Al-Bustan ED featured in Generocity

Al-Bustan is Philly's beacon for Arabic culture in Donald Trump's age of hate

Founder Hazami Sayed believes anti-Arab sentiment is a product of misunderstanding. The solution? Show students the beauty of the Arab world by engaging them with its art, culture and language — and local funders are loving it.July 12, 2016 | Generocity | Tony Abraham

...Sayed said Al-Bustan's impact on Philadelphians' perceptions of Arabic culture may be small, but what it lacks in size it makes up in strength. The nonprofit is charged with representing a robust and ancient culture that has been misunderstood, reduced and dismissed by many in the Western world.It's a daunting task, and Sayed knows it. But a single summer stroll through her garden is enough to reassure doubters that she's capable of doing it, seed by seed."We just take comfort in knowing we're changing one person at a time," she said, pausing to take a sip of her chilled mint-infused water. "It's a drop in the bucket, but you're changing the minds and views of people, and we hope that has a ripple effect."

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