Albert 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 MoreRep. Slotkin, whose 7th congressional district includes Lansing and extends as far East as South Lyon, introduced the resolution to address various Christian communities and call for Iraq to create an ongoing fund dedicated to rebuilding their towns.
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.
Read MorePaul Elia burst onto the stage with a bright smile and an air of star quality. He looked out at the intimate and tightly-packed room at Detroit House of Comedy. This was his dream: to bring a successful show to his hometown, draw a sizable crowd, and return favor to the Chaldean community that raised him.
Read MoreIn the Middle East, war seems to follow you like a monster from a Stephen King novel. It’s unrelenting and always a step ahead; a story told by many Chaldeans who arrive in the bright and beautiful lands of America. The story of David Shammas is no exception.
Read MoreJosh Garmo skated up the right wing, deked Brendan Danou, eluded two other players, and sent a perfectly placed shot into the top left corner of the net. It was a spectacular goal, and it gave Team Red a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over Team Green in the first game of the best-of-three Chaldean Hockey League playoff championship series.
Read MoreHanan Qia and Ghazwan Alyass are independent contractors who joined the staff of the Chaldean Community Foundation in 2022 in order to be the eyes and ears of the CCF, which is currently working on rebuilding villages and creating economic opportunities for the people of the Nineveh Plain in Iraq. They were here in Michigan recently to attend the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s Awards Dinner and to tour the Chaldean Community Foundation.
Read MoreSally was born in Kirkuk, Iraq but spent most of her childhood in Baghdad before immigrating to the United States about 50 years ago. Going back a few generations, her family roots lie further east. Sally’s maternal grandmother, Rosa, grew up in an area that now falls within the borders of Iran, in a vibrant Chaldean community that remains to this day. It was from this region where Biryani, a long-time favorite Chaldean dish, first emerged.
Read MoreMost of us have daydreams about cruising downtown streets in a classic Rolls Royce or sailing through the clouds in a private jet with our significant other and a few close members of our entourage.
Well, we might not be able to own such luxurious modes of transport, but we can be king or queen for a day, thanks to two enterprising Chaldean businessmen who specialize in royal treatment.
Read MoreMany of the faithful visit the Vatican or Holy Land, Our Lady of Fatima, or Lourdes. In each of these places, there is something unique that you may not find in the next. Many pilgrims visit ancient churches with centuries of history to unpack, or places of devotion to saints. No matter where you may find yourself, there is a divine call to enter more deeply into your relationship with the Lord.
Read MoreThe Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce is considering investing in the Nineveh Plains of northern Iraq, a region where a large portion of the population are Christians and saw massive destruction following the brutal arrival of the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014.
Martin Manna, who heads the Chamber of Commerce, told Rudaw that “these are our ancestor’s lands. This is important for us to invest in places where we have quite a large population.
“This is likely the best place in all of Iraq and we want to maintain our identity, our culture, our language in this region.”
Read MoreChamber member Jennifer McManus of Fagan McManus PC in Royal Oak was sworn in as president-elect of the Michigan Association for Justice (a statewide pro-justice trial lawyer organization) on May 6, 2023. McManus is a tireless supporter of the underdog and a champion of justice and fair play in the courtroom. She has previously served on the board of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and is part of the Chaldean Women’s Committee.
Read MoreThree outstanding Chaldean community members made the “30 in their Thirties” list for dBusiness magazine this year.
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The Chaldean Community Foundation was awarded a $10,000 grant through the Comcast Foundation. This funding will support individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their caregivers with the digital tools and resources to feel comfortable with technology and learn basic digital literacy skills. The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) is a place where employees speak various languages, staff have lived similar immigration experiences, and clients can build a foundation based on education, mutual reliance, and employment.
Read MoreOn May 6, the Chaldean Community Foundation hosted a Community Health Fair in partnership with the Chaldean American Association for Health Professionals.
Those in attendance experienced live demonstrations, interactive displays, and had the opportunity to receive free health screenings for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol.
Read MoreThe CACC hosted its 20th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, April 28, naming Ron Boji of Boji Group as 2023’s Businessperson of the Year. The event drew a crowd of nearly 900 to Shenandoah Country Club, where guests were treated to individual bottles of champagne and “Heavenly Dates” at each place setting. Speakers included Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Congressman John Moolenaar as well as the guest of honor, Ron Boji, and Mike Denha, last year’s honoree.
Read MoreHis Excellency Bishop Basilio Yaldo visited the Chaldean Community Foundation on May 18. He observed the CCF’s diverse programming, including the Breaking Barriers program, and had the opportunity to visit various employees within the organization. Bishop Yaldo also took part in the CCF’s Little Scholars program where he took a photo with and interacted with children within the program.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation hosted the Breakfast of Nations event on May 19. The event featured a panel of immigrant entrepreneurs who talked about the challenges of being an immigrant in the United States.
Panelists Wassem Ayar, Nicole Chen, and Amer Batal shared their unique migration stories, personal childhood anecdotes, and early experiences with entrepreneurship.
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