On Losing Hope

Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief

Hearing about the tragic ending of the life of Hope Renée Shouneyia, I was overwhelmed with grief for the entire family. As a “suicide survivor,” which is what they call a person who was rocked by someone they love taking their own life, I know firsthand what it feels like to lose someone in this way.

Statistics paint a bleak picture: although suicide ranks as the 11th leading cause of death in the US, it jumps to 2nd place for those aged 10 to 34. According to the CDC, in 2023, there were over two times as many suicides (49,316) in the US as there were homicides (22,830).

It’s critical we don’t look away when the going gets hard. We have been providing  articles that address mental health issues because it is such an important topic—one that needs to become part of everyday conversation. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health, please seek help.

Our feature story on BMX athlete Nikita Ducarroz addresses anxiety issues and what can be done to alleviate them (HINT: get on your bad motor scooter and ride). Future features will look at the problem from a cultural viewpoint.

This issue also includes a guest column on immigration reform from an immigration attorney and an article on deportation fears and the 90-day notice, with input from the ACLU of Michigan.

We write about how the World Cup sparked national pride, especially for Iraqi Christians who are so often overlooked, and how a conversation with the Iraqi Prime Minister may result in positive changes for those Christians still living in Iraq.

Dr. Miri teaches us about the history of the Iraqi flag and also shared some great vacation photos from his world travels in the 20th century, Jenna Abroo introduces us to Tigris Detroit, a new hotspot for urban nightlife, and Jonathan Francis shared his photos from Chaldean Cultural Night at Comerica Park.

We also talked with Yvonne Najor, a major cast member of Bravo’s In the City. CN writer Dr. Crystal Kassab caught up with her and found out what it’s like to share her little-known culture and her pregnancy, with all its drama, on primetime TV.

And of course, we can’t forget our cover heroes, Jonny “Magic” Mansour and Julius “Juju” Ballo. These two pugilists represent the fighting spirit and family bonds that are such a big part of Chaldean culture. Their matches at Fox Theatre in the heart of District Detroit’s historic entertainment area should be a fun evening for all involved.

Despite this month’s difficult opening, I don’t want to convey despair. Hope isn’t something we either have or lose forever—it is something we can rebuild together, through honest conversations, compassion, and the courage to ask for help when we need it.

If sharing one person’s story encourages another to reach out, then we’ve done something worthwhile. As always, thank you for reading, for supporting independent community journalism, and for caring about one another. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief