Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, born in October 1937 in Iraq, was the fourth child of Namo Mansour Ibrahim and Rammou Hermiz Yono. From an early age, he cherished attending Mass with his family in the vibrant community of Tel Keppe. Reflecting on his childhood, he said, “Our life was very simple in the village. Most people were simple farmers and laborers; there were no companies or major employers.”
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As the school bells ring and the backpacks are packed, it’s time to ensure our kiddos are ready for the new school year. From vaccinations to routines, let’s dive into some essential health tips to keep our children safe, healthy, and thriving in the 2024-2025 school year.
Read MoreAs an emergency medicine physician, I witness firsthand the devastating impact of mental health crises on individuals and families. In the Chaldean community, mental health and suicide prevention are urgent issues that require our attention and action.
Read MorePlaying and coaching basketball has long been a family affair for Joe Sermo. And now the story is about to include a new generation. Sermo is heading into his ninth season as the boys basketball coach at Berkley High School. When the Berkley season tips off this winter, Joe’s twin sons Drew and Sam, both sophomores, will most likely be on their father’s team, which finished 15-7 a year ago.
Read MorePerhaps the most celebrated tree in the world, the date palm is the eternal daughter of Iraq. It is everywhere, part of life that one can see in almost every picture taken there, old and new. Not only do date palms make beautiful statements in any landscape, but they have also long been honored in religious and cultural traditions.
Read MoreAddiction comes in many forms. In the past, we’ve covered more visible and ruinous types of addiction, like substance abuse and gambling. There is, however, another issue that affects most adults and has had a scary impact on the younger generations: digital addiction.
Read MoreAs always, we begin this month’s publication with deep gratitude. In September, the Chaldean Community Foundation will honor Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim for his lifetime of dedicated service to the Chaldean Catholic Church and its congregation.
Read MoreIn March 2017, “The Benedict Option” by Rod Dreher was published and became a New York bestseller. This book centers on how Christians should live in a culture that is no longer Christian. The subtitle reads “A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation,” and in it he calls on American Christians to prepare for the coming “dark age” by embracing an ancient Christian way of life: St. Benedict’s way (hence “The Benedict Option”).
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The CCF awarded over $82,000 in scholarships this year. Of the 10 students awarded the Yvonne Nona Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,5000, seven were returning awardees and three were brand new recipients. The memorial scholarship fund gave out $25,000 in total.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation’s Breaking Barriers program hosted their annual Farmers Market on August 6 in the Life Skills Center. Over the last few months, the Breaking Barriers students have managed a garden full of fruits and vegetables.
Read MoreOn August 21, participants of the Learn with a Leader program had the opportunity to tour DTE Energy Headquarters and learn more about the future of energy, initiatives being launched by DTE, and how the utility industry operates.
Read MoreThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students in the United States complete to determine their eligibility for financial aid. This aid can include grants, loans, and work-study programs. Most colleges, universities, technical schools, and some graduate programs utilize the FAFSA, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, to determine a student’s financial need and distribute federal, state, and institutional funding.
Read MoreThe CCF hosted a New Detroit Multicultural Leadership Series event on Chaldean Americans on August 23. The presentation focused on Chaldean history, faith, race, persecution, and migration to the United States.
Read MoreThe CCF has facilitated a sister city relationship between Sterling Heights, Michigan and Ankawa, Kurdistan, Iraq. These two cities share much in common, including both having a large population of Chaldean residents. The CCF looks forward to soon hosting Ankawa’s Mayor, Ramy Noori Awdish and Sterling Heights Mayor, Michael Taylor for a ceremonial signing.
Read MoreOn July 28, the first ever Chaldean Golf Open concluded as Sam Yono finished up his final putt on the 18th hole and took home the hardware. The tournament was several days long and made a few different eliminations and cuts until the final day, which featured fierce, back-and-forth competition between Yono, Ethan Mukhtar, and Jonathan Kello.
Read MoreSince 1973, the Arab and Chaldean Festival has raged on in the hot Detroit summer. Many Detroiters frequent the two-day event in Hart Plaza. It claims to be the largest Arab and Chaldean festival in North America and to this day remains free for everyone.
Read MoreThe black-and-white photo of the students from Blessed Sacrament in Detroit is difficult to distinguish from the Iraqi student photos. In the 1970s in Iraq, education became free and public at all levels, and mandatory for primary school students.
Read Moreسُئل أحد العراقيين القدماء ما هي اثمار بلادكم؟ فأجاب التمر - ثم ماذا عندكم بعده؟ فأجاب التمر أيضا ولما استغرب السائل من هذ الجواب! قال العراقي ألعريق: “ لا شيء هناك يضاهي تناول التمر الطازج ونستفيد من فوائد النخلة العديدة، فأننا نستظل به من وهج الشمس، ونأكل ثمرته، ونعلف ماشيتنا بنواته، ونعلن عن أفراحنا بسعفه، ونتخذ من عصارته عسلاً وخمراً (عرقاً)، ونصنع من جريدة وخوصه الاواني والحصران وغيرها من الاثاث، ونصنع من جذعه خشباً لسقوفنا، وأعمدة لبيوتنا، ووقود الطبخ”.
Read MoreThe primary elections are over, the national party conventions, a buzzing memory. As many politicians gear up for the tough grind to November’s general election, some are preparing to assume their posts. Two Chaldean township officials emerged from Democratic primaries in areas where Republicans are rarer than unicorns. This means—as in Detroit—the Democratic primary winners are shoo-ins for the general election.
Read MoreAs we stated in the beginning of the year, we are looking back at headlines each month to chronicle what was important to the community as the years passed. The September 2004 cover title, “What Now?” posed a pressing question to its readers in the wake of devastating church bombings in Iraq.
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