Arab American Cultural Center of the Silicon Valley

Serving the Arab American community for over 14 years

Arabic Classes at the Arab American Cultural Center

The next sessions of Arabic at the Arab Cultural Center begin on Saturday morning, November 1, and continue for eight weeks.  On agreement of the class, may be extended two weeks if no class is held the weekends of Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Currently the beginner class is at 9:00 AM and the Intermediate is at 10:00.  Cost is $100 per eight week session. For more information, contact Carol at carol.elshaieb@aaccsv.org .

Sponsored Summer Intensive Language Study Abroad for Arabic, Other “Critical” Languages – Application deadline is November 15.

There is an exciting possibility for study abroad in Arabic this summer for students currently enrolled full time in a program of undergraduate or graduate study, with at least one year of completed study. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers(CAORC), the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program provides fully-funded seven to ten week group-based intensive language instruction and extensive cultural enrichment experiences held overseas at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Students must be US citizens.

Grant benefits: All program costs are covered for participants. This includes travel between the student’s US home city and program location, pre-departure orientation costs, applicable visa fees, room, board, group-based intensive language instruction, program-sponsored travel within country, and all entrance fees for program activities.  For complete information, please go to:   https://clscholarship.org/home.php .

Saturday November 1st, 2008, 6:30 PM - past Midnight
Diamond Palace, Fremont
Diamond Palace Hall 4100 Peralta Blvd, Fremont CA 94536

By Amir Elsaffar and the
Safaafir Maqam Group

http://www.safaafir.com http://www.amirelsaffar.com

“ElSaffar combines his dual heritage into a vigorous hybrid
and weaves mesmerizing new tunes out of traditional Iraqi maqam.”
~ Shaun Brady, Philadelphia City Paper-Top 10 Jazz CDs of 2007

• Open buffet menu with your favorite Middle Eastern main dishes, salad and deseert,
• Cash bar
• Door Prizes, Iraqi art sale & auction art by Halla Ayla, Ban Kubba & more
• Raffle first prize an original oil painting “Road to Baghdad” By Afaneen Kubba

Tickets: $60 in Advance

To purchase tickets and for more information,
or contact:

Dina Aljuburi dina_aljuburi@hotmail.com
Vic Zikoor vic.zikoor@gmail.com
Emad Yahya emad.yahya@gmail.com
Voltaire Warda cyberelsar_2000@yahoo.com

Amir ElSaffar, an Iraqi-American, put down the trumpet to learn the centuries-old singing style known as maqam. He has now released his own CD of maqam and is writing music that blends the form with jazz. A true Music Bridge between Iraq and the US

ElSaffar traveled to Baghdad and London to study what some call the classical music of Iraq from the masters. Before that, Iraqi music was not a big part of his life. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago , and jazz was his first love. After studying classical and jazz trumpet in college, he moved to New York City and worked as a sideman for pianist Cecil Taylor and others. He also led a band of his own.

He is the lead in the Safaafir – Iraqi Maqam group and will come to San Jose with the group from Chicago. The proceeds will be for the Iraqi Injured Children, an Iraqi community member has already pledged to pay the group fees and the travel cost.

That event will feature selective Iraq art and perhaps a silent art auction.

We are open for ideas, your input and do need your help, if you are interested in helping in organizing, promoting or selling tickets for this event please email us back. Volunteers are welcomed.