By Ashley Lohmann
Fair Observer

The Middle East/North Africa is an historic region, host to great civilizations and vastly diverse populations (Armenian, Assyrian, Bedouin, Berber, Chaldean, Coptic, Druze, Iranian, Kurdish, Levantine, Sephardic to name but a few of many), with large diaspora communities living around the world. Reminiscent of the post-9/11 era, however, Americans today are bombarded by simplistic, negative messaging about Arabs/Muslims and the Middle East. This sets us back in our mission to champion literacy about cultures of the Middle East/North Africa. It causes the level of ignorance and stereotypes to rise—in spite of the fact that Arabs/Muslims in this country are honest citizens—engineers, business people, doctors, lawyers, academics, who continue to make important contributions to the American social fabric, technology, medicine, etc.

Announcing the Bana Hilal Bridgebuilder Scholarship Fund! Beginning in 2011, for the first time, the Levantine Cultural Center will administer the Bana Hilal Bridgebuilder Scholarship Fund. A qualified student will begin each September and December, when the Levantine Cultural Center will award paid scholarships to college applicants in their junior or senior year. The Fund, generously supported with a grant from the Irvine-based company Applied Medical, provides for a paid 90-day internship at the center, where students can learn valuable new skills, broaden their horizons, expand their network of contacts, and build their resumé.

Event Details

Date/Time: 

Jun 2 2011 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Price: 

$12 general admission, $10 members, $5 students with I.D.
to buy tickets call: 310.657.5511 or Click here
free light refreshments

Where: 

Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90035
between La Cienega and Fairfax
ample street parking
or in the CVS underground lot (closes 10 pm)

In "Rocking the Casbah: Morocco and the Arab Spring," writer and professor Laila Lalami will discuss the North African uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, before focusing on the case of Morocco, which has experienced its own unique response to this unexpected era of change.

By Jessica Proett

I literally stumbled across the Levantine Cultural Center one day while walking to an Ethiopian restaurant in West Hollywood. I saw it from the corner with the words "Bridging Cultures, Building Peace since 2001" written across the door, and I knew I had to go inside. I took information and offered to intern with them a few days later. This was just after having returned to America from two years abroad in southern Spain.

[Los Angeles, Apr 4]—Want satirical insights on the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East? Need a fresh and funny perspective on American and Middle Eastern life? Want to laugh about it all? The Sultans of Satire show features some of the best stand-up comedians today who happen to be of Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Middle Eastern Jewish heritage. In "Sultans of Satire Celebrate the Egyptian Revolution," Sultans regulars Mike Batayeh, Noel Elgrably and Elham Jazab, plus Nadine Rajabi, Ara Basil and Sheno Khal will perform live on April 28, 2011, 8:00 pm, where they'll offer their own brand of outrageous comedy. Sultans will perform at the Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA, 91303.

By Nasrin Alavi | Open Democracy

The Iranian ruling elite is pushing the message that Iran's own revolutionary experience inspires the popular revolts in the Arab world. In doing so, the elite's leading figures are tying themselves in knots.

Their observations on the new-media aspects of the protests are especially revealing, given that Iran is in so many ways the homeland of cyber-activism.

Twenty7's new CD PapatyaTwenty7 plays a unique blend of rock with Middle Eastern influences. The band formed in 2007 when a group of young and talented musicians met each other through mutual friends in Los Angeles, California. Comprised of members originally from Turkey, Twenty7 adds Middle Eastern flavor to rock, forming a unique style of music with strong rhythms, technical guitar riffs, and powerful vocals. Okan is the free-spirited vocalist and bass guitarist, Murat is the charming guitarist, Volkan is the down-to-earth darbuka percussionist, and Kurt is the perfectionist drummer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [Los Angeles, Feb. 24] The MEPEACE Organization will hold an interactive peace celebration at the Levantine Cultural Center on March 9, 2011, 7:30-9:30pm, 5998 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90035.

JAN 19, 2011 (Los Angeles) -Levantine Cultural Center, Southern California's Middle Eastern arts nexus, is pleased to cosponsor I Heart Hamas: And Other Things I'm Afraid to Tell You, a critically‐acclaimed raw look at life as a 30‐something Palestinian‐American woman, will make its Los Angeles premiere on February 11th, 2011. Presented by Theatre Asylum, writer and star Jennifer Jajeh will bring her personal story to a Los Angeles audience for a 4‐week run.