To quote St. Pope John Paul II in 2000, “To adopt a child is a great work of love. When it is done, much is given, but much is also received. It is a true exchange of gifts…” When, during a crisis pregnancy, a decision is made to have the baby, a gift of life is given. When the birth mother decides to place the baby for adoption, that’s a gift of family.
Read MoreAs a 15-year-old Catholic girl who found herself “in the family way” in 1982, I didn’t have a whole lot of options. My parents enrolled me in counseling at Catholic Social Services in preparation to place my baby for adoption. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I was still in school and lacking resources to be independent, so I went along.
Read MoreIn the world of culinary delights, few things can match the mouthwatering tang and flavor offered by a good old-fashioned Iraqi mango pickle (amba). To tell the story of amba, or as it is popularly known in India, Aam ka Achar, we must begin with the story of Indian Ocean trade and the long-standing historical network of merchants who traversed this massive body of water for millennia bringing spices, people, and ideas to Basra-Iraq from all directions.
Read MoreIn the heart of the Nineveh Plain province, the close-knit town of Bakhdida (also known as Qaraqosh) grapples with a devastating tragedy that left them searching for answers and healing. The horrific fire that engulfed the Al-Haitham wedding hall during the bride and groom’s slow dance on September 26, 2023, sent shockwaves through the town and beyond.
Read MoreIn the rich tapestry of American diversity, the Chaldean community stands out as a vibrant example of immigrants who have not only embraced the American dream but have also contributed significantly to the country’s defense. With a deep sense of patriotism and a commitment to safeguarding the freedoms they’ve come to know, Chaldean Americans in every generation have a proud tradition of serving in the United States military. Hundreds of men and women have joined the effort to protect and serve.
Read MoreMesopotamia, located in what is now Iraq, is considered the birthplace of writing and with it, recorded history. Its people also built the world’s first cities and developed the oldest known political and administrative systems and drafted the first known letter. The very idea of philosophy was introduced in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Read MoreDiya Butros Sliwa, a Chaldean political activist, lives in Erbil, Iraq, but he gives talks around the world on human rights. He visited North America recently where he gave talks and interviews in Michigan, in Canada, and he also plans to travel to Washington, DC. His goal is to bring awareness to the status of the rights of religious and national minorities in Iraq and Kurdistan.
Read MoreThe people sitting in the audience of the Niles Township High School board meeting focused all of their energy on the event that would take place in just a few minutes. They were adorned with joleh d’khomala, a traditional Assyrian outfit that shows off bright colors, embroidered patterns, and feathers coming out of the headdress.
Read MoreIn 2020, Nathan Pawl’s son, an honor-roll student, felt attacked because he wouldn’t wear a mask in school. This was in Walled Lake School District, and when Pawl, the father, tried to resolve the situation, he felt frustrated that he wasn’t being heard. Pawl then decided to act. He teamed up with Monica Yatooma, a former Oakland County Commissioner candidate, and Matthew Nelson, a Walled Lake parent, and they founded the Great Schools Initiative (GSI), a non-profit organization based in Michigan and dedicated to advocating for premium public education.
Read MoreMichigan is such a beautiful state. We are surrounded on three sides by water – fresh, glorious water – and have the advantage of experiencing all four seasons of the year, sometimes in the same week! (You may have seen memes on social media that say, “Everyone: “You can’t have all four seasons in one week.” Michigan: “Hold my Faygo.”)
Read MoreBorn in Alqosh, Iraq, Raad Hakeem, 32, has been playing the tamboura since the age of eleven. Known in Turkish as saz, the tamboura is a musical stringed instrument with a long neck and round body. It belongs to the lute family and is known for its rich, resonant sound. It is commonly used in Indian classical music, although it has found its way into various genres of world music and fusion styles due to its unique tone and versatile nature.
Read MoreIn the early and mid-20th century, countless numbers of young Iraqi men were moving from villages to fill up major Iraqi cities like Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra. But a few visionaries, courageous young men, were more adventurous and turned their faces another way, journeying west to the United States of America. The late Thomas Denha was one of them.
Read MoreWhen ancient Mesopotamians carved their drawings into clay, constructed elaborate ziggurats and city gates, and designed practical and beautiful vases, their practice likely focused on their contemporaries. Thousands of year later, however, this act of creativity is kept alive by modern Chaldeans. Thamer Hannona expresses himself through many different media and inspirations, but his car designs garner national appeal and the attention of large companies.
Read MoreWhen Christina Roki’s family car broke down, they couldn’t afford a mechanic to look it over. Her family lived paycheck to paycheck, and with three children, there was little money to spare. Most would turn to a family member for help or take out a short-term loan. But Christina had a rare and enterprising thought: What if she tried to fix it herself. The rest, as they say, is history.
Read MoreIn many ways, the Detroit Riots of 1967 represent a turning point for the city. At the time, few could see into Detroit’s future. Distorted memories of life before the summer of ‘67 offer a nostalgic glimpse into what the city was and a painful image of what it could have been. Recollections of the riots offer a chance to see the moments that tore Detroit apart, a city pushed to the brink by economic stagnation in a changing world, a hostile police force, and a downtrodden minority population.
Read MoreConventional wisdom has it that the best way to beat inflation is to raise interest rates. It makes sense—a rapidly growing economy creates increased demand for goods and services and heightened demand strains supply. Prices increase as a result. “From an Economics 101 perspective, in the last 100 years, every time we’ve had an inflationary environment and interest rates have risen it’s supposed to slow down inflation because money becomes more expensive,” says Dan Fischer, president and chief executive officer at Citizens State Bank.
Read MoreThis month, we feature more photos of the old neighborhood. We love to see old photos; they evoke memories of a simpler time. These were submitted by CN reader Alexa Saffar.
Read MoreAlbert Einstein has been credited with saying the only constant in life is change. Accordingly, the Chaldean community is in a constant state of change, evolving on all levels– social, educational, professional, economic, and geographic. This story pertains to the latter two levels.
Read MoreJerry Yono’s story begins in the famed town of Telkeppe, Iraq, on June 7, 1940. Most were farmers back then, according to Jerry, and his father was no different. His most nascent memory is walking to and from the well to fetch water.
Read MoreChaldeans from Iraq began coming to Detroit a century ago. In the 1960s, they began pouring in, some to join their families, some to escape the persecution that this Christian minority faced over the years in their ancestral homeland. Metro Detroit now is home to an estimated 200,000 Chaldeans. Tens of thousands of them started their lives in Chaldean Town; at one point, a quarter of the area’s Chaldeans lived there.
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