We recently connected with Omar Kurdi and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Omar, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I think the most meaningful project that I have ever worked on is Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi. Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi translates to Cleveland Arabic Theatre. You read right. Cleveland now has a theatre company geared towards the Arabic speaking communities in Northeast Ohio, and a lot of the credit goes to Cleveland Public Theatre for championing this initiative. I was part of the founding group, and joined the talks on establishing this theatre company in February 2018. Masrah was launched in July 2018, exactly a month after my dad’s passing. It felt like a divine moment, because theatre really saved me from falling into deep grief, and helped me heal. Our first performance was in November 2018. It was called “Hulum Watan/Dream of Home,” The project started in August when a group of Arab Americans who did not know each other gathered for a workshop in Cleveland Public Theatre. Little did we know that we would become so close, rehearse for long hours every day, and go on stage and perform in our native tongue for sold out audiences. That first performance, first standing ovation, and first curtain call really did a number on me and the group. The feedback we received was wholesome and heartwarming. We knew then that we are onto something great, and we really were. That production was so popular that we reperformed it in April of 2019. In summer of 2019, Masrah participated in its first international theatre festival, Borderlight International Theatre Festival. Winter 2020 brought Masrah’s second show “And Then We Met” which was performed to six sold out audiences in Cleveland and in Dearborn, Michigan. Masrah gave me a purpose as an artist. I knew I had to use this platform that was given to me to own my narrative as an Arab American. I appreciate being given this opportunity and I carry it with love and responsibility.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Omar Kurdi. I am an Arab American with a mixed background of Kurdish, Jordanian, Lebanese and Palestinian. I was born in San Francisco, California, but lived and grew up between Muscat, Oman (1991-1999), and Ammman, Jordan (1999-2007). I moved to Cleveland in 2007 to finish high school, and go to college. I graduated from Cleveland State University with my bachelor’s in International Relations in 2013, and then got my Master’s in Public Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2019. I currently work in our family organization, Friends for Life Rehabilitation Services as CEO. FFL is an adult day services agency that provides services and vocational skills training to adults with disabilities. It is the most rewarding job in the world as it allows me to be helpful every day. It also provides me with the flexibility needed to pursue my other ventures such as the arts and community activism. I am a founding member of Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, a theatre company within Cleveland Public Theatre. I am also a board member of Cleveland Public Theatre. I am the co-founder of Arab Americans of Cleveland – Young Professionals Network which is a new organization that aims to connect and network with the Arab American professional community in Northeast Ohio. But most importantly, I am a human. I am forever adapting to changes, world crises, and responding to situations that arise as I go on with my day. I love what I do, and I will always dedicate my life and career towards serving others. I am privileged to having several platforms to do so, and it gives me a huge responsibility to fulfill.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Honestly, the answer to this question is simple. What society can do is: accept, understand, support, and amplify. Acceptance is very important and it is not equivalent to endorsement. Art is multidimensional and might not represent everyone so endorsing is a long shot, but knowing that an artist’s art is accepted is a big push in their journey. Understanding is mutual with respect. You do not have to tear down someone’s creative journey because you do not understand it. Trying to understand it, and respecting it, is understanding it in itself. Support can come in many forms. It can mean a shout out, financial support, defending artists, and funding initiatives that support creativity in many areas around the world. Amplifying art is what is missing from many young, and thriving artists. As a thriving artist myself, I sometimes struggle with finding real support amongst my circles. What we need is for people to amplify our work. When someone shares an artist’s work on their social media, it could lead to more sharing, and eventually that artistic work reaching different layers of society. These four key factors “AUSA” can make a huge difference to art and artists.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect to me is knowing I represent an underrepresented community. I am an Arab American, and you do not see many Arab Americans being represented in mainstream media or in different artistic mediums in the U.S. Knowing that I get to go on stage, and perform in my Arabic language, not only gives me happiness, but gives me pride. I get to do what many before me probably tried to do and failed. I get to have my mom, my family, my friends, and my friends’ parents watch me and my colleagues sing our Arabic songs on stage. I get to have non-Arabs attend our shows, and give them the opportunity to ask questions about our heritage and culture. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing someone sing along a song that I am singing on stage. That sight gives me pure joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.omarkurdi.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/omarkurdi20
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/omarkurdi20
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/omarkurdi20

Image Credits
Steve Wagner Noha Youssef Lindsey Poyar Jason Miller