Al-Bustan News
Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African communities
How Philadelphia Rallied Around Its Palestinian Literature Festival
Despite a defamatory attack on Palestine Writes Literature Festival by some Zionist American Jewish organizations, the sold-out event proceeded more or less as planned, minus a few glitches. An estimated 1,300 attendees converged at the University of Pennsylvania to celebrate Palestinian literature and Palestinian writers at the weekend long event held from September 22-24.
New Photo Exhibit in South Kensington Documents Twenty Years Behind Israel’s Apartheid Wall
In their new photo exhibit, “La La Lil Jidar: 20 Years Behind the Apartheid Wall in Palestine,” Philadelphia-based photographer Aisha Mershani (they/them) documents the devastating impact that Israel’s apartheid wall has had on Palestinian life since Israel began construction in 2002.
Palestinian Writers Set to Converge at Penn
Beginning September 22nd, Palestinian writers from around the world are slated to converge in Philadelphia at Palestine Writes Literature Festival. For three days, the literature festival will host readings, dabka dance performances, crafting for kids, talks, and panel discussions at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Psychoanalysis is often whitewashed”: To Serve Philadelphia’s SWANA Communities, Mental Health Services May Need An Overhaul
Just as first-generation immigrants struggle to access mental health services in the Philadelphia area, second-generation children of immigrants grapple with their own unique set of challenges
For Philadelphia’s SWANA Communities, Mental Healthcare Access Is Slowly Improving But Barriers Remain
Rather than the persecution immigrants fled being a distinct moment in time, the ripple effects continue to follow them to the United States.
With Their New Show ‘Sabah il-Khara,’ One Philadelphia Comedian Is Not Taking Anti-Arab Racism Sitting Down
Kuwaiti-American comedian Alyssa Al-Dookhi (they/them) of South Philadelphia is slated to release “Sabah il-Khara,” an irreverent internet morning talk show created for the queer SWANA community.