NOTEWORTHY
Detroit’s creative scene is gaining fresh momentum with Chaldean American artist Juliana Rabban, known as Just By Juliana, stepping into a major spotlight through a high-profile collaboration with Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons. Rabban is among a select group of artists featured in the team’s annual 313 Day initiative, a March celebration of Detroit’s iconic area code.
Raymond Jonna just made a big splash in Michigan’s real estate world, helping close the record-breaking $156 million sale of Huntington Tower in downtown Detroit—the largest private single-tenant net-leased deal in the state’s history. Acting as the sole broker for both buyer and seller, Jonna handled a complex, high-stakes deal with skill and precision.
SPORTS
Never doubt Logan Hamama. Ever. When he was a student-athlete at Birmingham Brother Rice High School, his work ethic, drive and determination earned the former part-time player the starting point guard job on the star-studded boys basketball team when he was a senior.
Online Exclusive
A local investment group led by Saber Ammori, Kevin Denha, and Andrew Dickow has acquired Buddy’s Pizza from private equity firm CapitalSpring, though the purchase price was not disclosed. The new owners—who say the brand holds personal significance—plan to strengthen customer experience, improve product quality, and expand Buddy’s presence nationally, particularly in the frozen pizza market. The deal, financed by First Merchants Bank with legal support from Varnum and Taft, comes after years of limited expansion outside metro Detroit and several recent store closures in west Michigan. Founded in 1946 and credited with creating Detroit-style pizza, Buddy’s remains a longstanding staple with multiple locations across Michigan.

CN Inside the Studio with Officer Zena Daley
Zena Daley, West Bloomfield's sole female Chaldean police officer, joins editor Sarah Kittle for a candid conversation about community and service.
Inside the Studio: Chris George
Former staff writer, Cal Abbo, returns for an encore appearance to interview Chris George about his recent sale of his SubSummit conference business.

Inside the Studio: Ron Najor
CN editor, Sarah Kittle, speaks with Ron Najor about his new film, "Adjunct" and about Uncle Freddy Productions, the production company set-up with help from his uncle, Fred Najor.
Chaldean Kitchen with Jacob Bacall
Jacob Bacall prepares Gurgur, the classic Chaldean dish and ancient staple, cooked throughout Mesopotamia for thousands of years.
Chaldean Kitchen with Linda Abbo
Linda Abby's unique torshi recipe brings on the heat.
This episode of Chaldean Kitchen is proudly sponsored by Jim Manna, the Residential & Vacant Land Expert with Real Estate One.
Features
There is a fear of the unknown—especially when it comes to raising children, and particularly when parents sense that something may be different. That is how Zena Agoubi felt when her oldest child, Owen, was not progressing past 18 months. At around two years old, she enrolled him in speech therapy because he was not really talking. The doctor suggested it could be a sign of autism and urged her to make an appointment quickly, given the long wait lists. Agoubi did just that—”just in case”—knowing her son would not get the help he needed if he did not have an official diagnosis.
Chaldean American physician and mother Dr. Mariam Shapera never set out to write children’s books—but her love of storytelling, combined with her experiences as a parent and physician, inspired her to create stories that celebrate the unique strengths of autistic children. Writing was always something she enjoyed, but her career first took her down a very different path. “As a teenager, I always loved writing fiction and poetry,” she says.
Imagine stepping into a place where you can do it all: explore the town center of ancient Babylon; touch the stele bearing Hammurabi’s Code of Laws; enter a sacred space and hear Aramaic spoken just as it was in the days of Christ; visit a Chaldean village in the Nineveh Plain in the early 20th century; travel to America and glimpse the New York skyline as early pioneers saw it from Ellis Island; feel the pride of standing inside a 1930s grocery store as a Chaldean entrepreneur builds his place in Detroit’s business community; and discover how Chaldeans today are expanding their professional horizons. How is all this possible? Welcome to the Chaldean Cultural Center and its Museum.
Over the past 20 years, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and the Chaldean Community Foundation, along with other community organizations, have built an outstanding reputation anchored in capability, credibility, and consistency. That strong and reliable reputation has made Chaldean organizations in Michigan and across the United States effective influencers — and a first stop for visiting politicians, officials and delegations from Iraq and beyond.
Everyone knows the goal of going to college and earning a degree is to gain the education needed to find a job after graduation. One key part of that journey is securing an internship. Internships help students build connections in the workforce, gain professional experience in their chosen field, and strengthen their resumes. They’re not just important—they’ve become almost essential to the college experience, especially in today’s competitive job market.
In West Bloomfield, Michigan, a city home to one of the largest Chaldean populations in the country, Officer Zena Dailey occupies a unique position. She is the only female Chaldean police officer in the city, navigating a profession that is still growing in diversity while representing both her community and women in law enforcement. Her story is one of dedication, service, and the quiet but powerful impact of representation.
Dr. Adhid Miri has lived many lives in one—scientist, educator, entrepreneur, historian, cultural preservationist, and, for Chaldean News readers, one of its most trusted and thoughtful voices. To read his work is to travel across centuries and continents, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern Michigan, guided by a man who understands both the chemistry of molecules and the chemistry of people.
In a quiet corner of the Chaldean Community Foundation in West Bloomfield (CCF West), something extraordinary is unfolding. The Mar Ibrahim Library is not simply housing books. It is awakening memory. It is stirring questions. It is forming students. And for the first time, it is opening the history of the Church of the East to the wider community in a structured, academic course once reserved primarily for seminarians.
Arabic Translations
سعدي وهيّب الصيهود هو رجل أعمال عراقي وفاعل خير بارز، وُلد في بغداد عام 1954، وتعود أصول عائلته إلى محافظة العمارة (ميسان). وهو أب لثلاثة أبناء وبنت.
على مدار العشرين عاماً الماضية، نجحت كلٌ من «غرفة التجارة الكلدانية الأمريكية» و»مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية» — جنباً إلى جنب مع غيرهما من المنظمات المجتمعية للجالية العراقية الكلدانية — في بناء سمعة مرموقة وعالية ترتكز على اركان المقدرة والكفاءة والمصداقية والثبات.
مع اقتراب الذكرى السنوية الأولى لتوليه منصب رئيس أساقفة ديترويت، يتكلم رئيس الأساقفة إدوارد وايزنبرغر في هذه المقابلة عن عامٍ اتسم بمبادرات التعاون وبوادر الأمل الملموسة. فلقد قَدِم نيافته من مدينة (توسان- ولاية اريزونا) ليقود إحدى أعرق وأكثر الأبرشيات تعقيدًا في البلاد، وليجد نفسه في مدينةٍ شعارها نفسه يَعد بالقيامة. وفي عامه الأول، لم يلمس فقط صمود ديترويت، بل لاحظ أيضًا أمرًا فاجاءه كثيراً: كنائس نابضة
تشهد الولايات المتحدة وأوروبا ودول أخرى تغيرًا ديموغرافيًا كبيرًا، حيث تتحول جماعات المهاجرين التي كانت تُعتبر أقليات إلى أغلبيات، ومن بين هذه الجماعات، نجد مجتمعات سريعة النمو من آسيا وشمال أفريقيا وامريكا الجنوبية.
لطالما كان الشعر في قلب الثقافة العربية، وصدر الديوان وأدب المجالس كونه أقدم وسيلة استخدمها المتحدثون الأوائل في اللغة العربية لتسجيل معتقداتهم ورواياتهم وفلسفتهم. بدأ الشعر في شبه الجزيرة العربية منذ أكثر من 1500 عام، قبل الإسلام، واستمر في الشهرة ولكنه أصبح فيما بعد شكلاً لغوياً فنياً وانتشرعالمياً.
بغداد (أ ف ب) - قال مسؤولون عراقيون يوم السبت إن القوات الأمريكية انسحبت بالكامل من قاعدة جوية في غرب العراق تنفيذا لاتفاق مع الحكومة العراقية. سبق واتفقت واشنطن وبغداد في عام 2024 على إنهاء عمل التحالف الذي تقوده الولايات المتحدة والذي يقاتل تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق بحلول سبتمبر 2025، ومغادرة القوات الأمريكية القواعد التي كانت تتمركز فيها. ومع ذلك، بقيت وحدة صغيرة من المستشارين العسكريين الأمريكيين وأفراد الدعم.
ضمن تغطيتنا لتاريخ شعبنا الكلداني ومناطق تواجده، كان لي شرف محاورة سيادة المطران مار حبيب هرمز النوفلي، راعي أبرشية الكلدان في البصرة والجنوب، والزائر الرسولي إلى أوروبا، الذي استعرض خلال اللقاء تاريخ الوجود الكلداني في مدينة البصرة، وأبعاده الروحية والثقافية والاجتماعية، والتحديات التي يواجهها اليوم.
بادرت مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية في مدينة ويست بلومفيلد باقامة أمسية ثقافية كلدانية للفن والموسيقى يوم الخميس كانون الاول - ديسمبر 11 2025 في موقع مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية الجديد في مدينة ويست بلومفيلد.
Voices
FROM THE EDITOR
April invites us to slow down, listen more closely, and widen our understanding. As we recognize Autism Acceptance Month, this issue is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: every story, every mind, and every path deserves to be seen, respected, and celebrated.
GUEST COLUMN
“What part of illegal do you not understand?” That is a standard line I have heard from critics of legalization whenever undocumented immigrants are discussed. For some, that sentence seems to settle the matter — a complex immigration debate reduced to a single word, with no need for further discussion.
GUEST COLUMN
In addressing this difficult subject, I must first make a clarification: I am not a theologian or an ethicist. I am a physician who has faced end-of-life issues many times over my 37-year career in pediatric oncology. This article is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church—its Catechism and moral tradition—and by the Catholic Medical Association, of which I was a member. If I have made any errors, I welcome correction and comment.
Departments
IRAQ TODAY
Over the past 20 years, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and the Chaldean Community Foundation, along with other community organizations, have built an outstanding reputation anchored in capability, credibility, and consistency. That strong and reliable reputation has made Chaldean organizations in Michigan and across the United States effective influencers — and a first stop for visiting politicians, officials and delegations from Iraq and beyond.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Chaldean American physician and mother Dr. Mariam Shapera never set out to write children’s books—but her love of storytelling, combined with her experiences as a parent and physician, inspired her to create stories that celebrate the unique strengths of autistic children. Writing was always something she enjoyed, but her career first took her down a very different path. “As a teenager, I always loved writing fiction and poetry,” she says.
RELIGION
Transitions are rarely easy. Letting go of what was and adjusting to what comes next is an internal process—one that requires navigating the journey, not just the change itself. For a Church and a community that have endured many transitions, the current moment is simply the latest chapter in a long and evolving story.
SPORTS
Never doubt Logan Hamama. Ever. When he was a student-athlete at Birmingham Brother Rice High School, his work ethic, drive and determination earned the former part-time player the starting point guard job on the star-studded boys basketball team when he was a senior.
Economics & enterprise
When you think of essential businesses in Metro Detroit, ice might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But for Tyler Yaldo, an environmental entrepreneur with deep roots in the Chaldean business community, it’s the perfect opportunity. Alongside his partners—Matthew and Brian Loussia, Devon Lousia, and Dennis Hickey of Value Wholesale, Yaldo’s father Ray and brother Gavin, plus Sahir Kas-Marogi and his sons Chris, Adam and Andrew—they are launching Motor City Ice, a new ice company designed to bring reliability, convenience, and innovation to local retailers, restaurants, and event spaces.
CULTURE & HISTORY
Saadi Al Saihood, an Iraqi businessman and prominent philanthropist, was born in Baghdad in 1954. A father of three sons and a daughter, his family hails from the province of Amara. He began his career humbly, selling newspapers at age 11 while attending school part-time and taking night classes. He also helped with his father’s laundromat business, which he named The White Robe, inspired by the film The Robe.
Foundation Update
On March 21, 18 middle school students from across Macomb and Oakland County participated in a National Civics Bee Regional Competition held at the Chaldean Community Foundation in Sterling Heights. The National Civics Bee® is an annual, nonpartisan competition designed to inspire young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Students in grades 6-8 entered by submitting an essay showcasing their civic knowledge.
Supported by the Marvin Toma Memorial Fund, a 6-week youth basketball program for 9- and 10-year-olds was held in the CCF West gymnasium last month. The program taught the group about the fundamentals of basketball, including passing, shooting, dribbling, and more. More youth sports programming is on the way at CCF West. For more information, contact Farah Shammami at (248) 851-1200 or email farah.shammami@chaldeanfoundation.org.
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF)-Sterling Heights will host the 2026 Breakfast of Nations on May 8. In collaboration with Connect Macomb, Macomb Intermediate School District, Vibe Credit Union and OneMacomb, the Breakfast of Nations celebrates the cultures, stories, and experiences that make Macomb County a vibrant and diverse community.
First-floor medical and retail space is currently available at Tigris Tower. Spaces range from 1,500 to 9,000 square feet, with ground floor access and parking attached. Long-term lease opportunities are available. For more information about the spaces available, contact KJ Commercial Real Estate at (248) 851-8900.
Noteworthy
Detroit’s creative scene is gaining fresh momentum with Chaldean American artist Juliana Rabban, known as Just By Juliana, stepping into a major spotlight through a high-profile collaboration with Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons. Rabban is among a select group of artists featured in the team’s annual 313 Day initiative, a March celebration of Detroit’s iconic area code.
Raymond Jonna just made a big splash in Michigan’s real estate world, helping close the record-breaking $156 million sale of Huntington Tower in downtown Detroit—the largest private single-tenant net-leased deal in the state’s history. Acting as the sole broker for both buyer and seller, Jonna handled a complex, high-stakes deal with skill and precision.
Javon David, a shareholder at Butzel, was recognized among Crain’s Detroit Business’ Notable Women in Law for her work across commercial litigation, media and entertainment law, and products liability, where she advises businesses on complex matters ranging from contract disputes and shareholder oppression to trade secrets, real estate and automotive supplier issues.
Rudy’s Prime Steakhouse in downtown Clarkston has earned Hour Detroit’s top honor — and it’s easy to see why. Housed inside the beautifully restored 1915 former Rudy’s Market, the 130-seat steakhouse blends historic charm with modern quiet luxury.
Obituaries
Lewis Yaldo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and beloved uncle, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in 1928, he overcame early family hardships to build a successful plumbing and import business with his brother and cousins.
John Mansour, cherished son of Emanuel and Antoinette Mansour, was born on December 29, 1968, and went to Heaven on September 17, 2025. The loving husband of Ann “Ahlam” Mansour, John was a faithful father to Adriana, the late Alexander, and the late Gabrielle Mansour and caring brother of Steven (Zenia) Mansour and Marvin Mansour.
Hana Yousif Manna, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on August 22, 2025. Born in Iraq on April 6, 1943, she married Frank (Fouad), in 1959. Ten years later, they immigrated to the US, where they built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Hana worked for the Oak Park School District, where she was known as a second mother to many, always offering kindness, guidance, and love.
Laith Joseph Manni was born on July 2, 1964, and peacefully entered the gates of Heaven on July 12, 2025. He was the cherished husband of Suhair Katoola Manni for 31 years and the devoted father of Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, and Destiny. Laith’s greatest joy in life was his family, whom he loved unconditionally. May he rest in peace.
In Memoriam
APRIL 2026
The In Memoriam section honors the lives and legacies of members of our community who have recently passed.