On August 14 the Philadelphia Health Department advised the University City Swim Club that someone who has a confirmed case of crypto and giardia was at its pool and a city pool. On the basis of this confirmation the Health Department shut down the UCSC pool. [more...]
Left to Right: Shirley Randleman, Ann O’Callahan, George Wake, Mayer Nutter, State Senator Anthony Williams and Fatima Muhummad at the Welcoming Center West’s ribbon- cutting ceremony. Photo: Nicole Contosta
By Nicole Contosta | UC Review Staff | 13.AUG.08
Talk isn’t always cheap. After all, the talks held at the International House in June of 2006 led to the creation of the Welcoming Center West on 52nd and Locust Streets.
"It was a town hall style meeting," explained the Welcoming Center’s Fatima Muhammad-- organized to "discuss conflict and cultural misunderstandings between foreigners and native born residents."
With fights breaking out between African and African-American students nearly every day at Bartram High School, said Muhammad, when explaining the factors that contributed to the town hall meeting two summers ago, it was clear that something had to change.
"Misperception," about where the other group "was coming from," was at the problem’s core, said Muhammad in reference to the lessons gleaned from the International House’s town hall meeting as well as the several subsequent discussions held to address effective ways to combat the issue.
With tensions building between the US and Iran, "Peace in the Middle East," might seem like wistful thinking.
But that hasn’t stopped organizations like the Middle East Council of Churches Amman (MECC) and Mennonite Central Committee (MECC) from hosting peace-building workshops.
From August 9 to the 16th, 32 Muslim and Christians will assemble in Amman Jordan for the Promoting East/West Dialogue: A Workshop for Young Adults. And one of them, Brian Shingledecker will be representing Philadelphia’s Shalom House, a community of proactive peacemakers.
Throughout the four day workshop series, those participating, an equal number of Muslims and Christians, will not only attend lectures but will also be invited to share about different theological, social, and theoretical topics around the issues of peaceful coexistence, non-violent conflict resolution,
Shingledecker, who is involved with work the Shalom House does in helping Iraqi refugees, thinks that peace—building workshops of the kind that is being held in Jordan are essential.
Saad AlRayes. the man behind the counter at Saad’s Halal Restaurant ... Photo: Aaron Mendelsohn
By Aaron Mendelsohn | 13.AUG.08
This is the first of three sequential articles that will explore the cultural diversity and immigrant experiences of people in University City by featuring members of the community who own and run restaurants serving ethnic cuisine. Each interview focuses on a different region or country, and seeks to explore traditions surrounding the culinary arts of that culture, as well as the personal stories of the families who brought their traditions to West Philadelphia.
"Hello, how are you," says Saad AlRayes with a smile, the man behind the counter at Saad’s Halal Restaurant on the corner of 45th and Walnut. If you have been there before, chances are that he remembers your name and what you like to eat - maybe a Chicken Maroosh (his own invention), Falafel, Baba Ghanouj, or Lamb Shawarma. AlRayes arrived in the United States 21 years ago from Lebanon. Arabic is his native language, but he was already fluent in French and says that he found it easy to learn English, which he was speaking within 2-3 months.
On a busy day, a commotion of languages from around the globe can be heard both behind the counter and in the dining area. Before coming to the United States, AlRayes was in college and helped his family run a restaurant during the summers. Philadelphia is the first place that he came after immigrating.
