Our Team
Philipe AbiYouness
Programs Coordinator
Philipe AbiYouness is the son of Lebanese immigrants. He is a poet and educator who has taught and supported arts programming at organizations including Storytelling Arts (Lambertville, NJ), Central Square Theater (Cambridge, MA), and Hyde Square Task Force (Boston, MA). In 2019, he traveled with Tectonic Theater Project to teach an extended workshop in devised theater at the American University of Beirut. His poetry is published in journals including New England Review, Mizna, Gulf Coast, Muzzle, Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and the anthologies Best of the Net and We Call to the Eye & the Night: Love Poems by Writers of Arab Heritage. He received a BA in Theatre Arts & English from Drew University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Rutgers University, Newark, where he served as a part-time lecturer in the writing department.
Hadeel AlHubaishi
Outreach & Civic Engagement Coordinator
Hadeel was born and raised in Yemen. At an early age, she left Yemen to attend high school in Massachusetts as part of a youth exchange student program which inspired her to continue travelling and exploring different cultures. Later on, Hadeel was granted a 4- year scholarship to study at the American University of Beirut through the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative program Tomorrow’s Leaders. In her 3rd year of university, she was honored to study a semester abroad at University of Pennsylvania. Hadeel graduated with a double concentration in human resources and information systems. Before moving to the U.S, Hadeel lived in Malaysia were she worked in outreach and marketing centered on Arab students. Her passion to understand cultures motivated her to travel to more than eleven countries, and she aims for more. In the role of Outreach Coordinator with Al-Bustan, Hadeel aspires to continue adding value to the organization’s community, connecting with diverse people, and building relationships among varied cultural groups. You can reach her at outreach@albustanseeds.org
Lisa Volta
Interim Executive Director
Lisa Volta is a Philadelphia-based artist working in painting, sculpture, and photography. She received her MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has worked with arts organizations in Philadelphia communities and schools for 17+ years. Lisa has been with Al-Bustan since 2013 and is currently a teaching artist for the After School Arab Arts visual art program and a curator of exhibitions for the onsite gallery. She is passionate about spotlighting contemporary artists of Arab and SWANA heritage as a way to explore current events, history, cultural context, and specific artistic techniques. In addition, she enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, visiting museums and galleries, and has spent time in the Levant and Gulf regions of the Arab world.
Visit her website.
Mostafa Darwish
Education Manager
Mostafa is an accomplished artist and curator, currently serving as the Education Manager at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture. Originally from Egypt and now based in the USA, Mostafa earned his Bachelor’s Degree and Certificate of Fine Arts in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where he received the Faculty Award for outstanding growth and community involvement. He has curated numerous exhibitions and founded the "Codex Project," which annually showcases artist-made art books. In 2020, Mostafa became the first Egyptian-American artist to have his work acquired by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum through the "New Mary Butler Purchase Award." His work, spanning various mediums, explores the intersections of Eastern and Western cultures, addressing political, cultural, and societal themes. At Al-Bustan, Mostafa brings his extensive experience and artistic vision to enhance the organization's educational initiatives.
Veronica Knell
Marketing and Commmunications Lead
Veronica is a Philadelphia-based designer and multidisciplinary artist specializing in non-profit marketing. Her work is characterized by a distinct written and visual language that integrates creativity and strategy, enabling her to craft compelling, mission-driven content that resonate with diverse audiences. She can be reached at marketing@albustanseeds.org
Hafez Kotain
Master Percussionist
Hafez is a master percussionist fluent in both Arab and Latin rhythms. Born in Venezuela of Syrian heritage, he grew up in Syria until the age of 16 years. He began playing the doumbek at the age of seven years, made his first stage performance at nine years, and went on to study with master Syrian percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the national percussion competitions in Syria for five consecutive years. In Venezuela he studied percussion at the TMV Institute for Music in Valencia, where he also taught a variety of percussion styles blending Arab and Latino music to youth. He works with Al-Bustan throughout the year, teaching music at summer camp, weekly percussion classes at several Philadelphia schools, and a weekly percussion ensemble class at University of Pennsylvania. Hafez is a recipient of the prestigious 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, which is awarded each year to 12 Philadelphia artists who are of exemplary talent.
Ashley Choukeir
Illustrator/Animator/Graphic Designer
Ashley is an experimental director, illustrator, designer, and animator. With a BS in Computer Graphics and Animation, Ashley has 16+ years of experience working in studios, inspiring university students, and collaborating with stand-alone artists, major clients, and agencies. Having lived and worked in diverse cultural and artistic milieus between Beirut, Dubai, and the US, Ashley has gained a rich awareness of varying styles of communication, body language, and humor – all of which inform her professional practice. Since 2015, she has been working with Al-Bustan providing creative support on numerous projects.
Hazami Sayed
Founding Executive Director
Hazami Sayed ended her tenure on December 31, 2020, eighteen years after she began Al-Bustan in July 2002 with a language and cultural day camp.