AFSC On the Issues American Friends Service Committee

Last year, AFSC brought together artists, activists, and cultural practitioners from the Middle East and North Africa in Amman, Jordan. They shared their knowledge and experiences in using art for social change—and strategized ways to support each other in working for peace and justice.  Our limited podcast series, “Assembly,” features the stories and perspectives of some of our participants. In this episode, we hear from Nidal Ka'bi, a performer, choreographer, and executive director of the Palestinian Performing Arts Network. He talks about how the performing arts serve as a platform for speaking out for Palestinian rights and other urgent issues.  

Last year, AFSC brought together artists, activists, and cultural practitioners from the Middle East and North Africa in Amman, Jordan. They shared their knowledge and experiences in using art for social change—and strategized ways to support each other in working for peace and justice.  Our limited podcast series, “Assembly,” features the stories and perspectives of some of our participants. In this episode, we hear from Farah Chama, a Palestinian poet and performer, who mixes prose, performance, and live music in her spoken-word work. She talks about her personal journey as a poet writing about Palestinian identity.  

Last year, AFSC brought together artists, activists, and cultural practitioners from the Middle East and North Africa in Amman, Jordan. They shared their knowledge and experiences in using art for social change—and strategized ways to support each other in working for peace and justice.  Our limited podcast series, “Assembly,” features the stories and perspectives of some of our participants. In this episode, we hear from Hatem Salama, a program officer for the Ford Foundation in Cairo. He talks about the importance of supporting organizations working for social justice through art, culture, and the media. 

Reunion: A special American Friends Service Committee podcast featuring Quaker leaders from the U.S. and United Kingdom gathering and sharing insights about how Quaker organizations are activating Quaker values for a just world. The podcast was recorded at the April 2023 gathering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Marisa Mazria Katz and features Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary of AFSC; Bridget Moix, general secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation; Oliver Robertson, head of Witness and Worship with Quakers in Britain; and Sarah Clarke, director of the Quaker United Nations Office in New York City.

In this special podcast, we hear from AFSC staff and other community leaders in Palestine. They are working to bring together Palestinian youth across divides and to counter the fragmentation caused by the Israeli occupation. Listen now to hear them discuss equity, identity, and the Palestinian experience.

Assembly: Artists making change in the Middle East and North AfricaEarlier this year, AFSC’s brought together activists and artists the Middle East and North Africa to make new connections, talk about their experiences, and support each other in working for peace with justice. In this limited podcast series, “Assembly,” we talk to some of our participants about how art can transform our everyday lives.    In this episode, we hear from Lalla Kaber, a cinematographer and video maker in Mauritania. Lalla is one of the first women filmmakers in her country. She runs an organization for deaf people and is one of the few people in the country working to address the issues they face. She wants to ensure that disability rights become more integrated into Mauritanian culture. Learn more at afsc.org/assembly.