Presented By: Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO)
One Thousand & One Journeys: The Arab-Americans
Advocacy & Activism Film Series
Join the Center for Campus Involvement (CCI) and Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) Social Connectivity & Community Engagement for a free virtual screening of "ONE THOUSAND & ONE JOURNEYS: THE ARAB AMERICANS" and dialogue on Activism, Advocacy and Allyship. A zoom watch party and discussion takes place on 4/20/21 at 5:30 p.m. with the film's executive producer and director, Abe Kasbo sharing his story at 6:30 p.m. A zoom link for the discussion after registration in a separate email. Access only available for U-M students, staff, and faculty.
ABOUT THE FILM:
“Arab-Americans have proudly ventured beyond their ethnicity, language and religion to make noteworthy contributions to both the immigrant experience and ultimately the American experience. They served this nation with significant contributions throughout the spectrum of society – as politicians and public servants, entertainers, physicians, business leaders, and educators. It is this extraordinary and uniquely American story of people and places that must be told.” Abe Kasbo, filmmaker.
A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans is the untold story of almost 200 years of the contributions of those who immigrated to the United States from the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf have made to the American fabric.
The film vividly paints a portrait of the Arab-American immigrant experience through the stories of people who, like all Americans, immigrated in pursuit of the American Dream, including Senator George Mitchell, Jamie Farr, General John Abizaid, Anthony Shadid, Helen Thomas and more. With historical immigration patterns as background, the film explores the personal stories of Arab-Americans and how they have contributed to the collective American experience. At a time when the media tends to paint Arab peoples and culture with the broad brush of terrorism, it is increasingly important to present a positive image of the many people of Middle Eastern, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula who have made America their home, and highlight their American journey as an important part of the larger American Experience.
As the Arab-American community increasingly finds itself in the media and public spotlight, now is the time to present a positive image of Arab-Americans and the diversity of their contributions, experiences, backgrounds and faith.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Executive Producer, Director, Writer: Mr. Kasbo is the producer and director of the upcoming film, A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans. At the age of 9, Abe was shot in the knee during an uprising in Aleppo, Syria one year before immigrating to the United States with his family. The Kasbo family eventually settled in Paterson, New Jersey after landing at JFK Airport on September 3, 1980.
Growing up in Aleppo, Abe watched American television programs and was fascinated by the spirit, ideas and ideals he found in programs like The Virginian and Little House on the Prairie. Incidentally, Little House, was picked up from Turkish Television and translated from Turkish to Arabic by his grandmother. Abe was fascinated by comic books like Batman and Superman, who stood for “Truth, Justice, and The American Way.” Perhaps no day went by in Abe’s first 10 years in Aleppo where he did not either learn or hear about America.
A marketing and public relations communications expert, he is CEO of Verasoni Worldwide, an integrated marketing and public relations firm in Montclair, NJ. He is a sought after speaker nationally and internationally. Kasbo was named to NJBiz’s 40 Under Forty, appeared on the cover of Arab-American Business, and has been featured in the media as a commentator on crisis communications, branding, public relations and marketing communications matters. Kasbo is fluent in English and Arabic and is also proficient in French. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / International Relations from Seton Hall University.
In 2007, he founded Zeitoune FilmWorks, LLC to produce A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans, the first ever feature-length, broadcast quality documentary chronicling the rich yet silent history and contributions of Arab Americans to the American fabric.
ABOUT THE FILM SERIES:
“Activism is inherently a creative endeavor. It takes a radical imagination to be an activist, to envision a world that is not there. It takes imagination and that’s not far from art.” - Ava DuVernay
MESA’s social connectivity and CCI hope to generate thought provoking discussion, engagement around advocacy, activism and allyship this semester by presenting a series of films huddled around these topics, areas that we believe require critical and intentional reflection year round. Each film presentation will conclude with a discussion from students, professionals, and artists familiar with the themes presented throughout the series and in the film. Each film and discussion will be available virtually and will take place the third Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available through MUTO for each film. (2/16 - Just Mercy, 3/16 - Hidden Figures, 4/20 - One Thousand Journeys: The Arab-Americans).
ABOUT THE FILM:
“Arab-Americans have proudly ventured beyond their ethnicity, language and religion to make noteworthy contributions to both the immigrant experience and ultimately the American experience. They served this nation with significant contributions throughout the spectrum of society – as politicians and public servants, entertainers, physicians, business leaders, and educators. It is this extraordinary and uniquely American story of people and places that must be told.” Abe Kasbo, filmmaker.
A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans is the untold story of almost 200 years of the contributions of those who immigrated to the United States from the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf have made to the American fabric.
The film vividly paints a portrait of the Arab-American immigrant experience through the stories of people who, like all Americans, immigrated in pursuit of the American Dream, including Senator George Mitchell, Jamie Farr, General John Abizaid, Anthony Shadid, Helen Thomas and more. With historical immigration patterns as background, the film explores the personal stories of Arab-Americans and how they have contributed to the collective American experience. At a time when the media tends to paint Arab peoples and culture with the broad brush of terrorism, it is increasingly important to present a positive image of the many people of Middle Eastern, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula who have made America their home, and highlight their American journey as an important part of the larger American Experience.
As the Arab-American community increasingly finds itself in the media and public spotlight, now is the time to present a positive image of Arab-Americans and the diversity of their contributions, experiences, backgrounds and faith.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Executive Producer, Director, Writer: Mr. Kasbo is the producer and director of the upcoming film, A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans. At the age of 9, Abe was shot in the knee during an uprising in Aleppo, Syria one year before immigrating to the United States with his family. The Kasbo family eventually settled in Paterson, New Jersey after landing at JFK Airport on September 3, 1980.
Growing up in Aleppo, Abe watched American television programs and was fascinated by the spirit, ideas and ideals he found in programs like The Virginian and Little House on the Prairie. Incidentally, Little House, was picked up from Turkish Television and translated from Turkish to Arabic by his grandmother. Abe was fascinated by comic books like Batman and Superman, who stood for “Truth, Justice, and The American Way.” Perhaps no day went by in Abe’s first 10 years in Aleppo where he did not either learn or hear about America.
A marketing and public relations communications expert, he is CEO of Verasoni Worldwide, an integrated marketing and public relations firm in Montclair, NJ. He is a sought after speaker nationally and internationally. Kasbo was named to NJBiz’s 40 Under Forty, appeared on the cover of Arab-American Business, and has been featured in the media as a commentator on crisis communications, branding, public relations and marketing communications matters. Kasbo is fluent in English and Arabic and is also proficient in French. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / International Relations from Seton Hall University.
In 2007, he founded Zeitoune FilmWorks, LLC to produce A Thousand And One Journeys: The Arab Americans, the first ever feature-length, broadcast quality documentary chronicling the rich yet silent history and contributions of Arab Americans to the American fabric.
ABOUT THE FILM SERIES:
“Activism is inherently a creative endeavor. It takes a radical imagination to be an activist, to envision a world that is not there. It takes imagination and that’s not far from art.” - Ava DuVernay
MESA’s social connectivity and CCI hope to generate thought provoking discussion, engagement around advocacy, activism and allyship this semester by presenting a series of films huddled around these topics, areas that we believe require critical and intentional reflection year round. Each film presentation will conclude with a discussion from students, professionals, and artists familiar with the themes presented throughout the series and in the film. Each film and discussion will be available virtually and will take place the third Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available through MUTO for each film. (2/16 - Just Mercy, 3/16 - Hidden Figures, 4/20 - One Thousand Journeys: The Arab-Americans).
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