JDEED presents ISSUE 11: Arab Women Of Power with cover star @NOOR shot by Moroccan artist @hassanhajjaj_larache in front of a mural and wrapped in a Bakhnoug by Tunisian artist @elseed .
Noor Tagouri is an award-winning journalist, storyteller, and speaker known for her groundbreaking investigative work and advocacy for nuanced, underrepresented narratives. As a Libyan-American journalist, she has made a name for herself by challenging traditional storytelling norms, blending investigative journalism with deeply personal self-inquiry. Whether through her acclaimed podcast series REP: A Story About The Stories We Tell, her documentary work, or her commitment to Revolutionary Representation, Noor’s approach to storytelling is both introspective and global.
This cover, a collaboration amongst friends - Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj, and featuring art by eL Seed captures an incredible journey—one that brought Noor and life and business partner Adam Khafif to Tunisia during the olive harvest season. It was in New York City where Noor first met the renowned artist eL Seed at a Tacapae (eL Seed’s olive oil brand) dinner. Upon learning that she hadn’t been back to Tunisia in over 20 years—save for a brief layover en route to Libya—eL Seed responded with insistence: “You have to come for the olive harvest.”
In ISSUE 11, we invite you to dive into this incredible journey and meeting of the minds, accompanied by a powerful, intimate conversation between Noor and Adam, including a MAJOR announcement.
JDEED ISSUE 11, out April 12th.
Mural and Bakhnoug Text:
موسم الزيتون يجمع القلوب قبل أن يجمع الثمار.
The olive season brings together hearts before it brings together fruits.
🚨Presenting @AYS Town Hall Series‼️
A space where the audience, your community, is the star of the show. Inspired by the raw authenticity of Oprah and Phil Donahue, we’re creating moments where communities can face their tensions, share their truths, and witness each other’s humanity.
In times of deep division, we gather. Not just to talk, but to transform. We create sacred spaces for people to show up with their hearts on their sleeve and truth on their tongue.
Gil Scott-Heron said “the revolution will not be televised” because the revolution takes place within, in our minds and in our hearts, and we want to hear from yours.
Experience AYS Town Hall on Youtube.com/noor and book yours at www.ays.media/townhall
Executive Produced by @adamkhafif and @noor
Directed by @omarmullick
Shot by @RayWhitehouse
Edited by @jamjad and @jtrilledit
Music by @emelmathlouthi
Special Thanks to @DGAPev and @eaton.dc
At Your Service
I envisioned this shot on the second day of our Morocco trip, before we even knew we were shooting for @VogueArabia . Adam and I were at his grandmother’s apartment, near the renowned Moroccan ice cream shop, Oliveri. This place somehow transforms eating ice cream into a luxurious lounging experience.
We set an intention of rethinking the meaning of “At Your Service.” How can a hospitality mindset help us tell better stories?
Then, in my mind, I saw this image: holding a tea tray, ready to serve, dressed in the Moroccan djellaba hoodie set that Adam has been perfecting for years (plz DM him or @andever to finally share these pieces with us!!!) I shared this vision with Adam, joking that it could be a Vogue photo. And now, here we are. Shot on the very last day of a couple of months in Morocco, this shoot + interview serves as a love letter to the city that reminded us of the true essence of being “At Your Service.”
Photography: @zineb_koutten_
Style: @theomaimafahmi
Hair: @kenzalazrakmakeup
Makeup: @chocoostouch
Writer: @emilybaxterpriest
5 tips from our @AYS WRITING BOOTCAMP GUIDES!! Comment WRITING and I’ll send you a link to join our session this Sunday (4/12!!)
Today’s the LAST day to sign up, come learn/write with @rupikaur_@hala.n.alyan@iamjoelleon@zaron3@aymanndotcom and @megleder !!!!
scholarships are always available, At Your Service x
a couple more weeks of taking photos while instinctively holding my belly…hang out with us for our last virtual gathering before the little one? @AYS Writing Bootcamp this Sunday 4/12…lmk if you wanna come through 🌻
uniform by @andever , photos by @cedarandpines ✨
Entering the FINAL stretch of growing. Somehow our only photos together in the last 9 months have been taken by self timer and strangers. It went by so slow and then so fast??
When the NY snow made it impossible to get home, we ended up in Miami for a month, staying at @palmshotelmiami — the hotel we got married at — and somehow found ourselves back at the Wynwood Walls recreating our wedding photos with all new art.
This little soul already knew exactly where they wanted to be. duaas, prayers, and good vibes are appreciated and welcome!!! 🌀
Comment WRITING and I’ll DM you our @AYS Writing Bootcamp link!! featuring:
How to tackle the First Draft with @hala.n.alyan and @iamjoelleon
Short Form, and restraint while writing with @rupikaur_
Excavating our deepest truths with @zaron3 and I
Reclaim your narrative: culture, faith, and identity with @aymanndotcom
The business of books and publishing with @megleder of @penguinlifebooks
**this will be the last AYS Club we host before I go on leave!!! Really excited to be in community with y’all before this next big CHAPTER.**
1. go watch @rizahmed ’s new show BAIT!!!
2. I loved @adamkhafif ’s @andever premiere fit so much I wore it the next morning for a different event.
3. I pulled a traditional Libyan set from my dad’s closet for Eid, and honestly loving dressing like a Baba too.
4. lil sneak peek of a fun doc project
5. etc etc etc
I really wasn’t sure motherhood was for me, but Wild Women like @sophia_roe make me excited to walk this path alongside them.
Thank you, Sophia for bringing our voicenote letters to life for our Wild Woman, Wild Mother Iftar. I am so, so grateful for you <3
@babylist , @ays
video by @_isabelpadilla_
song is Souty (“My Voice”) by the brilliant @emelmathlouthi
Oh, so this is what the “village” feels like. 🐺🌻
A Wild Woman Iftar with @Babylist + @AYS —
Women leaning in to listen. Delicious food from @hudabrooklyn . A prayer and song into my belly from @iamrotana . An altar from home put together by @nadiadiaspora . A conversation with the best mama guide @sophia_roe . And a spontaneous children’s book altar — every guest brought a book for our little one with a letter written inside (Sophia’s idea, and it was perfect).
Alhamdulillah x Alhamdulilah
Photos by @jessglistening 🤍
Every year we host an @AYS Iftar to celebrate and nourish the people who have been inspiring us most. When @Babylist asked to join us this year, the intention arrived instantly: Wild Woman to Wild Mother. A gathering of women who give life in all the ways that word can mean.
I love our witchy, wild community so, so much!!!
—
ps. the first time I heard @iamrotana sing El Helwa Di, I cried and cried. Felt it in my bones. This is the song I sing to my belly the most.
video by @_isabelpadilla_ ♡
