Chamber Members Step Up to Provide Holiday Miracle for Refugees
In late November, the Chamber reached out to its membership to help provide a Christmas miracle for 10 less fortunate refugee families that needed a variety of daily necessities many of us take for granted. The response was so positive, we were able to provide assistance to 13 families!
In just two short weeks, the Chamber raised approximately $40,000 in cash and gift cards to discount retailers. Additionally, the Chamber received countless items of household goods, including clothing, furniture and toys.
On behalf of the board of directors and the entire staff of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and Chaldean Community Foundation, we cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity.

Number of available awards: 1 given out annually in early December.

Scholarship Criteria:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Must be Chaldean
• Special consideration will be given to applicants who have overcome challenges or faced a disability or health condition
• Personal traits of optimism, determination, courage and a zest for life
• Family facing financial hardship

To qualify, applicants must submit the following essay question by December 1: What challenge(s) have you overcome in your life that has made you the person you are today? And what steps have you taken to turn those challenges into a positive outlook?

Contact Vivian Denha at vkhamarko@yahoo.com to submit an application or for more information.

• Translation
• Assistance with receiving Medicare and Medicaid
• Medical transportation
• Facilitate group recreations events
• Mediation with Michigan state agencies for the disabled
• Referrals to other service providers

To inquire about the program, contact Omar Binno at 248-996-8340 or omar.binno@chaldeanfoundation.org.

• Be Iraqi Christian immigrants, current refugees or Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)
• Have a job
• Be current on their refugee travel loan
• Have a co-signer.

To apply for loans, candidates must go through a credit workshop with a Chaldean Community Foundation case manager, who explains the credit process and the importance of a personal credit score in the United States.

To inquire about the program, contact Alfred Allos at 586-722-7253 or alfred.allos@chaldeanfoundation.org.

 The CCF’s entire personnel roster made personal donations that enabled the CCF to buy a 25-passenger bus. Martin Manna, president of the CCF was moved by the generosity of his staff.

 “It was touching to see how the entire staff united and took initiative to address what they viewed as a crucial need for their organization,” he said. “I cannot thank them enough for their kindness.”

In late November, the Chamber reached out to its membership to help provide a Christmas miracle for 10 less fortunate refugee families that needed a variety of daily necessities many of us take for granted. The response was so positive, we were able to provide assistance to 13 families!

   In just two short weeks, the Chamber raised approximately $40,000 in cash and gift cards to discount retailers. Additionally, the Chamber received countless items of household goods, including clothing, furniture and toys.

May 16, 2012

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — Southfield’s richly diverse population will be celebrated, and one culture in particular lauded, during the seventh annual Chaldean Festival June 8-10 on the front lawn of City Hall.

The widely popular event draws from not only the 120,000 Chaldeans currently calling metro Detroit home, but also residents of the surrounding communities who wish to celebrate and learn about the Chaldean culture.

“Southfield is a pretty diverse community, so it’s an opportunity for the Chaldean community to showcase and share with other residents traditions and ethnic festivities,” said Sharon Hannawa, program manager for the Chaldean Community Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Southfield, which hosts the annual event. “I think we take a lot of pride in our community, so this is an excellent opportunity to showcase that and introduce it to the rest of the world.”

The festival will include a full carnival with rides, games and children’s activities, as well as food and merchant booths. It runs 5-10 p.m. June 8, noon-10 p.m. June 9, and noon-10 p.m. June 10.

“What’s most cherished (in our culture) is family, and this is definitely an opportunity for families to come together,” Hannawa said. “There’s also a love of music — Chaldeans love music and … traditional dances like line dancing. People can watch and observe, and then those that are brave enough can join the line as well.”

Chaldeans are a significant part of metro Detroit, and many are business owners in local communities.

“Chaldeans have made a lot of investments here in terms of the impact they make on the local economy,” said Eric Younan, director of strategic initiatives for the Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce. “We are heavily invested in the southeast Michigan community. … We are committed to the communities in which we live and work, and we contribute to the local economy. We think it’s important for people to understand who the Chaldeans are (despite many misconceptions). One of the things that separates us from other Middle East ethnicities is that we’re Iraqi Christians. Even though there’s such (large) numbers here, not a lot of people understand that. The Chaldean and the Arab communities — we’re two distinctly different communities with a different dialect and ancestry. We’d like to gain appreciation and awareness.”

The Southfield municipal complex is located at 26000 Evergreen Road. Evergreen will be shut down for the event, from Civic Center Drive to 11 Mile/I-696.

For more information about the festival, or for details about how to get involved as a volunteer or as a sponsor, call the chamber at (248) 996-8340 or email Lisa Kalou at lisa.kalou@chaldeanfoundation.org.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.

 http://www.candgnews.com/news/chaldean-festival-celebrates-culture-family-fun

Posted: 05/01/2012

DETROIT (WXYZ) – The AFPD Foundation is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction
of whoever killed Medicine Chest Liquor Store owner Faraj “Fred” Dally.

Dally was shot and killed Tuesday morning as he was about to open his store in the 9000 block of Dexter on Detroit’s west side.

According to witnesses, Dally pulled up in a navy blue jeep and was gunned down before he reached the front door of the store,
a mere 15 feet away. The suspect was seen taking something from the jeep, presumably cash.

Dally, who neighbors call “Freddie” was shot in the head. They say he was always helping everyone in the neighborhood and
was good about extending credit.

Dally is also a former AFPD Chairman.

“This is sad loss for our AFPD family and the entire community,” said Auday Arabo, president and CEO of AFPD. “We must do something about the on-going violence our store owners face while operating businesses in Detroit. Fred has been operating his store since the 70s when the area was bustling with business.

Today, he was among the few businesses servicing the community in this area. He was truly committed to the revitalization of Detroit and stayed in the city even when everyone around him was fleeing.”

An employee normally helps Dally open on weekdays. She was across the street at a Coney Island when she heard two shots. She came out of the restaurant to see Dally down on the pavement and the suspects leaving the scene.

The shooter is described as a black male, 190 lbs, 5’8″-5’10″ wearing a black hoodie, jeans and a scarf over his face. There is no description of the driver at this time. The two were in a black Dodge Journey.

Some believe Dally may have been targeted because he often carries large amounts of cash on the first of the month after cashing the store’s checks.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/detroit-liquor-store-owner-gunned-down-outside-store#ixzz1tj4El53W

Some of the duties include: provide full representation and/or deliver legal advice to clients; file immigration
applications; provide consultations; prepare and file petitions; review federal, state and private grants;
communicate with USCIS and other immigration-related organizations.

Click here to view full job description

Please send resumes to info@chaldeanchamber.com.