Celebrating the Dreamers

This month’s Chaldean News has so many inspiring and uplifting stories, beginning with our cover story. Thomas Denha was a man who dreamed big; he had dreams not only for himself and his family, but for the entire Chaldean community. He came to America at the tender age of 18 and yes, he took risks and learned along the way, but he kept in the forefront of his mind his vision for a better life. Thomas’ family and friends are understandably incredibly proud of his accomplishments, and we have the honor of sharing his story with our readers.

Another dreamer whose story we are fortunate to share is Thamer Hannona. His name may look familiar to our readers, as we profiled his father Habib in the past. Thamer is a world-class creative and his concepts drive the future of the automotive industry. His work unites the past and the future in some truly groundbreaking visions of cars to come. You’ve heard of self-driving cars, but did you know there were different levels of automation? Read Cal Abbo’s insightful article to learn more.

News about artificial intelligence is trending right now, and we are pleased to bring you a story on how new technologies are helping to uncover the past. In her article on AI and ancient languages, Christina Salem tells the story of Matthew Nazari, a linguistics trailblazer who is using AI technology to decipher not only how the ancient Assyrian language looks and reads, but also how it sounds.

Weam Namou pens a personal account of her pilgrimage to Carey, Ohio, for the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This annual trip is undertaken by many of the faithful – approximately 5,000 people each year. Weam talks about the pilgrimage itself and shares her knowledge of the origins of Our Lady of Consolation Church, where it all happens.

As the Chaldean News grows, we are partnering with others to bring you more varied and rich coverage of the community at large. One of the ways we are doing that is through a grant from Michigan Humanities to tell ‘Great Michigan Stories.’ Our article on father-and-son team Nick and Randy Najjar and their field trip to Kalamazoo to record a conversation for NPR’s Story Corps series falls under that category. The event page in this issue also includes a local group’s introduction to the Chaldean Cultural Center, another part of the Chaldean story.

As we get ready to send our kids back to school or maybe prepare ourselves for school, Dr. Adhid Miri schools us on what education looked like in Iraq in the beginning of the 20th century compared to what it looks like today. Education is so important to any culture, and we are no different.

Other topics covered in September include the recognition of CCF staff and noteworthy community members, World Youth Day, a new pastoral center in Dohuk, and Chaldean Youth Camp. We also honor our dearly departed and share some life skills for new Americans.

Valene Ayar helps us fall in love with Autumn, Steve Stein shares the story of unstoppable Ella Lucia, and Weam Namou interviews musician Raad Hakeem. Sit back with a nice cup of chai and settle in for a good read. We are happy to have you here.

Sarah Kittle

Editor in Chief