Latest news with #Arab-AmericanHeritageMonth
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rockford University, Almoka Coffee House host art show for Arab-American Heritage Month
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford University is partnering with Almoka Coffee House to celebrate Arab-American Heritage Month and Arab culture. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Growing Arab community in Rockford attracts new businesses and families
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Hussain Adbul, who owns , 753 Highgrove Place at Perryville Crossings, said he had a desire to share his Yemeni culture with the Rockford community while connecting to a growing Arab population in the Forest City. 'I have noticed recently that there is people moving here from other cities, such as Chicago, that find that the values for the Arab community in this area has been expanding. You know, I'm from the area and kind of witnessing and seeing it in person. Every year, we're constantly seeing growth,' Abdul said. Mustafa Abdall, President of the Greater Rockford Arab Chamber of Commerce, said there are more Arab-American owned-businesses coming soon, like the recently announced , or the grocery store and townhouse behind Forest Plaza, on South Mulford Road. 'I can tell you that we have 300 to 500 families moving to Rockford. All of them are doctors and business owners because of the safe, safe and welcoming community. It is a very successful example, how Rockford forges a very unique, diverse city,' Abdall said. With Arab-American Heritage Month in full swing, the Arab Chamber says it wants to reach out and showcase its culture. 'I feel like my community [doesn't] know a lot about Arab culture. They might see these [anti-Israel] protests going around, and they just see like, maybe that's the only things that stick to their mind about my community, unfortunately,' Abdul said. 'But there's a lot more interest in my community here. If somebody were to try to put time to tour, learn something new, when you see them coming back, you know that you do something right because they're coming back for that same drink. And I just feel like, I feel like I did something right. You know, it's not often you feel like you do stuff right in life, you know? But this is one of those moments in my life. I feel like I did something right.' The Arab Chamber is also hosting the first ever Arab Heritage Festival on April 26th, at 2510 S. Alpine Road, with food trucks, dancing, and live music. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
