DECEMBER 2019

VOL. 16 ISSUE XI
METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY DECEMBER 2019
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GIFT GUIDE
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIFTING
INSIDE
INNOVATIVE FUTURE OF DESIGN
TAKING POWERHOUSE WORLDWIDE
GUIDING OUR YOUTH WITH LOVE

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4 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 5

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2019
THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 16 ISSUE XI
12 32
departments
8 FROM THE EDITOR
BY PAUL JONNA
The gift of love
24
on the cover
24 ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIFTING
BY BIANCA KASAWDISH
features
26 REFUGEES: RIGHTS,
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND
HISTORY LESSONS
BY ADHID MIRI, PHD
30 KUZA BRINGS INNOVATION
TO THE FUTURE OF DESIGN
BY STEPHEN JONES
32 LYNETTE TOMA’S JOURNEY
COMES FULL CIRCLE
BY PAUL NATINSKY
10 FOUNDATION UPDATE
11 GUEST COLUMNS
BY OMAR BINNO
Networking and narcissism
12 NOTEWORTHY
13 CHALDEAN DIGEST
14 WHERE ARE THEY NOW
BY PAUL NATINSKY
Gym owners take ‘Powerhouse’ worldwide
16 FAMILY TIME
BY DANIELLE ALEXANDER
2019 holiday gift guide for toddlers through teens
18 CHAI TIME
20 RELIGION
BY FR. JOHN JADDOU
We must guide with love
22 IN MEMORIAM
28 KEEPING UP WITH THE CHALDEANS
34 SPORTS
BY STEVE STEIN
Fitness and football
36 CHALDEAN ON THE STREET
BY HALIM SHEENA
Holiday memories
38 ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE
BY SARAH KITTLE
Room for more
42 EVENTS
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 7

from the EDITOR
PUBLISHED BY
Chaldean News, LLC
Chaldean Community Foundation
Martin Manna
EDITORIAL
ACTING EDITOR IN CHIEF
Paul Jonna
MANAGING EDITOR
Ashourina Slewo
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Danielle Alexander
Omar Binno
Fr. John Jaddou
Stephen Jones
Bianca Kasawdish
Sarah Kittle
Adhid Miri
Paul Natinsky
Halim Sheena
Ashourina Slewo
Steve Stein
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Anthony Toma
Junior Binno
Omar Binno
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Nora Hanna
Sharon Hannawa
Sarah Kittle
Sana Navarrette
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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Chaldean News
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Farmington Hills, MI 48334
www.chaldeannews.com
Phone: (248) 851-8600
Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published
monthly; Issue Date: December 2019 Subscriptions: 12
months, $35. Publication Address: 30095 Northwestern
Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; Permit to
mail at periodicals postage rates is on file at Farmington
Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address changes to
“The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite
101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334”
The gift of love
PAUL JONNA
ACTING EDITOR
IN CHIEF
As a community rooted
in faith and family,
we are surrounded
by an immeasurable amount
of love. In a special column
for our religion section, Fr.
John Jaddou discusses love,
especially as it relates to our
youth.
Fr. John writes that our
youth may not always make
the best decisions, but we
must continue to build
them up by providing them with the
necessary support to succeed. Love
can be shown in many different ways,
especially around the holidays.
It is during this season that time
seems to pick up speed; it seems like
we’re finishing off a turkey leg while
racing to the mall for an unbelievable
deal that will never be available
again. While the holiday season is
busy with gatherings and gifts, it provides
ample reminders of the
many blessings in our lives
and that others are also in
need. While the Nintendo
Switch may be more expensive
(or less) a week later,
time with friends and family
can never be regained.
The holidays are also a
hard reminder that time is
not guaranteed, as many of
us celebrate with loved ones
that are in Heaven. It is the
family we surround ourselves with
that is the true blessing of the holidays.
Yes, buy the gifts but remember
that such gifts are only meaningful
because of the love that comes with it.
Finding the perfect gift can sometimes
be a struggle. Hopefully, contributing
writer Danielle Alexander’s
gift guide will help. Focusing less on
the material aspect of gifts, Alexander
compiled a gift guide of items
that will keep the kids occupied and
learning as each gift serves an educational
purpose.
Writer Bianca Kasawdish also
caught up with a few Chaldean
owned businesses including: BeneFIT
Box, Gentleman’s Box, Christina’s
Consignments, Kracked
Kreations, and Chloe’s Treasures, to
put together a gift guide.
From fashion and fitness to food
and faith, these businesses offer products
that can be customized to create
the perfect gift for each person on
your list. While these gifts are certainly
something to look forward to,
they are not the only thing for us to
look forward to during the holiday
season.
Paul Jonna
Acting Editor in Chief
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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN 11/19/19 NEWS 3:02 PM9

FOUNDATION update
CCF’s Second Annual Gala Raises Nearly $180,000
Nearly 800 individuals attended the Chaldean Community Foundation’s Second Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, November
14, to honor Wireless Vision and Bishop Najeeb Michaeel, Archbishop of Mosul, for their continued dedication to
our community. At the Gala, Alline Salon Group presented a generous contribution of $50,000 to the CCF Capital Campaign
and twelve recipients were awarded with a total of $32,000 in scholarships through the generosity of w3R Consulting,
the Nona Family, and Drs. Nathima and the late Peter Atchoo. Save the date for the 3rd Annual Gala on October 29, 2020.
Chaldean Community Foundation Celebrates 4 years!
The CCF is celebrated 4 years at 3601 15 Mile Road in November! The small team started out in a 1,200 sq. ft building
in 2011. Expecting to serve 400 people, 4,000 walked through the doors that year. Today, the CCF operates in an
11,500 sq. ft building, with 42 team members, assisting more than 32,000 individuals annually.
In spring 2020, the CCF will open its expanded center consisting of an additional 19,000 sq. ft., which will provide
a state-of-the-art facility including a primary care clinic, mental health unit, a multifunctional gymnasium and
life skills area to provide new senior and youth programs.
Amid an $8 million-dollar capital campaign, more than $5.3 million has been raised through community and corporate
contributions to support the expansion and housing efforts.
Congratulations to the CCF’s 2019 Academic Scholarship Recipients
w3r Consulting STEM Scholarship
Recipients: $5,000 each
Ansam Ghareeb
Dani Brikho
Yvonne Nona Memorial Scholarship
Fund Recipients: $2,500 each
Amanda Badri
Wella Yatooma
Danela Benyamen
Megan Adam
Drs. Nathima and Peter Atchoo
Family Foundation Scholarship
Fund Recipients: $2,000 each
Angelina Adam
Kate Zablock
Helena Hanaee
Rosemary Hermiz
Anna Najor
Tammam Sagman
Learn more about our mission and how to contribute at chaldeanfoundation.org
or follow us on Facebook @chaldeanfoundation and Instagram @
chaldeancommunityfoundation.
The Michael J.
George Chaldean
Loan Fund
The Chaldean Loan Fund was renamed
after one of its founders, Mr.
Michael J. George. Modeled after the
Hebrew free loan, the MJG Chaldean
Loan Fund provides low-interest auto
loans in amounts up to $10,000 to
refugees and other low-income Chaldeans.
The MJG Chaldean Loan
Fund, administered by the Chaldean
Community Foundation, closed the
year with more than $430,000 in outstanding
auto loans in fiscal year 2019.
CCF Hosts Southeast
Michigan Council of
Police Chiefs
On November 7 the CCF hosted the
Southeast Michigan Council of Police
Chiefs. Nearly 70 Police Chiefs
from departments across Southeast
Michigan were in attendance.
Town Hall with
Minister Safeen
Dizayee, Head of the
KRG Department of
Foreign Relations
In honor of his first official visit to
the United States, the CCF and the
Chaldean American Chamber of
Commerce hosted Minster Safeen
Dizayee, Head of the KRG Department
of Foreign Relations on November
16 for a town hall open to
the public, at the Foundation.
The town hall meeting covered
issues that concern the Chaldean
Assyrian Syriac community in Kurdistan-Iraq,
the challenges that the
indigenous people continue to face
in Iraq and the plight of the Yazidi
and Christian communities in the
Nineveh plain region. The meeting
was followed by an open discussion.
10 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

GUEST column
Networking and narcissism
The double-edged sword of social media
I
remember reading a
meme a few years ago
that said something like:
“when someone makes you
mad, just delete them off
your Facebook page. That’ll
really show ‘em what’s up!”
Little did the creator of
that meme know just how
impactful that statement
would be!
With more than 2 billion
users worldwide, Facebook
is the largest social media platform
in existence. Sites like Instagram,
Snapchat, LinkedIn, and Twitter
have also made their presence known
in the world of social media, offering
their users an avenue to post photos
and videos of themselves and their
daily activities. An undisputable fact
is that social media has dominated
the internet and is the number one
source for news, events, networking,
and various forms of socializing.
LinkedIn offers entrepreneurs
the opportunity to network and find
ways to increase and market their
businesses. Facebook and Instagram
have proven effective in networking,
reuniting with old friends, sharing
the most current news, and even
catching criminals. Snapchat makes
it easy to shoot short videos of yourself
and share them with your select
audience. According to CNN and
Arts and Entertainment Television
(A&E), law enforcement officers
have embraced Facebook and other
sites like YouTube when seeking to
OMAR BINNO
SPECIAL TO THE
CHALDEAN NEWS
apprehend criminals.
Stephanie Nofar, founder
and owner at ‘Hope In
Counseling,’ in Sterling
Heights, pointed out other
positive attributes of social
media.
“One obvious benefit is
to help families and friends
connect with each other
easily,” Nofar said. “Social
media also provides a sense
of belonging. There are
groups for pretty much anyone and
anything that many can join which
gives people the feeling that they are
being accepted and that they ‘fit in’
somewhere. Also, when people respond
or ‘like’ posts, pictures, etc., it
can give people a sense of being accepted”
The flip side to all this that many
people don’t realize, however, is just
how addicting social media can be.
What’s even more troubling is the
subtle way in which it has become
so prevalent in people’s daily interaction
with the real world. The number
of ‘likes’ that one might get on
their Facebook posts certainly can
make them feel accepted. However,
they can also become detrimental to
a person’s social interaction if that
person comes to depend on them to
feel loved or accepted.
In fact, Facebook’s ex-president –
Sean Parker, has admitted in articles
published by ‘The Guardian’ and
‘The Washington Post,’ that Facebook
was created with the objective
JOIN OUR
GROWING TEAM.
of consuming as much time and attention
of the user as possible.
“It’s a social-validation feedback
loop … exactly the kind of thing
that a hacker like myself would come
up with, because you’re exploiting a
vulnerability in human psychology,”
Parker said.
Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook
have created filters which enhance
users’ photos and can alter a
person’s appearance to make them
more ‘desirable.’ As these tools become
more readily available, and
with people’s insecurities being exploited,
narcissism rears its self-centered
head.
“Have you seen a selfie that didn’t
feed into just that,” Nofar said. “Social
media provides a platform, but usually
narcissism is deeply imbedded in people.
Social media is a ‘drug’ to some as
it allows others to ‘like’ or comment on
their photos, which enables a narcissist
to now feel entitled to their excessive
interest and/or admiration of themselves;
because if others admire them
just as much, that means they ‘deserve’
to think and feel this way.”
People exhibit pretentious lives
and often mislead others into thinking
that their life is peachy and rosy;
when, in fact, they’re hiding or looking
to escape from a multitude of issues
and personal demons. This sort
of thing reminds me in some ways of
the Revolution and the Flower Children
of the 1960s. People from that
era sought to get away from reality
through the use of psychedelic drugs
and music, or by reading utopic literature
such as fantasy novels. That
form of ‘escape,’ though, didn’t seem
to breed the narcissism that selfies,
videos, and ‘likes’ do today.
Do we blame social media,
(which is merely a tool,) for today’s
seemingly social deprivation, or do
we blame the people who created it?
Even though social media is a tool,
some tools are specially designed for
certain tasks. We need only look at
what Parker said earlier.
“Social media is a platform for
people to share different types of content,”
Nofar said. “Keyword: people.
Hence, we are social media. Social
media doesn’t have to be a problem,
but often times, we follow the herds
and make it one. Like most things in
life, we have choices, decisions, and
repercussions; and social media is
immune to that. We can choose to
be positive, we can decide to use it
positively.
We can choose to not allow social
media to rule our lives; we can
choose to not start or respond to drama;
and we can choose to use social
media for all of the benefits we listed.
At the end of the day, social media is
not going anywhere. In fact, it’s going
to get bigger and more powerful,
so it’s on us to make social media a
positive thing.”
Omar Binno holds a Bachelor’s
degree with a double major in
Communications and English
literature, and a Master’s degree in
Liberal Studies – focusing on Public
Relations and Marketing from the
University of Detroit Mercy. He hosts
a biweekly talk show, ‘The Nadi,’
which airs via Facebook Live and
covers social, political, and religious
issues within the Chaldean community.
The Chaldean News is looking for motivated
candidates to fill part or full-time salaried sales
positions. Qualified candidates should email
a resume to info@chaldeannews.com.
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

noteworthy
Team White Triumphs in
Chaldean Fall Classic
In the 39th chapter of the Chaldean Fall Classic,
Team White Revenge Tour came to an epic conclusion
as Team White triumphed over Team Blue, by a
score of 28-14, to claim the coveted Chaldean Football
League’s Chy Cup. For Captain, Anthony Acho,
and the rest of the Team White squad, it was sweet
redemption after falling in last year’s championship
game by one point, on the last play of the game. Dominic
Kejbou took home MVP honors with an magical
performance, catching two touchdowns from Acho
on offense and securing an interception on defense.
Acho also threw touchdowns to Ricky “Rixx” Naimi
and Jordan “Showstopper” Rassam. The championship
game for Team White was a microcosm of their
season, a true TEAM effort, with everyone on the
roster contributing, and playing for each other.
Praying for Iraq
Bishop Francis held a special prayer service on Wednesday, November 6 for peace in Iraq. As protests
raged on, members of the community gathered at Mother of God Church to pray for peace.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JONATHAN FRANCIS
12 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

chaldean DIGEST
What others are saying about Chaldeans
Mike Pence defends federal aid funneling to Christian groups
The Washington Times
By Christopher Vondracek
Vice President Mike Pence is not backing
down from criticism that his office
improperly funneled federal aid to several
Christian groups, particularly those
in the religiously diverse Nineveh Plains
of Iraq, saying it’s part of the Trump administration’s
“vision” for helping victims
of Islamic State genocide.
“The vice president is proud of
the work the Trump administration
and members of his team have done
to assist victims of genocide in Iraq,”
a spokesperson for Mr. Pence said.
ProPublica reported Wednesday
that Mr. Pence and his aides over the
last two years have intervened in decisions
by the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) to
award aid funds to Christian groups
in the largely Muslim nation.
ProPublica reported that USAID
Administrator Mark Green removed
a longtime civil servant from the
Middle East bureau, acting on a request
from an aide to Mr. Pence, who
was angered that Christian groups
weren’t included in the grant cycle.
A Pence aide called this “one-sided
reporting,” adding in an email that “it
should come as no surprise that this administration
is committed to actually
doing what the president has promised
— to provide aid in the most direct
and effective way possible to those suffering
— and we have been appropriately
focused on doing so.”
Chaldean patriarch calls for fasting, prayer amid Iraq protests
Catholic News Agency
By Courtney Mares
Baghdad, Iraq, Nov 12, 2019 / 10:50
am (CNA). The Chaldean patriarch
has called for three days of fasting and
prayer “for an end to the chaos and
violence that are bloodying” Iraq.
For more than six weeks, hundreds
of thousands of Iraqis have
been protesting government corruption.
More than 300 have been killed
by security forces.
Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako,
the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon,
has asked that Chaldeans observe
Nov. 11-13 as days of fasting and
prayer.
The protests, which began Oct. 1,
are largely in response to government
corruption and a lack of economic
growth and proper public services.
Protesters are calling for electoral reform
and for early elections.
At least 319 people have been
killed in the protests. Government
forces have used tear gas and bullets
against protesters.
Nearly 15,000 people have been
injured in the protests, according to
the Independent High Commission
for Human Rights of Iraq.
Climate change fueled the rise and demise of the Neo-Assyrian
Empire, superpower of the ancient world
The Conversation
By Ashish Sinha and Gayatri Kathayat
Ancient Mesopotamia, the fabled
land between the Tigris and the
Euphrates rivers, was the command
and control center of the Neo-Assyrian
Empire. This ancient superpower
was the largest empire of its
time, lasting from 912 BC to 609 BC
in what is now modern Iraq and Syria.
At its height, the Assyrian state
stretched from the Mediterranean
and Egypt in the west to the Persian
Gulf and western Iran in the east.
Then, in an astonishing reversal
of fortune, the Neo-Assyrian Empire
plummeted from its zenith (circa 650
BC) to complete political collapse
within the span of just a few decades.
What happened?
Numerous theories attempt to
explain the Assyrian collapse. Most
researchers attribute it to imperial
overexpansion, civil wars, political
unrest and Assyrian military defeat
by a coalition of Babylonian and
Median forces in 612 BC. But exactly
how these two small armies were
able to annihilate what was then
the most powerful military force in
the world has mystified historians
and archaeologists for more than a
hundred years.
Our new research published in
the journal Science Advances sheds
light on these mysteries. We show
that climate change was the proverbial
double-edged sword that first
contributed to the meteoric rise of
the Neo-Assyrian Empire and then
to its precipitous collapse.
The murder of a
priest raises fears
for Syria’s Christians
Catholic Herald
By John Pontifex
Violence this month in Syria has
raised the spectre of renewed Islamist
persecution against Christians, especially
in the north-east of the country.
Armenian Catholic Fr Hovsep
Bedoyan and his father Abraham
were shot dead in an ambush in the
province of Deir Ezzor. A deacon,
Fati Sano, was also injured.
The group were travelling to the
province to view progress on the
restoration of the local Armenian
Catholic church.
Amid reports that ISIS had
claimed responsibility for the attacks,
Armenian Catholic Archbishop
Boutros Marayati of Aleppo
told the Catholic charity Aid to the
Church in Need: “Fr Hovsep was
dressed in his priestly attire … Consequently
[he was] recognisable as a
priest, in addition to the fact that
his car was clearly marked, in large
letters, with the words ‘Armenian
Catholic Church’.”
The incident coincided with an
explosion near the Chaldean Catholic
church and a market in nearby
Qamishli, Fr Bedoyan’s home city.
Local clergy reported that seven
people were killed and at least 70
others injured in an attack involving
three bombs in two cars and on
a motorbike.
Bishop Georges Abou Khazen,
the Latin Bishop of Aleppo, said
in a report published by the Assyrian
International News Agency:
“The devices have exploded near
the church and this, according to
us, has a very precise meaning: they
want to target Christians.”
In northeast Syria, last Assyrians fear Turkish advance
RUDAW
By AFP
TEL TAMR, Syria – Since fleeing
her hometown in northeastern Syria,
Suad Simon prays every day for the
safety of her husband, who stayed
behind with other fighters to defend
their majority-Assyrian village.
Assyrian Christians like Simon,
who escaped the town’s occupation
by the Islamic State group (ISIS) in
2015 and did not choose to emigrate,
now anxiously watch the advance of
Turkish forces towards their villages
in the south of Hasaka province.
Ankara is still trying to gain
ground despite two ceasefire agreements
reached last month to put an
end to its offensive against the Kurdish-dominated
region.
Simon, 56, fled her village of Tel
Kefji that is not far from areas still hit
by sporadic fighting and sought refuge
with a relative in Tel Tamr to the south.
“We women left because we were
afraid of the bombings,” said Simon, sitting
in the corner of an earthen house
where she had lit candles for her husband.
“We just want peace,” she said. “I left
behind so many memories... my husband,
my house, my family and neighbors.”
Her husband had joined the Khabur
Guards, a small Christian militia
that took up the defense of more
than thirty Assyrian villages in 2015
with the help of the Kurdish-led Syrian
Democratic Forces.
Ankara launched a cross-border
invasion of the Kurdish-controlled
region on October 9 to push back the
Kurdish People’s Protection Units
(YPG), the backbone of the SDF,
which it deems a “terrorist” group.
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 13

WHERE are they now?
Gym owners take ‘Powerhouse’ worldwide
BY PAUL NATINSKY
In the early 1970s, brothers Norm and Will
Dabish returned from a martial arts training trip
to Japan and opened a karate supply store in
Highland Park. Amateur fighters, the pair decided
to construct a gym in the back of the place to try to
sell memberships. They figured the plan would pay
off or they would have “the best private gym in the
world,” said Will Dabish.
Forty-five years later, Powerhouse gym is, well,
an international powerhouse with more than 300
locations in 39 states and 17 countries. Dabish said
his company is the first Chaldean-owned company
to go worldwide.
Success came slowly. After the gym opened in
’74, the Dabish brothers, who were living at home,
began to build a following for their gym as “the”
place to work out. They got a big boost from University
of Michigan football players who defied
legendary coach Bo Schembechler’s weightlifting
ban (he thought it made players slow) and trained
at Powerhouse. The players wore Powerhouse tee
shirts and the brand started to grow.
Still, it was not until 1984 that Will and the late
Norm expanded to open their second gym in Farmington
Hills. Things moved quickly from there. In
1986, the brothers created a franchise concept and
sold a license to a Lincoln Park operator. By 1989,
the company had grown to 18 locations, with gyms
in Boston and Florida.
The Dabish brothers do not have business degrees.
Will said their business acumen is “from
God.” Whatever the source, Dabish said he and
his brother decided they needed to open marquee
gyms at high-profile locations in major cities. A
24,000-square-foot club at Michigan Avenue and
Lake Street in Chicago became the first of these
“billboard gyms,” combining a quality workout facility
with a promotional message in an upscale,
high-traffic area. By 1995, the company had 175
locations. By 2000, the tally was up to 300.
In subsequent years, the total rose to about 350
and slowed by design. Will’s son, Henry is now CEO
and Will focuses on launching a new generation of
mega gyms that offer services ranging from physical
therapy, basketball and racquetball courts to massage
chairs and the company’s trademark FX Powerhouse
workouts, which incorporate non-traditional training
methods and equipment. “I plan to work forever,”
said Will, 61, who works out six times a week.
The Dabish brothers, despite lack of formal
training, are sophisticated marketers and promoters.
They spun their high-quality workout experience
into a merchandising and networking juggernaut.
Affixing “guest passes” to their apparel, they
distributed wearables at national and international
competitions before they had expanded their gyms
outside of Michigan. When bodybuilders from cities
across the country and abroad called the number
to find out where near them they could claim
a free workout, the Dabishes explained that there
was no gym near them and used the opportunity to
Clockwise from top right: Will Dabish on the cover of Iron Horizon; Norm, Krystal, and Will Dabish; Powerhouse Gym;
Norm and Will Dabish on the cover of Crain’s circa 1999.
solicit out-of-state franchisees.
Dabish said he took a chance and offered to
buy a tableful of seats at a fundraiser hosted by Mr.
Olympia founder and weight-training equipment
magnate Joe Weider and ended up being key presenters
at Weider’s competitions for 20 years.
Powerhouse continues to find creative ways to
expand its marketing message. According to its website:
Powerhouse Gym entered the media business
in 1992 with its publication, Powerhouse Magazine.
As an annual publication, Powerhouse Magazine
has proved to be a powerful marketing tool for the
Licensing Division as well as motivating potential
members into the facilities themselves.
Ten years later, Powerhouse TV, a personalized
internal broadcast network, launched within Powerhouse
Gyms across the United States creating a
motivating workout environment with the ability
to control advertisements, music and messages.
Innovators from the start, the Dabish brothers
incorporated women into the fold when gyms like
theirs were solely the province of men. Will and
Norm were savvy enough to loop in their highprofile
members to give them “ownership” in that
decision, as well as many others over the years.
Dabish says he ended up training a Detroit Lion’s
cheerleader who subsequently won six Ms. Olympia
titles consecutively.
The Dabishs are a traditional Chaldean family.
Will and Norm’s father worked six days a week in
his grocery store, with the boys giving him a break
by manning the business on Sundays. The senior
Dabish might not have understood the fitness industry,
but as a business owner, he knew his way around
a balance sheet and supported what the boys were
doing.
Powerhouse and its early competitor Gold’s
Gym, which started in Venice Beach, California,
set the mold for modern competitors such as LA
Fitness and Planet Fitness, but Dabish says his
company’s honest, all-inclusive pricing at about
$29 per month trumps the upselling for tiered
memberships at other gyms.
As time marches forward and Powerhouse enmeshes
itself in several Florida mega-gyms, Dabish
vows to keep in place the high-quality equipment and
training standards that propelled his company to its
place on the world stage.
14 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 15

FAMILY time
2019 holiday gift guide
for toddlers through teens
It’s officially December, which not only means holiday movies
on the Hallmark Channel and hot cocoa but it’s also time
to tackle that seemingly never-ending shopping list. Although
money towards either college savings accounts or experiences
are amazing gifts for the children in our lives, there is nothing
that compares to watching them open up a new toy. As both a
mother of two and former teacher though, I do my best to find
toys that are not only fun but also educational.
For children ages two through four, I’d suggest:
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube Classic Wooden Toy
Best for two through four-year-olds, this 12-piece toy can be purchased
for either girls or boys. Not only does it promote color and shape recognition,
but it also encourages problem-solving skills.
Skoolzy Rainbow Counting Bears with
Matching Sorting Cups, Bear Counters and Dice
This 71-piece toddler and preschool-intended game includes STEM
educational math manipulatives, such as color sorting and addition activities,
and also offers fine motor skill practice.
Educational Insights’ Design & Drill Activity
Also a STEM learning toy, this one was created for children to practice
sorting and counting colorful bolts, following a pattern or creating
one’s own design and developing critical preschool math skills.
Check out these three options for
children ages four through six:
Melissa & Doug See & Spell Learning Toy
Not only does this 50-plus wooden piece toy develop vocabulary
and spelling skills but is also a great option to take along while on
the go instead of an iPad or tablet.
Boom! Fun with Science – Jumbo Science Kit
For those five and up, this science kit includes over 60 experiments,
as well as a DVD and manual that guides users through each of
them, so parents and guardians do not have to worry about injuries.
VIAHART Brain Flakes
Yet another STEM option that develops spatial intelligence and
thinking for either boys or girls, this is an educational alternative
to building blocks for those around the age of five. It makes a great
independent or collaborative group activity for this age group.
16 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

We can’t forget about those ages eight through 10
NPW-USA ANI-Mate Clay
Animation Movie Maker Kit
This clay animation kit comes
with a collection of props, sets and
materials that allows children to
make their own movies from still images
taken with a smartphone app.
Here are a few ideas for six,
seven and eight-year-olds:
DK Games: Silly Sentences
Developed with early learning consultants,
this toy uses fun puzzle pieces to
help children construct proper (yet potentially
silly) sentences with nouns,
verbs, adjectives and more.
Marble Run Set
Through building a marble track that
twists, turns and spins marbles, children
can practice problem solving and fine
motor skills while simultaneously fostering
curiosity.
Buy It Right Shopping Game
Through playing this game, children
will practice adding and making correct
change while, at the same time, learning
the value of money.
Snap Circuits Classic SC-300
Electronics
Exploration
Kit
If your little one eight
or older would enjoy
making a photosensitive
electronic organ, a
lie detector or a two-finger
touch lamp, I would
definitely check out this
toy, which is “designed for
young engineers and makers”
and gives children the
option of building over 300
experiments.
Head Full of Numbers
Math Game
Children will set the sand timer
and record the number of correct
equations another player makes using
the numbers rolled on the dice.
Equations can use simple addition or
subtraction or include multiplication
and division for a more challenging game.
And yes, children ages 11 through 14
can still play with toys
Intermediate Dissection Kit
With this dissection kit, children and/or teens can learn the anatomy
of seven different animals and see how each animal’s internal
organs fit together.
Indie Boards and Cards Terraforming Mars Board Game
Designed for ages 12 and up, this game has players pretend to be a
giant corporation that is working to make the environment on the
planet Mars habitable. Each player will receive a unique project card,
such as introducing plant life or animals, hurling asteroids at the surface,
building cities or even establishing greenhouse gas industries to
heat up the atmosphere, competing for the best places for city, ocean
and greenery tiles. The player with the most victory points wins.
Little Dipper Roller Coaster
While practicing fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, logic, creativity
and engineering skills, children and/or teens will have an easy time
snapping together sturdy frames and support towers, unraveling the
plastic tracks, snapping the tracks into the track holders and attaching
the whole thing onto towers; they can create the Little Dipper build or rearrange
it in any way they’d like to. The gear-powered chain lets players pull the included
coaster cars up the big hill before it goes down and then up the winding slopes.
Freelance writer Danielle Alexander is the managing editor for Detroit Mom and
editorial coordinator for West Bloomfield Lifestyle and Birmingham Life magazines. She
wishes the Chaldean community a very Merry Christmas. Happy (online) shopping!
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 17

CHAI time
CHALDEANS CONNECTING
COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT DECEMBER 2019
Wednesday, December 4
Holiday Luncheon: The Women’s Division
for Project Hope cordially invites
all to attend its annual tradition, the
Holiday Luncheon and Boutique, on
Wednesday, December 4, featuring
boutique shopping from 10:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m., with lunch served at noon,
at the newly renovated Orchard Lake
Country Club. Event co-chairs Linda
Juracek-Lipa and Contessa Bannon,
along with boutique co-chairs Tina
Prevas and Sherry Saginaw, promise
that this event will continue to be
one of the area’s most prestigious
and highly anticipated shopping luncheons
of the season. The not-to-bemissed
holiday boutique shops include
Art Loft, Christian Dior Beauty,
DerbyHats by Rachelle, El-Mars Furs,
Franklin Village Boutique, Gifted,
Glameselle, Ashley Gold, Innis Joswick
Jewelry, Knit Knacks by Laura,
Lilacpop Studio, Mrs. Mason’s Company
— and more! Reservation levels
are member and new member ($75),
friends ($90), patrons ($110) and
benefactors ($150). For reservations
or more information, please contact
Contessa Bannon at 248-860-7004 or
contessabannon@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, December 4
Holiday Ball: The ACS Foundation,
with its corporate sponsor, Acclaimed
Home Care, is proud to kick off this
holiday season with its Acclaimed
Holiday Schmooze/11th annual Black
and White Ball on Wednesday, Dec.
4, at 6 p.m. at The Townsend Hotel in
Birmingham. This “beautiful people”
and the highly anticipated social event
have sold out since 2011. It includes
a first-class strolling feast, open bar
and dancing. Jeff Cates, the owner of
CAPS Remodeling, is the 2019 recipient
of the Catalina Andres Humanitarian
Award. This “Dress to Impress in Black
and White” gala will benefit the Coalition
Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN),
which benefits all of the citizens of the
state of Michigan. For more information,
email Karen Katko at khkatko@hotmail.
com, or purchase tickets by credit card
at acclaimedcharity.com.
Friday, December 6
Annual Winter Gala: Founded in 1931
as the Italian Lawyers Club of Michigan,
today the Italian-American Bar Association
of Michigan(IABAM) remains
one of the oldest and largest ethnic bar
associations in the country. The IABAM
is honored to have an active roster of
over 200 attorneys and judicial members,
including one Michigan Supreme
Court justice. Over 30 courts in the
state proudly display the IABAM flag.
On Friday, December 6, the IABAM
will host its 88th annual Winter Gala at
the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. This
event will benefit the Friends of Foster
Kids charity. For more information
please visit iabam.com/events.
Friday, December 6
Cheers Gala: Join Easterseals Michigan
for our Cheers to 100 Years,
more commonly known as the annual
Cheers Gala, on Friday, December 6,
at 6:30 p.m. This year’s Cheers Gala
will focus on celebrating 100 years of
service to the community. The event
will be held at Rochester Mills Production
Brewery in Auburn Hills, where
guests will enjoy craft beers, wines,
a strolling dinner, food trucks, casino
gaming, live entertainment and more!
Easterseals Michigan has been providing
services for children, adults,
and families for a century. Whether
through autism services, mental illness
treatments, helping senior citizens
or providing trauma services,
Easterseals supports over 12,500
individuals annually. Proceeds from
The Cheers Gala provide crucial funding
for services needed to advance
the mission of Easterseals Michigan.
We are changing the way the world
defines disabilities by making positive
differences in people’s lives every
day. For more information or to purchase
tickets or sponsorships, visit
thecheersgala.org or contact Linda at
248-475-3624 or lkozianowski@essmichigan.org.
Saturday, December 7
Jingle Bell Run: The Arthritis Foundation
is pleased to host its annual Jingle
Bell Run on Saturday, December 7, at
9:00 a.m. at the Corner Ballpark (the
site of the old Tigers Stadium). Join
the foundation for this holiday-themed
5K/10K race, where many runners
dress up in holiday costumes for a
great cause. There will also be a Kid’s
Fun Run on the baseball field, Santa
Claus, a Kids’ Zone, a holiday choir,
and much more. For more information
or to register, please go to jbr.org/detroit.
More than 54 million people have
arthritis in the United States, making
it the leading cause of disability in the
country. Arthritis impacts people of all
ages, including more than 10,000 children
in Michigan alone. More children
have arthritis than juvenile diabetes and
cystic fibrosis combined. The Arthritis
Foundation is committed to pursuing
a cure for this disease and providing
life-changing resources, advocacy and
community connections.
Thursday, December 12
Holiday Pops: Celebrate the joyous
season with carols, festive tunes and
the Michigan Philharmonic at the historic
Penn Theatre in beautiful downtown
Plymouth on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6
p.m. and 8 p.m. The festive sounds of
the holidays will delight as the orchestra
celebrates the music of the season.
Tunes from movies like White Christmas,
Home Alone and Charlie Brown
meet great holiday music from Trans-
Siberian Orchestra and more. A little
classical music from Vivaldi and Haydn
and a great holiday sing-along will kick
off your holiday celebration. For tickets
and information, call 734-451-2112 or
visit michiganphil.org.
Friday, December 13
Spirit of Giving Gala: Franklin Wright
Settlements’ signature event will take
place Friday, December 13, at the beautiful
Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. This
annual gala raises funds for higher education
sustainability initiatives, which
provide scholarships to high school seniors
and students already enrolled in
a college or university. Guests will enjoy
an evening filled with entertainment
provided by 313 The Live Experience,
a wonderful strolling dinner and an
awards program, followed by dancing
and an afterglow. Tickets are $150 per
person, and a table for 10 can be purchased
for $1,500. Sponsorship opportunities
are also available. For more
information, please visit franklinwright.
net or contact Deon Mullen at 313-579-
1000, ext. 248.
Friday, January 17
Fire and Ice Festival: Join your friends
in downtown Rochester for the 13th
annual Fire & Ice Festival. This free
celebration of winter, set for January 17
through19, is among the premier winter
events in Michigan. Activities include
dog sled rides, a tube sledding hill, ice
skating, snowshoeing, cross-country
skiing, ice carvings, marshmallow roasting,
food trucks, and a taste fest/beer
tent. There is no charge for any of the
winter activities. Face painting is available,
and returning this year is a collegiate
ice carving competition. The Big,
Bright Light Show illuminates downtown
Rochester each night in a glorious
rainbow of colors. A spectacular firework
display lights up the sky Friday and
Saturday at 8 p.m., and the seventh running
of The Brooksie Way “Chill at the
Mills” 5k race happens Sunday morning.
The Oakland County Pet Adoption
Center offers dogs for adoption during
the festival. Fire & Ice is presented by
Vibe Credit Union and is sponsored by
Oakland County Parks, Oakland County,
and Downtown Rochester. Details:
Oakgov.com/fireandice.
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18 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

PROJECT LIGHT
Providing access to professional mental health counseling
and advocacy services in a therapeutic environment.
Common life experiences can cause individuals and families
to seek help. Some of these experiences include:
Life Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Relationships
Loss/Grief
Family Concern
Self-Esteem
Sexual Assault
Body Image
Work Concerns
CONTACT BAN OR IVA FOR MORE INFORMATION
OR TO SCHEDULE A THERAPY SESSION:
PHONE:(586)722-7253 • EMAIL: THERAPY@CHALDEANFOUNDATION.ORG
3601 15 MILE ROAD • STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY
The CCF and Project Light is committed to your privacy and confidentiality and are sensitive to the stigma and stress that come with seeking
mental health support. Therefore, all counseling records are kept strictly confidential. Information is not shared without client’s written consent.
Exceptions to confidentiality are rare and include persons who threaten safety of themselves others or in circumstances of a court order.
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 19

RELIGION
We must guide with love
One of my favorite
things in the
priesthood is the
opportunity to work with
the youth. For me, the
seed of faith was planted
in a powerful way at CLC
St. Thomas, a high school
youth group. Although
that seed did not flourish
until after my college
years at Michigan State, I
can’t imagine what my life
would be like without my
high school youth group experience.
It doesn’t look easy to be a teenager
in today’s comparison-filled,
anxiety-stricken culture, but it only
shows that there is a great need in
the soul for the love and truth of Jesus.
When the light of Christ comes,
there is no more darkness. “The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness
does not overcome.” John 1:5.
I was ordained a priest on June 30,
2018. If you ask what a priest does,
we can talk about the day-to-day, in
which every day is different. Prayer,
celebrating the sacraments, spiritual
counseling, leading various parish
groups, maintaining the Church’s
physical infrastructure, etc. are all essential
to a priest’s daily life. But if
I sum up the life of a priest in one
word, I would say the life of a priest,
and of a Christian, is simply to love.
“This is my commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved
you. No one has greater love than
this, to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends.” John 15:12-13.
In the year and a half that I have
been a priest, I have learned that
love can hurt sometimes. In youth
ministry, I see some of our youth going
in the wrong direction, and it
hurts me because I love them. Many
elder Chaldeans are proud of the incredible
youth activity happening in
our churches, but this involvement is
by only a fraction of our youth.
Jesus says to his disciples, “The
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; therefore ask the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest.”
There is a great need for more
emphasis on youth ministry. Our
young people don’t know Jesus, and
it is because of this that they don’t
know themselves. Our youth struggle
with an identity crisis, not just as
FATHER JOHN
JADDOU
SPECIAL TO THE
CHALDEAN NEWS
Chaldeans, but as human beings.
They don’t know what
they are meant for, and so
they fall into anxiety, depression,
suicide, substance abuse,
addictions, etc. The way we
seek to reach our youth must
evolve as well.
One of my favorite missions
in my young priesthood
has been to lead a high school
basketball league called Chaldean
Youth Basketball (CYB)
at the newly renovated Holy
Family Court on the grounds of
Sacred Heart Church in Sterling
Heights. Our goal has been to integrate
the beauty of our faith with the
attraction of a sport like basketball.
Many of our youth don’t feel an attraction
to the Church, so the goal
is to use basketball as a means of
preaching the Gospel and forming
young men and women as disciples
of Christ.
Coming from a family that loves
sports, and playing organized sports
throughout my life, even in the seminary
– yes the seminary had a basketball
team – I recognize the power
that sports can have in a young man’s
life. I have told our players many
times that the way you play reflects
the way you live. You can judge a
man by how he handles himself on
the court. The reality is, many of our
young boys and girls play basketball
the way they live life.
That is, they play selfish, undisciplined,
angry, and without respect for
authority or their fellow brothers and
sisters in Christ. As their priest, and
someone who loves them, this truly
hurts me.
Every parent knows this feeling
well when they see their children
headed in the wrong direction. Its
precisely because we care so much
that our pain is felt. In my life, I have
noticed that this pain brings about a
decision.
First, I can simply give up and
choose not to love. This is a common
reaction for many people. If you
choose not to love, then you would
not get hurt. By giving up, I could
save myself from the inevitable pain
that will come.
This is not God the Father’s
Heart. His Heart is always yearning
and searching for His lost sons and
daughters. If you ever doubt God’s
desire for lost souls, simply read Luke
15, or just look at a crucifix.
The other choice is to renew my
commitment to love as Christ loved
us. No one is perfect, and people are
bound to hurt us and disappoint us,
but I choose love because that is the
way of Christ. Jesus shows us the way
of Love by being completely vulnerable
to the rejection of His followers.
“God proves his love for us in that
while we still were sinners Christ
died for us.” Romans 5:8.
My hope for our community is
that we never tire in investing in
our youth; not just monetarily but
with our time and effort. Our parents
come from a generation where love
is expressed through the means of
providing and supporting us, but we
must do more to serve as mentors and
leaders of the youth.
One thing we need as leaders of
the youth is patience. Another word
for patience is “long-suffering”, or a
willingness to suffer.
If we want to help our youth, we
must be willing to love; never forgetting
the reality that love demands
patience, and patience is a willingness
to suffer for the good of the other.
Love is the action and patience is
the necessary disposition. “Love is
patient” 1 Corinthians 13:4.
Father John Jaddou is a Chaldean
Catholic priest serving at Saint Joseph
Chaldean Catholic Church in Troy, MI.
The Chaldean Youth Basketball (CYB)
will have its third season starting in
February 2020. Registration is through
the Diocese at www.chaldeanchurch.
com/CCSL starting in January.
20 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
Help Wanted!
Please consider hiring one of
our many new Americans.
More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have migrated to Michigan since 2007. Many
possess the skills and determination to work hard for you and your organization.
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) has a bank of resumes
of candidates qualified to do a variety of jobs. To inquire about hiring a
New American, call or email Elias at 586-722-7253 or
elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org.
Chaldean Community Foundation
Sterling Heights Office
3601 15 Mile Road
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
586-722-7253
www.chaldeanfoundation.org
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 21

in MEMORIAM
RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
CATHOLIC FUNERAL & CEMETERY SERVICES
Join us for our Annual
Remembrance Tree Lighting
MAKE AN ORNAMENT IN MEMORY OF YOUR LOVED ONE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019
5 p.m. Ornament Making
6:30 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony Inside the Mausoleum
Enjoy light refreshments and Christmas music
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and Our Lady of Hope Cemetery
For more information, call 313.437.8416
George Hanna
Sorisho
Nov. 11, 1934 -
Nov. 21, 2019
Salem Zaia
Tobia Semma
Sept. 15, 1951 -
Nov. 18, 2019
Prisilla Yousif
March 10, 1998 -
Nov. 20, 2019
Tawfeek Bashi
May 17, 1962 -
Nov. 17, 2019
Geolette Kakos
Yaldoo
July 10, 1942 -
Nov. 19, 2019
Louis “Uncle Louie”
Yousif Stephen
March 1, 1926 -
Nov. 17, 2019
Baraa Hermiz
Bajoori
Nov. 11, 1973 -
Nov. 18, 2019
Suheila Shaba
May 4, 1933 -
Nov. 16, 2019
We love because
He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
Although it’s sad to reminisce on
Christmases we knew, this year we shall
celebrate in memory of you.
We’ll put aside our sorrow with every
unshed tear, And concentrate on all the
joy we shared when you were here.
Our time together taught us what
Christmas time is for, and that’s what
we’ll remember until we meet once more.
IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING
313.879.3741 | cfcsdetroit.org
Holy Sepulchre | Our Lady of Hope | St. Joseph
Holy Cross | Mount Carmel | Mount Hope
Wadia Kocha
July 1, 1946 -
Nov. 16, 2019
Salim (Sam)
Putrus Yaldoo
Nov. 10, 1936 -
Nov. 16, 2019
Nafie Jajou
Samona
July 1, 1928 -
Nov. 9, 2019
Petros Petros
July 1, 1957 -
Nov. 9, 2019
Emanuel Hidou
Aug. 3, 1955 -
Nov. 9, 2019
Shamasha Philip
Kasmikha
Dec. 1, 1929 -
Nov. 9, 2019
Danny Rabban
July 13, 1988 -
Nov. 8, 2019
Sundus Jonna
Sept. 6, 1951 -
Nov. 7, 2019
Shamoon Yousif
Denha
July 1, 1932 -
Nov. 7, 2019
Yousif Seba
Sept. 23, 1953 -
Nov. 5, 2019
Thamer Jumaah
July 1, 1957 -
Nov. 4, 2019
Yalda Walee
Nissan
Feb. 25, 1927 -
Nov. 4, 2019
Alya Fakhouri
Nov. 7, 1941 -
Nov. 2, 2019
Amir Yousif
Romaya
Nov. 29, 1940 -
Oct. 29, 2019
Dankha Dankha
July 1, 1937 -
Oct. 31, 2019
Saleem (Slewa)
Akar
Oct. 30, 2019
Basim Habib
July 1, 1953 -
Oct. 29, 2019
Cissel Savaya
July 1, 1946 -
Oct. 28, 2019
Gassan Kraim
June 15, 1963 -
Oct. 27, 2019
Sabah
Ibrahim Saffo
July 1, 1938 -
Oct. 26, 2019
22 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

BIRMINGHAM
How can we help you? Woodward north of 14 Mile 248.723.7200 boaa.com
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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 23

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
‘Tis the season for gifting
BY BIANCA KASAWDISH
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. A time to reflect, give thanks and give back. When it
comes to gifting, a gift from the heart is always best. Here’s our guide to the perfect gifts for anyone
on your list. Our guide is a roundup of items from local Chaldean owned businesses. Happy
gifting! And remember, the gifts of time and love are the best elements to a truly Merry Christmas.
For the Chocolate Lovers
Kracked Kreations is a sweet and unique
way to gift someone special. A chocolate
shell in your shape of choice is meant
to be a fun and way to break into, and
give a gift made with love – making it an
amazing gift for all ages. Many Kracked
Kreations come in different shapes and
sizes that can hold various items from gift
cards, candy and even jewelry.
The most popular items are hearts
that come in three different sizes – a mini,
medium and jumbo heart ranging from
$45-65. Another popular item is the Easter
egg and it has been used for birthdays,
bridesmaids and other holidays. Each
Kracked Kreation is personalized with
your color of choice and the recipient’s
name. A holiday favorite? The heart or
egg, personalized with Christmas candy
and a small gift of your choice inside.
Contact krackedkreations@gmail.com or
on Instagram at @krackedkreations.
For the Fitness Aficionados
The BeneFIT Box began in 2017 with the
idea to simplify the supple met process and
make it easier for beginners in fitness to
get a great product that’s custom to them.
A subscription box service was born for
supplements and vitamins based on clients’
goals. Boxes range from weight loss
to muscle building and create your own
package options, each with full-size products
from 10—15 national brands.
Clients can customize their box to
their goals and preferences, taking a survey
to determine what they need. BeneFIT
Box accounts for allergies, nutritional
restrictions and flavor references as
well as vegan, plant-based and dairy free
options. Clients can choose from three
delivery frequencies (monthly, every six
weeks or every eight weeks) and can cancel
and pause at any time. There are three
levels of boxes, Gold, Platinum and Diamond,
ranging from $59.99 to $114.99
with two to four full-size products.
Use Promo code: CN15 at checkout for 15% off
your FIRST Box. Visit thebenefitbox.com.
For the Savvy Gentlemen
Gentleman’s Box started in
2014 and has grown to become
the #1 subscription box for men.
It’s a curated premium subscription
for men, delivering a variety
of fashion and lifestyle essentials
on a monthly and quarterly
basis. There are boxes for every
type of gentleman, with themed
boxes every month.
The best holiday choice? A
premium subscription catered
to the everyday gentleman that
features over $300 worth of
items for just $100. Each quarter,
the subscriber receives lifestyle
goods themed around a different
lifestyle and fitting to the
season. Past items, and products
to come, include leather duffle
bags, backpacks, crystal decanters,
whiskey glasses, Bluetooth
headphones, speakers and more.
Use promo code: CN25
at checkout for $25 off for
that special someone. Visit
gentlemansbox.com.
24 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

For the Faithful
Chloe’s Treasures was established in 2007 by Mervit
Toma after turning to praying the rosary on a daily
basis after suffering post traumatic depression. She began
to create personalized rosaries for loved ones as
therapy, turning it into a worldwide success. With clients
all over the world, she has worked with celebrities
such as Mark Wahlberg, Jared Leto, Josh Duhamel
and Teresa Giudice, to name a few. Toma is grateful to
God for this blessing in disguise.
Favorite pieces? Full and car memorial rosaries that
can be gifted in lieu of flowers for anyone who has lost
a loved one. These pieces can be given as the perfect
gift for any occasion, as they are sentimental and will
be cherished forever. You can customize them with the
person’s name, birthstone, photo and add an engraved
charm with their date of birth or date of passing.
Make an appointment or visit her website at
ChloesTreasures.com, or on Instagram or Facebook at
Chloe’s Treasures.
For the Fashionistas
Christina’s Consignments is a resale shop featuring new and preowned designer
items. From designer handbags to shoes, watches and lululemon – it’s the perfect
option for the fashion-forward. All items are guaranteed 100% authentic.
Top picks? You can’t go wrong with a preowned, like new designer handbags.
In Louis Vuitton, choose from all styles, like the Neverfull, Eva, Favorite and
pouchettes. Chanel is always a good idea, especially since prices are ever increasing.
Take your pick from the classi collection, as well as favoites from Prada,
Gucci, YSL and more. As for watches, Shinola, Rolex and Michele are available,
as well as custom engraved necklaces.
Make an appointment through Instagram or Facebook at Christina’s Consignments
or info@christinasconsignments.com
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 25

Refugees; rights, responsibilities, and history lessons
BY ADHID MIRI, PHD
Immigration and seeking safe refuge
have been around since the
beginning of recorded history
and biblical times. The story in St.
Matthew’s Gospel where families are
forced to flee their homeland fearing
persecution is the classic modern-day
definition of a refugee.
In Mathew’s Gospel, the Holy
Family fled because of a “well-founded
fear of persecution.” Adults with
young children living in Bethlehem,
feared the deaths of their sons because
King Herod planned to “seek
out the Holy child to destroy him.”
Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt.
Afterward, King Herod slaughtered
all children under the age of two,
while the Holy Family remained safe
in Egypt for three years. Iraqi Christians
in the 21st century have faced
similar life and death circumstances
forcing them to flee from their
homes, migrate or become refugees.
Sometimes there is confusion between
the term’s migrant, refugee,
and asylum seeker. Migrant is an
umbrella term for people leaving
their homes and often crossing international
borders, whether to seek
economic opportunity or escape persecution.
The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees defines that
group of people as follows: A refugee
is someone who has been forced to
flee his or her country because of persecution,
war, or violence. A refugee
has a well-founded fear of persecution
for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
political opinion or membership
in a particular social group.
The story of Chaldean migration
to the United States by choice
as immigrants, or by force as refugees
is very special one. An estimated
500,000 Chaldeans/Assyrians reside
throughout the United States, particularly
in Michigan, California,
Arizona, Illinois, Nevada and other
states.
Like many ethnic groups, Chaldeans
began immigrating to the Metropolitan
Detroit area in the 1920s
in search of better economic, religious,
political freedom and opportunities.
While some were lured by
Henry Ford’s famous $5-a-day working
wage, in true Chaldean fashion
entrepreneurial endeavors quickly
took hold, particularly mom and pop
food markets.
Michigan Metro Detroit has the
world’s largest population outside
of Iraq, with an estimated 160,000
people. Today, nearly two-thirds
of Chaldean households own one
business and 39% own two or more.
Chaldeans contribute more than
$10.7 billion annually to Michigan’s
economy.
Unsurmountable Challenges
Iraqi refugees have suffered unsurmountable
challenges, incredible
violence and terror since regime
change in 2003. In addition to having
their towns, their community,
and everything they own brutally
taken from them, most have lost
loved ones to persecution.
Christian refugees, who attempted
to return home realized their
properties were taken over by Iraq’s
government officials. The Government
claimed Christians abandoned
their homes and refused to provide
them with property titles to secure
their land ownership. This is a huge
problem for displaced Christians
within Iraq and the typical claim of
corrupt government officials “is that
their land was abandoned.” Refugees
not getting compensation for homes
and lands they have lost represent
another challenge. They need to get
that from the Iraqi government and
further, they need justice.
The injustice does not stop there.
The corrupt Iraqi government has
not attempted to rebuild infrastructure
destroyed by ISIS in Christian
communities. The Christian minority
population in the region before
the war was 1.6 million. Now, there
are only an estimated 200,000 remaining,
150,000 Iraqi Christians
are still in refugee camps.
The Iraqi government has legal
and moral responsibility to halt the
ongoing refugee crisis. If Iraq wants
Iraqi minorities to remain Iraq, it
should get serious about protecting
minorities before it is too late. Thus
far the Iraqi government has shown
total disregard for its citizens human
and civil rights.
Historically the United States has
responded to every major war or conflict
and has resettled refugees from
all around the world. Refugees come
People gather in
Detroit to protest
the deportation of
Iraqi Americans.
here seeking protection and a chance
to build a new life. As they become
settled, they build businesses, create
jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, fuel
the economy and strengthen the tax
base, enriching their communities.
Michigan has been the fourth
largest destination state for refugees
over the last decade. A study released
by Global Detroit and University of
Michigan stated refugees contribute
$295M annually to Michigan’s
economy.
The report asserts that the economic
impact and new job creation
stems from more than 21,000 refugees
who resettled in Metro Detroit
between 2007 and 2016, 90% of
these refugees are from Iraq. These
new Michiganders are a source of
strength to the Michigan economy-
-launching new businesses, providing
much-needed labor, and achieving
self-sufficiency within a very short
time after their arrival.
America is a nation of immigrants.
President Trump’s sharp cuts
to refugee resettlement programs
sparked debate over national security
implications. In September 2019
26 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

President Donald Trump announced
only 18,000 refugees will be accepted
to the United States in 2020.
Iraqi refugees arriving in Michigan
dropped from 3,431 in 2014 to 8 in
2018.
Rights and Responsibilities
The recent deportation cases in
Michigan are a hard reminder of
the roles and responsibilities of
refugees and immigrants. In April
2019 a bipartisan group of at least
20 lawmakers led by Congressmen
Levin and Moolenaar introduced
a bill to provide relief for Iraqi nationals
facing deportation. Congressman
Andy Levin (D-MI-09)
and Congressman John Moolenaar
(R-MI-04) also sent a letter asking
the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to
halt the mass deportation of about
1,000 Iraqi nationals
The letter stated that many of
the Iraqis would face “grave danger”
in Iraq, particularly religious minorities.
“Chaldean Christians face active
persecution in Iraq, and they
will likely be subject to discrimination,
violence, and possibly torture
or death if deported to Iraq.”
These noble efforts unfortunately
did not curb President Trump’s
strong immigration stance and deportations
continued to occur. Jimmy
Al-Daoud made national headlines
as an Iraqi-born diabetic man
who spent most of his life in the U.S.
and later died after being deported
and was unable to obtain insulin in
Iraq. For these reasons we stress the
importance of obeying Federal and
State laws. Deportations are truly life
threatening for those sent to Iraq.
The United States is a welcoming
country with a diverse society.
It is the land of opportunity and accountability.
More than 100 million
Americans can trace their ancestry
to immigrants who arrived at Ellis
Island between 1892 and 1954. We
can welcome refugees while ensuring
our own security. Refugees have enriched
communities across our country
and have been part of the American
fabric for generations. Closing
the door to refugees is disastrous for
not only the refugees themselves, but
their family members in the United
States who are living without loved
ones.
Annual numerical ceilings on
refugee admissions are proposed by
the president and require congressional
approval. Following the 9/11 attacks,
President George W. Bush suspended
refugee admissions for several
months, citing national security concerns.
From 2001 to 2015, caps on
refugee admissions stayed between
seventy thousand and eighty thousand.
President Trump capped the
number of refugees allowed into the
country in fiscal year 2017 at fifty
thousand. He lowered this ceiling
further for 2018, to forty-five thousand,
and again for 2019, to thirty
thousand, by far the lowest cap since
the introduction of the program.
At a time when the world needs
humanitarian leadership, some are
now calling for the suspension of the
U.S. refugee resettlement program
or the imposition of restrictions on
funding for Syrians, Iraqi and other
groups of refugees. These proposals
would jeopardize the United States’
moral leadership in the world.
In the words of Lyndon B. Johnson
“The land flourished because it
was fed from so many sources-because
it was nourished by so many
cultures and traditions and peoples.”
To turn our back on refugees
would be to betray our nation’s core
values. It would send a demoralizing
and dangerous message to the world
that the United States makes judgments
about people based on the
country they come from and their
religion. This feeds into extremist
propaganda and is unsafe for us all.
The Christian refugees of Iraq
have always been called ‘the voiceless.’
However, they are people with
voices, values and validity. Christianity
in Iraq and the middle east is
under siege. We call upon Congress
to demonstrate leadership by speaking
out against the singling of any
group during this time of crisis and
to ensure that our nation’s humanitarian
efforts are embracing and effective.
It is our country’s duty to provide
home, safety and charity to an ancient
Christian community who has
faced perilous uncertainty and persecution
for generations
Iraqi Christians are facing an
impossible choice. To become refugees
or to disappear from the lands
in which their faith first took root.
Sadly, we witness new chapters of
Christian’s history that are inked in
blood. At stake is not just an ancient
religious community, but the fate of
pluralism and Christianity in the
Middle East.
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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 27

keeping up with the CHALDEANS
Keeping up with the Chaldeans
Keeping up with the Chaldeans (KUWTC) is a weekly podcast hosted by Anthony Toma and Junior Binno. Their podcast
highlights members of the Chaldean community. This is a roundup of some of the latest KUWTC interviews.
Mark and Fred Hajjar
October 3, 2019
In this episode of KUWTC, Toma and Binno visit
Mark Hajjar, founder of Inkpressions, at his warehouse
and production facility in Commerce Township
Michigan. The guys sit down with Hajjar to
discuss his start, as well as the services he offers to
his customers.
Brandon Abro
October 17, 2019
Joining Binno in this episode of KUWTC is the
young and talented cameraman, Brandon Abro.
Abro has worked both for the community and
some big-name stars. The young cameraman shows
off his equipment and camera knowledge and how
he applies that knowledge to his work!
Natasha Baccari
October 31, 2019
Binno takes the reigns once again as he tackles this
interview with one of his longtime friends, Natasha
Baccari. She talks about her life story and how it
lead her to where she is today. Natashas tells Binno
about her company ‘Crackled Top’ a brownie baking
operation that’s as sweet as it sounds!
George Shaouni Sr. and George Shaouni Jr.
November 7, 2019
In this episode, Binno and Toma take listeners on an onsite interview with the owners of the Powerhouse
Gym in Troy. The respected George Shaouni and his son, George Shaouni Jr. sit down with the
boys to discuss health and wellness, as well as the special services that their gym provides!
Take a look at page ___ to see how the infamous Powerhouse Gym got its start!
Dominic Kuza
October 25, 2019
In this episode, Toma and Binno sit down with
Dominic Kuza owner of ‘Team Kuza’ Nutrition.
He’s on to tell the boys how to eat healthily and
get an effective workout with his innovative online
plan. Team Kuza has successfully helped approximately
600 clients reach their goals, from
both the competitive side and lifestyle/noncompetitive
side.
Mark Kassa
November 5, 2019
In this episode of KUWTC, Toma and Binno sit
down the talented musician Mark Kassa; in 2018,
Kassa’s band, Slight Return, was nominated for a
Grammy. He tells his story of how he began his journey
as a musician, getting an album deal, and collaborating
with some of the industry’s biggest talent.
Kassa also talks about how he launched a clothing
line based on his album ‘Welcome to the D’.
Mary Romaya
November 19, 2019
In this episode of KUWTC, Toma and Binno visit
the Chaldean Cultural Center Museum at the
Shenandoah Country Club and sit down with one of
the founders on the board of directors, Mary Romaya.
They discuss the history of the museum and what the
future of the exhibit will be. If you want to learn more
about your culture and history, go visit the cultural
center and get lost in your peoples’ history.
28 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

ADVOCACY ACCULTURATION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CULTURAL PRESERVATION
32,750
INDIVIDUALS LED ON A
PATHWAY TO STABILITY
APPROXIMATELY
20%
OF CLIENTS ARE NON-CHALDEAN
CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
2019
IMPACT
$
5.3+
MILLION
RAISED FOR THE
CCF MISSION
CAMPAIGN THROUGH
COMMUNITY
DONATIONS
PROVIDED ADVOCACY TO MORE THAN 1,400 IRAQI NATIONALS AT-RISK OF DEPORTATION
AND MORE THAN 500,000 ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES DISPLACED BY WAR
EMPLOYMENT
MORE THAN
1,200
JOB PLACEMENT
SERVICES
CONDUCTED
72 %
EMPLOYMENT
RATE
THE CHALDEAN LOAN FUND CLOSED
THE YEAR WITH MORE THAN
$
430,000
IN OUTSTANDING
AUTO LOANS
BREAKING BARRIERS
5,249
INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES
SERVED
(RESPITE, COUNSELING
AND ADVOCACY
SERVICES PROVIDED)
IMMIGRATION
2,997
IMMIGRATION
APPLICATIONS
FILED
HELPED 926 NEW
AMERICANS
BECOME
U.S. CITIZENS
EDUCATION
629
ESL, CITIZENSHIP,
COMPUTER
TRAINING AND
VOCATIONAL
STUDENTS
ENROLLED
HOSTED
32 COMMUNITY
FORUMS
PROVIDING
BENEFICIAL
INFORMATION
TO NEARLY
2,600 PEOPLE
IN ATTENDANCE
PROJECT BISMUTHA
PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY
$
101,000
WORTH OF IN-KIND SERVICES
407
PHYSICIAN APPOINTMENTS
2,513
PRESCRIPTIONS VALUED
IN EXCESS OF $15,667
$
44,686
WORTH OF LAB WORK THANKS TO A
GENEROUS GRANT FROM ASCENSION
For more information or to schedule a visit, call 586.722.7253 or go to www.chaldeanfoundation.org
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 29

Kuza brings innovation to the future of design
BY STEPHEN JONES
President and CEO of BOX Design,
Kevin Kuza, has had a
passion for design for as long as
he can remember.
“I went to ASU [Arizona State
University] for architecture,” Kuza
said. “I always knew I could design
and since I was a little boy, I have
always had an interest in how things
were made. I would spend most of
my days playing hockey and using my
dad’s tools to make things – and maybe
even destroy some things. I never
really thought about owning my own
practice until I was around 25.”
But that’s exactly what Kevin did
in 2004, when he launched BOX
Design, a multi-disciplinary design,
fabrication and installation company,
specializing in restaurants, retail,
office space, residential and hospitality
projects. BOX has built an
impressive interior design portfolio
that includes Alex Emilio Salons in
Birmingham and Royal Oak; Anchor
Bar; Bistro82 and the Detroit Institute
of Arts, as well as many hotels in
the metro Detroit area.
Kevin is well-known for his
woodworking skills. He attributes
the development of his woodworking
proficiency to the art of design and
the willingness to learn.
“When I started out, I didn’t really
know much about woodworking,”
Kuza said. “I was really drawn
to metal fabrication. I would say
having a couple mentors along the
way definitely helped. The way I saw
it was just keep trying, be willing
to fail, and never ever think you’re
done learning. Through all this, I
was able to master metal and wood
fabrication.
One of my favorite projects was a
space in Arizona called Mobi Squad.
Their corporate office paved the way
for me to focus on one-off pieces such
as a ping pong table, floating desk,
12-foot conference tables, a custom
foosball table, and stuff like that.
That project was a blast!”
Kuza attributes the success of
BOX to the company’s willingness
to think outside the box and always
determine the best ways to provide
customer service to the client.
“BOX separates itself from others
similar type companies by always trying
to evolve,” Kuza said. “I believe
that evolution never stops, the need
for companies to evolve is a must.
We have created a culture of family
and set the highest expectations for
ourselves. We involve our clients in
the process and like family want our
clients to trust us. We staff a highly
skilled team trained and ready to take
on any challenge that comes our way.
We offer architectural design, interior
design, furniture/product design,
consulting and fabrication of just
about anything you can imagine.”
One example of the evolution
that Kuza mentions is in BOX Design’s
upcoming program launch,
GreenBOX.
“GreenBOX is a program that
will be setting the standard for the
way we involve our clients,” Kuza
said. “The website will feature ways
for clients to basically pick from our
library of stuff and create their own
interior spaces. Its main focus is provision
centers but the idea is to create
a company that is fully transparent
and gives our client’s the ability
to be a part of the entire process.”
In addition to the willingness to
grow, BOX Design is able to retain
an impressive portfolio through the
strong interpersonal relationships
they build with each of their clients.
“My approach is to really get to
know people,” Kuza said. “I want to be
in your life for the foreseeable future.
I’ve always told my staff, if we do it
right, things will come full circle and
our clients will have a relationship
with us for as long as we’re around.
We are a referral-based company and
as long as we do our part and meet the
standards set by both the clients and
us, we pave the way for all types of potential
new business. As we grow, this
will change, and we will have to reach
a larger audience. How we get there is
going to be a fun challenge that I’m
looking forward to.”
Kuza is proud of what he has built
at BOX, and is especially grateful to
the support system that has helped it
grow into the thriving company that
it is today.
“I couldn’t do any of this without
my amazing wife, Luisa, and my son,
Henry,” said Kuza. “I owe a lot to my
awesome team, the “BOX” squad.
We’ve got a long road ahead of us
and we’re just getting started.”
To learn more about BOX Design
and their many services, you can
visit boxdesignfurniture.com. You
can find them on Facebook at BOX
Design Furniture.
30 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

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To Pay Property Taxes!
Visit www.DivDat.com or Treasurer.WayneCounty.com for more information. To ask a question, please email the Treasurer’s team at
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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 31

Lynette
Toma’s
journey
comes
full circle
BY PAUL NATINSKY
Lynette Toma is returning to
the Detroit area after a 20-year
journey of self-discovery; and
she is bearing gifts. The 39-year-old
speech therapist, entrepreneur, author
and innovator left Michigan
at 24 and, after stops in Chicago
and San Diego, ended up in Santa
Monica where for the past four years
she has helped teach autistic kids to
communicate through her business,
Connecting Kids.
California was a major relocation
for Toma, geographically and culturally,
but it was made easier because she
has cousins there, part of San Diego’s
Chaldean community. The transition
was also smooth because California
culture meshed well with her innovative
work with autistic kids.
As an adolescent, Toma was told
her grades were not good enough for
her to earn credentials as a speech
therapist. She proved her critics
wrong and brought her energy and
optimism to autistic children, many
of them non-verbal.
“Most communication is nonverbal,
body language, facial expressions,
gestures,” said Toma. “I take
that a step further. I incorporate all
of those things along with sign language.
I also teach children to use
devices to communicate.”
She uses an iPad with special programs
that use pictures and words to
communicate. Her down-to-earth
bearing also lands her on the floor
with toys and other objects to help
autistic children make sense of the
world on their own terms.
Toma said Los Angeles – which
encompasses Santa Monica – is “the
hub of autism,” featuring innovative
treatments and approaches not found
in many other places. The “Harmonic
Egg” is among these creative
therapies. A resonant, egg-shaped
chamber with a “zero gravity” chair
32 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

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at the center, the Egg provides a mix
of sound and light scientifically designed
to relax users and assist with
overcoming insomnia, depression
and nervous system maladies.
She discovered the Egg through
a classmate who knows its inventor.
Toma is preparing to bring one of
only eight Eggs in the United States
to West Bloomfield in August. The
device is under construction and will
not be ready until then. In the meantime,
Toma is making plans to return
to her hometown. She hopes to transplant
Connecting Kids in Michigan
along with the Harmonic Egg.
She has a lot invested in her move
back to Michigan and the chance
she is taking that the Harmonic Egg
will generate enough interest to be
viable in the Midwest. The device
cost $50,000. One-hour sessions inside
run about $100, with discounts
for “packages” of sessions.
Toma believes she is up for the
challenge. In addition to her bold
move to the West Coast, Toma wrote,
with another speech therapist, a book,
“I Can Dance Too,” about a little girl
who wears a hearing aid finding a way
to succeed in dance classes. She wrote
a piece for “Notes To My Younger
Self,” a collection of essays featuring
letters from contributors to themselves
as children or young adults.
Toma wrote to her imaginary self
at several junctures when her confidence
was at its nadir. She dedicated
her “Notes” contribution to her
mother, who became a rock of support
for Toma after her father died
when she was 20.
Through some LA connections,
Toma found herself with 20 other
entrepreneurs as subjects in a documentary
titled, “Awakening Giants.”
The group traveled to the Amazon
where they brought water filters to a
tribe living in the region.
They also journeyed to New Zealand
where they spent time with native
pre-Maori tribes. Her experience
included performing a fire walk, an
act that requires extreme confidence
and poise. During the project, Toma
ended up sharing a lot about herself
on camera, an experience that
stretched beyond her comfort zone,
but simultaneously enhanced her
confidence and put her in touch with
her Chaldean roots, strong in family
and community support.
“I have a community that supports
me. We as Chaldeans are so
lucky,” she said.
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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 33

sports
Fitness and football
Established business owner Jason Bakou gives back as a volunteer high school football coach
BY STEVE STEIN
Jason Bakou is a lucky guy. He’s passionate about
fitness, and that’s how he makes his living. He’s
passionate about football, and he’s helping his
former high school football coach win games.
Bakou, 34, is the co-founder, co-owner and
chief operating officer of The BeneFIT Box, a St.
Clair Shores-based business that offers monthly
deliveries of supplements and vitamins selected
especially for each customer and shipped in a box.
Vegan plant-based products are available as are
products that are aligned with a customer’s dietary
restrictions.
Each box contains instructional cards that explain
how, when and why to take the products,
which come from more than a dozen carefully vetted
companies, plus other items like T-shirts and
shaker cups. About 5,000 boxes have been shipped
to 16 states since Bakou began the business in 2017
with partner Steve Maceri.
“I’m having an absolute blast with this company,”
Bakou said. “I look forward to coming to work
every day.”
The Clinton Township resident says the same
thing about his job as a volunteer assistant coach
with the two-time defending Division 2 state
champion Warren De La Salle High School football
team.
He assists the team’s receivers and special team
coaches, advises players on the proper supplements
and vitamins they should take if they’re interested
in trying them, and works out with players.
“I’m not an expert on the X’s and O’s of the
game, but I’m learning,” Bakou said about his
coaching roles.
What makes Bakou’s duties at De La Salle special
is he’s working side-by-side with Pilots coach
Mike Gianonne, Bakou’s football coach at Macomb
Dakota High School.
Gianonne is in his fourth year as De La Salle’s
coach after building Dakota into Macomb County’s
No. 1 high school football program. Gianonne
went 158-51 in 18 seasons as Dakota and won Division
1 state championships in 2006 and 2007.
He now has four state championships on his resume
after his back-to-back titles with De La Salle,
which was 5-3 this year heading into the final week
of the regular season.
Bakou and Gianonne have been friends since
Bakou graduated from Dakota. Bakou helped out
on an informal basis with the Dakota football program
when Gianonne was there. When Gianonne
went to De La Salle, the two continued and expanded
that arrangement.
“Because Jason played for me, he can help our
guys understand what I expect of them,” Gianonne
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHASE CAMPBELL
Jason Bakou works on the sideline at Ford Field, home of
the Detroit Lions, during an Oct. 19 Catholic League Prep
Bowl football game between Warren De La Salle and U-D
Jesuit. De La Salle won 17-7. Bakou is a volunteer assistant
coach for De La Salle.
said. “Sometimes he has to smooth out the rough
edges after I get tough with a guy.”
Gianonne said he’s long been impressed by Bakou’s
work ethic and penchant for helping others.
“When Jason was playing for me at Dakota, I
needed to move a bedroom set,” Gianonne said.
“He heard me say that, and we ended up using his
truck to move the set. He saved me a lot of money,
and I really appreciated that.”
Bakou was a three-year starter at Dakota and a
team captain as a senior, when he earned All-State
honors. He was a receiver and he played in the defensive
backfield for the Cougars.
After playing football at Saginaw Valley State
University as a freshman, Bakou put away the pads
when he went to Western Michigan University.
He worked in the financial field, including time
as a stockbroker in New York City, after graduating
from Western Michigan University in December
2008, then he returned home to Detroit and eventually
began The BeneFIT Box with Maceri.
34 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

Development
The Chaldean Community Foundation is
expanding to better serve the needs of
the community. Your contribution will
have a lasting impact on the Chaldean
Community Foundation and help us offer
additional services to those in need. Our
work isn’t possible without the support
of community members like you.
Secure your legacy
By ordering a brick to guarantee your
spot as a founding member of our
historic development.
Gold Sponsor $5,000
• One large 8” x 8” ceramic tile
• Special invitation and honorable mention at
grand opening donor luncheon
• One memorial medallion or matching tile for home
Silver Sponsor $2,500
• One medium 5-1/3” x 8” ceramic tile
• Special invitation to grand opening donor luncheon
Bronze Sponsor $1,000
• One 2-2/3” x 8” ceramic tile
Support the Chaldean Community Foundation's mission campaign with 100% of proceeds
going to the CCF's expansion, Michael J George Loan Fund and future housing development.
DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 35

chaldean on the STREET
Holiday memories
BY HALIM SHEENA
In the spirit of the holidays, we wanted to reminisce with the community.
We asked people to share their favorite holiday memory with us.
My favorite holiday memory happened Thanksgiving
2016. Bella, my little 12 pound dog, decided to run
upstairs and join the family holiday picture. Needless
to say, my bebe ran around the house trying to avoid
the dog, as most Chaldean grandmas do! Eventually,
she remained calm and we got a great picture with
BOTH members of the family!
– Alexa Volpe, 23, Bloomfield Hills
For Christmas, I was concerned about the milk expiring
before Santa’s arrival so we would leave directions
to take the milk from the fridge. One Christmas,
my mom pre-purchased her Tim Hortons coffee since
they would be closed on Christmas Day and when
we came downstairs, Santa decided to drink her coffee
instead of the milk. I also used to leave notes for
Santa every year, not asking for things but thanking
him for thinking of me and my family when he could
just be at home with his wife and that year he left
me a note back thanking me for the choice of drinks
because it was going to be a very long night.
– Kyra F. Kattola, 21, Clinton Township
I love the holidays so much, and a memory I hold
close to my heart took place last year near Christmas
time. I was able to join a Chaldean non-profit
organization called Ruha, where we brought a safe,
fun, and warm Christmas party to the less fortunate
of Detroit. It was a very humbling experience that
brought smiles to everyone around! I can’t wait to
join them every year in sharing the joys of Christmas
and the coming of Christ into the world!
– Sean Dado, 20, Farmington Hills
My favorite holiday memory is making klecha every
year before Christmas. For my family we make these
instead of the typical Christmas cookies, because in
a sense they are our Christmas cookies. We even
buy a Christmas themed hat for my parents, brother,
and me and take a ton of pictures. We even wear
them when baking. It’s honestly so fun, a family affair!!
I love the holidays!
– Rita Kachi, 23, Shelby Township
My favorite holiday memory is going to my grandparents’
house on Christmas Eve with my cousins and
aunts and uncles and seeing each other. We would
eat really good food and play games the whole night.
Then I and my cousins would watch each other open
our gifts that our grandparents would get us and we
would go crazy.
– Paul Channo, 20, Rochester Hills
One of my favorite memories from Christmas was
and still is waking up and opening the presents.
My family and I would all sit together and take turns
opening them one-by-one, enjoying whatever gifts we
received that year. The rest of the day was spent together
doing fun activities, and is always capped off
by meeting up with the rest of my family and having a
nice big dinner together.
– Renee Aboona, 19, Warren
36 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

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ECONOMICS & enterprise
Room
for more
BY SARAH KITTLE
Osama (Sam) Gulli is a firstgeneration
American. His
father Walid and mother Fadia
(Kenaya) Gulli hoped that a new
country would offer a better life for
their family. They gambled and won.
Osama, his parents and his brothers
Ouse and Naseem took their dad’s
gas station at 12 Mile and Coolidge
in Berkley and used it as a platform
to launch a new family business and
a brand-new kind of restaurant. The
small station (just three gas pumps)
also had a small parking lot, but it
had a garage. And room to grow.
He didn’t want to expand into
the hospitality business. He wanted
to work on cars with his dad. But his
brothers had an idea. They saw there
was room for more inside the station
and wanted to provide another service.
Why not food?
It was the beginnings of a new
kind of partnership. Why go to a gas
station to fuel up your car, and then
go to a fast food place to fuel your
body? Why not do both, at the same
place and the same time? But what
kind of food to offer?
Inquiries were made, discussion
were held. Tubby’s Famous Submarines
said, “yes”; Subway said, “no.”
Bellacino’s Grinders and Subs was
interested. However, a look at the
parking situation led to the thought
process of wait time. Something
quicker was needed. Couldn’t they
just provide a simple selection and
serve half orders and full orders of
meals that could be ready in seconds?
Mr. Kabob was born.
You may have heard of Mr. Kabob.
They’ve won awards, even been
named “Best Gas Station Food in
the Country” by Thrillist. But they
might not exist if they’d had to pay
rent in the first year. Being the site
owner made is possible to experiment.
Now their franchise includes
C K Mediterranean Grille and Mr.
Kabob Express, and their catering
business does most of the work.
Osama began his business career
at age 17, landscaping for his neighbors.
At 19, he had moved on to
computers, repairing hardware and
software. Now at 40, he is the coowner
of a thriving restaurant and
catering business.
Growing up, he had the entrepreneurial
spirit that he hopes he’s
passed on to his children. Creating
budgets and sticking to them is a life
lesson he wants his kids to get. Osama
has no expectations for them to
take over the business, he just wants
them to be happy and productive
members of society.
“Of course, you want your children
to have everything you didn’t,” says
Osama. But he also knows they must
make their own mark. “No one is going
to tell the boss’s daughter to mop the
floor.” He hopes they have a multitude
of job experiences, like he did.
Family is everything to Gulli.
Cousins AJ and Wes Kenaya run
C.K. Mediterranean Grille in Southfield,
one of five operating restaurants.
Two years ago, his other cousins
Azao Rofail and Fadi Kenaya
joined the group.
It’s a long-term retirement goal
to someday end up in Arizona, so
Osama’s brother went west to set up
two locations. His parents purchased
a home there, but his father Walid
still runs the original gas station in
Michigan. He may never retire.
As far as ‘paying it forward,’ Osama
says, “I can always do more.” He
tries to always be a good neighbor,
but insists, “That’s not enough.” He
was taught about social responsibility
at a young age.
In 1990, the Gulf War had ravaged
Iraq. Fadia Gulli, Osama’s
mother, took him and his two brothers
to her homeland to help. She was
instrumental in creating the group
VOW (Victims of War). Their mission
was to provide medical relief by
gathering pharmaceutical samples
from doctors here in the States to
distribute in cities in Iraq.
Seeing how the war and governmental
policies such as sanctions
had negatively impacted the region
was an eye-opener for Osama and his
brothers. “It was a game-changer.”
He feels so profoundly blessed to be
able to provide for his family and
teach his kids in a safe environment
and will never take that for granted.
Gulli is thrilled to announce the
opening of their sixth restaurant, expected
to open in February of 2020.
The long-awaited site in Livonia, at
Seven and a Half Mile and Haggerty,
will service everyone in the four-city
area: Livonia, Novi, Northville, and
Farmington.
You might see the announcement
on social media, but not on Osama’s
account. “I’m not a social media kind
of guy.”
38 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 39

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event
CACC Board Elections
PHOTOS BY SARAH KITTLE
The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Board
of Directors election at Shenandoah Country Club on Wednesday, November
13, 2019. Thirteen nominees ran for eight open seats on the Chamber’s Board
of Directors. The following nominees were elected to the Chaldean American
Chamber Board of Directors effective January 1, 2020:
Matthew Loussia – 137 votes
Haley Jonna – 120 votes
Kevin Jappaya – 118 votes
Anthony Mona – 117 votes
Joseph Hurshe – 114 votes
Justin Hanna – 111 votes
Andy Gutman – 109 votes
Sean Koza – 91 votes
42 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 43

event
Ansam Ghareeb and Dani Brikho
Megan Adam and Amanda Badri
Amanda Badri
Megan Adam
Fr. Ameer Brikha and Fr. Sameem Balius
Megan Adam
Sly Sandiha and Martin Manna
Scholarship recipients
Scholarship recipients
CCF Awards Gala
PHOTOS BY HADEER POLIS
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) hosted their second annual Awards Gala
on Thursday, November 14. Hosted at The Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township, the gala
drew in a crowd of nearly 800 attendees. Wireless Vision and Bishop Najeeb Michaeel
were honored for their dedication to the community. In addition, through the generosity of
w3r Consulting, the Nona Family, and Drs. Nathima and the late Peter Atchoo, the CCF
awarded twelve recipients with a total of $32,000 in academic scholarships.
Michael J. George Chaldean Loan Fund
44 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019

DECEMBER 2019 CHALDEAN NEWS 45

event
1
4
2
5
3 6
Gather and Give
PHOTOS BY RAZIK TOMINA
The Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization Center (ECRC) hosted their annual Gather and Give
Fundraising Dinner on Thursday, October 24 at the Shenandoah Country Club. The night of
entertainment and lively fundraising for ECRC was emceed by newly ordained priest Fr. Perrin
Atisha, who also shared with guests about his journey to priesthood.
1. Rita Foumia
2. Faiq Konja, Iman
Konja, Francis Stephan
3. Joseph Stephan
4. Bishop Francis, Arlene
Curioca, Kristin Ayar
5. Sr.Amanda Foumia,
Rand Dallo, Ann Mansour,
Sr.Angela Margos, Mother
Maryam Shabo, Razik
Tomina.
6. Mother Maryam
Shabo,Sue Zoma,
Sr.Angela Margos.
46 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2019