We are incredibly proud of the turnout and the important conversations that took place at our Arab American Heritage Month celebration on April 25. Dozens of community members joined us at the Dayton Metro Library’s Bassini Theater for an event that truly showcased the diversity, culture, and strength of the Miami Valley.
The afternoon kicked off with traditional music and dancing, followed by a powerful reading of a proclamation from the County Commissions Board by Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice.
A major highlight of the event was our panel discussion, “From the Middle East to the Midwest.” Moderated by Stephen Starr, the panel brought together Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, community organizer Lisa Beshara Saia, and Echoes of Gaza founder Sammy Caruso. Together, they led an urgent and moving conversation about how ongoing events in the Middle East deeply impact our local communities, our day-to-day lives, and the upcoming electoral calendar.
We are grateful to the Dayton Daily News for covering the event and capturing the spirit of why these gatherings are so vital. As Rep. Abdullahi shared with the paper:
“It’s very important to be here because we have members of that community in the city and in the state and its very critical to know your neighbors, to know what they’re experiencing, to know what they are going through because a lot of the times our struggles are intertwined. I love that this event is happening and I love the diversity at this event because you’re seeing members of the community from all walks of life coming here just to learn about their neighbors which is beautiful.”
We couldn’t agree more. Thank you to everyone who showed up to learn, share, and support the community.
To read more about the panel discussion and the full coverage of the event, head over to the Dayton Daily News:
Read the full article at DaytonDailyNews.com
Leave a Comment
Posted: April 27, 2026 by DAAF
DAAF Celebrates Arab-American Heritage Month 2026
We are incredibly proud of the turnout and the important conversations that took place at our Arab American Heritage Month celebration on April 25. Dozens of community members joined us at the Dayton Metro Library’s Bassini Theater for an event that truly showcased the diversity, culture, and strength of the Miami Valley.
The afternoon kicked off with traditional music and dancing, followed by a powerful reading of a proclamation from the County Commissions Board by Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice.
A major highlight of the event was our panel discussion, “From the Middle East to the Midwest.” Moderated by Stephen Starr, the panel brought together Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, community organizer Lisa Beshara Saia, and Echoes of Gaza founder Sammy Caruso. Together, they led an urgent and moving conversation about how ongoing events in the Middle East deeply impact our local communities, our day-to-day lives, and the upcoming electoral calendar.
We are grateful to the Dayton Daily News for covering the event and capturing the spirit of why these gatherings are so vital. As Rep. Abdullahi shared with the paper:
We couldn’t agree more. Thank you to everyone who showed up to learn, share, and support the community.
To read more about the panel discussion and the full coverage of the event, head over to the Dayton Daily News:
Read the full article at DaytonDailyNews.com
Category: Uncategorized