Today's conversation is with Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, scientist, author, professor, activist, and co-founder of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability. In this episode, we talk about recent events happening in Palestine, the impact of the Palestinian cause in regards to the rest of the world, and how we desperately need to care for the land that we all share on this Earth. 

Organizations: Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability - www.palestinenature.org ; Mazin Qumsiyeh's Website - http://qumsiyeh.org

Mazin's Bio: Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He previously served on the faculties of the University of Tennessee, Duke, and Yale Universities. He and his wife returned to Palestine in 2008 starting a number of institutions and projects such as a clinical genetics laboratory that serves cancer and other patients. They founded and run the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University. Qumsiyeh published over 140 scientific papers on topics ranging from cultural heritage to biodiversity to cancer. His many published books include “Bats of Egypt”, "Mammals of the Holy Land", "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle" and "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment".

To keep up with all we are doing go to: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/

It takes a lot to produce the podcast, so all support and donations are much appreciated! All donors will be featured on future episodes.

Donate at: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/donate

Contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG/Twitter/Facebook: @ronniemalley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with Campus Organizer extraordinaire Rifqa. She was a part of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) DePaul, still a part of SJP Chicago, and founder of Bar None. In this episode, we talk about the importance of on-campus organizing, what it's like to study your own oppression, and how organizing work gives hope for a liberated tomorrow. 

Rifqa's Info: 

Pronouns: She/Hers

Organization: SJP Chicago, Bar None - Bar None social media handles: Twitter, Instagram: @barnonelaw Facebook: Bar None

Social Media Handle: Twitter: @Riffs33

Occupation: Law student

Bio: Originally from the beautiful villages of Saffa and Lifta, Rifqa Ahmad was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, near Bridgeview or "Little Palestine." Rifqa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in History and International Politics. She is currently a law student and campus organizer with Students for Justice in Palestine -- Chicago. Recently, Rifqa founded and established Bar None, a student organization that seeks to educate and activate law students to become socially-conscious lawyers and raise awareness of civil and human rights issues on the local, national, and global level. When Rifqa isn't organizing or studying, she loves spending time with family and friends, hiking, and playing piano.

Additional Information: I would love to include this quote: "Beyond the tears of sadness is a rising dream of Freedom, Dignity, and Honor" from Sammer Ghouleh, you can find her work on instagram @sammerghouleh.

To keep up with all we are doing go to: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/

It takes a lot to produce the podcast, so all support and donations are much appreciated! All donors will be featured on future episodes.

Donate at: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/donate

Contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG/Twitter/Facebook: @ronniemalley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with Ronnie Malley, famous oud musician, writer, producer, actor, educator, composer, and creator of Connecting The Fragments theme music - he does it all!! We talk about humanizing Palestinians, not othering those who other us, and breaking down barriers with the talents we were given. This episode is part 2 of a 2 part segment. 

Ronnie's Bio: Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician, theatrical performer, writer, producer, and educator. He is the Executive Director of Intercultural Music Production. He has collaborated with artists internationally, composed and consulted for many cultural music projects in film and theater,  appeared as a guest artist on several works, and is executive director of Intercultural Music Production in Chicago. Ronnie has a degree in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and is a teaching artist with Chicago Public Schools, Global Voices Initiative, and Chicago Arts Partnership in Education, a faculty member at Old Town School of Folk Music, and a guest lecturer at universities. He is an international artist and has performed with the music groups Allos Musica, Apollo’s Fire, Diwan Al-Han, EMME (East Meets Middle East), Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, Newberry Consort, Surabhi Ensemble, and the U of C Middle East Music Ensemble.

To keep up with all we are doing go to: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/

It takes a lot to produce the podcast, so all support and donations are much appreciated! All donors will be featured on future episodes. 

Donate at: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/donate  

Contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG/Twitter/Facebook: @ronniemalley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with Ronnie Malley, famous oud musician, writer, producer, actor, educator, composer, and creator of Connecting The Fragments theme music - he does it all!! We talk about humanizing Palestinians, not othering those who other us, and breaking down barriers with the talents we were given. This episode is part of a 2 part series. You can catch the 2nd episode airing soon.

Ronnie's info:

Organizations:  Executive director of Intercultural Music Production, works with InnerCity Muslim Action - IMAN (Roster Artist), International Voices Project Theatre Company (Artistic Associate), Chicago Arts Partnership in Education (Artist Researcher), and Global Voices Initiative (Teaching Artist).

Bio: Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician, theatrical performer, writer, producer, and educator.  He has collaborated with artists internationally, composed and consulted for many cultural music projects in film and theater,  appeared as a guest artist on several works, and is executive director of Intercultural Music Production in Chicago. Ronnie has a degree in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and is a teaching artist with Chicago Public Schools, Global Voices Initiative, and Chicago Arts Partnership in Education, a faculty member at Old Town School of Folk Music, and a guest lecturer at universities. He is an international artist and has performed with the music groups Allos Musica, Apollo’s Fire, Diwan Al-Han, EMME (East Meets Middle East), Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, Newberry Consort, Surabhi Ensemble, and the U of C Middle East Music Ensemble.

To keep up with all that we're doing go to: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/

It takes a lot to produce the podcast, so all support and donations are much appreciated! All donors will be featured on future episodes.

Donate at: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/donate

Contact the podcast at [email protected]

Contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG/Twitter/Facebook: @ronniemalley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

To keep up with all that we're doing go to: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/

It takes a lot to produce the podcast, so all support and donations are much appreciated! All donors will be featured on future episodes. 

Donate at: https://www.connectingthefragments.com/donate

Contact the podcast at [email protected]    

Contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG/Twitter/Facebook: @ronniemalley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com 

This conversation is a brief wrap-up to Season 1 of Connecting the Fragments. It includes a few thoughts and info on the future of the podcast. Look out for Season 2 spring 2021!! 

Contact the podcast at [email protected]  or  contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG: ronniemalley - Twitter: @ronniemalley - Facebook: @ronniemalley SoundCloud: ronnie-malley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with my very own father, Nizar, an exiled Palestinian who survived Al-Naksa (what is known as the Six-Day War) as a young child. In this conversation I discover new details of my own family history as my Dad shares some stories only ever heard before in my family. We talk about the power of memory, how it connects us to our roots, but is also a tool of liberation and building for the future. We will situate this conversation in the grander themes of the show with existence, resistance, and overall fragmentation

Contact the podcast at [email protected]  or  contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG: ronniemalley - Twitter: @ronniemalley - Facebook: @ronniemalley SoundCloud: ronnie-malley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with  the lovely Hala, who lives in the West Bank and is passionate about the liberation of Palestine and justice for Palestinians. Today we are talking about everyday Palestinian life, and what it means/is like for Palestinians living in Palestine under the occupation. We will situate this conversation in the grander themes of the show with existence, resistance, and overall fragmentation. 

Contact the podcast at [email protected]  or  contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG: ronniemalley - Twitter: @ronniemalley - Facebook: @ronniemalley SoundCloud: ronnie-malley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with the profound Souzan, who is a scholar and leader within the Palestinian and Arab community in Chicago, and specializes in mental health. Today we are talking about reclamation and trauma. We will situate this conversation in the grander themes of the show with existence, resistance, and overall fragmentation. 

Here's some additional information on our guest:

Name: Souzan Naser ** Organization: Board President: Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Member: US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) , Co-founder: Mamas Activitating Movements for Abolition and Solidarity (MAMAS) ** Websites: aaan.org; uspcn.org; and https://www.motheringisradical.com ** Bio: Souzan Naser is an Associate Professor and Counselor at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois where she has won awards for her work on increasing diversity on campus - from serving as a member of the Celebrating Diversity Task Force to leading events for Arab Heritage Month, participating in events for Black History Month, facilitating sexual assault prevention workshops, and organizing Women’s History Month on her campus. Souzan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Stewardship, Leadership & Learning from the University of St. Francis. Her doctoral dissertation addresses the paucity of Arab American cultural competency training available for counseling professionals. Souzan was born in Palestine and raised on the southwest side of Chicago, in the heart of one of the largest concentrated Arab American communities in the U.S. She is a second-generation community activist and dedicates her time to the board of the Arab American Action Network where she has played a key role co-directing the strategy and vision of the organization and supporting the mental health needs of Arab and Muslim youth.

Contact the podcast at [email protected]  or  contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG: ronniemalley - Twitter: @ronniemalley - Facebook: @ronniemalley SoundCloud: ronnie-malley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com

Today's conversation is with the brilliant Hatem Abudayyeh, who is a leader and a pillar in the Chicago organizing community. Today we are talking about the differences between activism and organizing, Palestinian resistance and the work towards liberation. We will situate this conversation in the grander themes of the show with existence, resistance, and overall fragmentation.

Here's some additional information on our guest:

Name: Hatem Abudayyeh ** Organization: U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) uspcn.org & Arab American Action Network (AAAN) aaan.org ** Social Media Handles: @uspcn & @aaanmarkaz ** Bio: The son of Palestinian immigrants who themselves were leaders in Chicago’s Arab community, Hatem Abudayyeh is the Executive Director of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), a community-based nonprofit that provides organizing and advocacy, social services, education, and youth development programming for Arabs and other communities in Chicagoland. Abudayyeh is also the National Chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), founding Advisory Board member of the National Network for Arab American Communities, and current Advisory Board member of the U.S. Coalition for Palestinian Rights.

Contact the podcast at [email protected]  or  contact/follow/like/share on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-The-Fragments-103510674881397

Podcast Original Music by Ronnie Malley - Website: www.ronniemalley.com - IG: ronniemalley - Twitter: @ronniemalley - Facebook: @ronniemalley SoundCloud: ronnie-malley

Podcast Cover Art by Juan Gomez  -  www.rudosdesignstudio.com