About the Event

We’re screening American Jedi: The Salman Hamdani Story as part of an event we are calling "Stories of Belonging", sponsored by the City of Bend's Welcoming Week.

Then, we’ll turn the room over to our panel of speakers centered on the lived experiences of Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian immigrants in the United States. We will hear directly from our main speaker, Bassem, along with other members of the community.

Admission is free, complementary Persian-inspired food from Noosh: Food for Spirit will be provided, and everyone is welcome. Come join us!

Meet Bassem

Bassem was born in Syria, left as an infant, and has spent his life between countries including a period in Central Oregon. For more than three decades, he has volunteered in communities across the American West, work he continues today alongside leading his own technology startup. His essays and research draw on classical Arabic philosophy to explore migration, belonging, and what makes communities strong — seeking ancient wisdom for today’s challenges.