C.A.S.A.: Keeping the Culture Alive
A CASA Casablanca event this past February at Penna’s.
By Crystal Kassab Jabiro
The Chaldean American Student Association (CASA) began more than 30 years ago with a mission to inspire Chaldean youth to pursue higher education and to educate the broader public about Chaldean culture. The group played a pivotal role in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as increasing numbers of Chaldeans enrolled in universities. Today, college and vocational training are seen as standard steps for many young Chaldean adults.
But it wasn’t always that way.
Growing up in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s was a different experience. The Chaldean community was much smaller, and most of the children were either immigrants or children of immigrants. While some youth thrived socially and academically, many struggled with motivation—likely influenced by acculturation challenges and the pressures of navigating school systems that weren’t always welcoming or accommodating. Some may have had a passion for university or trade school, but they were hindered by family pressures, finances, or self-doubt.
For many families, survival was the priority. That often meant children working from a young age and not participating in extracurricular activities. After high school, girls were often expected to marry and start families, while boys were urged to join family businesses and contribute financially.
Ferris (Fred) Ayar recalls attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s international festival on campus and noticing that while Arabs were represented, Chaldeans were not. He had the desire to educate people at his university about the culture, considering the context. The Persian Gulf War, led by the United States against Iraq, had been over for a year, and the Chaldeans of metro-Detroit were often referred to as Christian Iraqis or Arabs. Ayar wanted non-Chaldeans to understand his people’s heritage, originating from thousands of years ago, especially because he endured racism and harassment in Sterling Heights where he grew up, when there were very few Chaldeans there.
“I wanted people to understand who we were,” said Ayar, now 54. “This was 1992 and pre-Internet, so we had to share the knowledge ourselves to show people who we were.”
He approached fellow Chaldean students at UM-D with the idea of forming a group. One of them, freshman Zeina Kassab Sharak, shared his vision. A 1992 graduate of North Farmington High School—one of just three Chaldean students—Sharak grew up working in her family’s supermarket but dreamed of attending college, despite resistance from her parents.
“There was this misconception that the ‘store life was the only life’ and that was just not true,” said Sharak. “We were not a big group, but naturally, we gravitated towards each other. So we thought we should educate other Chaldean kids about going to college and bring like-minded people together.”
With support from peers, Ayar and Sharak got CASA approved at UM-D and quickly set to work—Ayar as president and Sharak as vice president. A few years later, Sharak became president and helped launch the “Knowledge is Power” series. CASA members held assemblies at local schools with large Chaldean student populations to share practical advice on how to pursue college and why it mattered. The program was a success, helping spark a steady increase in college enrollment among Chaldeans.
“It’s one of my proudest achievements,” said Sharak. “For years after, people would tell me, ‘I went to college because of you.’”
By 1999, CASA chapters had formed at Wayne State University* and Oakland University, and the groups often joined forces for social events, scholarship fundraisers, and collaborations with organizations like CARE (Chaldean Americans Reaching and Encouraging) and CALC (Chaldean Ladies of Charity). Today, CASA has expanded to universities, high schools, and even middle schools. While the original mission of academic encouragement remains, the focus has broadened to include cultural preservation, peer connection and service work.
At Oakland University, senior Jacob Kinaya joined CASA during his freshman year after feeling culturally isolated growing up in Shelby Township. Now in his second year as president, Kinaya is majoring in biomedical science and sees CASA as much more than a student group.
“Knowing your roots is the most important thing,” said Kinaya, 21. “At OU, we not only share our culture but also a mindset for higher ed.”
He said being part of CASA enhances the college experience, providing a tight-knit community that values both education and outreach. Their annual CASAblanca fundraiser brings in thousands of dollars for local causes. In February, the group donated $5,000 to United Community Family Services/CALC.
“We do all of these things in order to be contributing members of our community,” Kinaya said.
At the high school level, CASA has also made an impact. Spanish teacher Nancy Kattoula started a CASA chapter at Walled Lake Central High School over a decade ago to give Chaldean students—and anyone curious to learn—a safe, welcoming space.
Students at WLC participate in a range of service and cultural activities: canned food drives, rosary-making, bingo with seniors at rehabilitation centers, and educational speaker panels with Chaldean professionals. Each initiative is rooted in growth and connection.
“Getting involved in extracurricular activities is just as important as attending classes,” said Kattoula, who will begin her 27th year at WLC. “Whether it’s CASA or another club, find your passion and get involved. The connections and experiences are priceless.”
CASA’s youngest chapter began just before the 2022 opening of West Bloomfield Middle School, when the district’s two existing middle schools—Orchard Lake and Abbott—merged. Many Chaldean students didn’t know each other, so the new group focused on helping them build community.
WBMS CASA organizes two schoolwide service projects each year—Socktober and PB & J Outreach—and participates in events like St. Thomas’s Trunk or Treat. They also host in-school events like popcorn bars at dances and the “Spin to Win” fundraiser. Their TikTok videos have become a hit, teaching peers about traditional Chaldean customs and bringing families together for holidays.
These activities contribute to a collective philosophy of learning about and preserving the culture among the youth, something I, as their sponsor, am passionate about.
Eighth grader Savannah Garmo said being part of CASA has been a journey of cultural discovery.
“It has been two years since I joined CASA, and I feel like I’ve learned more about our Chaldean culture,” said Garmo. “Staying close to my culture taught me more about the village we came from, the traditional foods and dances, and it strengthened my faith.”
Groups like CASA can empower students to believe in their ability to succeed and reach their full potential while also preserving and maintaining the cultural heritage of their people, especially in schools with significant populations of Chaldeans.
For students, CASA offers more than connection—it instills a belief in their potential while honoring their heritage.
“It is important to stay close to my culture, participate in community events, and maintain our heritage,” Garmo, 13, added. “I encourage everyone to join CASA too!”
Crystal Kassab Jabiro is a Language Arts/Social Studies teacher at West Bloomfield Middle School. She leads the C.A.S.A at her middle school and was C.A.S.A. President at U of M-Dearborn from 2000-2001.
CASA List (Instagram Handles)
Universities:
Michigan State University (@msu_casa)
Oakland University (@ou_casa)
University of California-San Diego (@casa_ucsd)
University of Detroit-Mercy (@udm_casa)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (@umich_casa)
Wayne State University (@wsu_casa)
High Schools:
Bloomfield Hills High School (@bhhscasa)
Eisenhower High School
Marian High School
St. Catherine
Sterling Heights High School (@shhs.casa2425)
Walled Lake Central (@wlccasa)
Walled Lake Northern (wln.casa)
West Bloomfield High School (casawbhs)
Middle Schools:
Jeannette Junior High
West Bloomfield Middle School (@casawbms)