The program begins at 12:00 PM US EDT; 18:00 Europe;19:00 Palestine Time.

Join us for a conversation about the initiative to create a branch of Palestine Museum US in Chicago, a major US city with a significant Palestinian population.

The Museum’s initial developmental strategy called for the establishment of a strong nucleus as a proof of concept and preparation for ultimately expanding through branches in major cities in the US and  around the world. After six years of operation the Palestine Museum US is now ready to fulfill its initial promise of expanding its presence. Chicago has been identified as a priority for the next brach of the Museum. This Sunday, October 4th, an important meeting is being held in Chicago to launch the campaign. Fifty members of the Palestinian community of Chicago representing a cross section of cultural, artistic, and academic discipline will attend the meeting to hear about and discuss the opportunity and challenges of locating a branch of the Museum in the city.

Our guests in the Madafeh are two members of the campaign’s Initial Organizing Committee : Nesreen Zayyad-Abulaban, a champion of Palestinian heritage preservation, and Ronnie Malley, a musician, performer, producer, and teacher.

Nesreen Zayyad-Abulaban, a Palestinian-American from the Chicagoland area, was deeply influenced by her parents, who were born in Palestine and experienced the expulsion of 1967. This heritage instilled in her a profound commitment to preserving the rich history and culture of Palestine, fostering connections between Palestinian identity and American life.

For over a decade, Nesreen has meticulously collected and preserved Palestinian antiquities, including a distinguished array of vintage thobes (traditional dresses) and Tatreez (embroidery). Her work aims to integrate traditional Tatreez into contemporary designs, allowing women to wear and celebrate their heritage proudly.

With two decades of experience in education, research, and the nonprofit sector, Nesreen has made significant contributions both locally and internationally. She holds a Master’s in Communications and a Bachelor’s in English from Governors State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Leadership. As an instructor in the ESL Adult Education department at Moraine Valley Community College, she takes pride in giving back to the community where she once studied.

A dedicated museum researcher and enthusiast, Nesreen has traveled extensively across the Middle East, Gulf, Asia, and Europe, studying premier museum collections. Her in-depth research and collaborations with museum directors and curators support her vision of establishing a museum dedicated to Palestinian culture and heritage.

Nesreen’s professional journey is driven by her dedication to education and her passion for preserving and sharing Palestinian history. Her efforts aim to inspire a broader appreciation and understanding of this rich cultural heritage, bridging her American identity with her deep Palestinian roots.

(Photo by Bryan Bazemore)
Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician on oud, guitar, keyboards, and percussion, a theatrical performer, producer, and educator. He has collaborated with international artists, composed and consulted for many cultural music projects in film and theater, appeared as a guest artist on several works, and is executive director of Intercultural Music Production in Chicago. Ronnie began his professional career at the age of twelve performing Middle Eastern and North African music at weddings, restaurants, and festivals with his father and brother in the family band. Over the next thirty years, he expanded his musical palette learning other global music styles from India, Spain, and the Balkans. Ronnie has performed with the music groups Allos Musica, Apollo’s Fire, Diwan Al-Han, EMME (East Meets Middle East), Lamajamal, Mucca Pazza, Newberry Consort, Surabhi Ensemble, Yves Francois & Rocambu Jazz, and the U of C Middle East Music Ensemble. 

As a theatrical performer, he has worked on regional and international theatrical productions with renowned award-winning directors including Mary Zimmerman, David Cromer, and Aaron Posner.

​As an educator, he has worked as a teaching artist with Chicago Public Schools, Global Voices Initiative, and Chicago Arts Partnership in Education, was a faculty member at Old Town School of Folk Music and the Chicago Academy for the Arts, and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities. Ronnie has a BA in Global Music Studies from DePaul University and a MA in Languages (Arabic and Hebrew) from the University of Chicago, where he is currently an Ethnomusicology PhD student. He was awarded the 2023 Michael Jaffee Visionary Award from Chamber Music America and is a member of Actors Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians. Ronnie’s mission is to help people learn about cultures through music and the arts to foster an understanding of global citizenship.