“Art and architecture have long inspired one another, each shaping imagination, innovation, and cultural memory.” Visitors to the new Chaldean Community Foundation building in West Bloomfield, CCF West, are greeted by a vibrant collection of artworks celebrating faith, culture, and history. The walls feature depictions of the Freedom Monument, King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Martyrs Wall, the Tree of Life, the Ishtar and Sennacherib Gates, and more. Many of these works were commissioned by the CCF and brought to life by artist Reni Stephan.

We may be thousands of miles away from our homeland, but the essence of who we are shouldn’t fade with distance. For Chaldean Americans including myself and many others – children of immigrants, either born or raised in a new world – our existence is defined by an ongoing struggle between embracing the culture we inhabit and holding on to our identity. We are fortunate to live in a country that has given us opportunity, safety, and freedom, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. Yet, amid the beauty of assimilation, we should always remember the subtle, strong reminders of our origins.

Long before a student steps into a courtroom or writes their first brief, there is a moment of realization that something within them is meant for this path. It might come from witnessing an injustice or from the understanding that words have power when used to defend what is right. Within the Chaldean community, that moment carries profound meaning. It grows from generations who built their lives on faith and perseverance, and who believed that success means nothing unless it uplifts others.

On September 7, 2025, in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV canonized a teenager laid to rest in a blue tracksuit and a pair of Nike sneakers. Saint Carlo Acutis—born in 1991 and returned to the bosom of the Lord at just 15—was declared a saint alongside now Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati.

The Shenandoah Young Adult Committee (YAC) has become one of the most active sub-committees within Shenandoah Country Club. Established in 2021, the committee was created with a powerful mission to bring the youth of Shenandoah together and strengthen the bond of community among the next generation of members. 

After the COVID pandemic, career restauranteur Joe Sheena found himself stressed out and out of shape. His company, Pizza Papalis, had been bustling since 1986. But the pandemic slowed business and Pizza Papalis was forced to scale back some of its 20 locations and do “uncomfortable things” from a business perspective.

One of the many ways we connect through our culture is through language. The Chaldean people have spoken Syriac, or Sureth, for thousands of years. Many of our words trace back to ancient times, when Akkadian and Sumerian were widely spoken across our ancestral communities.

Jonny “Magic” Mansour, 25, is a boxer on the rise. His Instagram account names him “God’s Chosen Warrior,” and he’s currently 5-0 in the ring. He recently had the opportunity to visit the land of his ancestors; his parents are both from Alqosh in the Nineveh Plains of northern Iraq.

تُعتبر‭ ‬الجسور‭ ‬والأقواس‭ ‬القديمة‭ ‬معالم‭ ‬تاريخية‭ ‬حية‭ ‬ومهمة‭ ‬في‭ ‬الأماكن‭ ‬التي‭ ‬شُيدت‭ ‬فيها،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬ليست‭ ‬مجرد‭ ‬طرق‭ ‬للعبور‭ ‬والتنقل‭ ‬بين‭ ‬ضفتي‭ ‬نهر،‭ ‬بل‭ ‬لعبت‭ ‬دورًا‭ ‬مهمًا‭ ‬في‭ ‬تذليل‭ ‬العقبات‭ ‬أمام‭ ‬التواصل‭ ‬البشري‭ ‬بين‭ ‬الأصدقاء‭ ‬والأعداء‭ ‬على‭ ‬مر‭ ‬العصور،‭ ‬ولذلك،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬تؤثر‭ ‬بشكل‭ ‬كبير‭ ‬في‭ ‬تشكيل‭ ‬الثقافة،‭ ‬والتاريخ،‭ ‬والجغرافيا،‭ ‬وكنز‭ ‬ثمين‭ ‬للأساطير‭.‬

ركزت‭ ‬المقالات‭ ‬حول‭ ‬المقامات‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬المقدسة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ (‬الأجزاء‭ ‬الأول‭ ‬والثاني‭ ‬والثالث‭) ‬على‭ ‬تسليط‭ ‬الأضواء‭ ‬على‭ ‬تاريخ‭ ‬ومحنة‭ ‬الأقليات‭ ‬العرقية‭ ‬الأصيلة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق،‭ ‬التي‭ ‬كانت‭ ‬تمارس‭ ‬حقوقها‭ ‬المدنية‭ ‬والدينية‭ ‬في‭ ‬البداية‭ ‬وكذلك‭ ‬المؤامرات‭ ‬التي‭ ‬استهدفت‭ ‬الجالية‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬وأجبرتها‭ ‬على‭ ‬الهجرة‭ ‬إلى‭ ‬إسرائيل،‭ ‬فضلًا‭ ‬عن‭ ‬تهجير‭ ‬المسيحيين‭ ‬والمندائيين‭ ‬واليزيدين‭ ‬بعدهم‭ ‬وبعثرتهم‭ ‬حول‭ ‬العالم‭. ‬

سجلات‭ ‬التاريخ‭ ‬في‭ ‬بلاد‭ ‬ما‭ ‬بين‭ ‬النهرين‭ (‬العراق‭) ‬تبيّن‭ ‬انه‭ ‬بعد‭ ‬2600‭ ‬عام‭ ‬من‭ ‬الاستيطان‭ ‬اليهودي‭ ‬المتواصل‭ ‬في‭ ‬المنطقة‭ ‬التي‭ ‬وُلد‭ ‬فيها‭ ‬النبي‭ ‬إبراهيم،‭ ‬وسُجل‭ ‬فيها‭ ‬عهد‭ ‬بابل‭ ‬حيث‭ ‬كَتبَ‭ ‬اليهود‭ ‬التلمود‭ ‬البابلي،‭ ‬انتهى‭ ‬وجود‭ ‬المكون‭ ‬اليهودي‭ ‬العراقي‭ ‬في‭ ‬وطن‭ ‬اجدادهم‭ ‬بعد‭ ‬احداث‭ ‬الفرهود‭ ‬واسقاط‭ ‬الجنسية‭ ‬العراقية‭ ‬عن‭ ‬هذا‭ ‬المكّون‭ ‬الأصيل‭ ‬في‭ ‬النصف‭ ‬الثاني‭ ‬من‭ ‬القرن‭ ‬العشرين‭. ‬ورغم‭ ‬ذلك،‭ ‬لا‭ ‬يزال‭ ‬هناك‭ ‬تراث‭ ‬مادي‭ ‬وتاريخي‭ ‬يستحق‭ ‬التذكير‭ ‬به‭ ‬ومواقع‭ ‬دينية‭ ‬وأثرية‭ ‬مقدسة‭ ‬مهملة،‭ ‬ومتروكة‭ ‬لمعول‭ ‬الزمان‭ ‬ومهددة‭ ‬بالانقراض‭ ‬تنتظر‭ ‬الرحمة‭ ‬والعناية‭ ‬والترميم‭. ‬لقد‭ ‬حددت‭ ‬أبحاث‭ ‬أجراها‭ ‬أثريون‭ ‬وأكاديميون‭ ‬27‭ ‬موقعًا‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ ‬لا‭ ‬تزال‭ ‬قائمة،‭ ‬ولكنها‭ ‬معرضة‭ ‬للخطر‭ ‬والاندثار‭ ‬وهي‭ ‬في‭ ‬حالة‭ ‬بالغة‭ ‬السوء‭.‬

نُقدم‭ ‬انا‭ ‬وأولادي‭ ‬كلٌّ‭ ‬من‭: ‬جبران‭ ‬وعلاء‭ ‬وقيس‭ ‬ومارتن‭ ‬وروبرت،‭ ‬وبناتي‭ ‬كل‭ ‬من‭: ‬مي‭ ‬وڤيني‭ ‬وليلى،‭ ‬جزيل‭ ‬الشكر‭ ‬والإمتنان‭ ‬لأبناء‭ ‬الجالية‭ ‬الكلدانية‭ ‬من‭ ‬الرجال‭ ‬والنساء‭ ‬والشباب‭ ‬والشابات،‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬حضروا‭ ‬القداس‭ ‬التأبيني‭ ‬للمرحومة‭ ‬والدتنا‭ ‬’هناء‘‭ ‬في‭ ‬كنيسة‭ ‬أم‭ ‬الله‭ ‬وفي‭ ‬مقدمتهم‭ ‬سيادة‭ ‬المطران‭ ‬مار‭ ‬ابراهيم‭ ‬ابراهيم‭ ‬الجزيل‭ ‬الاحترام‭ ‬والتقدير‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬شاركوا‭ ‬في‭ ‬مراسيم‭ ‬وأد‭ ‬المرحومة‭ ‬في‭ ‬مثواها‭ ‬ألأخير‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬حضروا‭ ‬مجلس‭ ‬العزاء‭ ‬من‭ ‬الرجال‭ ‬والنساء‭ ‬والشباب‭ ‬والشابات‭.‬

Nana Bernadette Sarafa’s Kitchen came alive with the aromas of Takhratha during the CCF West’s first cooking demonstration with Anmar Sarafa. In each class, students team up with fellow food lovers, learn from talented Chaldean community members, and create authentic dishes in a fun, hands-on environment.

Balance and Breathe classes for caregivers and adults 60 years and up takes place on Mondays and Fridays from 11:30am-12:15pm at CCF in Sterling Heights (3601 15 Mile Rd.) now through March 2026. Participants are encouraged to arrive by 11:00am.

CCF West hosted a special Movie Night for adults with special needs and their families — featuring Disney’s Hocus Pocus! Guests enjoyed a cozy theater experience with friends, snacks, and lots of laughter.

On October 10, the CCF in Sterling Heights welcomed Turning Point for an all-staff training focused on the cultural aspects of the Chaldean community. Turning Point empowers survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking through comprehensive services and resources while advocating for community action to end oppression and violence.

Sterling Heights formally welcomed four new police officers and four firefighter/EMTs in October 2025. These officers were officially sworn in on October 7 by Police Chief Andrew Satterfield before the Sterling Heights City Council, marking the beginning of their careers serving the community. The four officers (as introduced) were Tyler Secluna, Miranda Diaowd, Adam Mays and Andy Cafritzas.

High school students Charlize Sitto and Elinor Jwaydah turned their personal experiences with asthma into an innovative awareness campaign for kids and families. What began as frustration and confusion over a misunderstood condition became Lung Quest—a colorful board game that teaches asthma management through play—and Breathe Boost, a digital platform and app offering kid-friendly tips, demos, and resources.

When President Donald Trump appointed Mark Savvaya as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq, it sent ripples through the Chaldean Community. Savaya is a familiar face in the Detroit area, in part because of his businesses’ billboards that included his own likeness. As an entrepreneur, Savaya’s Chaldean roots and outspoken nature have made him a visible part of Michigan’s business—and more recently, political—landscape.

A Chinese government-affiliated company, SAIC Motor Corp., sold its largely vacant 41,000-square-foot office building at 322 N. Old Woodward Ave. in Birmingham, Michigan, for $18 million to local developer Doraid Markus. The July 15 sale, at approximately $439 per square foot, marks one of the highest per-square-foot real estate deals in downtown Birmingham in 15 years.