This content was published: October 8, 2011. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Sylvania Campus participates in second annual Mahrajan
Photos and story by Kate Chester
More than 1,100 attendees stopped by the second annual Mahrajan – festival in Arabic – hosted by the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon on Sept. 25, at the Fulton Community Center in Southwest Portland. The Sylvania Campus along with Portland State University’s Middle East Studies Center and several others – co-sponsored the nearly day-long gala, which is the largest celebration of Arab heritage and culture in Oregon.
“We serve many Arab students and students from Middle East, so the festival is a natural for Sylvania to support and be involved with,” said Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president.
Soufiane El Moussi, a former Sylvania student now studying at Portland State University, holds his niece, Kenza, while dressed in his native Moroccan attire at the second annual Mahrajan. El Moussi serves on the AACCO board of directors.
In addition to traditional Arab cuisine – from falafel to baklava to strong Arabic coffee – the festival offered an array of music, dance, arts and crafts, poetry, henna painting, cooking demonstrations and workshops, and children’s activities.
“I’m a PCC Sylvania graduate and an Arab-American, and I am so happy that Sylvania has again co-sponsored our festival,” said Hadi Nouredine, a dentist who runs four practices throughout the Portland metro area and who also serves as president of the cultural center.
“Oregon’s Arab-Americans are diverse and colorful – they contribute to the Portland community and its cultural landscape,” said Nouredine. “PCC represents the community at large, and having the college as part of the celebration acknowledges that Arab-Americans are part of Oregon’s ‘bigger picture.’”