Yassin Terou, owner of Yassin's Falafel House, led a conversation on refugees and their roles in American communities in the International House on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Alex Phillips • The Daily Beacon
Refugee finds own American dream Local restaurant owner discusses transition from Syria Jenna Butz
Arts & Culture Editor
Trump Series continues with a look at the proposed funding cuts for the National Endowment of the Humanities. See pages 6 & 7 >>
Volume 133 Issue 44
On Yassin Terou’s first day in Knoxville, he walked down Cumberland Avenue and was taken aback by the strangers on the street smiling at him. “What are they doing?” Terou remembered asking himself. “That looks funny.” Now, the owner of Yassin’s Falafel House has embraced his American home, and he discussed the trials and triumphs of moving to America and opening his own business with students and the Knoxville community on Tuesday, March 28, as part of Campus Events Board’s Culture Week. Before Terou began telling his story, audience members were welcomed to the International House Great Room with a table lined with food from Yassin’s Falafel House. Warm pita, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel sandwiches were offered, and the audience
had the chance to taste Terou’s passion for his work. Then, the short movie about Terou, his family and his business that was created by Square and Twitter was shown. The film chronicled Terou’s move to the United States, knowing no English, and how he went from selling sandwiches outside the Muslim Community of Knoxville mosque to owning his business downtown. “Since I’ve come to Knoxville, the only thing I’ve felt is love — from Muslims, nonMuslims, even people that don’t believe in anything,” Terou said. “They’ve just given us love.” Stating that he wouldn’t talk much about the conflict in Syria, Terou focused on his own journey and his belief in the American Dream. Having nothing from Syria, no photos, no family heirlooms, Terou has focused on Knoxville and how to make his mark on Rocky Top. “We want to be part of this community;
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we want to build it and even help you,” Terou said. “We want to help the American community. The people who can’t work. The people who are sick. The old people. “We want to help you, not only get help.” This also includes sharing his religion and culture with the larger community. Before opening his falafel shop, Terou sold sandwiches outside of his mosque, and when word spread about his food, non-Muslims would stop by, eat some falafel and get a glimpse into Knoxville’s Muslim community — the same community that helped Terou and his family build their American Dream. After meeting Nadeem Siddiqi, a Muslim community leader in Knoxville and the campus chaplain, the two paired up and opened Yassin’s Falafel House. They started with $2,000 and two plastic tables. Terou would rent space in a friend’s kitchen, make his food there, then bring it to his storefront to sell. See YASSIN on Page 3
Wednesday, March 29, 2017