Advancing compassion through education

 Turning communities into friends, advocates, and allies

The Qissah is a podcast and a vibrant storytelling platform. The term "Qissah," which means "story" in Arabic and some South Asian languages, encapsulates our mission. We focus on issues of racial justice, human rights, and the challenges faced by indigenous communities in the United States and around the globe. We showcase our work through compelling personal stories, insightful blogs, and engaging infographics. This page is a space to recognize each other's struggles, share stories of resiliency, foster genuine human connections, and advocate for a new era of peace and global solidarity, ultimately working towards a just and compassionate world.
Vision: ​To create, inspire, and promote a vibrant global movement that stretches across generations to fight for justice, human rights, and peaceful coexistence using the power of storytelling.
When we talk about Kashmir, we often hear about territorial disputes, geopolitical tensions, and occasional flare-ups between nuclear-armed neighbors. 
What gets lost in these discussions is a fundamental reality that scholar Ather Zia emphasizes repeatedly: Kashmir is home to 8 million people whose voices have been systematically silenced. "We're not talking about a sweater, we're not talking about wool, we're not talking about a region that's a territory between...​
What would it take to challenge the values that shaped your identity? For Miko Peled, a world-renowned activist, author, and former Zionist raised by key figures in Israel’s establishment as a state, it meant facing uncomfortable truths and breaking societal norms. Miko’s remarkable transformation as a global human rights advocate offers a glimpse into the necessary work that allows one to challenge ingrained beliefs to fight for justice. Miko is a...
Her grandmother’s English, Bianca Mabute-Louie says, was nonexistent. In San Gabriel Valley, a Los Angeles suburb where Cantonese billboards outnumber English ones and grocery stores stock bitter melon alongside Frosted Flakes, this wasn’t a liability. “She did not cooperate,” Mabute-Louie says. “She went her own way.” This refusal — to bend, to translate, to disappear — is the gravitational center of Bianca Mabute-Louie’s work. A sociology PhD candidate at...

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As a psychologist, anti-racism educator, and advocate for marginalized communities, Dr. Nathalie Edmond's journey informs her approach for dismantling systems of white supremacy, colonialism, and intergenerational trauma. 
Dr. Edmond owns a therapy practice called Mindful and Multicultural Counseling and leads an online membership community called Antiracism Revolution, all while authoring a best selling book, “Mindful Race Talk...
Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American attorney, activist, and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), shared her journey and vision for the Palestinian cause in our recent storytelling interview, emphasizing the importance of global solidarity. Born to parents who fled occupied Palestine in search of a better future, she grew up with a keen awareness of the injustices faced by her people. Recognizing the privilege, she had received, Arraf felt a “tremendous...
Pranay Somayajula, a second-generation Indian American, was raised in the liberal environment of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Growing up in a politically aware household, Pranay's initial activism was centered around domestic issues, particularly influenced by...
Lori Ajlouny's story is one of resilience, rich cultural heritage, and steadfast activism. Born to a Palestinian family from Ramallah, her narrative intertwines personal family history with the broader historical events of the Nakba and the ongoing struggles faced by...
In an enlightening conversation with Matthew Clark, a Michigan-based American Jew and activist, we delved into his personal journey of self-discovery and transformation. Matt's story is one of introspection, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to justice. From his upbringing in a community where support for Israel was synonymous with Jewish identity to his...
​Raised in a family where Dawud Walid's mother's side was Christian and his father's side Muslim, he navigated complex interfaith dynamics from an early age. "I had a problem with the whole idea of Trinity," he reflected, recounting his teenage spiritual explorations. This struggle led him to Malcolm X's autobiography, which profoundly inspired him to embrace Islam fully and commit to activism. "Malcolm X's journey... put me on the path to Islam,"...​
Dr. Ilise Cohen’s unique work for justice— intertwining scholarship and activism— has driven her to become a prominent advocate for Palestinian rights and a vocal critic of systemic racism within the Jewish community.
Born into a family with a rich tapestry of Sephardic heritage...
Rene Lichtman, born in 1937, is a man whose life story is woven from the threads of history’s darkest and most resilient moments. As a hidden child during the Holocaust...
In this episode of the "Storytelling Beyond Border" podcast, Jeyda Muhammad, a Princeton University student, talked about her involvement in the college encampments movement for Palestinian liberation. Jeyda, an architecture student, shared...
Raised in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Jonathan Kuttab's early life was marked by the political upheaval of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After his family moved to the United States following the Six-Day War, Kuttab pursued a...
In a recent storytelling podcast interview, Jaike Spotted Wolf—a prominent voice in the fight for Native American rights—shared her compelling life story. Born into the Hidatsa and Mandan tribes, with lineage also tracing...
​​In a recent episode of Storytelling Beyond Borders, we had the privilege of engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Pastor Brandi Hebert, a dynamic individual whose journey of faith and commitment to justice has been a guiding force...
In September 2007, the United Nations adopted a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that details 46 Articles about the rights of ALL indigenous peoples. Yet, the persistence of remaining conflict, illegal occupations...