Arab American Cultural Center

Of the Silicon Valley

3952 Twilight Drive, San Jose, 95124

At Houge Park, Building #2

AACC-SV Would like to invite families with kids of ALL AGES to come to the weekly FAMILY EVENT at the center starting Thursday June 25, 2009 (6-8pm). This should mark the beginning of a regular weekly meeting that will take place every Thursday through the summer of 2009 (same place and same time). The kids will play outside, inside, learn something every week, meet other kids, and most of all have fun.

The center is located in Building #2 in Houge Park. The park is large; and has several play areas including: tennis, basketball, football, grass area, and sand box. Let’s make it a family picnic day, bring your food, meet old friends and make new ones.

We will provide hot drinks and would like to encourage everyone to bring their washable cups, plates and utensils (we will be good role models for our children and start green)

You may forward this email to your friends and family, and if you have any questions you can contact us at (familyEventAACC@gmail.com)

Looking forward to seeing you at the AACC/SV

The Family Event program coordinators

Juliana Khamis and Astabrik Yahya

This year Al-Quds (Jerusalem ) was chosen, even with all the straggle that the people are facing there due to the occupation and to the fact that the Israeli police shutting down most of the events these people are not giving up and they are trying their best to celebrate their heritage and culture .

For more info and update visit the web. www.alquds2009.org the website is in Arabic and on the left side you will find an English/Francais button click on it to get to the English version.

By Fatme Helweh

Title: Journey from destruction to hope
Location: 3952 Twilight DR, San Jose CA 95124
Link out: Click here
Description: building bridges with care, the story of Mustafa (?) Leave out politics as it does both destruction and building.
Start Time: 7:00
Date: 2009-05-30
End Time: 9:30

1. Mustafa Injured  Iraqi 3 years old Child who was brought to San Francisco withteh help of NMV for treatment
2. Human rights activists, Darlene and Donna Wallach, Jewish social justice activists to share with us their experience on breaking the sea siege of Gaza.  They also talked about what daily life is like for Palestinians under siege.
3: Khalil Sabra featuring one of  best Palestine documentary I have seen: “Life in Occupied Palastine” by Anna Baltzer an American Jew.

Do not miss ATV programs aired 11/06/2008 and 11/13/2008. Both programs are with Amir El Safaar who is the lead singer with Safafeer Maqam Group. 

On 11/06 Amir will share with us his experience and how did he transformed from an Award winning trumpet jazz player to a successful maqam reader (singer)

On 11/13 Amir will conduct a mini workshop about Maqam with Vic Zikoor

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 .

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.