The 12th Annual Arabic Heritage Celebration took place last week at Somerville High School. — Photos courtesy of Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

By Eliot Josti

On October 10, the city of Somerville hosted another event dedicated to diversity and understanding. The 12th Annual Arabic Heritage Celebration, held at Somerville High School, was a big success in connecting the community to local vendors, arts, and resources.

The Center for Arabic Culture (CAC) and Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA) worked closely over the past year to plan the event. The heart of the partnership with CAC was the publishing agency Interlinked.

Interlinked Publishing, a Palestinian-owned agency located in North Hampton, Massachusetts, was at the heart of the festival. Primarily a book fair, the Arabic Heritage Celebration provided many books targeting all ages. From topics ranging from friendship and food to history and conflict, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

“When you walked into the festival, the second table you were met with was the wide table of books. It was beautiful,” said María Teresa Nagel, Director of Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Along with a wide variety of books, over 40 vendors shared their work with the community. With 23 vendors attending last year, the number of sellers doubled, causing the event to attract a line out the door, even before it started.

“A big piece of this festival is the book fair and the selling of art. There was beautiful light coming in through the windows shining on amazing jewelry, paintings, cookies, and chocolates,” said Nagel.

In addition, non-profit organizations sold many products where all proceeds went to Lebanon.

“Their funds touch upon everything from restoring medical buildings, institutions, and schools, and rebuilding life that has been struck by war and disaster in an economy that is trying to reemerge,” said Nagel.

Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs also had its own table to connect the community with important information. They provided resources that explain updated policies and rights and could connect them to legal services where needed.

The vendors were not the only part of the festival that drew in the community. Performances from Nahda Project Dabkeh Troupe, the Center for Arabic Culture Children’s Choir, Egyptian American Folklore, and Akram Abdulfatah Quintet guided the evening through celebration.

“Opportunities like art exhibits really put artists at the forefront of being able to display the beauty in differences,” said Nagel. “Showing differences between these nations is doing something very powerful. Showing diversity creates unity. Somerville is so unique in the way it presents itself and the community. It is like one colorful, loud palette, and it is what makes the city so special.”