People for Palmer Park
Chaldean News staff Dr. Adhid Miri was invited to speak at a “Storytellers on Sunday” event held May 19 at Palmer Park Log Cabin. The cultural neighborhood event included a book swap and discussion (stories) with four guests, including Dr. Miri.
Dr. Adhid Miri is a former professor of chemistry and cultural consultant with diverse professional experiences in Iraq, England, and the United States. Dr. Miri holds a PhD from Brunel University London and a Post-Doctoral fellowship from King’s College London.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Adhid has been in the US since 1981 and has been an active member of the Iraqi American community in Michigan. He advocates for Christians and minorities and travels frequently to report on demographic changes of internally displaced persons in Iraq. He is our resident storyteller.
Other speakers included Abriana Walton, also known as BrifromtheD, an eclectic multimedia journalist and producer hailing from a lineage of dreamers and artists. Her mission is to ignite positive change in her community by sharing relatable yet aspirational stories.
Speaker Larry Gabriel’s story is called The Banjo, A Love Story. He is a fourth-generation musician who plays tenor banjo in the Gabriel Traditional Jazz Band. Larry is also a poet and journalist who has been an editor at Detroit Metro Times, UAW Solidarity and Detroit Free Press.
The fourth storyteller, Maureen McDonald, is a long-time journalist and author who lived in Palmer Park in the 1970s.
Attendees shared their stories about the neighborhood in the 70s, many commenting on the good relationship they had with Chaldean store owners.
Dr. Miri’s presentation followed an arc, beginning with a brief history of Chaldeans in Iraq, their migration to North America, then the U.S. and Detroit in particular. He then focused in on “Chaldean Town,” the 7 Mile and Woodward Avenue neighborhood and shared some wonderful stories about times in Palmer Park specifically.
Palmer Park is one of thirteen regional parks in the City of Detroit parks system. One of the largest parks in Detroit, just southwest of 7 Mile and Woodward, it has 281acres of woodlands, meadows, recreational areas, and athletic fields. Over the past 4 years the city, together with various foundations and community partners, has invested in major improvements.
Treasured as a public park for more than 125 years, it has been the site for magical memories, stories, and experiences for children and their families who played and explored. It features a log cabin from the 1800s, where the storytelling event was held.
