christians in the world, especially on Easter day in Sri Lanka.

The past year has shown continued positive changes towards the Christians and Christianity in the Middle East, such as in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt.

There is a better understanding of the Interfaith with meetings between the Pope and Middle Eastern countries. The United States government is showing an increased positive response to the plight of the Middle Eastern Christians. We are hoping that the European governments will advance the cause of the Middle East Christians and assist them in protecting their civic and civil rights to stop the persecution and prosecution. Other Middle Eastern faiths have established governments to protect them and support them morally and financially. The Middle Eastern Christians lack these two resources so it is left to other countries to do the correct and moral things by sponsoring, supporting, and protecting the Middle East Christians politically, financially, and diplomatically. We are monitoring their policies in words and in action.

We wish you a Happy Easter, and may its message of hope to humanity resonate.

Sincerely yours, Dr. Ramsay F. Dass, MD President, American Middle East Christians Congress Director of Iraq American Christians Endowment Center

Comprehensive Integrative Health Care is located in Novi: 30880 Beck Rd. Novi, MI 48377. Website: CIHcmed.com Heather Koza, MD and Sung Park-Davis, MD: Specialties in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Family Medicine MADE

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CHALDEAN NEWS 9

GUEST column

Fort Report: Closure in Iraq

D

ecisions in goving imminent, diabolical ernment are not death at the hands of a always about nice genocidal force—that our programs. Sometimes, it’s refugee and asylum proabout life and death. The grams were established. other night in my DC office, As an international comI stood in front of framed munity, we should seek to photos of young men and create secure conditions women from Nebraska who on the ground so that disdied in Iraq. Some of their placed persons can repatriU.S. REPRESENTATIVE families I know. Some I ate to their homelands. For JEFF have never met. We have Nebraska’s Yazidis––now FORTENBERRY given so much, lost so much patriotic Americans who SPECIAL TO THE in Iraq, it’s hard to underremain closely tethered to CHALDEAN NEWS stand why further engagetheir ancient faith and culment is necessary. tural traditions––that is also Here’s the hard reality: 400,000 what they want for their friends and Yazidis from Northern Iraq are still family back home in Iraq. trapped in tent structures unable to The story of closure in Iraq insafely return home. Iraq used to be volves several key dynamics. First, home to over 1.5 million Christians.

ISIS is largely defeated, but not exNow, around 250,000 hold on. Militias tinct. With U.S. government leadcontrol large areas of Northern Iraq. ership in support, and a coalition of Last week, I appeared on Neinternational partners, the Iraq army braska Educational Television with has fought valiantly and is now a Nibras Khudaida, one of Nebraska’s serviceable force. Second, we have 3000 Yazidis, the largest such comtransferred funds from multilateral munity in America. I first met Nibras institutions into targeted relief for over two years ago in Lincoln after the most besieged peoples. Third, she wrote me a passionate letter, in the sustainability of this solvency broken English. Subsequently servdepends upon security. That was my ing as an intern in my office, Nibras clear finding based on the evaluation quickly advanced. She became a I undertook on behalf of Vice Presihigh school debate champion and dent Pence last summer in Iraq. gave the class commencement adAt this year’s State of the Union, dress. She is now an honors student my guest of honor was Nobel Peace at Omaha’s Creighton University.

Prize winner Nadia Murad, who had Nibras is one of the beneficiaries been sold into sexual slavery by ISIS of a program I helped introduce in and eventually escaped with the help Congress that enabled her father, of a Muslim family. Before Nadia arand others who courageously served rived at my office, I told a WashingAmerican forces in Iraq, to gain enton Post reporter that the most imtry into the United States. It was for portant need for Northern Iraq was persons like the Khudaidas—faca security settlement to protect re-

Yazidi refugees receiving support from the International Rescue Committee

ligious minorities. Upon her arrival, and with no advance coordination from me, Nadia affirmed the same conclusion.

In support of this goal, my friend Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and I recently introduced the bipartisan H. Res. 259, informally known as The Security Resolution for Northern Iraq, which: • Makes it a policy priority of the United States to support the safe return of the displaced indigenous people of the Nineveh Plain and Sinjar to their ancestral homeland; • Calls upon the Iraqi Government and Kurdistan Regional Government to better integrate religious minorities into the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga; • Stresses the importance of working with international partners to accomplish these goals.

The Security Resolution for Northern Iraq represents a modest commitment with enormous implications. I am hopeful the United States Congress will agree. If this

Iraqi-led security settlement does not come to fruition, Iranian-backed militias will continue to meddle in Northern Iraq, religious and ethnic minorities will continue their mass exodus to Europe, and permanent refugee camps will dot the landscape.

Nothing will ever compensate for the tremendous loss of life and limb that Americans endured to ensure that Iraq could have a glimpse of normalcy, a glimmer of possibility, a chance for permanent peace. Performing this last act of duty is not going to fill the hole in their family’s hearts or our hearts. It will, however, help provide closure to America’s decades-long involvement in Iraq, while ensuring justice for the oppressed, stability for Iraq, and the preservation of Iraq’s rich tapestry of religious pluralism so essential for peace in the Middle East.

Jeff Fortenberry is a U.S. Representative, representing Nebraska’s first congressional district since 2005.

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IRAQ today

Iraq is pushing to build an isolation camp for 30,000 Iraqis who lived under ISIS in Syria

BY LOUISA LOVELUCK AND MUSTAFA SALIM PHOTO BY MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

IRBIL, Iraq — Senior Iraqi officials are pressing to establish a special detention camp to isolate as many as 30,000 Iraqis who lived in the Islamic State’s final stronghold in Syria, captured in March by U.S.-backed forces.

But as Iraq prepares to repatriate citizens now held in Syria, humanitarian groups have been resisting efforts to move them to a single detention facility, fearing this could create prison camp conditions that would prevent them from reintegrating into society and further radicalize them.

Objections from humanitarian groups have already scuttled a proposal to set up a new camp near Tal Afar in the northern province of Nineveh.

Senior Iraqi officials, however, remain opposed to the idea of scattering the Islamic State returnees among existing displacement camps around the area.

“The goal is to select a special place to contain those people,” said one Iraqi official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the issue.

“It’s for security reasons, but also to keep them alive.”

The Islamic State committed atrocities in Iraq and Syria during the nearly five years it controlled territory there. But its rise to power was made possible, in part, by its success in selling itself as a protector and liberator of disaffected Sunni Muslim communities, which felt marginalized by the governments and security forces of those countries. How the Iraqi government proceeds in the coming weeks could have far-reaching consequences.

Officials in Baghdad have spent months negotiating a deal to repatriate just more than 30,000 civilians who are now under the control of Syrian Kurds who have neither the means nor desire to continue holding them.

The Iraqi families had spent years living under the Islamic State’s selfdeclared caliphate, moving to Syria as the militants lost their Iraqi foothold and then leaving the protostate only as it crumbled. Now, they are packed into the teeming al-Hol displacement camp in northern Syria as Iraqi officials decide their fate and aid groups look on with alarm.

The Khazir camp near Irbil, Iraq, already holds thousands of internally displaced Iraqis.

About 20,000 Iraqis have voluntarily returned to Iraq since the start of the fight against the Islamic State, humanitarian officials say. More than 1,700 families at al-Hol have also registered with the United Nations for voluntary repatriation, according to humanitarian agencies.

Humanitarian groups are urging that the returnees be placed in four existing camps, where the U.N. provides food, medical care, and other services.

Fear and resentment The challenge is how to map out a future for the returnees that does not involve indefinite confinement.

In existing camps in northern Iraq, families displaced by previous waves of fighting already fret that they cannot go home, citing fears of violent retribution by militias or neighbors the Islamic State had displaced.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis with alleged links to the Islamic State have been languishing in those camps for several years. Their experience underscores the dangers of a prolonged stay in the camps. It also highlights the barriers to leaving or reintegrating into Iraqi society.

“The biggest concern for us now is that some of our camps are fostering the best environment for a new extremism,” said an Iraqi aid worker.

“Even if a family is innocent, it is now being looked at with hatred by [Iraqi] society accusing them of be-

ing ISIS families. The government achieves the same by not issuing them papers or giving them proper schools. . . . Organizations will recruit them selling the idea of revenge.”

In the sprawling Khazir camp near Irbil, families with ties to the militant group see no good options. They say that staying in the camp would leave them permanently displaced and vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups and predatory camp officials.

Inside the camps, women who lost their husbands to airstrikes or prison say they are targeted for sexual violence, by militiamen and camp guards, or forced marriage. Kawakip, 40, who now lives in the Khazir camp, said that two of her daughters had recently been coerced into short-lived marriages with camp outsiders after guards let them in to choose a wife.

“These marriages are just sex marriages, but you can’t say no,” said Muntahar, a girl who looked younger than her 16 years. “Then they take you for a week, or for a few months, before throwing you back into the camp.”

After visits to the camps last year, researchers from Amnesty International said they had witnessed a deepening sense of resentment among families accused of links to the Islamic State.

Dangers of going home But leaving the camps can be daunting and expose families to violence

by mostly Shiite militias that had battled the Islamic State, a radical Sunni group.

“We were told that the Hashd would rape our daughters if we tried to go home,” Kawakip said. “I tried to cross a checkpoint to get to the documentation office so I could get permission to return home, but they stopped me at a checkpoint. They told me they’d kill me if I came back and tried again.”

A variety of armed groups, including Sunni tribal and Shiite militias, control territory that many of the returnees would have to traverse to get home. Many of these militias have escalated their threats to block people with a “first degree” connection to the Islamic State from going back to their areas of origin.

Moreover, babies born in the time of the caliphate lack official Iraqi birth certificates, meaning the children have no government recognition and could be shut out of Iraq’s education system forever.

During visits to four displacement camps, members of every Islamic State-connected family interviewed said they had been threatened by Iraqi officials when trying to procure documentation for children born in areas controlled by the group or to replace documents that had been damaged or stolen.

A senior aid official at al-Hol said Iraqi officials are becoming increasingly suspicious that returnees from Syria pose a hostile threat. For their part, many Iraqis at al-Hol, after years of Islamic State indoctrination and menacing statements by Iraqi militias, fear they could be killed if they go back across the border.

Human rights activists and Western diplomats say that returnees who remained with the Islamic State until its final stand are those most likely to be treated as social outcasts by other Iraqis. Any camp built explicitly for repatriated families, risks fueling the same grievances that aided the group’s rise in the first place.

Erin Cunningham in al-Hol, Syria, contributed to this report.

Erin Cunningham in al-Hol, Syria, contributed to this report.

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 11

noteworthy

Left to Right: U.S. Representatives John Moolenaar, Elissa Slotkin, Andy Levin, and Haley Stevens

Congressional Delegation Comes Together for Iraqi Nationals On Friday, May 3, members of the Oakland County Congressional Delegation came together before the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s 16th Annual Awards Gala at Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield to introduce a bill intended to protect Iraqi nationals at risk for deportation.

Introduced the following Tuesday, details for the bill were discussed at the press conference on May 3. The delegation included U.S. Represen-

tatives Andy Levin, Elissa Slotkin, Brenda Lawrence, and Haley Steven.

The delegation was also joined by Congressman John Moolenaar and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

The bill would protect Iraqi nationals at risk of deportation by deferring removal for two years for nationals who were ordered removed from the country any time before the bill’s enactment, and who were living in the U.S. on or before January 1, 2014.

The bill would exclude deferral for

those who are a threat to national security, have voluntarily chosen to return, or are subject to extradition. Under the bill, authorization and documentation for employment purposes would be valid for the duration of the deferral to nationals who apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS would also be prevented from detaining individuals protected by the deferral for the two year period.

The introduction of this bill comes after an unfavorable ruling

from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, who decided to not take a look at the Hamama v. Adducci class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

This ruling prompted U.S. Representatives Andy Levin and John Moolenaar to pen a letter to DHS, requesting the deferment of the mass detention and deportation of Iraqi nationals. This letter of support was signed in support of those at risk by 23 other lawmakers.

Selfies with the Bishop Mariann Sarafa snaps a selfie with the beloved Bishop Ibrahim and her cousins Tammy Binno Jonna, Nesreen Binno Denha and Jeanine Binno Ammori at the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards dinner.

Our Lady of The Fields Camp and Retreat Center Located in Brighton, Michigan, the 164 acres offers the feel of up north living surrounded by trees and with a serene waterfront.

The camp’s mission is to live the Gospel and to practice the Golden Rule. From this camp experi­ence you have the opportunity to come to know the Lord more closely. You also, have a great opportunity to meet many new people and of course have fun.

Boys and girls camps are offered in addition to family camps. Addi12

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

tionally, the camp offers their camp grounds for everything from religious retreats to corporate gatherings.

Many amenities are offered, including updated living quarters and a new ropes course.

Our Lady of the Fields Camp and Retreat Center will be hosting an open house on Saturday, June 1 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to see what the camp and retreat center have to offer. Mass with Bishop Francis to follow.

Willy Wonka Jr. Several Chaldeans performed in the Off Broadway Production of the Spring Musical at St. Fabian Catholic School. This year was Willy Wonka Jr.

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 13

CHAI time

CHALDEANS CONNECTING Saturday, June 1 Annual Rent Party: This year marks the fourth annual Rent Party to support the new Lighthouse who serves the homeless and those living in poverty in Southeast Michigan. The Rent Party tradition dates back to the 1920s as they offered a creative solution to families facing eviction while also playing a major role in the development of jazz and blues music. Hosting this event, Lighthouse board member Paddy Lynch graciously opens his recently renovated home at the historic Stanley Kresge estate in the Arden Park-East Boston Edison Historic District of Detroit. The night will feature special pre-party Arden Park estate tours for sponsors, three stages of jazz with top local performers, a strolling dinner, and an open bar. To date, The Rent Party has raised $150,000 to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the region. For more information about tickets or sponsorship, visit www.therentparty.org Monday, June 3 Drive for Life: Presented by AIREA and Haworth, Beaumont Health’s Drive for Life Invitational on Monday, June 3, supports oncology patient programs and services at the Walter and Marilyn Wolpin Comprehensive Breast Care Center in Beaumont, Royal Oak and the Wilson Cancer Resource Center in Beaumont, Troy. 760 WJR News Talk Radio will broadcast live throughout the event.

Beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m., golfers will enjoy playing on one of the two elegant and prestigious golf courses of Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills with golf tip highlights from proRick Smith and elite academy instructor Bret Hartman. Networking breakfast, lunch, dinner, silent auction, and awards are all part of the event. Sponsorships are available and begin at $2,500. For Drive for Life Invitational event details and registration, visit Beaumont.org/giving/foundation-events.

Thursday, June 6 The Great Big Auction: The Great Big Auction is a signature fundraising event for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit to support mentoring for at-risk youth on Thursday, June 6.

This high-energy event draws a diverse crowd from across Metro Detroit and will include various raffles and an auction with once-in-a-lifetime trips and experiences. A new location for the event, Detroit Shipping Company, will put guests right in the heart of Detroit’s Midtown resurgence with complimentary valet parking right at the front door of this cool, hip event venue. Rick Hampson, president of Citizens Bank, will serve as the event chair; Maurielle Lue, Fox 2 News anchor, will emcee; and Chuck Bennett, Detroit News 14

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT JUNE 2019

lifestyle columnist, named one of the country’s top event hosts, will serve as host. For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact katie.koch@ bbbsdetroit.org.

Friday, June 7 Building Champions Gala: The Building Champions Gala is a powerful and heartwarming evening, including an excellent silent auction, and a delicious dinner. In one night, an incredible impact is made as guests come together to support the precious boys and girls of the state’s inner-cities. Supporting this event is an investment in the lives of thousands of children living in the underprivileged neighborhoods of Detroit and Pontiac. Tickets are priced at $100 each, and tables of eight can be purchased for $700. For more information or to register for this event, visit https://www.powercompanykidsclub. org/2019gala Friday, June 7 Dress for Success: Detroit’s socially innovative community & community hub, Femology HQ will host the historic and groundbreaking experience for current and aspiring Female Founders in partnership with the legendary Saks Fifth Avenue department store. The event will not only empower women, but it will inspire women to catapult and scale their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Included in the programming will be an entrepreneurial panel series of women trailblazers, curated fashion showcase, and action focused networking. The event will honor and benefit one of Michigan’s most impactful organizations, Dress for Success. The event will host more than 200 attendees comprised of the Femology community, Saks V.I.P’s, social media influencers and more. Tickets are priced between $55 and $75.

Friday, June 7 Sunset at the Zoo: Join the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) and event chairs Shannon and Terry Harvill for the spectacular, annual 21-and-older fundraising gala Sunset at the Zoo “Asian

Forest,” 7-11 p.m. Friday, June 7. Sunset, presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions, will provide a sensational evening complete with exquisite cuisine, delectable drinks, magnificent live entertainment, dancing under the stars, and “zoonique” prizes. This year’s event will support the major renovation and expansion of the tiger habitat, located in the Detroit Zoo’s Asian Forest.

Once complete, the Devereaux Tiger Forest will be triple the size and feature many naturalistic elements important to these captivating felines. Have a roaring good time at the wildest event of the summer! Sunset at the Zoo is more than a great party. When you partner with us at Sunset, you are providing critical support for the DZS’s mission of “Celebrating and Saving Wildlife.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit detroitzoo.org/sunset.

Sunday, June 9 Garden Party: The Garden Party Foundation celebrates its 11th annual charity event from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester. The event will raise money for Oakland Community College’s Culinary Studies Institute and other professional trade programs. The Garden Party will feature fare from close to 30 of Michigan’s best restaurants paired with 100 of the finest wines. Tickets cost $150 per person, with guests enjoying fine food and wine, classic cars, and live entertainment by Tosha Owens. The attire is garden party chic and ladies are requested to wear hats. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit thegardenpartymichigan.org.

Wednesday, June 19 Cruise for a Cause: Summer kicks into high gear from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, from aboard Ovation at Summer Cruise Series’ “Summerfest: Reggae on the River.”

This event will stir guests’ souls with tropical cocktails and a Jamaican inspired, four-course strolling dinner.

Amplifying the island-vibe experience with authentic reggae and contemporary island tunes by Roots Vibration,

whose members hail from the Caribbean and the funky streets of Detroit.

The event’s charity partner, Brain Injury Association of Michigan, a nonprofit dedicated to providing services and support for people with brain injuries and their families, also works to reduce the incidence and impact of brain injury through education, advocacy, support, treatment services, and research. A portion the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit BIAMI and its efforts. Additional donation at checkout will provide more support. Arrive at The Port Authority Dock in downtown Detroit at 6:30 p.m. sharp for this cruise. Tickets are priced at $105 per person and must be booked online at SummerCruiseSeries.com. For more information, call 586-778-9060.

Thursday, June 20 Shimmer on the River: Kick off summer in style at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s ninth annual “Shimmer on the River,” an exclusive preview to River Days. This year, West Grand Boulevard meets West Riverfront Park as we celebrate 60 years of the Motor City’s signature sound. On June 20, we’ll welcome Motown legends The Four Tops to the stage for an unforgettable live performance, and will treat guests to a food truck rally, live piano karaoke, games, refreshments, and all-ages activities. This year, we’re proud to recognize Nettie Seabrooks’ commitment to the revitalization of the Detroit Riverfront with the Shimmer Award. Join us at the VIP Reception to raise a glass to her unwavering support and toast the beginning of another great summer along the river. Visit Detroitriverfront.org/shimmer to purchase tickets and for more information.

Saturday, June 20 Stroll for Epilepsy: The Stroll for Epilepsy takes place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Detroit Zoo. It Is an inspirational morning walk that brings people together to raise vital funds needed to provide the necessary programs and services offered by the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. As the largest fundraiser of the year, this walk provides funding for everything the Foundation offers, such as our Here for You Helpline, our Learn and Share Conference Calls, Camp Discovery, school and workplace seizure recognition, and first-aid training, just to name a few. In addition, it’s a wonderful way to raise epilepsy awareness! One in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy over the course of their lifetime, and it is the goal of the Foundation to be there for everyone affected by epilepsy in the state of Michigan. To register, go to epilepsymichigan.org/stroll or call 1-800-377-6226.

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hether your faith is the size of a mustard seed or as large as a giant sequoia, summer activities can fizzle out a family’s faith life. Here are some practical ways to infuse, inspire, and increase your family’s Catholic faith in your summer “to do” list.

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CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

troit, and Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Check out their websites for local events and mass times.

Visit the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. Take a tour of the museum and gift shop, place your intentions at his tomb, and light a CHRISTINE candle from the glass votive JIDDOU candle chapel. Go to the SPECIAL TO THE Summer Camps website’s “Plan a Visit” secCHALDEAN NEWS Sign up for Vacation Bition for activities and prayers ble School (VBS) or the to do with your children. summer camps at one of our ChalDon’t miss Sunday mass while on dean churches. Many of them fill vacation! Use masstimes.org to find a up quickly, so if you weren’t able local parish’s mass times. Children are to get into any of them, check out often inspired by attending a mass at the VBS programs in a Latin Rite different churches when they travel. church near you.

Sign up for Chaldean Youth Camps (CYC) at Our Lady of the Take a day to visit Fields Camp and Retreat Center in Brighton, Mich. Ages range from Catholic churches 6-14 for campers and range from one day camps, overnight camps, father/ in Detroit. Favorites son and mother/daughter camps. include Old St. Visit chaldeanyouthcamp.org or ourladyofthefieldscamp.org.

Mary’s in Greektown, Encourage your teens and young adults to volunteer or get a summer St. Josephat, position at Our Lady of the Fields Camp and Retreat Center.

Sweetest Heart of Travel Heading “up north” this summer?

Stop at the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods in Indian River, Mich. Read about the shrine on the way. Visit the six shrines and take the steps up to the cross. Stop by the doll museum next to the gift shop.

Also up north is Our Lady of the Woods Shrine in Mio, Mich.

Enjoy the shrines among the scenic grounds and say a prayer at the Family Shrine.

Visit the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky and the Creation Museum in Petersburg. Both are located just south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Headed to Chicago? Stop at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana. This amazing shrine is a half mile pathway of life size sculptures of the Stations of the Cross.

Take a day to visit Catholic churches in Detroit. Favorites include Old St. Mary’s in Greektown, St. Josephat, Sweetest Heart of Mary, St. Aloysius, St. Anne de De-

Mary, St. Aloysius, St. Anne de Detroit, and Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Social Media Both you and your children can use social media to increase your faith individually and as a family.

Visit chaldeanchurch.org for the St. Thomas Chaldean Diocese page.

Follow them and all the Chaldean parishes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Events and information are often posted on the sites and are a great way to keep in touch with the parishes.

Visit catholicmom.com for great Catholic resources on family prayer, activities, kids’ section, and books.

Download Catholic apps!

Holy Martyrs has an app. St George and St Joseph use myParish for their apps.

Use Team Novena to say a no-

Salwan Noori Attisha was born on February 18, 1965. Salwan was taken suddenly and called up to Heaven on May 6, 2019.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Like most Chaldeans, Salwan immigrated to the United States with his family in search of a better life and was able to work his way towards opening a business.

He worked tirelessly day and night, open and close, to provide for his family.

Salwan asked for nothing and gave everything he had to his family and friends. He was a kind and generous man who sought to help anyone in need. He dedicated his life to his family and no matter the difficulties that came his way he faced every obstacle with a smile on his face.

Salwan is survived by his wife Sanar and four children, Matthew, Emily, Patrick, Brandon, his parents Noori and Khayria and six siblings, Basil, Maysoon, Ghazwan, Wesson, Sawsan, and Nashwan.

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms,; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Uncle Sam was a hero to his nieces and nephews and will be missed dearly, but we know that one day we will meet again in the Kingdom of God.

vena together as a family.

Use Laudate or iRosary for prayers, bible readings, and more.

Emmanuel Chaldean app from the Chaldean Diocese of St Peter has many of our Chaldean prayers in English and Chaldean.

Use the Video on Demand section of the EWTN app for lots of great animated episodes for younger kids, and Truth in the Heart episodes for older kids.

Other Pray the rosary as a family. Say it weekly, the night before a vacation, on a feast day, or around a bonfire.

Go to a daily mass. There’s mass every day of the week!

Attend adoration as a family.

Let the kids pick out a coloring/activity book, fiction book, toy,

DVD, or trinket at a Catholic gift shop.

Read as a family. Children’s bible, Theology of the Bible for Tots/Kids, Will Wilder series for young readers, The Adventures of Nick and Sam, Chime Travelers series, and more.

Host a play date/movie night and watch a family friendly DVD like Catholic Heroes of the Faith or Brother Francis series.

Get a subscription box from massbox.com. These family friendly crafts, magazines, and videos are for 4-8-year-olds to help them get excited about their faith!

Parents are a child’s primary teacher. They learn by our example.

Be the light that shines brighter than the sun this summer. Help them (and yourself) grow in the Catholic faith. God bless!

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obituaries

RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Moufaq Qala July 1, 1954 – May 22, 2019

Faize Adel Dabish May 19, 1949 – May 22, 2019

Sabah Sadek Jan. 1, 1946 – May 21, 2019

Shamaya Bajoua July 1, 1923 – May 21, 2019

Salem Tolla March 1, 1929 – May 17, 2019

Victoria Zoma Malek Oct. 1, 1922 – May 16, 2019

Rianna Salem Aug. 26, 2009 – May 15, 2019

Hasib Dado July 1, 1941 – May 13, 2019

Rijo Yakou July 1, 1930 – May 13, 2019

Roza Hanna July 1, 1927 – May 11, 2019

Shakir Bacall July 1, 1941 – May 11, 2019

Maggie Hermiz Kassyounan July 1, 1927 – May 11, 2019

Sarkis Youska May 10, 2019

Salwan Noori Attisha Feb. 18, 1965 – May 06, 2019

Edmoon Samaan Hababa July 1, 1932 – May 05, 2019

Yousif Dawood Kellow July 1, 1937 – May 04, 2019

Sabah Asmar July 1, 1937 – May 04, 2019

Sabah Bahnam Jan. 17, 1935 – May 04, 2019

Putros Saka July 1, 1926 – May 03, 2019

Souad Salmo July 1, 1937 – May 03, 2019

Nazhat Naami July 16, 1938 – May 03, 2019

Wadia Bajoka July 1, 1939 – April 30, 2019

Beno Zara July 1, 1936 – April 27, 2019

Rjo Maqo July 1, 1940 – April 27, 2019

Virginia Regina Essa Wahab Nov. 06, 1923 – April 25, 2019

18

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

Dr. Adel Askar July 09, 1924 – May 1, 2019

Viktoria Aziz Poota March 15, 1927 – April 29, 2019

William “ Bill “ Murad Thomas Jan. 19, 1943 – April 27, 2019

Musaab Mansoor Brikho Aug. 13, 1941 – April 24, 2019

W I L L I A M “ B I L L” T H O M A S B O R N: JAN UARY 19, 1943

E N T E R E D E T E R N A L L I F E : A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 9

W

illiam “Bill” Thomas was born on January 19, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the third of five sons to Murad and Jamila Thomas. He is survived by his devoted wife, Majdolin (Kalasho) of 40 years and his three sons Steven (Julianne), Matthew (Megan), and Mark (Stephanie). He was a proud grandfather to Grace, Simon, Margo and Vincent.

Bill will be dearly missed by his brothers Frank, Tommy and Peter as well as his 15 nephews and nieces.

Bill was proceeded into Heaven by both his parents as well as his older brother Alex.

In 1966 Bill earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the Detroit Institute of Technology and a Masters in Education from Wayne State University in 1970. He became a business teacher at Murray Wright High School and then left his teaching position to take over a bankrupt grocery store. He very quickly achieved record sales and profits at his supermarket, Safeway Foods. In 1986, Bill became a licensed Real Estate Broker and soon became heavily involved in the investment, development and management of residential and commercial real estate.

In his 76 years on Earth, Bill touched the lives of countless people. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend. Bill was most devoted to God and the Catholic Church. He was a humble and faithful man who always put the needs of others over himself. He was also a generous philanthropist and even volunteered his time at soup kitchens to help the needy. This loving and honest man will be dearly missed by all those whose lives he touched. We celebrate his passing from this life to join the Lord our God in heaven.

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 19

talented TEENS

An APP for education

BY LISA CIPRIANO

M

ost 16-year-old boys are focused on girls, homework, getting a driver’s license and goofing off with friends. Detroit Country Day sophomore, Michael Jonna is no different. Except, he is also focused on revolutionizing the online tutoring world.

Ruru is a name for the Tasmanian spotted owl. It’s also the name of a creative, new tutoring app created by the budding entrepreneur.

“I really feel like the owl, a wise owl, corresponds to education. It think it has a good flow and is easy to remember,” explained Jonna.

Jonna, himself, is very wise at such a young age. He saw the need in the marketplace for an on-demand tutoring application and has set out to fill it.

For those who may not know, an application, or app, is a computing term for a program or piece of software (most often used on smartphones) designed and written to fulfill a particular purpose for the user.

Jonna realized the need for his fellow high school students to have instant, quality, affordable tutoring help at their fingertips. And like any entrepreneur, he went about creating it.

20

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

“Most other online tutoring services involve scheduling tutoring appointments. Some are done through texting which is more like paying for the answer instead of learning. There is definitely nothing out there like us with instant, quality, video chat tutoring,” Jonna said.

He has thought of every detail when it comes to his app: pricing, levels of service, marketing and making sure that tutors are all properly screened through background checks, credentialed and given competency tests.

Jonna always has been impressed with the way that the Uber application has completely revolutionized ride sharing and used it at an inspiration for his tutoring app.

“I feel like it’s a really good model for the on-demand trend happening with apps these days. No one really wants to wait anymore. And with something like tutoring, you need it at a specific time, especially if you have a test the next day,” Jonna explained.

Much like Uber offers different quality of cars, Ruru offers quality levels of tutors with three different tiers: RURUONE, RURUPLUS and RURUPRO.

It’s not only homework help, RURUONE is also great way for high school students, who are especially proficient in a particular subject, to make some money.

“We felt like student tutors would be comfortable with $15 dollars per hour because it’s hard to get that at a normal job at our age,” said Jonna. There is a 75/25 split, meaning that 75 percent of the cost will go to the tutor and 25 percent will go to Ruru,” he added.

The higher levels of Ruru will be more costly, but the help will come from experienced teachers and professors.

Along with having things ondemand, customization is also key in this smartphone age. And, of course, Jonna has thought of that, too.

Students can choose different lengths of tutoring depending on their specific needs at the time: 15 minutes, 30 minutes or one hour.

Jonna was able to take his idea and bring it to fruition with the help of a Detroit-based, web/application development company called, Novocan.

“I had all of the ideas in my head and worked alongside them to help put the pieces together like the video chat system and the payment system. They

definitely helped a lot. I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Jonna.

Currently, Jonna’s Ruru tutoring application is only available for high school students, but he plans on eventually expanding it to help elementary, middle school and college students. He also already has ideas on updating it and keeping it fresh, which is another important element in the world of applications.

Jonna, who plans to study business in the future, is eying the University of Michigan as a possible place to do so. But, right now, his main focus is on taking the online tutoring world by storm with his Ruru application.

Jonna attributes much of his drive to being Chaldean.

“I was raised in an all Chaldean home and my dad has really inspired me to go after my dreams and ignore the people who try to bring me down,” he said.

And, Jonna dreams big.

“In ten years, theoretically, I see myself running one of the biggest tutoring companies in the world,” concluded Jonna.

For information on Jonna’s recently launched Ruru tutoring application including where you can download it, pricing, levels of service, tutoring subjects and how to become a tutor, visit: www.rurututor.com

Piano prodigy raises spirits

BY PAUL NATINSKY

T

he idea of a traveling musician conjures images of gaily-clad troubadours or fedora-wearing itinerant bluesmen, not 16-year-old piano prodigies. Enter Michael Najor, a sophomore at Bloomfield Hills High School.

Michael, who trains at Axis Music Academy in Birmingham, in April played a surprise birthday mini-concert at a local nursing home for 95-year-old WWII veteran Hal, a celebration arranged by his daughter Teresa Price. Hal’s “concert” featured such tunes as “Moonlight Sonata in D-Minor” and “Gymnopedie in DMinor.”

“It was a highlight for both of us, it was very emotional, it was very well received,” said Michael’s mom, Cheri Najor. She said Michael will play almost anywhere for anyone. He has tickled the ivories at his church, Renaissance Unity, as well as various farmers markets and charities for multiple sclerosis and cancer.

“It’s a great feeling to entertain,” said Michael. “I love seeing people enjoying what I’m playing. It’s an awesome experience.”

“Michael has been identified not

only as a talented musician, but as a musician with a big heart,” said Cheri. “So when things like this come up, he is often asked to play.”

Cheri played piano as a child and insisted that Michael take lessons beginning at age 5. She said there were difficult periods when he was a young child and learning the complex instrument became emotionally frustrating. Michael pushed through that with Cheri’s help. By the time he was 13, he was fully committed.

This summer, Michael will head for Interlochen, the northern Michigan camp for musicians, actors and artists that boasts scores of graduates working professionally in the arts.

In addition to performing, Michael’s interests include music theory, composing original music and original arrangements of existing tunes.

The popular television series, “Game of Thrones,” along with its now-classic theme song, proved a temptation for Michael, who rearranged it as a ragtime tune. To Cheri’s delight, the arrangement acted as a salve to lighten the blow of the less-than-spectacular final

episode. Cheri, like many GOT fans, found the show’s end, widely regarded as ham-handed storytelling, disappointing. “I’m in depression along with the rest of the world,” said Cheri. “I’m hanging my head and just shuffling along the road with how the series ended.”

Cheri said Michael has perfect pitch and can play almost anything after hearing it, a trait he shares with Cheri. He is also able to identify notes by name upon hearing them, something Cheri cannot do. The pair are the only ones with musical talent in their family.

Other than music, Michael’s full focus is on academics. He maintains a 3.9 grade point average and plans to attend the University of Michigan. It is not yet clear if Michael will pursue a career in music through his college days or beyond, said Cheri.

Michael dabbled in sports and enjoys playing basketball recreationally, but he always finds himself returning to music.

“He likes his dog, he likes piano, he likes basketball and he loves his mother,” said Cheri.

Michael is very proud of his Chal-

dean heritage, said Cheri. “He’s a kid who helps raise money and raise spirits,” she said.

Cheri is glad that she encouraged Michael to pursue playing music at an early age. She regrets not staying with it when she was a kid, although she still remembers how to play all of the songs she learned back then.

“I just wanted him to have the gift of music for a lifetime. There’s a lot of things you can give your kids, but you want to give them something that will last forever; and I truly knew that music is forever.”

She advises parents to make sure their kids stick with music. “If they have the most remote interest, have that be the one thing that you require them to fulfill because there’s never been an adult in the history of the world that has said, ‘I’m glad I quit playing.’”

“When Michael was little, I would come behind him and he would cry. He would say, ‘I can’t do it, it’s too hard, I can’t, I can’t.’ I would sit with him and I would say, ‘just so you know, it’s not about the music anymore, now it’s about your ability to stick with something and get through your feelings. So, let’s do this together.’”

Judging from the course of events after those early days, Cheri turned out to be right.

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 21

talented TEENS

A parting gift

BY MONIQUE MANSOUR

M

aryam Ramzi recently turned 14. She’s nearing the end of her seventh grade school year, is the eldest of three siblings, adores her two younger brothers, and loves reading mystery books.

She’s invested in her hobbies and is excited about meeting and making new friends. From the looks of it, it seems as though Ramzi is an ordinary teenager. She is an ordinary teenager with an extraordinary story, and extraordinary abilities.

Ramzi was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. Her father, Amir, was a writer, and Ramzi often marveled at his work ethic. The time and dedication he took to hone his craft was not lost on her, even from a young age. Some of Ramzi’s other memories of the old country are of food, family gatherings, and of belonging; there were always people to come home to in Iraq, always people over at your house or you over at theirs. Life seemed grand, until an unexpected tragedy struck the Ramzi household when little Ramzi was just five years old.

Amir suffered a heart attack and passed on as a result of the trauma.

Ramzi, her mother, and her two very young brothers were left scrambling with the pieces…no father, and a country which was becoming increasingly less safe with each passing day. Ramzi’s mother made a decision and first moved her family to Jordan, and then eventually all came to Michigan, where they have recently celebrated their seven-year anniver22

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

sary of immigrating to the United States.

Ramzi plugged into her new life in the best way she knew how. She was going through the motions of school, home, and family until her fourth-grade teacher took her aside to tell her something.

“I took a test on a computer and the results showed that I was at a college level of reading and writing,” said Ramzi. “I knew from then on that this was a gift from my Dad, and that I wanted to do everything to make him proud and to continue on from where my Dad left off. I write not only for me, but for him as well.”

It wouldn’t take very long for another teacher of hers to stop and marvel at Ramzi’s work.

Ms. Yaldo at Grissom Middle School in Sterling Heights noticed Ramzi’s storytelling abilities after students were asked to write a piece about a significant moment in their lives. Ramzi wrote about her father’s untimely death, and how her life changed afterwards.

“I think the fact that Ms. Yaldo is of Iraqi descent herself is really what made me more comfortable to share my ideas and my story. She’s really helped me,” said Ramzi. The first time Ramzi read her story out loud to the class was a formative moment for her.

“I don’t like pity, and I was worried about that, but my classmates

didn’t give me pity. Only love and support,” she explained. “It felt good to show my peers where my anxiety comes from, so that they understand.

I’ve come away from this experience stronger and more confident in my-

self and in my writing abilities.”

Ramzi credits her old soul as helping her to write. “I’ve always been an old soul; I’ve always loved to give advice to others. I like to tell people that bad times and bad moments

happen to us all. Everything happens for a reason. My Dad never wanted to leave Iraq, he always said this, and after he passed and our country became a more dangerous place to live in my family and I made our way to the United States. I want everyone to know that your problems are never too small for anyone.

Tell people how you are feeling.

For kids and teenagers…if you can’t talk to your parents, talk to your school counselor. Talk to someone.”

Not only is Ramzi a writer, but she is also a budding public speaker. She has now read her essay twice out loud to her class.

“I used to get nervous about speaking in front of others, but then when people come up to me afterwards I’ve realized that my words help others so now I don’t get nervous.”

Not only has this experience reminded Ramzi of what she wants to do with her life – write – she wants to major in English in college and minor in criminal justice, but it has also strengthened her relationship with her mother and her family.

“This experience has given me new ways to talk to my family about what has happened to us, and how we can all move forward.”

One of the first lines in Ramzi’s memoir essay is, Thus, I have learned one lesson, life is certainly unpredictable. “But it still moves on,” said Ramzi.

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JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 23

The road to opportunity Governor Whitmer outlines her path to fix the damn roads and more

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO

A

s soon as she was elected the 49th Governor of the State of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer hit the ground running as she transitioned her campaign stump speech to her first year in office tour to “Fix the Damn Roads.”

Along the way, she made a stop at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield to address the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chaldean community is incredibly important to the health and welfare and future of the economy of the state and that is why I wanted to have this conversation with you about where we are headed as a state,” said Whitmer. “The first year of the first term, the governor has about 2 ½ months to write a budget which really takes about five months to write.”

She outlined the problem and her reasoning behind the ask for the 45cent gas tax increase. “We stopped investing in the foundation of our state,” she said, “the literal foundation and the figurative foundation.”

She continued to say that the state of Michigan stopped investing in education, roads, bridges and clean drinking water.

The total budget in Michigan is $60.2 billion. The discretion is in the general fund. Other funds are restricted. The general fund is more than $10 billion. It funds a variety of state programs.

24

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JUNE 2019

It has not grown in 20 years but the costs of services have increased.

The state’s ability to pay for these services have not grown.

“Had that fund kept up with inflation, it would have more than $5 billions more in it,” she noted. “We have a state infrastructure that is literally crumbling.”

She described a legislature that kept moving money around from fund to fund to do short-term fixes on roads, water and education.

Whitmer’s budget plan to fix the crumbling and dangerous roads goes beyond the pothole patches and could also impact her plans to significantly boost spending on education and environmental improvements.

The national standard for roads is that the 90 percent of them should be in good to fair conditions at all times.

In Michigan, 78 percent are in good and fair condition. “In terms of Infrastructure, if you are not rebuilding, you’re deteriorating,” said Whitmer, “There is no such thing as status quo.”

If we don’t invest in roads, in three years the 78 percent of roads in good to fair conation will be at only 60 percent, according to Governor Whitmer.

“Study after study has shown that we have the worst roads in America,” said Whitmer. “The state that put the world in cars has the worst roads in America right now.”

On the large screen, the Governor showed a map of where we have bad roads in America, that the dots are everywhere.

She also showed photos of potholes that included a pothole patching truck stuck in a pothole.

The state has taken money from the school aid fund to shore up the general fund diverted to fill potholes.

Michigan is dead last in educating children in literacy proficiency.

“If we don’t get education of our children right, our economic future and their standard of living is all compromised.”

She is focused on what she has deemed fundamental. She is also focusing on talent and education. Only 44 percent of adults Michigan residents have a post-secondary degree or a certification.

Today we have PFOSS leaching into drinking water systems across Michigan. It is a fundamental issue that the Governor is focused on.

She plans to fix roads, education and drinking water. Her goal is to have 90 percent of our roads in good to fair condition by 2030. She plans to clean up drinking water. She wants 100 percent of communities to have good drinking water. Close skills gap by bringing down the cost of a college degree, which will enable companies to fill good paying jobs.

She wants Michigan to be a top

ten state in education by focusing on literacy.

The state has a 2.5 billion infrastructure problem and she is proposing a 45-cent gas tax. She plans to ramp it up in a series of increases.

She also outlined why other proposed solutions don’t work including taxing marijuana which was a question from the audience.

“Pot for potholes,” she joked.

“This question comes up all the time.”

The Governor even shared a slide on this issue. “Our roads is a $2.5 billion problem. It is so big it is hard to get your head around. Marijuana at its height is predicted to leverage 42 million in taxes to go to infrastructure….,” she explained. “Every man, woman and child would have to consume $2,500 in marijuana every year to raise those kinds of revenue. At that level, no one is going to care about the roads.”

She contends that there are not a lot of mechanisms to raise 2.5 billion dollars. Some have suggested to raise the corporate income tax. Gas tax would be dedicated to the roads under the constitution. Other increased taxes are not earmarked for roads. Others suggested raising the income tax which would include a vote of the people and hope the legislature appropriates the money for roads. This is the same for sales tax.

Some feedback included taking money from various tax increases, however, the fact remains that the only tax that can be solely used for the roads is the gas tax.

BOOK review

Before There Were Borders: Review

BY ASHOURINA SLEWO

W

ritten by first generation Assyrian-American sisters Josephine Attisha and Mary Zomayah, “Before There Were Borders” is a “coming of age” story about Sara Georges, a young Assyrian-American woman who shares her story of growing up in Iraq with her American-born granddaughter. Sara tells her granddaughter about how she dealt with Iraq’s culture, patriarchy, and limitations. Unaware of the harsh truths of her grandmother’s homeland, Sara’s stories are eyeopening for her granddaughter.

Taking place in Christmas eve in present-day America and in Iraq during the 1950s, “Before There Were Borders” sets out to paint a picture of a time when Christian and Muslim neighbors lived in harmony. The book includes everything from romance and drama to magic and superstitions.

As a first generation AssyrianAmerican, I was excited to read “Before There Were Borders”, especially considering it is written from the perspective of a woman. It is no secret that women in Iraq, and the Middle East, were not always highly regarded and I believe the book does a good job of addressing this.

Early on, Attisha and Zomayah tackle this with Sara, their lead character, discussing marriage and how she would rather pursue her education first.

Unsurprisingly, Sara recalls her mother being taken aback by this statement. “Please don’t think like that. If people hear you talk like this, they will think something is wrong with you,” her mother said.

The idea that all women were called to marriage and that ultimately, that is all their life really is about, is a theme that is prevalent in the stories of all the women in the book.

While slow to start, as the book progresses, we see the story go from being Sara’s story to Hayat’s story.

Hayat was the Muslim woman who Sara eventually grew to become very close friends with. The unlikely friendship between the two started when Hayat was set to marry Sara’s neighbor, Lieutenant Colonel. An

anomaly in those times, Hayat was 25 years old and still had not been married. Even more unusual to Sara was that Hayat would be marrying a married man who already had six children.

She would eventually learn from her mother that marrying multiple women while still being married was a normal practice among the Muslim community in those times.

As I mentioned, the book was slow to start. I found myself really trying to push through the first 50 pages or so. It was not until the story totally took Hayat’s perspective that I got lost in the book. Hayat’s story is beautifully written and compelling from start to finish. I didn’t realize just how enthralled I was by her story until an hour later when I reached the end.

Reading the description for “Before There Were Borders”, I thought the book’s goal was to illustrate the then harmonious relationships between two religiously different groups of people, Christians and Muslims. If that was the goal, I’m afraid the writers did not achieve it. The book was largely about Hayat’s journey, with two or three brief moments that allude to her friendship with Sara even though Sara ultimately leaves Iraq with Hayat.

Above all else, though, the Attisha and Zomayah accomplished so much more. Through their captivating style of writing, they have given a fresh, and more importantly, unbiased look at what Iraq used to be.

And, along the way, they told the stories of several very different women, all strong in their own way. Except Fatima. I think anyone who has read “Before There Were Borders” can agree that Fatima was a deplorable human.

I commend Attisha and Zomayah.

As a first generation Assyrian-American, it can be hard to have a firm understanding of your identity, let alone a country, as you grow up between two worlds. They have done a stellar job in laying both out for everyone, Middle Eastern or not, to understand. I highly recommend “Before There Were Borders”.

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JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 25

A sweet taste of home

BY LISA CIPRIANO

L

ocal orthodontist Dr. Brandon Shoukri is considered a real gogetter! But, he’s also a self-proclaimed “go- giver”. These two valuable traits, he says, he learned from growing up in a Chaldean home.

Dr. Shoukri is a Board-Certified Orthodontist who graduated first in his class with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is active in the American Association of Orthodontists, the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Michigan Dental Association.

“I absolutely love what I do,” Shoukri said.

But, what he equally loves to do is give back to the community through mentoring, teaching at the University of Michigan and also through the ‘Cookies for Courage’ initiative at his Commerce Township practice, Outstanding Orthodontics.

“Dr. Mark Berkman, Dr. Lainie Shapiro, and I have always been committed to giving back to the community along with educating and empowering the young generation,” said Dr. Shoukri.

The doctors look for ways to do that any way they can. And, one of the ways they discovered, is through the Girl Scouts.

“Every year, the other doctors, the office team, and I would always look forward to cookie season. While Dr. Shapiro was a Girl Scout herself; Dr. Berkman and I are inspired by how much work goes into preparing and selling the cookies. They are learning essential entrepreneurial skills at a young age like providing customer service, managing inventory and income, and most importantly setting goals,” explained Shoukri. “We felt that as a practice we could do more to help the Girl Scouts.

So, we created the ‘Cookies for Courage’ program,” he continued.

The initiative is a brilliant way to help these business-minded girls and young women reach their sales goals, learn a little about orthodontics and provide a big, loving taste of home to our troops.

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JUNE 2019

“When a troop of Girl Scouts would come to our office, we’d always buy two cases of cookies from them.

This would allow them to get closer to their goals in raising money for trips and community projects. We’d also open the doors for them to ask questions, to see what goes on during a normal day at an orthodontic office, and hopefully be inspired to become an orthodontist,” Dr.Shoukri said.

But, while they were doing their part in helping the Girl Scouts reach their sales goals, they’d quite often end up with a lot more cookies than they could handle.

That sparked the rather sweet idea to help the Girl Scouts and give a little boost to our troops’ morale.

“With a number of our patients having families who are active in the military, we thought it would be a great opportunity to give our troops stationed at bases in the U.S. and around the world a taste of great American made cookies,” he explained.

So, the doctors at Outstanding Orthodontics took their idea for ‘Cookies for Courage’ to the best place they knew of to gather support: social media.

“We asked the community to send us addresses of loved ones who are in the military, so we could ship the cases of cookies over to them.

We were overwhelmed with responses and just amazed by the positive feedback,” said Dr. Shoukri.

As the names of service members came rolling in, so did uniformed Girls Scouts with their boxes of cookies. Boxes continued to fill their office as the doctors bought two cases of cookies from each troop.

The Girl Scout troops from cities such as Canton, Commerce, Brighton, Northville, Wixom, Warren, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, Clarkston and Berkley so far have

taken part in ‘Cookies for Courage’ through the caring doctors at Outstanding Orthodontics.

The hundreds of boxes of cookies they have purchased are being sent to training bases, VA hospitals, as well as to military members serving both locally and abroad as a sweet thank you for all they are doing and have done.

The welcomed taste of home is also being sent to U.S. troops as far away as the Middle East, Japan, Italy, and even Thule Air Base in Greenland, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle!

‘Cookies for Courage’ not only has put a smile on the faces of several military troops, it has also done so for the Girl Scouts troops.

“My troop loved visiting the office and selling so many boxes! We earned our Troops-to-Troops badge because of it too!” explained Abby Berkheiser,14, of Commerce Troop 70451.

“We love for the girls to feel a connection to all the good they do.

This was a great program because of

that. We also used the trip to teach the girls a lot about career choices because of the visit to a professional office. It was a win-win all around,” added Christine Berkheiser, troop mom of Commerce Troop 70451.

For the doctors at Outstanding Orthodontics, and “go-giver” Dr. Shoukri, you can add another win to that.

“We are forever grateful for everything the individuals in the military forces of the United States do to protect our freedom. This is a sweet thank you from us and the Girl Scouts to them,” Shoukri concluded.

To learn more about Outstanding Orthodontics and their ‘Cookies for Courage’ initiative and now to become involved next cookie season, go to: https://outstandingortho.com/ cookies-for-courage/ Or, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/ BerkmanAndShapiroOrthodontics/ https://www.instagram.com/ outstandingortho/

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BY MONIQUE MANSOUR

A

ccording to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there are approximately 13,000 children in foster care in the state of Michigan.

“We have 612 children in foster care in Macomb County currently,” said Kim Borja.

Borja has been the Macomb County Child Welfare Director since August of 2018. She holds 16 years of experience working with the state of Michigan in various capacities. Her journey began first as a foster care worker and as an adoption worker before she moved her way up into management. She’s a proud Michigan native from Macomb County. She

earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and child development from Central Michigan University and her Master’s degree in Family Studies from Spring Arbor University.

“We have 56 licensed foster homes. We also work with private agencies who have their own foster homes that they’re licensed with, but we’re always recruiting for foster parents.” Some ways Borja and her department spread the message about foster care families and foster care parenting is through state-based organizations, public events, fairs, hospitals and schools.

But the biggest recruitment tool comes straight from the heart. “A lot of recruitment is done by word of

mouth from current foster care parents to future foster care parents,” said Borja.

Several things are considered before a child is placed with a foster family. “We always look for relatives first. Some relatives are already licensed and some are not,” said Borja.

“For our children that have more significant needs, such as behavioral or mental health needs, we look into placing them in residential care so that they can get the treatment that they need.”

The wishes of the child are always taken into consideration before a home placement is made. “If there are any religious beliefs or cultural customs in place that are important to a child, we look to see if there is a foster parent or foster parents that can best meet their needs and support them,” said Borja. “We also take into account the wishes of the foster parent or parents.”

Because children from a wide variety of backgrounds are currently in foster care, it is always helpful to have foster care parents who also come from a wide variety of backgrounds. “We’ve reached out to the Chaldean Community Foundation for help with recruitment. We do have a small number of Chaldean children in foster care.”

Interested individuals who want to learn more about becoming a foster parent in Michigan can contact the Foster Care Navigator Program for the State of Michigan at 855642-4543 or by visiting FCNP.org.

Another resource which offers more information on foster care and the foster care application process is www. michigan.gov/hopeforahome.

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(248) 865-6420

JUNE 2019

#onlyWB

CHALDEAN NEWS 27

Garden Mint

Wild Michigan mint

In the garden of mint

BY SALLY WENCZEL

H

“

ot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun.” Shakespeare’s description of summer triggers my sensory memory: fragrant, oil filled leaves cooking in the hot sun, the kids sampling lemon balm and mint in one green-mouth-filled, smiling bite, proud that they know how to identify one leaf from another in the herb garden. A brush of a leg or stroke of the hand and you’re wearing summer’s minty perfume.

Tis the season of hot lavender and mints, and making memories with friends and family over long set tables. Fresh, cooling mint harvested straight from the garden is chopped into grandmother’s cucumber salad or muddled in sweet, cold lemonade. Lee Sharkas and his crew at Shanendoah chop loads of mint every day to keep up with demand for guests’ favorite dishes. The general manager and head chef at the club’s fine dining restaurant said that tabbouleh is his favorite minty Shenandoah dish and a favorite of the guests as well. “Fresh Mint is a must in tabbouleh,” said Sharkas.

Mint was finding its way onto our plates and into our goblets many generations ago. The art of cooking evolved right along side the art of herbalism over the centuries and according to people’s needs. Middle Eastern culture from the 7th century onward translated and preserved precious volumes of Greek medical knowledge, thereby plunging itself into a unique period of scientific breakthroughs 28

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

that shaped modern culture today. What we call “holistic medicine” or “alternative medicine” in our modern world was just medicine to our ancestors and mint certainly had its place in the family garden and on the apothecary shelf.

Ever farther back in time, mint was probably at the table of Jesus. It was definitely grown and used in the lands of St. Matthew, as scripture says: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and Have omitted the weightier matters of the law, Judgement, mercy and faith.

– Matthew, 23 I’d love to see a table setting from that age and to hear the conversations filling the room, the garden just outside the kitchen, the smell of herbs and oils in the medicine cabinet. Essential herbal oils were widely used and prized in the days of old and are still today. The small bottle of mint essential oil I keep inside my purse has saved me a few times, when a sinus headache strikes; I just use a drop on my temples or the back of my neck and sweet cooling relief! But be careful not to get it in your eyes! Just a deep inhale of the refreshing oil or a little dab under my nose helps me to stay awake while driving long distances in the night. But remember, before you start bathing yourself in mint oil be sure to check for any contraindications with any health conditions.

Mint Lemonade: 2 cups crushed ice 4 cups water 2 large lemons (or limes), washed, unpeeled, cut into small pieces and seeds removed Juice of one large lemon 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, stems removed. Set some aside for garnish.

1 cup sugar Add all of the ingredients to the pitcher of a high quality blender. Cover and push blend or liquefy until you achieve the desired drink consistency. Pour lemonade into a serving pitcher through a mesh strainer. Add fresh mint leaves to the pitcher for garnish. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Yogurt Cucumber Dip: 2 cups plain yogurt 1 large cucumber, seeded and grated 10 large leaves of mint, minced 1 clove of garlic (crushed) ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp cumin powder Mix all and refrigerate for at least an hour.

As you probably have heard, mint has the ability to spread and take over a garden. It’s best to plant it in a container or buy a large clay pot and bury the pot in the ground, where it can be nestled amongst your flower garden or other herbs. Unless you want a mint farm, then just let it go!

Right in the middle of mint farm country a few hours north, is the St. Johns Mint Festival. It happens in August and I absolutely cannot wait to check it out. There’s a quilt show, beauty queens, a parade, live music and Minty The Green Bear, according to the Facebook page. Some of the large mint farms in the surrounding area are open for tours during the festival. A friend of mine, who has attended, said the whole county smells of mint in the warm summer months. I’m already planning my weekend!

chaldean on the STREET

Looking back at the raids

BY HALIM SHEENA

June 11, 2017 is a day that will stay with the community for many years to come. Hundreds of Iraqi nationals, including members of the Chaldean community, were caught up in raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detained while they awaited deportation. With the intervention of the ACLU, those at risk were given a fighting chance.

Two years later, they continue to fight. We asked community members how they felt about the continued threat of deportation.

With the two-year anniversary of the raids coming up, I’m filled with sadness and frustration that such a strong threat exists. Thankfully, with the election coming up, we have a chance to elect change that will benefit our community and reduce this threat. We must remember there are more than two issues that we should base our votes on.

– Azal Arabo, Walled Lake, 22

The issue here is not whether these immigrants should be given second chances. The issue is how to fix a broken, inefficient immigration system which makes the path to citizenship unduly difficult. The solution here is not compassion. The solution is to take control away from the power-hungry bureaucrats who we continue to vote into office, buying into their empty promises as they are enriched by our naivety.

Vote accordingly, my friends.

– Samer Paulus, Detroit, 25

With the continued threat of ICE; I believe that it is an advantage to our community in many ways. It should no longer be a threat rather an opportunity of how, we as individuals, can use our own experiences and resources to help one another. It has ignited the passion in many people’s hearts to represent those individuals through law and ethical practices. It is a chance to prove the strong roots we hold as Chaldeans. We cannot give up now!

– Susan Arrow Musielewicz, Ann Arbor, 30

Deportation is something that has taken such a big toll on our community. Breaking up families is injustice. The individuals facing deportation fear for their life and losing everything and everyone due to mistakes that they have already served time for. This isn’t making our country better, it’s just breaking households and breaking hearts of people who don’t deserve the treatment they’re getting. Our country needs to focus on the present, rather than the past with the individuals facing deportation.

– Lavrena Kenaya, West Bloomfield, 22

I would say when it comes to the subject of deportation in general, I feel like America should pay more attention on the intentions of the families that want to live in this country. With parents that were once refugees, it was very difficult for them to adapt to a new lifestyle in America. What made their journey harder was the years they had to wait to earn their citizenship. In my opinion, families and individuals that want to start a life in America are people who are living in a poor, dangerous environment and want a chance get jobs and live a happy life. When ICE threatens individuals to go back to their homeland with scarce food, water, and shelter they are putting their lives in danger. With citizenships being so difficult to get, it makes it a longer process for refugees and immigrants to be safe from ICE. Therefore, I believe there should be a system of some sort for people that are trying to get their citizenship and for them to be safe from getting deported.

– Malanda Malan, Sterling Heights, 22

I feel many different emotions thinking about the anniversary of the ICE raids, the strongest one is anger.

Anger in our community’s judgement towards these individuals and their families. Anger in people being completely one-sided on deportation issues and refusing to learn more about this specific situation. And anger in this administration for using these individuals, inflicting trauma on them and their families, for their own political benefit. Thankfully, the majority of them are released from detention and able to await their individual trails at home and with their family.

– Hillary Sesi, Sterling Heights, 28 JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 29

Dealing with divorce, annulments LISA CIPRIANO

N

obody who is getting married ever plans on getting a divorce or an annulment.

But, sometimes well intended marital unions simply don’t work out.

The national divorce rate lingers at about 50 percent. And, the Chaldean community is not immune, despite the heavy religious and social implications.

Divorce and annulments are a complicated issue legally, spiritually and emotionally. It can be even more challenging within the confines of the Chaldean Catholic church.

The February 20, 2019 episode of The Mom-to-Mom Show hosted

by Lisa Denha and produced by the Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization Center, touches on all of these complicated angles.

The live show, featuring Iklas Bahoura-Bashi, Lubna Seba and Channelle Kizy-White, explored how the Chaldean Church views divorce and annulments, explains some of the legal issues involved in these processes and talks about the resources available through the ECRC’s newly developed divorce ministry program.

Until recently, there were little to no emotional support resources specifically tailored to members of the Chaldean community who are dealing with the emotional process of divorce or marriage annulments.

Bahoura-Bashi, a licensed ther30

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JUNE 2019

apist and Christian life coach, explains how she developed ECRC’s divorce ministry program after a member of the Chaldean community who had went through a divorce, told her of the healing that she had experienced through a divorce care program offered by the protestant church.

After realizing that there were no similar resources available to Chaldeans going through divorces and annulments, Bahoura-Bashi said she consulted with the church and developed the ECRC divorce ministry support group program based on a Catholic program on surviving divorce. So far, they have held three successful sessions.

She explained the importance of seeking psychological support after a failed marriage, reflecting on mistakes made, working on correcting them, grieving the loss of a marriage and healing before moving forward into another relationship.

Kizy-White, a family lawyer, touched on the often complicated legal process involved in divorces and annulments including financial, property, and custody issues.

She discussed how these issues often re-emerge post-divorce when entering into a new relationship and creating new families. KizyWhite also explained the effects that she has seen divorces have on

children and the conflicts that can arise between families.

The church’s annulment process is a detailed, complicated and often confusing one that many have questions about.

Seba, who is the annulment coordinator for the St. Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Diocese, explained how the Chaldean Catholic Church views divorces and annulments, how to apply for an annulment and the in-depth and often lengthy process in which an annulment is granted.

She also outlined some of the church’s views and specific teachings on how to move forward spiritually within the church and in relationships after a divorces and annulments.

The panelists also discussed the sensitive subject of infidelity from their own unique, professional viewpoints after a viewer of the live show submitted a question about the common misconception that cheating in a marriage is automatic grounds for annulment.

Seba quickly cleared that up for viewers by explaining that the annulment process is only based on what happens in the relationship prior to marriage and gave a number of examples of what the church looks for in its annulment application questionnaire.

From a therapist’s standpoint, Ba-

houra-Bashi explained how couples actually can and do move past infidelity and their marriage can emerge even stronger with proper counseling to help regain trust.

As a family lawyer, Kizy-White agreed that, although it is no excuse for cheating, there are underlying problems in a marriage that lead to infidelity. She agreed that couples can successfully work through their problems through counseling and has even seen it happen in her practice.

The importance of pre-marital counseling was also addressed in this informative and comprehensive episode of The Mom-to-Mom Show.

The Catholic Diocese has responded to the increased need for couples to learn, before walking down the aisle, about possible issues that could arise in a marriage.

Seba explains how ECRC is working to bring more awareness of the sacrament of marriage and what it means through its pre-marital counseling program.

Despite its title, The Mom-toMom show is not just for moms. It covers a range of important topics for parents and members of the Chaldean community in general.

You can watch it and learn by becoming a member of The Chaldean Moms of Metro Detroit Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/2208482049379404/

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION

Help Wanted!

Please consider hiring one of our many new Americans.

More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have migrated to Michigan since 2007. Many possess the skills and determination to work hard for you and your organization.

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) has a bank of resumes of candidates qualified to do a variety of jobs. To inquire about hiring a New American, call or email Elias at 586-722-7253 or elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org.

Chaldean Community Foundation Sterling Heights Office 3601 15 Mile Road Sterling Heights, MI 48310 586-722-7253 www.chaldeanfoundation.org

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 31

ONE on ONE

One on One with Raad Kathawa

T

he newly remodeled dining room at Shenandoah Country has created quite the buzz. Recently, Chaldean News Copublisher Mike Sarafa sat down with Shenandoah President Raad Kathawa to discuss that and other happenings at the club.

CN: What has been the feedback on the newly remodeled dining room?

RK: Great, and very positive. The feedback from our members has been very complimentary. Many people have been very surprised by the difference the renovations have made.

Since the new dining room opened, we have experienced a tremendous increase in revenue of almost 100 percent, and Fridays and Saturdays have been booked solid.

CN: The menu has changed and the wine list has been substantially upgraded. What is the thinking behind those decisions?

RK: The management and Board of Directors felt that because of our recent renovations, this was an appropriate time to come up with a new menu, as change can be good. They also thought the fine dining room menu should be somewhat different from the menu that is available in the club’s activity rooms. The seafood and Prime Angus steaks we prepare and serve are second to none.

As far as the changes in our wine list, members were asking for more 32

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JUNE 2019

kitchen. A new pavilion will feature a much more spacious seating area, which will make a world of difference. As a result of these changes, service and variety will no longer be an issue of concern to our members.

Raad Kathawa

variety. Thanks to the new, temperature-controlled wine cellar that was added as part of our dining room renovation project, we had an opportunity to expand our wine offerings.

CN: What are the plans to improve the food service in the pool area with respect to the outdoor grill that is being built?

RK: We are planning to start our outdoor project the first week of September, God willing, so we will do our best this summer to provide better and faster service to members who are enjoying the pool area. As part of the outdoor improvements, a full kitchen will be built outside, and all food served poolside will be prepared in and served from that

CN: Are there changes being made to the pool area?

RK: Yes, there are many changes being made to the pool area! To begin with, we are adding a splash pad that’s geared to children 10 years old and younger. We are also improving the surfaces in the pool area, which is a much-needed fix. Finally, a larger seating area will make the area much more comfortable for anyone who is enjoying the pool.

CN: What are the plans to enhance the outdoor recreational opportunities for the members?

RK: In addition to the things I’ve already mentioned — the new kitchen, a beautiful pavilion and improved seating area, the addition of a splash pad, and improvements to the pool area — we will have a second phase of changes that will include building two tennis courts and adding an outdoor volleyball court that members will be able to enjoy.

CN: The banquet business is at an alltime high. What do you think accounts for that?

RK: We have the very best of everything. We offer consistency, and we

have a beautiful banquet hall and pre-function space that was renovated two years ago. Our members can expect that they will always experience top-notch quality, excellent service, and a five-star banquet hall and pre-function space. Also, keep in mind that we serve nothing but Prime Angus beef, fresh Amish chicken, and a great selection of seafood. We can seat 700 people comfortably in our banquet hall, with plenty of space for a nice dance floor, plus we have a state-of-the-art sound system.

CN: With the newly approved dining room came some new rules with respect to reservations, the number of people at a table, and seating people before their entire party arrives. What are the purposes behind these changes?

RK: These new rules are long overdue. People should always make a reservation when going to any fine dining establishment. Like any fine restaurant, what can we do if the room is already full and more parties are arriving expecting to be seated?

Making reservations ahead of time allows us to be more flexible and anticipate what type of scheduling we need as far as kitchen staff and waitstaff, so that our service is prompt and we do not keep people waiting.

Seating a group only when the complete party arrives is not required, but we do prefer that most of the party is in attendance before the

group is seated. The reason for this is simple: It allows us to provide better service to the entire group.

We have also implemented a policy of not moving tables to accommodate large groups, as it interferes with the flow and comfort level of the dining room. If there is a party of 12 diners or more, they will be seated in an overflow room that is beautifully decorated and part of the dining room. It has the larger tables to better accommodate larger groups.

CN: Recently, a group of Shenandoah members purchased Wabeek Country Club. What impact, if any, will that have on Shenandoah?

RK: Members of our club are buying businesses every day, so the fact that a group of members purchased Wabeek Country Club has absolutely no impact on CIAAM/Shenandoah Country Club.

Shenandoah is a Chaldean institution with 1,280 members, and it is home to the only Christian Chaldean museum in the world. We have great activity rooms, a fabulous banquet hall, a beautiful dining room and an 18-hole golf course, so this purchase has no impact on us. And, in addition to everything Shenandoah currently offers, we may have a few more surprises added to our property in the future.

Having said that, we wish all of our members the very best in all of their business endeavors.

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 33

Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C. Attorneys and Counselors at Law

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event

Annual Awards Gala PHOTOS BY MONTEZ MILLER

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce hosted their 16th Annual Awards Gala on Friday, May 3 at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield. Guests enjoyed a lively evening.

Honored at this year’s gala was Zaid Elia as Business Person of the Year and John and Ann Mansour as Humanitarians of the Year.

Receiving a special tribute for his contribution to the Chaldean community was West Bloomfield Supervisor Steve Kaplan.

36

CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019

CHALDEAN NEWS 37

event

Chaldean Voice Cultural Evening PHOTOS BY RAZIK TOMINA

The Chaldean Voice Radio Show hosted a Chaldean Cultural Evening on Wednesday, May 16. Members of the community gathered for the Chaldean centered event at Regency Manner on Southfield. The evening featured storytelling, music, and poetry readings.

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CHALDEAN NEWS

JUNE 2019

P RE S E N T S

T I T L E S P O NS O R

DINNER SPONSOR

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY

FOUNDATION 16th Annual Community Golf Outing J U N E 1 3 AT S H E N A N D O A H C O U N T RY C L U B

You Don’t Have to Golf to Help!

This annual fundraising event supports the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF), raising nearly $900,000 for a variety of programs since its inception a decade ago. Join nearly 150 golfers at this casual event on June 13. The event offers participants a fun-filled day while raising awareness and critical funding for a variety of services many of us take for granted. The CCF provides services to more than 31,000 annually. With your support the CCF can serve more.

BUY DINNER TICKETS Tickets for the 6:00 PM dinner at Shenandoah Country Club are $50 each or $500 for a table of 10 and include cocktails, networking (beginning at 5:00 PM), and an opportunity to participate in a raffle and live auction.

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS A $100 ticket for the 50/50 raffle could score some serious cash!

You could win thousands!

CONTACT INFO To purchase tickets for dinner (dinner is casual attire) or 50/50 raffle tickets, call 248-851-1200 or visit chaldeanchamber.com.

We hope to see you June 13th. This event is supported by: