A New Chapter in an Ancient Story

CCF West opens its doors

By Sarah Kittle

The roots of the Chaldean American community in Michigan stretch back nearly a century, to a small but determined group of Iraqi immigrants who gathered in April 1943 at the Danish Hall of Detroit. Their mission: to create a better life for their families and preserve their culture in a new land. That night, the Chaldean Iraqi Association was born—founded by refugees fleeing persecution, united in their faith and determination to plant deep roots in America.

Over the following decades, that modest association would evolve, expanding both in size and vision. In 1965, it became the Chaldean Iraqi Association of Michigan (CIAM), and soon after, leaders made a bold decision: they would build a physical space to anchor their growing community.

Between 1967 and 1968, CIAM purchased four acres in Southfield with the dream of constructing a dedicated community center. After a decade of planning and saving, Southfield Manor opened its doors in 1981 as a vibrant hub for cultural and social events. The organization underwent another name change in 2000, becoming the Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan (CIAAM), a reflection of its increasingly American identity while maintaining its Iraqi and Chaldean heritage.

A pivotal milestone came in 1989 when CIAAM purchased Shenandoah Country Club, which quickly became the cultural and social heart of Chaldean life in Metro Detroit. Weddings, galas, and gatherings found a home at Shenandoah, anchoring generations in tradition.

Now, just miles from Shenandoah, a new chapter has begun with the opening of CCF West.

A Modern Beacon
On May 2, 2025, the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) officially unveiled its newest and most ambitious project: a $20 million campus designed not only to serve but to preserve. The 42,000-square-foot facility, located at 2075 Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield, was inaugurated during a private ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by civic leaders, elected officials, and longtime supporters.

“We’re really excited to welcome you to what we call CCF West,” said Martin Manna, president of both the Chaldean Community Foundation and the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. “It’s been quite a marathon trying to get the facility ready. This center is more about preservation compared to our facility in Sterling Heights, which really is focused on health and human services and acculturation.”

While the Sterling Heights campus continues to serve tens of thousands annually through health, human services, and immigrant integration, CCF West was envisioned as a beacon of cultural preservation and community development.

“There’s a lot going on to preserve,” Manna told The Washington Post in a recent interview. “The language, the culture—we have a museum here, cooking classes so that we can maintain our historic recipes, dynamic wall displays to talk about the martyrs of our community and the timeline of our growth. And so there’s a lot of preservation going on, given the circumstances in Iraq and the fact that we might not have a place we could call ‘home’ in the future.”

The new facility offers a sweeping array of services and spaces:

• The Bishop Ibrahim Library, home to manuscripts rescued from ISIS.
• A Chaldean Museum, chronicling the culture and trials of the community.
• Language and cultural classrooms to preserve dialects and identity.
• A business incubator for Chaldean entrepreneurs.
• Full media studios for CN Radio, Chaldean Voice, and CNTV.
• A demonstration kitchen, community theater, fitness areas, and a sportsplex.

“We stand before you, 187,000 Chaldeans strong and growing,” said Sharon Hanawa, a program manager at the Chaldean Community Foundation. “A community rooted in faith, family and food… that understands the importance of preservation, as much of our history has been destroyed in our native homeland of Iraq. This building is a pinnacle of 22 years of effort to showcase our impact, preserve our culture and language, and pay homage to our ancestors.”

“The heart of our mission has always been service,” said Sylvester Sandiha, Board Chair of the CCF and CACC. “This building is a testament to that, and as the community continues to grow and change and adapt, we change and continue to adapt here. That’s why this building was constructed upon 20 years of experience of bringing people together from all walks of life and making them feel a part of the greater fabric that is our home here and our home back home… it gives us a great opportunity to achieve our own American dream and honor the sacrifices of all those that came before us. And we’re so blessed to have that.”

Among those celebrating the grand opening was Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who praised the Foundation’s long-term investment in Michigan’s social and economic fabric.

“This new community center is going to be a lot more than just a building,” Whitmer said. “It’s a hub for innovation, for education, and community engagement. And it’s a reminder that when we invest in community, we invest in the future of Michigan.”

Looking Ahead
While the Sterling Heights campus remains vital—serving over 48,000 individuals annually—CCF West represents a diversification and deepening of the Foundation’s mission. The new center focuses on culture, education, youth development, and economic advancement, offering specialized services to immigrants, families, seniors, students, and entrepreneurs in the western suburbs and beyond.

“We envision a place where seniors can gather to play card games or backgammon, grandparents can cook with their grandchildren and share family recipes, or community films can be screened,” says Manna.

Farah Shammami, Program Coordinator for CCF West adds: “Our senior programming will also include health screenings, wellness education, age-appropriate activities, and even some language classes.”

From the Danish Hall to Southfield Manor to Shenandoah and now CCF West, the Chaldean community’s journey in Michigan is a testament to resilience, vision, and unity.

What began as a meeting of refugees has become a cornerstone of Michigan’s cultural landscape—and with CCF West, the next hundred years are just beginning.