September 20–October 3 in Minnesota (9/20–9/23); California (9/24–9/30); and Chicago, IL (10/1–10/3), Healing to Hope welcomes Anar Executive Director and Founder Rami Khader back to the U.S. for his second speaking tour. As a humanitarian, artist, and activist, Rami will share stories from the ground in Palestine, offering a vision of healing for Palestinian children and their caregivers beyond the stories we often hear in the news. Founded in 2023, Anar operates in the West Bank and Gaza. It aims to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and provide healing for Palestinian children and caregivers experiencing ongoing Israeli occupation, violence, and genocide. Anar's innovative approach includes community-based psychosocial accompaniment, youth mentorship, and arts-based healing workshops.

Rami will be joined by Sarah Myers, the executive director of Healing to Hope, Anar’s U.S.-based sister organization. Healing to Hope raises support and awareness for Anar’s important work in Palestine. 

This tour will provide many meaningful, in-depth opportunities for those in the U.S. to learn more about Anar and Healing to Hope. These organizations welcome everyone to support their commitment to justice, hope, and healing for Palestinian children, caregivers, and communities. It is critical to make visible the realities on the ground in Palestine. When so many in the U.S. feel helpless to change those realities, Healing to Hope and Anar offer ways to join the courageous, life-giving work that happens there every day.

All public tour events above focus on presentations in English by Rami Khader, followed by Q&A sessions with the audience, except the following special events:

• Sunday, 9/20 (Minnesota)

  • 1:00-2:00 - Family Arts Event: This hands-on workshop for children and caregivers focuses on This Is Our Life, Anar’s first storybook written by Palestinian children for other children ages 9-12. We will read and discuss stories and engage in activities designed to expose and connect Twin Cities families to the experiences of children in Palestine. In addition to live facilitation, Dara Rafeedie, Anar’s MHPSS Unit Coordinator, will join by video from Palestine.This hour-long workshop is RSVP-only and will be capped at 20 participants. As of 9/20 at 9:30am, we are FULL for this event.

  • 2:00-4:30 - Open Studio & Video Installation with Short Program & Oud Music at 2:30 —Doors open to the general public at 2:00 to experience an interactive, immersive image-video-sound installation focused on Anar’s work. At 2:30, Rami Khader will offer a brief overview of Anar’s arts-based healing work with children and caregivers and share information about Anar’s Expressive Arts Unit, and we will have a special oud performance by Murad Owda. Otherwise, please come and go at your own pace to talk informally with Rami and enjoy the installation and light refreshments from Baba’s Hummus House. This open studio time requires no RSVP.

• Saturday, 9/26 (California) - Bilingual presentation in Arabic & English

• Friday, 10/2 (Chicago) - Loud for Liberation: a music benefit show for Healing to Hope

• Saturday, 10/3 (Chicago) - Conversation, presentation, and Q&A with Rami Khader and Sarah Myers, with multimedia exhibition and opening words by Iman Snobar