Rockford University, Almoka Coffee House host art show for Arab-American Heritage Month
Seventeen artworks are on display at the coffee house, located at 753 Highgrove Place.
Customers are encouraged to vote for their favorite, with the top three winners to receive prizes.
The event is the first of its kind in Rockford, organized by the Rockford Arab Chamber of Commerce, which plans to host an Arab Heritage Festival on April 26th, at 2510 S. Alpine Road, with food trucks, dancing, and live music.
Almoka has only been open since February, but barista Amina Hussein said staff are already feeling the impact the cafe is having on the community.
'To have it here in your own city, and not have to drive far for it, that makes life worth living,' Hussein said. 'Because for Arab's, a lot of them, especially families, they don't have a place where they can just come in and stay there for later hours. And we're people who love to sip on our tea and our coffee in the middle of the night. So it gives you a sense of companionship.'
Voting in the art competition closes at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- CNN
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San Francisco Chronicle
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A recent photo of Lara Trump, U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, with an Arab artist at her residence in New York has drawn widespread criticism in the Middle East. "Was a pleasure," Egyptian artist Mohamed Ramadan posted on Instagram on Sunday, commenting on the music charity event Lara Trump hosted. Newsweek has contacted the Trump Organization for comment. Why It Matters The backlash from Arab audiences comes amid the war in Gaza as country leaders in the region have opposed Trump's stance and proposal to relocate Palestinians. Despite regional criticism and global pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who counts Trump as an ally—announced plans to take full control of Gaza, further escalating tensions in the region as it intensified its military offensive. Lara Trump on the set of "My View With Lara Trump" at Fox News Studios in New York on July 31. Lara Trump on the set of "My View With Lara Trump" at Fox News Studios in New York on July To Know The photo of Lara Trump and Ramadan, an Egyptian rapper and actor, gained widespread attention on Arab media and social platforms—with critics expressing frustration over Ramadan's association with the Trump family amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The music charity event featured a $3,500 VIP ticket that included a photo with Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump. Ramadan faced backlash from Egyptian and Arab fans over the Trump family's ties to Israel amid the deadly Gaza conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel. According to Al Bawaba, a Middle Eastern news platform, many fans believed Ramadan should have refused the invitation or urged an end to the war during his visit. "And what about Gaza, artist? Ask her what her father is doing in Gaza, whether occupation, killing or starvation, maybe you and her are unaware," one user wrote on Facebook. تشرفت امس بدعوة لارا ترامب في منزل عائلة الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب في نيويورك واهتمامهم بي يعني اهتمامهم واحترامهم لقارتي و بلدي .. استعدوا لمفاجأة كبيرة قريباً ثقة في الله نجاح ☝🏽🇺🇸🩷 Amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, several countries—including the U.K. and France—have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state next month if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire and other terms. The U.S. president, meanwhile, has said recognizing Palestine would serve Hamas and that the United States "is not in that camp." Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel had "no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas" amid families' concerns that the expanded offensive could endanger Israeli hostages still held by the militant group. What People Are Saying Egyptian rapper Mohamed Ramadan wrote on Facebook, translated from Arabic: "I was honored yesterday to receive an invitation from Lara Trump to the home of U.S. President Donald Trump's family in New York. Their interest in me reflects their respect for my continent and my country. Get ready for a big surprise soon." Ashraf Saif, an Egyptian actor, wrote on Facebook, translated from Arabic: "They celebrate you because you are part of the global Masonic plot. ... They celebrate you while Gaza is being utterly destroyed. So congratulations to you for them, and congratulations to them for you. May God be the ultimate avenger." What Happens Next Trump and Netanyahu are discussing alternative solutions to the crisis in Gaza, focusing on securing the release of Israeli hostages.
