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Title: Arab International Festival
Suheila Amen: I'm Suheila Amen,
and I am Vice President of the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn, Michigan.
The city of Dearborn is a suburb outside of Detroit, Michigan,
and is home to the largest concentrated population of Arab-Americans in the United States.
There's this wonderful camaraderie between the cultures,
and various events that we have in the community that people of all nationalities are coming
together to share
their experiences and learn more about each other.
The Arab International Festival takes place annually in the middle of June
for all to come and enjoy and take part in.
My family has been involved in the festival since it began 13 years ago.
Both Mom and Dad helped to organize the festival,
now over a decade later I work on the main stage in order to pull all of the acts together.
My sister Shadia assists me on the main stage.
My brother works security.
My mother and father paved the way for us to embrace our culture and
embrace our faith.
With my mother being born and raised in the city of Dearborn,
and my dad immigrating from Lebanon was the perfect blend of east meeting west.
At home we're not the typical Arab household.
I grew up on hot dogs and tacos and pizza,
whereas other arab children grew up eating falafel and schawarma.
[sister] Uncle Fred, do you feel like you lose your culture being in Florida outside
of Dearborn?
[Uncle Fred] The only thing I regret moving there is...is this kind of atmosphere.
[Uncle Fred] But this is a good opportunity to come back visit family.
You take for granted that you have this familial atmosphere,
and really like the festival brings the entire community together.
[Shadia's dad] Wherever there is music...they're there.
The city of Dearborn is transformed during the Arab International Festival.
We shutdown over a mile of what we call "little Arabia".
And it's not just an arab festival, but it's a festival for all communities to come and
enjoy and take part in,
[girl] Basically we wait for these three days all year round,
[girl]and when it does come around we make sure we make time for it.
[man1] I have my small son here,
[man1] it helps him learn about his heritage even though we're over here,
[man1] helps him learn about that and the different people that he could meet.
It's a family environment here.
Where everybody is now brothers and sisters as opposed to being strangers.
And I think everybody is looking to learn more about their neighbor,
and to experience their traditions and their culture.
[Woman1] It brings the communities together.
[Woman1] It shows us as a community what we have to offer.
[Woman2] It's good, it's a way to show all arabs and non-arabs just what the arab culture's
all about.
[man2] (In Arabic) My sister is here; she lives in Dearborn as well as my brothers.
[man2] I come here every year.
[man2] I came here mainly to see a mix of people,
[man2] a bit of both Arabs and Americans.
Everybody gets along at the festival.
Put some good food and some great music and everybody's ready for a good time.
You'll find that people tend to just let go and enjoy themselves.
And forget that they're lebanese, or yemeni, and iraqi.
And they just embrace one another as human beings.