Celebrating 20 Years of Seraj
Libraries. Stories. Community.
.مكتبات. حكايات. مجتمع
Join us for an afternoon of Palestinian food, music, storytelling, art, conversation, and community. Throughout the afternoon guests will enjoy a marketplace, children’s activities, cultural exhibits, performances, and our anniversary celebration.
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago IL
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 3-7 PM
Be a part of the of the story by reserving your tickets today.
Hear the stories, celebrate the milestones, and help us to light the next chapter
Why It Matters
For twenty years, Seraj has worked alongside Palestinian communities to create places where libraries, stories, and communities thrive.
Today, Seraj includes 13 libraries, the National Storytelling Center, and a cultural center serving more than 200 communities throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Last year alone, nearly half a million people participated in our programs.
At a time when Palestinian communities face extraordinary hardship and uncertainty, your sponsorship will help sustain libraries and cultural centers where children discover books, stories are passed from one generation to the next, artists find their voices, and communities gather.
While the fundraiser lasts one evening, the impact of your sponsorship will reach communities across Palestine throughout the year.
Sponsorship Opportunities
20th Anniversary Sponsor | $20,000
12 event tickets + Name plaque at a Seraj library or cultural center in Palestine
Olive Tree Sponsor | $10,000
10 event tickets
Za'atar Sponsor | $5,000
8 event tickets
Lemon Tree Sponsor | $2,500
6 event tickets
Date Palm Sponsor | $1,000
4 event tickets
Fig Tree Sponsor | $500
2 event tickets
Pomegranate Sponsor | $250
1 event ticket
All sponsors receive recognition at the event and in event materials.
Included in your ticket
Cultural programming, and a community gathering
Delicious Palestinian food
Free parking and a cash bar
Featuring
Laurie Salameh will join us at the event to share with us stories from the ground. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Seraj Library Project, established in 2005 to create libraries and thriving community centers across Palestine. Today, Seraj is celebrating 20 years of opening libraries in Palestine, including an internationally recognized Storytelling and vocational training center, and a Cultural Arts center, serving rural villages, refugee camps, and marginalized communities.
Seraj Libraries
Wesam Ahmad is a human rights advocate based in Ramallah and is the new Executive Director of Visualizing Palestine, an NGO that uses data and research to visually communicate Palestinian experiences and provoke narrative change. Prior to joining VP, Wesam worked for Al-Haq, the first Palestinian human rights organization, until September 2025, when he was forced to resign due to the US-imposed sanctions on the organization for its work with the International Criminal Court.
Visualizing Palestine
Ronnie Malley & Sumoud Collective: A favorite from last year’s celebration, Ronnie Malley returns to Seraj with members of the Sumoud Collective for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling. Ronnie is a Palestinian American musician, storyteller, and educator whose work draws on the musical traditions of the Middle East and beyond. An award winning artist, he has performed internationally and contributed to acclaimed theatre, film, and television productions, including Netflix’s Mo. On This Earth is a musical storytelling performance inspired by Mahmoud Darwish’s poem of the same name, weaving music and stories into a powerful journey of memory, resilience, and hope.
Sumoud Collective
Also Featuring
-
![]()
Ronnie Malley
A Palestinian American multi-instrumentalist musician, theatre maker, producer, educator, and executive director of Intercultural Music Production. He specializes in musical styles from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and medieval Spain. Ronnie performs with many global artists and ensembles and has worked on award-winning theatrical plays, films, and TV series including The Band’s Visit (North American Tour), Mo (Netflix), The Jungle Book (Disney, Goodman Theatre), The New Mother (Eleva Singleton), and Saffron Kingdom (Arfat Sheikh). He appears on numerous albums and has produced original and collaborative works including Ziryab, The Songbird of Andalusia, American Griot, and Omar Offendum's Little Syria. Ronnie received the 2023 Chamber Music America Michael Jaffee Visionary Award. He holds a BA in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and a MA in Languages (Arabic and Hebrew) from University of Chicago, where he is currently a PhD student in Ethnomusicology.
-
![]()
Dal3ouna Dabke Troupe
Dal3ouna Dabke is a dabke troupe dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich traditions of Levantine folk dance. Through energetic performances, precise choreography, and a passion for cultural heritage, Dal3ouna brings communities together and showcases the spirit, unity, and joy that define dabke. Whether performing at festivals, weddings, or cultural events, the troupe blends tradition with modern flair to create memorable and engaging experiences for audiences of all ages.
-
![]()
Visualizing Palestine exhibit
Experience Why We Record, a powerful traveling exhibition created by Visualizing Palestine in partnership with the American Friends Service Committee. Through compelling data visualizations, photographs, maps, and personal narratives, the exhibit explores the ongoing realities of Palestinian life while examining the importance of documenting history in the face of fragmentation and erasure. Guests are invited to move through the exhibition at their own pace, reflect, ask questions, and engage in conversations about memory, justice, and the stories that shape our understanding of Palestine. Visit AFSC for more information: https://afsc.org/forms/expression-interest-host-why-we-record-defying-erasure-and-fragmentation-palestine.
-
![]()
Sitti stories with Laila
Sitti’s Stories is an interactive storytelling experience led by Laila Khalil, founder of Sitti’s Stories. Inspired by the Why We Record exhibit, guests are invited to reflect on the importance of preserving family histories, share memories across generations, and discover simple ways to document the stories that connect us to our past and shape our future.
-
![]()
Palestinian Souk
Browse handmade ceramics, tatreez, olive oil, books, jewlery, artwork, and gifts while supporting Palestinian artisans
-
![]()
Children's Library
Books, crafts, storytelling, and creative activities designed for children and families
-
![]()
Raffle
Enter to win prizes from Palestine!
-
![]()
Palestinian Cuisine
Enjoy an autehnitc buffet prepared by Cedar Palestinian Kitchen, bringing flavors and hospitality of Palestine to Chicago.
-
![Film-screening]()
Film-Screening
Experience Seraj's work in palestine through a short film celebrating the last 20 years of our work
Support Palestinian Communities
You can Join our 2026 Campaign
Your gift ensures Palestinian communities continue to access safe, vibrant libraries and empowering programs.
Join Us
Thank you for standing with us. In moments like this, we remember the power of community… how love, story, and culture carry us forward, even through the darkest times. Together, we keep the light alive. Together, we will honor Palestine by supporting the work of Seraj.