This content was published: September 30, 2010. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Sylvania participates in ‘Mahrajan’ hosted by the Arab American Cultural Center
Photos and story by Kate Chester
More than 1,000 attendees visited “Mahrajan” – Arab festival – the first-ever hosted by the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon on Sept. 26, at the Fulton Community Center in Southwest Portland. The Sylvania Campus of Portland Community College – along with Portland State University and several others – co-sponsored the all-day gala, which is the largest celebration of Arab heritage and culture in Oregon.
Mujahid El-Naser, a PCC Sylvania student, leads a Middle Eastern folk dance at this year's "Mahrajan."
“We serve so many Arab students and students from Middle East – it made perfect sense for Sylvania to be a sponsor of this event,” said Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president. “We were delighted to be involved.”
In addition to traditional Arab cuisine – from falafel to baklava – the festival offered an array of music, dance, arts and crafts, henna painting, cooking demonstrations and workshops, and children’s activities. Former Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh – the first elected governor of Arab descent in the United States, in office from 1979 to 1987 – attended and was given special honors that day.
“We wanted to showcase the spirit of Oregon’s Arab-Americans, reflecting their diversity and contributions to the community’s cultural landscape,” said Hala Gores, president of AACCO. “Having PCC’s presence as part of the celebration underscored the ‘community’ aspect of this, and we are grateful for its participation.”