Arab American writers organization to host national conference in Dearborn

The Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc. will hold their second national conference at Dearborn's Arab American National Museum May 17-20.

Between 120 and 160 attendees will gather for readings, panel discussions and celebration under the theme of "Writing While Arab: Politics, Hyphens, and Homelands."

RAWI secretary Deborah Alkamano notes that, while most attendees will come from around the United States, others will be attending from Canada and the Middle East. "The focus is less on being American and more on being Arab," she says. Of the attendees she notes, "They are not only writers in the traditional sense—poets, playwrights and novelists—but academics, bloggers, film-makers and activists."

The conference was first held in New York in 2005, and Alkamano, an area resident who teaches at Henry Ford Community College, is excited to bring her peers from all over the country to the AANM. She notes that not only will visitors get a chance to see the museum but will be able to connect with visual works current on display such as those by Adnan Chararra.

The conference includes 17 panels including ones on on-line writing, the publishing industry, Palestine, memoirs and race and ethnicity. Other events include readings from Pushcart Prize winner Naomi Shihab Nye on Thursday evening, and a Friday evening screening of conference coordinator Rola Nashef's film, "Detroit Unleaded" followed by a dance party. Saturday evening will feature the RAWI awards dinner.

Alkamano is particularly proud of RAWI's collaboration with Detroit organization InsideOut, which will bring together 15 Detroit students with 15 Dearborn students in a 2-hour writing workshop led by Nye.

For full conference schedule and registration information, click here.

Source: Deborah Alkamano, RAWI
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh