Meet The Team
.jpg/:/cr=t:38.86%25,l:36.96%25,w:62.5%25,h:46.88%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true,m)
Mehra M.
Sarina M.
Mehra M.
Mehra is the founder and editor-in-chief of MENAarts Newsletter. Her goal as an artist is to tell stories that challenge stereotypes and make people feel seen, especially in a world where empathy and understanding are oftentimes lacking. She is truly thankful for everyone on this page and those who support MENAarts' efforts.
When not searc
Mehra is the founder and editor-in-chief of MENAarts Newsletter. Her goal as an artist is to tell stories that challenge stereotypes and make people feel seen, especially in a world where empathy and understanding are oftentimes lacking. She is truly thankful for everyone on this page and those who support MENAarts' efforts.
When not searching the web for open casting calls (please tell her if you find any), Mehra loves reading dystopian fiction, eating cheesecake, and intently organizing her stationery collection.
Nikki B.
Sarina M.
Mehra M.
Nikki is the illustrator and content admin for MENAarts (yes, she made our logo)! Growing up in a traditional Middle Eastern household, Nikki often incorporates her cultural identity as the main subject of her animated films.
During her free time, you can find her experimenting with makeup and watching a lot of anime and cartoons.
Hala H.
Sarina M.
Sarina M.
Hala is a high school student, musician, and designer joining the team as a staff writer and graphic designer from Latakia, Syria. (She is Rose's sister!) She has always been passionate about using her voice to speak up and show the world how strong MENA women can be. In her free time, she can be found playing video games, hanging out with friends, and listening to music.
Sarina M.
Sarina M.
Sarina M.
Sarina is the head DEI Supervisor and a staff writer at MENAarts. She enjoys writing, especially about topics that promote MENA awareness.
In her free time, Sarina loves hanging out with friends, scrolling through Netflix, and playing chess. She's also (still) trying to solve the Rubik's Cube she's had for five years.
Frida B.
Armita M.
Armita M.
Frida is a contributing editor at MENAarts. She is passionate about equity and justice in society as well as public speaking. Frida is Iranian-American and enjoys learning about her family’s culture and eating her grandma’s food. Frida hopes to present more MENA topics to the public as she feels that the underrepresentation of MENA peopl
Frida is a contributing editor at MENAarts. She is passionate about equity and justice in society as well as public speaking. Frida is Iranian-American and enjoys learning about her family’s culture and eating her grandma’s food. Frida hopes to present more MENA topics to the public as she feels that the underrepresentation of MENA people has carved a harmful path of ignorance. Never afraid to speak up, Frida is always using her voice to advocate for what she believes is right.
Armita M.
Armita M.
Armita M.
Armita is a staff writer at MENAarts. She hails from Irvine, CA. She immigrated to the United States from Iran in third grade and is passionate about preserving Persian culture and history. Armita is a member of the class of 2025 at Dartmouth College where she studies Government, English, and Middle Eastern Studies.
In her free time, you
Armita is a staff writer at MENAarts. She hails from Irvine, CA. She immigrated to the United States from Iran in third grade and is passionate about preserving Persian culture and history. Armita is a member of the class of 2025 at Dartmouth College where she studies Government, English, and Middle Eastern Studies.
In her free time, you can find her reading 19th-century literature, writing plays, or engaging with theater.
Sima Y.
Armita M.
Farial N.
Sima is an outreach coordinator at MENAarts. The ocean is her safe space, which is why she would spend all of her time at the beach if she could. Sima loves going out, helping others, being active, and everything creative. Music has been a huge part of her life and she goes through a new music phase almost every week. Sima loves learning
Sima is an outreach coordinator at MENAarts. The ocean is her safe space, which is why she would spend all of her time at the beach if she could. Sima loves going out, helping others, being active, and everything creative. Music has been a huge part of her life and she goes through a new music phase almost every week. Sima loves learning new ideas and trying out new activities. She is also a huge believer in the concept of perspective.
.jpeg/:/cr=t:28.41%25,l:22.16%25,w:60.24%25,h:52.18%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true,m)
Farial N.
Armita M.
Farial N.
Farial Eliza (she/they), known as Khandi Gul [tr: sweet flower] by community, is a staff writer, DEI supervisor, and outreach coordinator at MENAarts. She is a 23-year-old writer, poet, and storyteller born and raised in East Bay Area. Descending from the Alokozai and Kakar tribes of Afghanistan, she takes from her Afghan culture to build
Farial Eliza (she/they), known as Khandi Gul [tr: sweet flower] by community, is a staff writer, DEI supervisor, and outreach coordinator at MENAarts. She is a 23-year-old writer, poet, and storyteller born and raised in East Bay Area. Descending from the Alokozai and Kakar tribes of Afghanistan, she takes from her Afghan culture to build the bridge between the Motherland and the diaspora. She dives into the “pomegranate diaspora” through different mediums from writing, performing arts, fashion, and jewelry making.
An intuitive and clairvoyant, you can find her diving into community healing and building across the Bay Area.
Ghina M.
Patricia G.
Ghina M.
Ghina is an 18-year-old from Damascus, Syria. She would describe herself as a gregarious human whose first value is tolerance. She is passionate about psychology, theater, and writing. Her aim is to plant the seeds of acceptance and tolerance in the MENA region and to get the world to know the MENA youth. In her free time, she likes to go on picnics!
Rose H.
Patricia G.
Ghina M.
Rose is a 17-year-old aspiring activist from Latakia, Syria. (She is Hala's sister!) Growing up in Syria, she's developed a passion for problem-solving and hopes to promote youth mental health in the MENA region. Not only is Rose an aspiring biology and anthropology double-major, but she's also a huge Francophile, graphic designer, medic
Rose is a 17-year-old aspiring activist from Latakia, Syria. (She is Hala's sister!) Growing up in Syria, she's developed a passion for problem-solving and hopes to promote youth mental health in the MENA region. Not only is Rose an aspiring biology and anthropology double-major, but she's also a huge Francophile, graphic designer, medical drama fan, and musician. She will be attending Princeton University in the fall.
Sunya A.
Patricia G.
Patricia G.
Sunya is a creative director studying music and entertainment business at USC. She regularly works on music videos, concert photography, fashion show production, and plans to pursue music festival design and branding with a focus on representation for creatives of color.
Patricia G.
Patricia G.
Patricia G.
Patricia is a staff writer at MENAarts. Even though she is studying Industrial and Systems Engineering at USC, writing is one of her true passions.
What captivates Patricia in writing is that it fuses art and advocacy in a seamlessly connected tapestry that pushes the fight for the underdog, unheard, and underrepresented. As a MENA person
Patricia is a staff writer at MENAarts. Even though she is studying Industrial and Systems Engineering at USC, writing is one of her true passions.
What captivates Patricia in writing is that it fuses art and advocacy in a seamlessly connected tapestry that pushes the fight for the underdog, unheard, and underrepresented. As a MENA person of color, Patricia feels that her identity and her story are almost always being erased. So, she aspires to use her position as a writer to highlight other unique MENA stories, talents, and gifts.
Patricia is also intrigued by advocating for the MENA community and raising awareness about the implications of the lack of MENA recognition by the US Census and their refusal to include a unique MENA category on federal forms. She has also founded MENA VOICES FOR CHANGE, a place where MENA folks can share their experience with being identified as white, and how that strips them not only of having a unique cultural identity but also limits their access to equitable resources.
On the side, Patricia created a petition to USC highlighting the need for a MENA Category on university forms and the Common App. Please show your support and sign the petition here!
We have a podcast!
More of an auditory person? Introducing...Mainstage! Join us as we spotlight the voices of inspiring MENA talent transforming the media landscape.