Markaz Mosaic

Layal Kazerooni ('25) tells us about cruising, moving across the world from Bahrain and why we should all be listening to Afrobeats.

Zarif Ahsan ('25) tells us about why we should all be obsessed with Erykah Badu and how music shapes his mental health.

A reunion between one of the Markaz's former professional staff members, Heidi, and a current staff member, Haniyah. This episode is all about everyday activism. How do we navigate our friendships, faiths, and families as activists? Recorded in November 2020. Music: "Jazzy Ashes" by The Underscore Orkestra "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy

We're kicking off season 2 with a conversation between two brothers - Hamza and Yusuf - who share with us their experience of the past eight months. How are crises experienced on a personal level? How do we cope with them? And where might we find compassion in a disrupted world? Music courtesy of the Free Music Archive: "Comedie" - Jahzzar "Something Elated" - Broke for Free "RSPN" - Blank Kytt "See U Soon" - Jahzzar

Introducing the final episode of the first season of Markaz Mosaic! Thank you all so much for sticking with us this year. This session is a bit different than the previous episodes; in this one, I had the chance to interview Mahnoor, Nour, Jana, and Hassan about their Ramadan experiences, before and after the COVID outbreak. Music taken with creative commons licensing from the Free Music Archive (Jahzzar and 'Blank and Kytt').

We've reached the seventh episode! This is the last interview we were able to conduct before COVID-19 hit. It features Sameer, a freshman from Fremont who dives into the samosa as a bridge between linguistic, national, and personal divides. Music from the Free Music Archive (The Underscore Orkestra, Lobo Loco, and Podington Bear).

Episode 6! We hope you all are staying informed, safe, and optimistic in these difficult times. And perhaps storytelling is a way to bring us all together? In this episode, sophomore Mariam shares the value of a good debate and the deliciousness of her family's couscous, and in the process she demonstrates that those two things are not at all unrelated. Music from the Free Music Archive (Jahzzar and Blue Dot Sessions).

Episode #5 for the Mosaic! Featuring Yasmeen, a junior from Saudi Arabia who explores home, cultural ownership, and her shifting pan-Arab identity through one very special dish. Music from the Free Music Archive (Scott Gratton, Broke for Free, and Daniel Birch).

We finally have an episode four! Featuring Evan, grandparents, Michigan, diasporic geographies, and the delectable crunch of a beef samosa. Music and sounds from freesound.org and FMA's Free Music Archive (Jahzzar, Ketsa, and Chad Crouch).

What happens when a restaurant becomes your home? Featuring Yasmin and her memories of niçoise salad. Music and sounds from freesound.org and the Free Music Archive (Scott Granton and Broke for Free).