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About the Organization

About the Organization

Out of the desire to address the cultural needs of the Tunisian-American population that is scattered across the United States, a cohesive national network of Regional Chapters was formed that constitutes the Tunisian Community Center.  Since 1999, the federation had afforded an address for Tunisian Americans as well as an institution that promotes their healthy acculturation.

 

Cyber Connectivity

The federation functions as a virtual community center, thanks to its website and its newsletter, along with its teleconferencing account and its toll free custom phone number. 

Community Based Activities

 The cyber connectivity is supplemented by community-based, cultural (in-reach and out-reach) programs at the local chapters level.  Our flagship event is at the National level: the annual “Tunisian American Day". Held in a different US city each year, it is celebrated during a “Hafla”, or gala, that coincides with the birthday anniversary of Ibn Khaldun (May 27th).

Categories of  activities:
Community Building and Education,
Cultural Promotion,
Internet,
Networking with other Tunisian-American entities,
Outreach to Tunisia.

Programs:
The Ibn Khaldun-USA,
The Community Gazette,
The Women's Section,
The TuniClub-USA

 

Impressions of Tunisia Print E-mail

Report by UAB student Samuel E. Gentle, Study-In-Tunisia Scholarship 2007 awardee.

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I am grateful to everyone who helped make the Study-in-Tunisia Scholarship possible. The experience I had this summer will be one that I cherish for the rest of my life.

The five-week trip began with a one week stay with a host family in Tunis. It was there that I was introduced to the Tunisian culture and way of life during the busy summer season. The season filled with weddings, haflas, late nights, and dinner parties. I was able to get the ‘true experience’ of Tunisian summertime throughout this week. I enjoyed it immensely.

Weeks two and three were spent with eight other American students in Tunisia for the "Learn & Serve" Program administered by AMIDEAST, a non-profit agency that teaches English and helps students study in the U.S. (AMIDEAST has been in Tunis for over thirty years). We spent these two weeks seeing the sights of this small, but beautiful country and studying colloquial Tunisian Arabic at AMIDEAST. Having studied Modern Standard Arabic for one year before going to Tunisia, the Tunisian dialect took some getting used to. During our travels, we discovered Tabarka, Bizerte, Djerba, El Jem, and the remote, southern oasis of Ksar Ghilane. It was fascinating to see the different faces of Tunisia from roman ruins, to the pristine waters of the Mediterranean.

AMIDEAST had been asked by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education to provide ten American university students to serve as conversational tutors/native speakers at the English Language Village in Nabeul. The language village occurred during my fourth and fifth week in Tunisia. After our sight-seeing and language study, we traveled to the beautiful seaside town of Nabeul for the second annual English Language Village. Our days there were filled with one-on-one and group interaction with the Tunisian university students, and group excursions to Hammamet, Houaria & Kalibia. In the mornings, each pair of American students would participate in each discussion group of twenty Tunisians with a local university professor as a moderator. The topics were quite diverse and ranged from lighter topics like Jokes and Proverbs & Values to more heated issues such as Stereotypes & Prejudice, AIDS, and Gender Roles. Despite some occasional awkwardness, the Tunisians were very hospitable to us, and I felt quite welcome in their country.

The five weeks I spent in this amazing place will not be forgotten soon and this trip provided a wonderful first study abroad experience. I feel that Tunisia is a great “first destination” for someone interested in studying the Arab world or the Maghreb.

 
Select from the Menu on the Left Print E-mail

articles

 

 
REGIONAL CHAPTERS NEWS Print E-mail

 SAN FRANCISCO, CA

(Scroll Down The Page For More Details)  

                                             THE TUNISIAN AMERICAN DAY MAY 31  

THE IBN KHALDUN AWARD HAFLA-2008

 

 

IK

FEATURING:

James R. Phippard,

Recipient of The Ibn Khaldun Award  

for distinguished sevice to the Tunisian American community

GUEST OF HONOR:

H.E. Mohamed Nejib Hachana,

 Ambassador of Tunisia to the United States.

                          (Scroll Down The Page For More Details)                             

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VENUE

 The gala will take place at The Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Rincon Hill Room
(299 Second St, San Francisco-CA) [
Map & Directions]

  • Contact Phone Number: 518-331-8607  
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    PROGRAM

    May 31, 2008

      • 6:00PM= Reception
      • 6:30PM= Presentations
      • 7:00PM= Catered Tunisian Dinner
      • 7:30PM= Award Ceremony
      • 8:00PM= Tunisian Music
        (Business Attire)
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    ADMISSIONS*Individual: $45
    *Couple:     $75
    *Student:     $25

    -You may use this form to reserve your tickets:
    -You may also mail your payment to:
                     The Ibn Khaldun Award-2008 
                     Tunisian Community Center

                     PO Box 837
                     Clifton Park, NY 12065-0801

    *The Tunisian Community Center is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

    Donations are tax-deductible.

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    ACCOMODATIONS

    We have 30 rooms held until May 16th for May 29th thru June 2nd at The Marriott Courtyard Hotel. To recieve the $139/Night special rate.

    You may use one of the following two forms
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    Room with One King Bed
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    Room with Two Queen Beds

    You may also call the Hotel directly at 1-888- 236-2427. Be sure to request the "Tunisian Community Center" corporate rate.

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    AIR TRAVEL

    Many Airlines service San Francisco Airport [Ground Transportation at SFO ]. Our Arizona Regional Coordinator, Travel Agent Ridha Lanouar Recommends Virgin America and Southwest airlines for the best travel deals.

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    Georgia

    uga

    The University of Georgia-Tunisia Educational Partnership, directed by Dr Takoi Hamrita (our 2007 Ibn Khaldun Award honoree), has been selected to receive the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education from the Institute of International Education, the world’s most pre-eminent global higher education and professional exchange organization. The annual award honors innovative new models in internationalization and recognizes their success in removing institutional barriers to international study and broadening the base of participation in the international elements of teaching and learning on campus.

    The award will be presented at a ceremony at the United Nations on March 13 as part of The Institute of International Education's annual Best Practices Seminar.

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    San Francisco

    It is The Ibn Khaldun Award Program Steering Committee's pleasure to announce that Mr Jim Phippard has been selected as the recipient of the fourth annual Ibn Khaldun Award for his distinguished service to the Tunisian-American community.

    jrp

    As USAID Mission Director in 1982 in Tunisia, Mr Phippard focused much of the USAID program on the poorer areas of central Tunisia, bringing agricultural technologies that resulted in increased incomes for many small farmers.

    The program's excellence was recognized as one of five outstanding successes cited in USAID's evaluation documents. The work, also, had earned Mr Phippard The Order of The Republic medal from the late Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba.

    He is also a founding member and current President of the American Tunisian Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening American-Tunisian relations. The Association is designed as a cultural institution which works closely with the Tunisian Embassy in Washington, DC.

    The Award ceremony will be during the Tunisian American Day celebration that will take place on May 31, 2008 in San Francisco.

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    SAN MATEO, CA

    Aswat

     

    What: ASWAT WINTER CONCERT - A night of Tunisian, Egyptian, Lebanese , Saudi Arabian, & Syrian Music. ASWAT is a community choir for classical and folk Arabic music. Featured, will be Tunisian musician and singer Noureddine Kallel, founder of the "Farabi Ensemble". Also featured, will be"Oud" player and SF Bay Area regional coordinator for the Tunisian Community Center, Ala Kallel.

    When: Saturday December 1, 2007
    7:30 PM to 11:00 PM

    Where: College of San Mateo Theater
    1700 West Hillsdale Boulevard
    San Mateo, CA
    Phone: 650-341-3697

    Tickets:
    brownpapertickets.com
    Sponsor: $100
    Preferred: $40
    General: $25
    Student: $15

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA

     The 2 hour City and Golden Gate ...

    What: The California Chapter of the Tunisian Community Center will be showcasing the Tunisian Culture at the 13th annual Arab Cultural Festival.
    When: Sunday August 26, 2007
    Starts: 11 AM, Ends: 6:30 PM. 
    Where: County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park (9th Avenue & Lincoln) in San Francisco, CA.  

    The event will, also, be an opportunity to meet with other members of the Bay Area's Tunisian-American community. The SF Chapter's participation this year, takes on a special meaning, because it will be hosting our 4th annual Ibn Khaldun Award (May 31st, 2008).

    If you would like to make it a memorable experience, consider volunteering at our booth: email Ala Kallel, our Regional Coordinator.

    TUNISIA REUNION

    The tradition continues!...The Tunisian Community Center teamed up with our sister Organization,  American Alumni Network , to have our annual Tunisia Reunion. It will be the best opportunity  for our alumni community from within Tunisia and outside to get together and for old friends to reconnect. Please, use this form to RSVP.

    WHEN: Wednesday August 1st, 2007.
    WHERE: Restaurant Le Porto Fino  in Hotel Karthago Palace, located in Hammamet-Sud.
    WHAT: Cocktail at 8PM. Dinner at 9PM.
    COST: 30 DT per person.

    Quebec, CA

    "Setting Sail for Tunisia"

     Washington, DC 

    Washington DC

    What: "Colors & Snapshots from Tunisia" Photography Exhibit by Slim Gomri.

    Where: Exhibit & Conference Room at the Embassy of Tunisia

               1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington-DC

    When:

    •  Opening Ceremony: May 17, 2007 6PM-8PM
    • Exhibit: May 17 thru 26, 2007 10AM-8PM

    RSVP: 202-680-6030

    Houston, TX

    HTX 

    On March 23, 2007, Tunisian students at the University of Houston hosted a banquet. The event was attended by faculty members, alumni, students, and members of the Tunisian community in Texas. The guest of honor was H. E. Mohamed Nejib Hachana, ambassador of Tunisia to the United States. In his remarks to the audience, ambassador Hachana highlighted the importance of the role that Tunisian expatriates in America play in strengthening the ties between Tunisia and the United States. He also took the opportunity to recognize the praiseworthy efforts of the University of Houston in recruiting Tunisian students.

    San Antonio, TX

    alamo

    On March 24, 2007, members of the Tunisian community in San Antonio, Texas organized a reception at “Dar Tunis” in celebration of Tunisia’s Independence and Youth Days. The guest of honor was Tunisian ambassador Mohamed Nejib Hachana.

    During his visit, his Excellency had the opportunity to inaugurate “Café Carthage”, a new Tunisian coffee shop. He also met with San Antonio city officials and a representative from the Incarnate World University on March 25th. The meeting resulted in an agreement to organizie a “Tunisia Week in Texas” next November. During that time, the San Antonio chapter of the Tunisian Community Center was able to collect about thirty boxes of college textbooks destined to be sent to the University of Mannouba Library in Tunisia.

    Los Angeles, CA

    azifet

    What: An exhibition of mosaics from the national museums of Tunisia.

    When: Between October 26, 2006 and April 30, 2007. On Saturday, January 27, 2007: a program of Malouf will be performed by the all-female Tunisian orchestra, El Azifet.

    Where: The Getty Villa, 1200 Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles.

    Click here for more information

    Washington, DC

    loc

    What:  “Tunisia: Celebrating Fifty Years of Women's Emancipation”  Symposium 
    Where: Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building in Room LJ 119.
               10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 
    When: Thursday, November 30th, 2006 
               From 12: Noon to 2:00 PM
    Who:  1. Mounira M. Charrad, professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin and Co-          President of the Tunisian Community Center’s Ibn Khaldun Institute.
              2. Hayet Laouni, Businesswoman and member of the Tunisian Senate.

             3. Alifa Chaabane Farouk, Ombudsman of Tunisia and member of the Executive Board of   

              the Democratic Constitutional Rally.

             4. Sandra Day O'Connor, former Supreme Court Justice.

    Washington, DC 

     nit

    The Washington-DC Chapter of the Tunisian Community Center (in collaboration with the Network of Arab American Professionals) Will hold
    “A Night in Tunisia”  Cultural Event.

    When: November 14th, 2006 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Where: The Jerusalem Fund Center 2425 Virginia Ave NW Washington, DC
    What: Reception (Authentic Tunisian appetizers), Documentary on Tunisia, Lecture Presentation, Arts Exhibit by Tunisian Painter.

    Admission is FREE , but seating is limited: Please RSVP to Sofian Riabi, Cultural Director. (202- 203-0093)

    San Antonio, TX:

    alamo

    A great article about Tunisia that was published in the San Antonio Express-News on September 17, 2006. Read On...

                 San Francisco, CA:             

    ghassen

    Also, on September 17th, Regional Coordinator Ghassen Mosbahi (shown here with wife Jen) represented the San Francisco Tunisian community, for the second year in a row, at the annual Cultural Festival.

     New York, NY:

    Bartholdi’s Statue of Liberty, ...

    Saturday, July 08, 2006. From 10AM to 7PM: The NY Chapter hosted  a Booth at the annual cultural street festival. The event was an opportunity to spotlight the Tunisian culture, promote our Organization, and meet with other members of the Tunisian-American community. The Event  took place in  New York City  on Bond St., between Broadway & Lafayette in the Village.

     Ann Arbor area, MI

    MI

    As all those attending can attest, the Michigan Chapter picnic held on June 4th, 2006, was a great success.  It was well attended and it was an occasion for many to make new friendships. The food consisted of couscous, kaftaji, tajine and salads prepared by genuine Tunisian chefs (Bravo!). 

     Washington, DC 

    Washington DC

    On May 27, 2006, the Washington-DC Chapter hosted the second annual Ibn Khaldun Award Hafla, at the American University. The guests, who came from all four corners of The United States, were treated to a seamless program that included a Tunisian dinner, an Award ceremony and live music entertainment.

     

     

     

     

     
    TUNISIAN AMERICAN DAY: May 27th Print E-mail

    TNUS 

    Our website and our Electronic Newsletter, The Community Gazette, along with our custom toll-free phone number and our teleconferencing account establish our cyber connectivity and function as a virtual community center.

    We supplement our use of the "Hi-Tech" by the "Hi-Touch": our community-based, local and regional meet-ups during the major cultural festivals and during the National and  Religious holiday celebrations.

    Our yearly flagship Event is at the national level: the "Tunisian American Day" which represents a recurring opportunity in the United States to celebrate the Tunisian Heritage and America's diversity. Organized in a different US city every year, it is celebrated during a Hafla (or gala) that coincides with the birthday anniversary of Ibn Khaldun (May 27th), and during which the Ibn Khaldun Award is presented. In addition to the Award ceremony, the Hafla includes live Tunisian music entertainment and catered Tunisian dinner.

    As part of the Event, on the following day, Our organization's annual meeting takes place. In addition, the Ibn Khaldun Institute and the Student Association hold their yearly leadership conferences.

     

     
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