SWANA Heritage Month
April marks the annual Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month at San Diego State University. The SDSU Center for Intercultural Relations, in collaboration with student organizations and community partners have planned educational and celebratory programming for the month. All members of the SDSU community are invited to participate in our events by registering here.
What Does SWANA Mean?
SWANA is a decolonial and geographical term that represents the various communities located in Southwest Asia and North Africa. Another term used to describe the region is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The term SWANA has been adopted by the Center for Intercultural Relations and other CSU student organizations to be more inclusive of SWANA communities that may not identify as Arab.
About SWANA Heritage Month
The purpose of the heritage month is to increase awareness about the history, cultures, experiences, contributions, and resiliency of the SWANA community. The heritage month coincides with the National Arab American Heritage Month which is observed in April.
Past SWANA Heritage Month Events
- SWANA/MENA Experience Student Panel
- Dispel the Myth Part III with Guest Speaker Dr. Farid Abdel-Nour
- Take a Break: Mosaic Tile Art
- Yalla Let's Chat! Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Appreciation
- Middle Eastern and North African Closing Celebration
- A Convo with Comedian Kareem Rahma
- Taste of the Middle East
- We are not Invisible: SWANA Explained
- Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy hosted by the Center for Intercultural Relations, Muslim Student Assocation, and Language Exchange Club
- Dispel the Myth Part II hosted by the Center for Intercultural Relations and the Middle Eastern and North African Student Union
- Closing Celebration hosted by Middle Eastern and North African Student Union
- Dispel the Myth with the Middle Eastern Student Union
- SWANA Activism with SWANA @ Cal State Fullerton
- Seeking Refuge: Supporting SWANA Refugees & Immigrants with the Majdal Center and International Rescue Committee
- Tatreez Workshop: Palestinian Embroidery with Wafa Ghnaim
- Fighting Anti-Blackness in the Arab World with Nareeman Dosa
- Arabic Calligraphy Workshop with
Tala Ilaian
