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Al-Awda's Third Annual International
Convention - A Resounding Success!
19 April 2005
Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return
Coalition held its Third Annual International Convention
at the University of California in Los Angeles on the weekend
of April 15-17, 2005. The convention entitled "Empowering
the Palestine Right to Return Movement" was attended
by hundreds of activists from the US, Canada and elsewhere,
who came together to learn, discuss and share their ideas
at a time when our voices are needed most.
The convention, which coincided with a
number of Palestinian national anniversaries, featured keynote
Palestinian speakers from Lebanon and Palestine, as well
as a former political prisoner.
The day-long organizing and strategizing
workshops on Saturday followed the plenary session which
included Dr. Saree Makdisi, Dr. George Bisharat and Elias
Rashmawi. The workshops dealt with topics ranging from cultural,
youth, women and student organizing, to developing Al-Awda
chapters, campaigns related to divestment, media and Palestinian
political prisoners,
among others. Some of these workshops have already begun
to implement their work plans and resolutions.
The Friday night opening session was followed
by outstanding spoken word performances featuring Mark Gonzalez,
Jade, Ahmed and Shaheed. A Palestinian cultural night special
event capped the second day of the convention. At this event,
participants enjoyed an evening of poetry, folkloric dabke
dance performed by the youth of Beir Zeit Society of Southern
California, music by world famous maestro and violinist
Dr. Nabil Azzam, and Palestinian and Arab nationalist songs
by gifted Palestinian singer Worood who mesmerized the crowd
especially with her rendition of Fairuz's "One Day
We Shall Return". This was followed by a Palestinian
fashion show and readings of essays from children in the
refugee camps. The Saturday night event also featured "Palestine:
The Exodus & The Odyssey", an outstanding exhibit
by Palestinian artist Ismail Shammout.
On Sunday morning, a general meeting was
held in which the results of the workshop deliberations
and resolutions were shared and discussed further.
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return
Coalition congratulates and thanks its members, supporters,
donors and friends for making this year's convention an
outstanding success. We especially thank, with much appreciation
for their dedication and hard work, the Southern California
community-wide Host Committee, which included Palestinian,
Arab-American and
other peace and justice organizations, for joining with
us in organizing this year's convention.
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return
Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return
Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists
and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. We are
a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3)
organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines,
your donations to PRRC
are tax-deductible. |
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