Maryland, USA  - Habib Habib.  Sounds like a musical, but the story of the Neumann College freshman with the duplicative name reads more like a documentary.

Habib came to the United States in 2005 as part of a youth exchange and scholarship program, living in San Diego with his aunt while attending school.  Typically, students return home after one academic year, but in Habib's case, home meant Iraq, where his Catholic family had been living in fear of extremists since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

That fear intensified when word began to spread in Baghdad that Habib was not, as his family claimed, studying in neighboring Jordan but rather in the U.S.  "When word got out, I was forced to stay in the U.S.," said Habib, who was granted asylum in 2006. "It was too dangerous to go home. I would be dead."

Michgian, USA - Tough economic times in Michigan have made it difficult on many Chaldean families.  Without a doubt, a large majority of Chaldeans have their own business or employ other Chaldeans.  The combination of cultural flexibility and understanding, language, and the hard-work ethic desired has brought Chaldean employees and employers together. 

Recognizing the need, the Chaldean Education & Career Center (CE&CC) has partnered with Oakland County Workforce Development Corps to provide Chaldeans a convenient, one-stop access to job training programs and services for employers and job seekers.

We have convenient centers located in highly populated Chaldean residential areas to serve your needs. 

California, USA - Chaldean delivery driver, Salim Audesh beams with pride as nearly 3,500 California educators give his son, Fadi Shaya a standing ovation. 

The Shaya Christian home outside of Baghdad was blown up when he was 6.  When most children would be learning their multiplication tables in school, Fadi was learning to fire a rifle to deter Muslims who had beaten him unconscious several times.  When not helping his father defend the family, Fadi would be making deliveries by mule in Iraq.  Consistent and repeated threats against Christians in Iraq, the Shaya family decided to leave everything behind and flee Iraq.  

Smuggled into Greece, Fadi Shaya spent the next few years later selling tissues and lottery tickets on the streets of Greece.  Eventually the family makes it to the shores of America and Shaya’s family focus coupled with American opportunity turns to extraordinary achievement. 

California, USA - California community college system expects to receive 1.7 percent increase proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, said Chris Yatooma. Yatooma director of fiscal planning for the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office in Sacramento. 

Community colleges get about two-thirds of their money from the state budget, and the rest from property taxes and student fees. State lawmakers have yet to pass a new budget this summer, but the The 1.7 percent increase - about $95 million - would pay for roughly 19,000 new students statewide. However, the state's 110 community colleges are expecting about 32,000 new students during the 2008-09 school year.

"I'm praying to God that the radiology technician job is available," said Lawrence Petu.  Petu started an accelerated program at West Hills College last August to become a technician - someone who helps with medical technology after being licensed by the state.

Michigan, USA - With the help a leading Chaldean educator at Wayne State University, efforts have been made to help qualified Chaldean students receive admission, garner scholarships, and transfer to Wayne State University from Oakland Community College.  Preferring to remain anonymous the Chaldean professor and lead administrator has been aggressively pursuing new options and pathways to help high school and community college students overcome barriers. 

Chaldean American Student Association (CASA) is pleased to inform Chaldean college bound students that Wayne State University and Oakland Community College (OCC) have signed an agreement making it easier for students in business, computer science and engineering at OCC to complete a bachelor's degree at Wayne State.   Chaldean students wishing to transfer to WSU will find it convenient to attend their upper-division courses on the main campus of WSU or at Wayne State's Oakland Center in Farmington Hills.

Michigan, USA - Developing on their growing relationship the Chaldean Education and CareerCenter and the University of Phoenix, Chaldeans are offered two local career fair opportunities in Southfield, Michigan. 

Corporate developer and diversity expert Stephanie English from University of Phoenix has been working with the Chaldean Education and Career Center to develop college education and career solutions for the Chaldean community.  The University is offering Chaldeans easy registration processes, one-on-one counseling, and now hosts two career fairs exposing job opportunities in the telecommunications and information technology industry for interested Chaldeans.     

“The Chaldean community has unique needs that the University of Phoenix perfectly fits.  We offer accredited college education and corporate training directly to hard-working Chaldeans.  Our university understands that many Chaldeans have a family to care for and may be unable or unwilling to travel to distant campuses or sit in a class for three to four hour stretches in the middle of the day.  Many Chaldeans are required to work long hours to provide for their family.  Our online courses are broadcasted directly to the homes or businesses of Chaldeans with ease and simplicity,” says English.

Michgian, USA - The Chaldean Federation of America (CFA) with supporting coordination from the Chaldean American Student Association (CASA) will be hosting the 26th Annual Chaldean Commencement and Gala Party.  The Chaldean Commencement celebrates the 2007-2008 Chaldean high school and college graduates.  The event showcases the community’s top student scholars and helps raise tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money for Chaldean students. 

The event will be held Thursday, June 12th starting at 4:00 p.m. at the Southfield Millennium Center, located on 15600 J. L. Hudson Drive in Southfield, MI. 48075.

Michigan, USA - Ask most southeast Michigan residents about Chaldeans and you’re likely to hear that Chaldeans are well known for their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, intelligence, hard-work ethics, competitive drive, and success.   The influential group of Iraqi immigrants seems to have a special knack of turning lemons into lemonade. 

“We learned from our parents and grandparents to rely on ourselves and to reject being dependant.  Our community struggle taught us not to rely on the government.  Doing so will enslave you and make you weak.  We were taught to work together as a family, help one another, and that each and every Chaldean, no matter where they work or how old they are, must make a difference,” says Renee Hindo of the Chaldean Education and Career Center in Southfield, Michigan.   

Can such a spirit survive in corporations where thinking outside-the-box is reserved only for executives?  Can the Chaldean entrepreneurship gene survive in professional and corporate environment?

Theresa Sitto, an English Language Learners and Reading Recovery teacher at Pleasant Lake Elementary in Walled Lake, Michigan seems to think so.  The 20 year teaching veteran shows that no matter what type of work or profession you do, you can make a difference.

Michigan, USA – Chaldean Education and Career Center (CECC) and the Southfield Public Library hosts a Chaldean community workshop series on computers.  The five week session invites Chaldean adults every Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., beginning March 29 to learn computer fundamentals. 

The five week course is free of charge to all registered guests, thanks to the donation of a Chaldean philanthropist and the Southfield public Library.  The course will cover computer basics, introduction to office applications, internet surfing, internet applications, and internet safety. 

The course will be taught in English, Aramaic/Syriac (Sourath), and Arabic.  Guests are required to register by calling (248) 356-0565.  The event is available to the first 30 respondents.  

Michigan, USA - Chaldeans preparing to attend college are invited to a FREE FAFSA filing session.  The event will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2008, from 2 – 4 p.m. at several locations in the metro Detroit area. 

The "College Goal Sunday" will offer college bound students to meet with finical aid experts and receive immediate assistance with submitting a federal student aid application.  Chaldeans not sure about college are encouraged to apply for the money now and decide later. If you wait, chances are you’ll get less.

Students needing assistance regarding scholarship or financial aid from the Chaldean Education and Career Center are required to first attend College Goal Sunday event.   Those who attend "College Goal Sunday" have a chance at more than $5,000 in scholarships and gift cards.