Next week! Mark your calendars for this special film screening 🎬Door proceeds will benefit SCN and go towards fulfilling our mission. Be sure to RSVP to "Jerry & Me" and stick around after the film for a panel discussion led by our new Director of Development and Communications, Dr. Ali Tarokh. We'll see you there!
Volunteer of the Month: Kide! SCN relies on volunteers every single day. The impact these individuals have on our community is immense, and we’re proud to recognize Kide as this month’s Volunteer of the Month! Over the years, Kide has been a constant and uplifting presence in our community, especially through his dedication to our online homework room. His commitment to showing up week after week has made a lasting impact on the students who rely on that support.
Beyond academic help, Kide has also played a meaningful role in our youth mentorship program, where he has guided and supported multiple young adults. His patience, encouragement, and genuine care have helped mentees grow in confidence and navigate their goals.
Kide is also someone we can always count on to be present. Whether it’s events, programs, or last-minute needs, we can count on him. He consistently goes above and beyond, not just in what he does, but in how he shows up: with reliability, kindness, and a strong sense of community. Thank you, Kide, for everything you give. We’re so grateful to have you as part of our community! #volunteer #volunteerappreciation #SCN
Last month our Executive Director Maya Atassi attended a panel at Loyola university, centered on the hidden costs of war. With the discussion surrounding TPS ending for Syrians, our small group chatted through the implications for people returning to a country that has been devastated by war. #TPS #refugees #syria
Join us Tuesday, May 19th for a screening of Mehrnaz Saeedvafa’s 2012 documentary short, Jerry & Me🍿
The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Ali Tarokh of the @syriancommunitynetwork and the Risheh Institute.🔗 in bio to register and learn more about the film!
We've got two more screenings before we take a summer hiatus for July and August. So if you've been meaning to come out during our first year of programming to watch a film, talk about it with your neighbors and eat and drink together, now's your chance. This month's installment is a good one!
JERRY & ME, by Mehrnaz Saeedvafa (run time 38 min)
Iranian-American filmmaker Mehrnaz Saeedvafa traces her journey from growing up as young girl in Tehran to adjusting to life in America, while she reflects on how the films of Jerry Lewis spoke to her as an outsider in both countries. Peppered with clips from Lewis’ films, as well as other Hollywood classics, that have been dubbed into Farsi, this short documentary is “an invaluable cross-cultural lesson,” said esteemed film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum.
We're very excited to have our post-film discussion led by Iranian-American immigrant leader Ali Tarokh, whom I met during my work with the Welcome Corps community-sponsorship refugee program. Ali currently works at The Syrian Community Network, which will be the partner and beneficiary of door proceeds. He also has recently started the non-profit Risheh Institute to "change the prevailing narrative about refugees, immigrants, and marginalized communities. In a political climate where immigration is often misunderstood and misrepresented, we believe that storytelling and art offer transformative pathways to shift perceptions and influence local policies." Filmmaker Mehrnaz Saeedvafa will also be in attendance!
Tuesday, May 19th
Doors open at 6pm (film starts around 6:20), food and drinks served
Closed Captioning provided
Haymarket House in Uptown
800 W. Buena Ave.
Registration link in comments
SCN has been busy! We were recently recognized for our immigration walk-in program by the ATJ commission, an honor that we share with 25 other programs. @borderless_mag also compiled a list of resources for free English classes, and gave SCN’s Education Program a shout out. Lastly, @wbezchicago sought comment from our Executive Director, Maya Atassi, in relation to the potential end of TPS for Syrians. Find more information on their pages!
In the month of April @irusa_mw hosted 3 food events with SCN, totaling over 400 meals distributed to the community! We are so thankful each time we are able to hand out a free, hot meal to a neighbor. Thank you for your continued partnership!
Take a look at snippets of our key findings based on data collected by the Urban Institute Well-Being Survey. Thank you to @urbaninstitute for providing this illuminating data. See the full findings on our website, link in bio.
Mayor Johnson's office recently hosted an event for Arab American Heritage Month, which is celebrated in April. We were honored to attend with members of our community and represent SCN! Thank you for having us Mayor Johnson and for your support of immigrants and refugees throughout Chicago. #arabamericanheritagemonth #mayorjohnson
Earlier this month we celebrated the legacy of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Senator Dick Durbin in collaboration with other woman-led refugee organizations in the city. Throughout their careers they have always stood in our corner and championed the rights of immigrants and refugees. Samir, pictured above with his famous oud, recalls when he first landed in the United States that Congresswoman Schakowsky was there to greet him and welcomed him with open arms into the country. It was a special moment to see them reunite! We wish both officials continued success as they step down from their positions, and are happy to hear that we will still see them at future events!
The people we work with are more than just clients at SCN, they are our friends, our family, and our community. When one of our community members was recently detained our immigration team worked tirelessly to get them released. We didn't want to lose someone we care about. It is a terrifying thought that all too many of us are experiencing. Thankfully, after many sleepless nights, we were able to help them return to their family. It was incredibly touching for us to receive this letter of thanks shortly after. Your support makes our work possible!
