YPSILANTI – In honor of Women’s History Month, the Eastern Michigan University Center for Jewish Studies will host Mira Awad, an Israeli/Palestinian singer songwriter, actress, artist and content creator, to perform and speak to attendees in a special virtual event. The event will take place on Sunday, March 7 at 3 p.m. via EMU’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Awad has been a forceful activist for women’s rights, equal citizenship for Palestinians living in Israel, a two-state solution, and environmental awareness.
“The EMU Center for Jewish Studies is excited to be welcoming the incredibly inspiring Mira Awad to perform and speak in recognition of Women's History Month,” said Martin Shichtman, director of the EMU Center for Jewish Studies, and a professor in the Department of English. “Her eloquent advocacy for dialogue and co-existence for peace and solidarity has brought her international recognition, and we are honored to have her perform and speak with us.”
Awad is a major figure in Israeli and Palestinian life and culture — performing music; appearing in television, theater, and film; plus creating visual installations. She calls her music Arabic Fusion, a combination of styles and sounds that weaves together Arabic language with Western harmonies.
Awad competed in the 2009 Eurovision song contest alongside another Israeli singer, Noa (Achinoam Nini). The duo won the NIF Human Rights for Arts and Culture award in 2010. She continues to work in collaboration with a multitude of artists, and will be accompanied by Israeli guitarist Shay Alon in her EMU performance.
The EMU Center for Jewish Studies is collaborating with the Academic Engagement Network, the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Michigan, the Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan, the Gayle & Larry Weiseneck Symposium Fund, Hillel at Eastern Michigan University, and EMU Campus Life to make this event possible
The free event will stream on EMU’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.