SWANA CON

Collective Liberation

Collective Liberation

SWANA CON Agenda

Saturday January 13, 2024

Sunday January 14, 2024

  • 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. | Registration/Light Breakfast
    Check in and enjoy refreshments.
  • 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Opening Plenary
    Spotlight speaker, keynote speaker, and group activities.
  • 12:15 p.m. - 12:55 p.m. | Lunch
    Halal and vegetarian options available.
  • 12:55 p.m. - 1:05 p.m. | Group Photo
    Join us for a conference photo.
  • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Breakout Block I
    Various sessions to choose from.
    Title Room Description Name Bio

    Trans SWANA Utopias and Their Histories

    		 HUB 265

    From Ancient Egypt to Iran to Oman and Lebanon, gender justice liberation work and trans presence has existed long before we’ve generated Global North definitions of “trans,” “gender,” “sexuality” and “gender performance.” Yet, how are trans people and their liberations - their utopias - so integral to liberation, to a revolution and freedom of our bodies. One released from the constraints of a binary, the normal, the shame, fear and guilt so associated with it. Becoming ourselves is a collective journey, one that requires us to care for our beings and our comrades beings simultaneously. One that requires us to read and learn from the origins as a society that doesn’t read is one that is easily manipulated and controlled. It’s a society that hurts to the bounds of conformity. We must transform, embrace our creativity, embody our joy and power and world making and (re)imagining.

    		 Noon El Mosalami

    فلسطين حرة. Noon (they/she) is a 21-year-old organizer based in NYC and LA. She is a first-generation, low-income, queer, trans-femme, Muslim, Egyptian, disabled, neurodivergent immigrant. They were born in Egypt and immigrated to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with their Baba, Mama, and Brother. They moved to LA in 2021 to attend Pomona College and majored in Gender and Women’s Studies and Middle Eastern Studies on the pre-med track. They’re a big big musical theater girl and their dreams are to go about life with compassion, love and care in all aspects. Her queer and trans Muslim identity feeds her hopes for expansive love, rest, and passion for everyone. <3
    Steps to Collective Action: Palestinian Advocacy on Campus HUB 269 Since the 9/11 attacks and before, the advocacy of SWANA voices regarding Palestinian and minority liberation has consistently been stifled under a layer of fear for their livelihood and safety. However, as the political and social narratives towards Palestine shifts, there is an unprecedented potential for collective advocacy and liberation on campuses. A new generation of understanding the Palestinian plight opens the door for collaboration and an opportunity for cross-cultural understanding. This workshop is intended for undergraduate SWANA students involved in advocacy or hesitant as to where to begin. With discussion revolving around three key steps, it is intended to built a deeper understanding of collective action, understanding, and unity in the pursuit of collective liberation from all oppressions. Mohamad Almouazzen Mohamad Almouazzen is a 24-year old Lebanese-American Shia-Muslim passionate about the social and political involvement on Muslims in America. His advocacy journey began in community college with his involvement in collegiate speech and debate, speaking on issues relating to the Muslim and SWANA community up to the National level. After transfering to UCR in 2020, he discovered a pathway and passion for Palestinian advocacy through the Students for Justice in Palestine, and was heavily involved within the MESC community as well as student government. Graduating from UCR in 2022 with a degree in Political Science and History, he is currently working as an asisstant coach for the Mt. San Antonio College Forensics Team, a research fellow for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, as well as a conference organizer for the Shia Professional Association for Creativity and Education and the Sirat Initiative, respectively. He is currently studying for the LSAT in preparation for Law studies beginning Fall 2025.
    Cultural Representation Beyond Undergrad HUB 367 Intended audience/key takeaway: Effective self-representation in environments where people don't really look like you. More so on enhancing cultural impact, whether its building from the ground up or contributing to existing ones. Allows for others to be the future trailblazer. How it relates to collective liberation: individuals working in a setting where they are underrepresented may share the struggle of feeling isolated or misunderstood, builds solidarity among team members or peers, everyone benefits when individuals from different backgrounds come together and in the workshop we discuss a more inclusive and supportive work or academic environment. Mary Chammas Mary Chammas’s journey as a first-generation Lebanese-American has shaped her commitment to diversity. She spearheaded the creation of the SWANA/MENA ethnicity category within the California State University (CSU) system, the SWANA/MENA Studies Minor at CSU Fullerton, and the SWANA Resource Center. Mary founded the Lebanese Student Association and the SWANA organization, which received widespread support from residents in Orange County and resulted in donations that surpassed $100,000. Within her final semester, TedX invited me to take the stage and speak on my powerful narrative of resilience and the relentless pursuit of amplifying SWANA voices. The stage was not just hers but rather a platform to inspire, motivate, and showcase the Arab American experience. Currently, Mary is a first-year law student at Southwestern Law School and continues to champion her Arab American heritage as the elected representative for the Persian Middle Eastern Law Students Association. Her appreciation for diversity has inspired her to help underrepresented populations achieve equal opportunities and professional success.
    Lived Experiences: How Our Identity is Shaped with Our Experiences HUB 268 This will be a panel of refugees from various countries and backgrounds all living in Riverside California. The backgrounds and the stories reveal how every person's identity is shaped with the surroundings and lived experiences. Each will tell their story and discuss how the experiences influenced who they are today. Audience will have a chance to ask questions. Interactive and informative session. Selin Yildiz Nielsen, Amina Sadat (UCR), Tahira (HMI), Leen Kawas (UCR), Husna Dawar (UCR) Dr. Selin Yildiz Nielsen, Founder and President of the Human Migration Institute and a Global Studies Professor, leads international education and refugee advocacy. Born in Ankara, Turkey, she moved to California in 1987, earning degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of California, Riverside. With a three-decade career in global education, she's directed, taught, and advocated worldwide. Notably, she's spearheaded aid programs and established scholarships for disadvantaged girls, focusing on refugee education. As chair of Scholars at Risk at UC Riverside, she remains committed to this cause. Dr. Nielsen's impactful work includes speaking at the UN twice, emphasizing refugee education. She oversees HMI's growth, contributes scholarly articles, and notably emphasized telemental health's role in refugee support in Nature magazine (2022). Co-presenters include Amina Sadat (UCR), Tahira (HMI), Leen Kawas (UCR), and Husna Dawar (UCR).
    SWANA/MENA Representation in Demographic Data HUB 260 According to the 2020 Census, California has the largest SWANA (MENA) population in the United States, with more than 740,000 individuals identified. However, this data falls short of identifying what other populations currently have: information on poverty levels, educational levels, housing, and many more. The lack of SWANA representation in American demographic data is a systemic oversight that has caused enormous challenges for the community in representation and health needs. This presentation will ask the audience to consider their SWANA identities and how the lack of a category has impacted their livelihood. Through the conceptualization of Nadine Naber's term "visibly invisible," the audience will go through an activity to understand their physical visibility does not much their invisibility when it comes to Census data. Audience members will be provided information on the history of why the MENA category does not exist and current actions on how to achieve a category across the State of California. This presentation will interest those interested in advocacy, SWANA history, and data collection. Audience members will be allowed to discuss methods to include a SWANA category in their colleges, and they will be allowed to be engaged with the eventual MENA category in the State of California. Audience members should bring their own laptops to do data work. AACC - Amin Nash and Ayah Shiadah Amin Nash is a Policy and Research Coordinator for the Arab American Civic Council. Born to Iraqi immigrants, Amin is currently finishing his PhD at Claremont Graduate University, where focuses on the Arab and Muslim American experience. Ayah Shiadah is the Program Manager for the Arab American Civic Council. Born to a Palestinian father and Mexican mother, Shiadah has lived experiences between the US and Palestine. Shiadah has produced photography and digital art that has appeared in a number of publications
    Chaos & Climate: The Consequences of War on Our Planet HUB 379 In an hour-long session exploring the consequences of resource wars, this introductory session addresses the complex interconnectedness of resource extraction, human rights violations, and environmental justice, and how wars continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods globally. In the wake of the militarization of many of our homelands, particularly military engagements funded by the United States, we see not only geopolitical scars but a significant impact on the global environment, while these countries contribute the least to the global issue of climate change. Participants will discuss the aftermath of several wars, the socio-environmental impact of the wars, and resource scarcity —the emergence of what can now be renamed- the "War on Climate''. Our collective liberation depends on embracing intersectionality and recognizing that the accelerated environmental crises we face are intricately linked to the repercussions of war and conflict fueled primarily by Western interests. Hadiyah Waseem Hadiyah Waseem is a fourth year environmental science major pursuing a minor in business marketing. As a Pakistani-American, she is interested in the intersection between cultural expression, environmental justice, and using business marketing as a tool for social justice. For the past two academic years, she served as a Marketing Communications Intern at the Middle Eastern Student Center and worked alongside university students, alumni, and prospective students to engage the community with culturally significant events. Currently, she works with the Office of Sustainability at UCR as a Communications Intern where she aims to promote social and environmental justice within SWANA and South Asian communities
  • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. | Breakout Block II
    Various sessions to choose from.
    Title Room Description Name Bio
    Genealogies of Surveillance HUB 265

    This session will explore the history of surveillance in the United States from the inception of COINTELPRO in the early 1920's to the current manifestations of surveillance in the form of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. We'll explore the roots of surveillance in the U.S. as a tool of political disruption and neutralization, examining the surveillance of revolutionary nationalist movements in the 1960's as a case study that informs the current moment's targeting of SWANA and Muslim peoples, emphasizing the continuity in the goals of surveillance programs and opportunities for and examples of cross-community organizing arising from grassroots responses to these programs.

    		 Yahya Hafez Yahya Hafez is a Egyptian and Syrian organizer based in Southern California in the Inland Empire. They've organized for Palestinian liberation and with queer, Arab, Muslim, and SWANA communities in California, Michigan, and Dallas for over ten years. They currently work as a software engineer in the field of digital accessibility.
    What does Post-Grad Life look like?: Collectively Navigating Corporate America, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Finance for Generational Liberation HUB 260 What is it like in Corporate America? Should I start a side-hustle? What in the world is a 401k? After college, life comes at you fast. And like many of us who may be first or second generation college students, our parents really only prepared us through college. Come learn about what to expect in Corporate America but also what we should expect of ourselves in a changing corporate landscape. Come learn about the nuances of personal finances from 401k to Salary negotiations. And lastly, learn about the growing popularity of 'side hustles' and how they can eventually become your full time job. The intended audience for this session are Juniors and Seniors, preferably those interested in Corporate/ Tech jobs, Entrepreneurship, and generally personal finance. Sheiref Elabbady Sherief Elabbady is a Tech Product Manager by day and the Founder of The Arab Card Game by night. Sherief started The Arab Card Game over a year after not only seeing a gap in card games that catered to Arab-American culture but also a lack of Arab-American businesses. He is passionate about Entrepreneurship, Technology, Personal Finance and College Life. Sherief holds a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He also spent three years as an employee of the University as well. While the focus of Sherief's MBA was in Strategy & Entrepreneurship, he also spent time in the UAE and Oman studying Economic Diversification efforts in the region. Sherief was born in Minnesota to parents who immigrated from Egypt. Sherief remains in Minnesota with his wife, Taqwa, and three kids; Maryam, Yousef, and Jannah.
    The Power of Student Advocacy Hub 367 I aim to explore the rich history of social movements, spanning from ancient times to the present day. At the core of significant social shifts lies the driving force of student-led initiatives. My goal is to illustrate how these movements, spearheaded by students, have wielded considerable influence in shaping legislative reforms. Additionally, I plan to delve into the interconnectedness of social issues, particularly focusing on the intersectionalities between Palestine and various other SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) regions. As an organizer, I frequently encounter questions about the emphasis on Palestine in discussions of justice, as opposed to other regions like Syria or Iran. The reason is that Palestine occupies a central position in our collective challenges, highlighting the interwoven nature of our global problems. I aspire to demonstrate that advocating for Palestine is symbolic of pursuing justice universally. The call for a free Palestine transcends borders, symbolizing a collective yearning for freedom worldwide. Ultimately, my objective is to instill in students the awareness that our collective power is formidable. By uniting as students, we can overcome challenges and effect meaningful change. In moments of discouragement, it is crucial to reflect on our shared history, recognizing our inherent ability to create positive transformations. Summer Ismail Summer is a first-generation Palestinian American who is currently attending the University of California San Diego. Summer is double majoring in political science and communications with an emphasis on international relations, and has been apart of the speech and debate team for 3 years. Summer is currently the Debate ambassador, and has been involved in advocacy for Palestine since 15 and began organizing in 2020 and hasn't stopped since then!
    Lived Experiences: How Our Identity is Shaped with Our Experiences HUB 268 This will be a panel of refugees from various countries and backgrounds all living in Riverside California. The backgrounds and the stories reveal how every person's identity is shaped with the surroundings and lived experiences. Each will tell their story and discuss how the experiences influenced who they are today. Audience will have a chance to ask questions. Interactive and informative session. Selin Yildiz Nielsen, Amina Sadat (UCR), Tahira (HMI), Leen Kawas (UCR), Husna Dawar (UCR) Dr. Selin Yildiz Nielsen, Founder and President of the Human Migration Institute and a Global Studies Professor, leads international education and refugee advocacy. Born in Ankara, Turkey, she moved to California in 1987, earning degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of California, Riverside. With a three-decade career in global education, she's directed, taught, and advocated worldwide. Notably, she's spearheaded aid programs and established scholarships for disadvantaged girls, focusing on refugee education. As chair of Scholars at Risk at UC Riverside, she remains committed to this cause. Dr. Nielsen's impactful work includes speaking at the UN twice, emphasizing refugee education. She oversees HMI's growth, contributes scholarly articles, and notably emphasized telemental health's role in refugee support in Nature magazine (2022). Co-presenters include Amina Sadat (UCR), Tahira (HMI), Leen Kawas (UCR), and Husna Dawar (UCR).
    SWANA/MENA Representation in Demographic Data HUB 379 According to the 2020 Census, California has the largest SWANA (MENA) population in the United States, with more than 740,000 individuals identified. However, this data falls short of identifying what other populations currently have: information on poverty levels, educational levels, housing, and many more. The lack of SWANA representation in American demographic data is a systemic oversight that has caused enormous challenges for the community in representation and health needs. This presentation will ask the audience to consider their SWANA identities and how the lack of a category has impacted their livelihood. Through the conceptualization of Nadine Naber's term "visibly invisible," the audience will go through an activity to understand their physical visibility does not much their invisibility when it comes to Census data. Audience members will be provided information on the history of why the MENA category does not exist and current actions on how to achieve a category across the State of California. This presentation will interest those interested in advocacy, SWANA history, and data collection. Audience members will be allowed to discuss methods to include a SWANA category in their colleges, and they will be allowed to be engaged with the eventual MENA category in the State of California. Audience members should bring their own laptops to do data work. AACC - Amin Nash and Ayah Shiadah Amin Nash is a Policy and Research Coordinator for the Arab American Civic Council. Born to Iraqi immigrants, Amin is currently finishing his PhD at Claremont Graduate University, where focuses on the Arab and Muslim American experience. Ayah Shiadah is the Program Manager for the Arab American Civic Council. Born to a Palestinian father and Mexican mother, Shiadah has lived experiences between the US and Palestine. Shiadah has produced photography and digital art that has appeared in a number of publications
    Grief Circles for times of crisis HUB 269 In this session, we will learn experientially rituals and practices to support students during collective crisis whether political or environmental. The tools can also be used in one's own community and for personal grief too. Jessica Semaan Jess Semaan is a queer poet, psychotherapist and group facilitator, of Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese descent. She explores subjects of trauma, belonging and attachment through her writing and with her clients. Her first poetry book Child of the Moon was published by Andrews McMeel and sold over 15,000 copies Her second book. Her second book "Your Therapist is Depressed Too" came out in December 2023. Semaan immigrated to the United States from Beirut, to pursue an MBA at Stanford and went on to earn an MA in counseling Psychology from CIIS. She runs groups at different colleges as well as her own groups. Prior to following the healing path, she founded The Passion Co. an organization that helps people find and pursue their passions. Semaan resides on Ohlone land (Oakland), with her partner Berk, and their two cats.
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Breakout Block III
    Various sessions to choose from.
    Title Room Description Name Bio
    Genealogies of Surveillance HUB 268

    This session will explore the history of surveillance in the United States from the inception of COINTELPRO in the early 1920's to the current manifestations of surveillance in the form of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. We'll explore the roots of surveillance in the U.S. as a tool of political disruption and neutralization, examining the surveillance of revolutionary nationalist movements in the 1960's as a case study that informs the current moment's targeting of SWANA and Muslim peoples, emphasizing the continuity in the goals of surveillance programs and opportunities for and examples of cross-community organizing arising from grassroots responses to these programs.

    		 Yahya Hafez Yahya Hafez is a Egyptian and Syrian organizer based in Southern California in the Inland Empire. They've organized for Palestinian liberation and with queer, Arab, Muslim, and SWANA communities in California, Michigan, and Dallas for over ten years. They currently work as a software engineer in the field of digital accessibility.
    What does Post-Grad Life look like?: Collectively Navigating Corporate America, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Finance for Generational Liberation HUB 260 What is it like in Corporate America? Should I start a side-hustle? What in the world is a 401k? After college, life comes at you fast. And like many of us who may be first or second generation college students, our parents really only prepared us through college. Come learn about what to expect in Corporate America but also what we should expect of ourselves in a changing corporate landscape. Come learn about the nuances of personal finances from 401k to Salary negotiations. And lastly, learn about the growing popularity of 'side hustles' and how they can eventually become your full time job. The intended audience for this session are Juniors and Seniors, preferably those interested in Corporate/ Tech jobs, Entrepreneurship, and generally personal finance. Sheiref Elabbady Sherief Elabbady is a Tech Product Manager by day and the Founder of The Arab Card Game by night. Sherief started The Arab Card Game over a year after not only seeing a gap in card games that catered to Arab-American culture but also a lack of Arab-American businesses. He is passionate about Entrepreneurship, Technology, Personal Finance and College Life. Sherief holds a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He also spent three years as an employee of the University as well. While the focus of Sherief's MBA was in Strategy & Entrepreneurship, he also spent time in the UAE and Oman studying Economic Diversification efforts in the region. Sherief was born in Minnesota to parents who immigrated from Egypt. Sherief remains in Minnesota with his wife, Taqwa, and three kids; Maryam, Yousef, and Jannah.
    Cultural Representation Beyond Undergrad HUB 265 Intended audience/key takeaway: Effective self-representation in environments where people don't really look like you. More so on enhancing cultural impact, whether its building from the ground up or contributing to existing ones. Allows for others to be the future trailblazer. How it relates to collective liberation: individuals working in a setting where they are underrepresented may share the struggle of feeling isolated or misunderstood, builds solidarity among team members or peers, everyone benefits when individuals from different backgrounds come together and in the workshop we discuss a more inclusive and supportive work or academic environment. Mary Chammas Mary Chammas’s journey as a first-generation Lebanese-American has shaped her commitment to diversity. She spearheaded the creation of the SWANA/MENA ethnicity category within the California State University (CSU) system, the SWANA/MENA Studies Minor at CSU Fullerton, and the SWANA Resource Center. Mary founded the Lebanese Student Association and the SWANA organization, which received widespread support from residents in Orange County and resulted in donations that surpassed $100,000. Within her final semester, TedX invited me to take the stage and speak on my powerful narrative of resilience and the relentless pursuit of amplifying SWANA voices. The stage was not just hers but rather a platform to inspire, motivate, and showcase the Arab American experience. Currently, Mary is a first-year law student at Southwestern Law School and continues to champion her Arab American heritage as the elected representative for the Persian Middle Eastern Law Students Association. Her appreciation for diversity has inspired her to help underrepresented populations achieve equal opportunities and professional success.
    Steps to Collective Action: Palestinian Advocacy on Campus HUB 269 Since the 9/11 attacks and before, the advocacy of SWANA voices regarding Palestinian and minority liberation has consistently been stifled under a layer of fear for their livelihood and safety. However, as the political and social narratives towards Palestine shifts, there is an unprecedented potential for collective advocacy and liberation on campuses. A new generation of understanding the Palestinian plight opens the door for collaboration and an opportunity for cross-cultural understanding. This workshop is intended for undergraduate SWANA students involved in advocacy or hesitant as to where to begin. With discussion revolving around three key steps, it is intended to built a deeper understanding of collective action, understanding, and unity in the pursuit of collective liberation from all oppressions. Mohamad Almouazzen Mohamad Almouazzen is a 24-year old Lebanese-American Shia-Muslim passionate about the social and political involvement on Muslims in America. His advocacy journey began in community college with his involvement in collegiate speech and debate, speaking on issues relating to the Muslim and SWANA community up to the National level. After transfering to UCR in 2020, he discovered a pathway and passion for Palestinian advocacy through the Students for Justice in Palestine, and was heavily involved within the MESC community as well as student government. Graduating from UCR in 2022 with a degree in Political Science and History, he is currently working as an asisstant coach for the Mt. San Antonio College Forensics Team, a research fellow for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, as well as a conference organizer for the Shia Professional Association for Creativity and Education and the Sirat Initiative, respectively. He is currently studying for the LSAT in preparation for Law studies beginning Fall 2025.
    Building Campaigns for SWANA Student Power HUB 367 This session will be a hands-on workshop on fighting for greater power for SWANA students on your campus and the fight for SWANA student power at the State of California, from divestment to greater access to material resources for our communities. Come learn the student-led history of the SWANA movement and build the future, together. Sophia Armen Sophia Armen is a SWANA community organizer and writer from Los Angeles, California. She is the Co-Director of The Feminist Front and Co-Chair of Armenian-American Action Network. She holds a PhD from UCSD in Ethnic Studies where she wrote “A Peoples' History of Middle Eastern-Americans and Race” from the perspective of refugees and organizers. Armen was the first SWANA woman elected student body president in the history of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has built in the SWANA, Palestine, and survivor justice movements over the past decade, and has served on dozens of statewide and national commissions and projects for social justice. She and her work have appeared in Vice News, Ms. Magazine, The Middle East Eye, the Los Angeles Review of Books, NPR, The Feminist Realities Magazine, The Hye-Phen Magazine, among others, and in a cover story for The Los Angeles Times. Armen is committed to building racial and gender justice for our communities rooted in the lessons of her ancestors. She is a descendant of genocide survivors from Kharpert, Hadjin, Istanbul and Van.
    Grief Circles for times of crisis HUB 379 In this session, we will learn experientially rituals and practices to support students during collective crisis whether political or environmental. The tools can also be used in one's own community and for personal grief too. Jessica Semaan Jess Semaan is a queer poet, psychotherapist and group facilitator, of Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese descent. She explores subjects of trauma, belonging and attachment through her writing and with her clients. Her first poetry book Child of the Moon was published by Andrews McMeel and sold over 15,000 copies Her second book. Her second book "Your Therapist is Depressed Too" came out in December 2023. Semaan immigrated to the United States from Beirut, to pursue an MBA at Stanford and went on to earn an MA in counseling Psychology from CIIS. She runs groups at different colleges as well as her own groups. Prior to following the healing path, she founded The Passion Co. an organization that helps people find and pursue their passions. Semaan resides on Ohlone land (Oakland), with her partner Berk, and their two cats.
  • 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Break
    Time to pray/meditate, rest, etc.
  • 5:30 p.m. - 6:25 p.m. | Activity
    Network with students from various colleges/universities.
  • 6:35 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. | Dinner & Banquet
    Closing session including dinner (halal and vegetarian options) and banquet performers to end our conference.