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*This story was produced in partnership with StoryCorps and American Pakistan Foundation (APF). I always actually wanted to come to the United States, and I actually also wanted to come to New York to study there. It so happened that I got married to my husband who was studying in New York. So that was the logical next […]

Lana Shaheen: Painting Gaza *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership.   Lana is from Gaza City. She holds a BA degree in English Literature from Al-Azhar University in Gaza. She also holds two Diplomas from Indiana University in Business Administration, Leadership and Innovation. Lana is currently pursuing her Master’s in Journalism

Thawra Abukhdier: There is Hope *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership.   Thawra is a Palestinian American from Jerusalem. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications And Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies both from Hebrew University. Thawra has previously worked on a documentary with CNN

Mohammad Arafat: The Heart of Gaza *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership. Mohammad Arafat is from Gaza and currently lives in Virginia, USA. Mohammad holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, and two diplomas in Leadership and Citizen Journalism. He previously worked as an English English teacher, journalist, writer and translator. Mohammad

Dana Amir: Conversations for Peace *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership. Dana, is from Gan-Ner, Israel, but in the past five years, Dana has been traveling and studying around the world. Dana is currently pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Economics, and hopes to focus on Behavioral Economics  and Public

Rawan Odeh: There is Always a Way *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership. Rawan Odeh is a Palestinian American. She lived half her life in New York and the other half in Nablus. Rawan holds a BA degree in Accounting from An Najah National University. Since then, Rawan has worked as

Eran Nissan: Building Peace With Younger Generations *This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership. Eran Nissan lives in Jaffa. Eran holds a bachelor degree in Political science & Philosophy and currently works for Peace Now as their special projects manager. Eran previously ran the Advocacy and Education department at Peace Now. At

Gilad Sevitt: Mending Relationships Through Language This story was collected in partnership with New Story Leadership. Gilad Sevitt, a social entrepreneur from Jerusalem, is the founder and professional director of Madrasa – an organization that offers a unique free platform in Hebrew for learning spoken Arabic, used by tens of thousands of people. Madrasa aims

Aisha Malik is a member of the 2018-19 MALA Young Leaders Fellowship. Fellows participate in digital seminars, dinner discussions, and other MALA events. As part of the program, Fellows reflect on their multiple layers of identities – as daughters, sons, professionals, athletes, and so much more – and share those reflections into the MALA story collection. Personal

Samir Nomani: On the Transcendency of Hip-Hop Samir’s love for Hip-Hop music started at a young age.  Now, as Board Vice President of Music In Common, he works to empower communities through the power of music. My love for hip-hop started in elementary school. I was visiting my next door neighbor and heard music with