Civics in Action

On March 21, 18 middle school students from across Macomb and Oakland County participated in a National Civics Bee Regional Competition held at the Chaldean Community Foundation in Sterling Heights. The National Civics Bee® is an annual, nonpartisan competition designed to inspire young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Students in grades 6-8 entered by submitting an essay showcasing their civic knowledge.

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Future Sports Programs Coming

Supported by the Marvin Toma Memorial Fund, a 6-week youth basketball program for 9- and 10-year-olds was held in the CCF West gymnasium last month. The program taught the group about the fundamentals of basketball, including passing, shooting, dribbling, and more. More youth sports programming is on the way at CCF West. For more information, contact Farah Shammami at (248) 851-1200 or email farah.shammami@chaldeanfoundation.org.

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Breakfast of Nations Returns to CCF

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF)-Sterling Heights will host the 2026 Breakfast of Nations on May 8. In collaboration with Connect Macomb, Macomb Intermediate School District, Vibe Credit Union and OneMacomb, the Breakfast of Nations celebrates the cultures, stories, and experiences that make Macomb County a vibrant and diverse community.

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Local Artist Featured in 313 Day Campaign

Detroit’s creative scene is gaining fresh momentum with Chaldean American artist Juliana Rabban, known as Just By Juliana, stepping into a major spotlight through a high-profile collaboration with Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons. Rabban is among a select group of artists featured in the team’s annual 313 Day initiative, a March celebration of Detroit’s iconic area code.

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Record-Setting Sale

Raymond Jonna just made a big splash in Michigan’s real estate world, helping close the record-breaking $156 million sale of Huntington Tower in downtown Detroit—the largest private single-tenant net-leased deal in the state’s history. Acting as the sole broker for both buyer and seller, Jonna handled a complex, high-stakes deal with skill and precision.

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My Cousin Nini

Nicholas, better known as Nini, made life louder, funnier, and more interesting. His heart was huge, and anyone lucky enough to know him always felt that. Nini was notorious for chasing adventure and making all of our adventures that much better. Nini was the fearless one, the adventurous one, and the witty one who always had the perfect comebacks. He was the best arguer to do it. I know, because we argued a lot… and he always won.

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Motor City Ice

When you think of essential businesses in Metro Detroit, ice might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But for Tyler Yaldo, an environmental entrepreneur with deep roots in the Chaldean business community, it’s the perfect opportunity. Alongside his partners—Matthew and Brian Loussia, Devon Lousia, and Dennis Hickey of Value Wholesale, Yaldo’s father Ray and brother Gavin, plus Sahir Kas-Marogi and his sons Chris, Adam and Andrew—they are launching Motor City Ice, a new ice company designed to bring reliability, convenience, and innovation to local retailers, restaurants, and event spaces.

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I’m a Fighter

Never doubt Logan Hamama. Ever. When he was a student-athlete at Birmingham Brother Rice High School, his work ethic, drive and determination earned the former part-time player the starting point guard job on the star-studded boys basketball team when he was a senior.

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Preventing the Preventable

April is National Minority Health Month, highlighting the health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority groups. By understanding the social determinants of health impacting Chaldeans, both physicians and patients can encourage preventive care and improve outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure, and only about a quarter have it under control.

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Saadi Al Saihood

Saadi Al Saihood, an Iraqi businessman and prominent philanthropist, was born in Baghdad in 1954. A father of three sons and a daughter, his family hails from the province of Amara. He began his career humbly, selling newspapers at age 11 while attending school part-time and taking night classes. He also helped with his father’s laundromat business, which he named The White Robe, inspired by the film The Robe.

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Passing the Staff

Transitions are rarely easy. Letting go of what was and adjusting to what comes next is an internal process—one that requires navigating the journey, not just the change itself. For a Church and a community that have endured many transitions, the current moment is simply the latest chapter in a long and evolving story.

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تعزيز الحوار:

على مدار العشرين عاماً الماضية، نجحت كلٌ من «غرفة التجارة الكلدانية الأمريكية» و»مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية» — جنباً إلى جنب مع غيرهما من المنظمات المجتمعية للجالية العراقية الكلدانية — في بناء سمعة مرموقة وعالية ترتكز على اركان المقدرة والكفاءة والمصداقية والثبات.

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Love, Courage, and Community in Crisis

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, an alert went out across West Bloomfield: active shooter in the area. Schools and organizations went immediately into lockdown—no one in or out. Those inside were told to shelter in place as police raced to potential targets. An attack was underway at Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road, but it was unclear if the assailant acted alone.

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A Slice of Detroit: Local Group Takes Over Buddy’s Pizza

A local investment group led by Saber Ammori, Kevin Denha, and Andrew Dickow has acquired Buddy’s Pizza from private equity firm CapitalSpring, though the purchase price was not disclosed. The new owners—who say the brand holds personal significance—plan to strengthen customer experience, improve product quality, and expand Buddy’s presence nationally, particularly in the frozen pizza market. The deal, financed by First Merchants Bank with legal support from Varnum and Taft, comes after years of limited expansion outside metro Detroit and several recent store closures in west Michigan. Founded in 1946 and credited with creating Detroit-style pizza, Buddy’s remains a longstanding staple with multiple locations across Michigan.

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Chaldean Artist Lands Major Deal with Big Sean, Detroit Pistons

Detroit’s creative pulse is getting a bold new signature — and it’s coming from a Chaldean American artist making her mark on one of the city’s biggest stages. Juliana Rabban, known professionally as Just By Juliana, has landed a major collaboration with Big Sean and the Detroit Pistons, placing her work at the center of a high-profile celebration of Detroit culture.

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Turkey Arrests Suspect in High-Profile Murder Case

Authorities in southeastern Turkey have apprehended the main suspect in a six-year-old case involving the murder of Şmuni Diril and the disappearance of her husband, Hurmuz Diril, a Chaldean couple who had returned to their ancestral village of Mehri in Şırnak Province in 2020. The couple vanished from their home in January 2020, prompting extensive searches by local authorities and community members. Weeks later, Şmuni’s body was discovered near the Hezil River, but Hurmuz has never been found, leaving his fate uncertain.

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