Rajaa Mohammad Ali started coming to the South Hills Family Center at the beginning of August when a friend invited her to join Family Group. Family Group is a time when kids can come to the Family Center to listen to stories, sing songs and play while parents enjoy time talking with each other and learning how to sew, knit and crochet. Rajaa was initially drawn to the idea of learning how to sew but now participates in other programs at the Family Center. She has enjoyed making new friends here and says the people she has met already “feel like family.”
Originally from Iraq, Rajaa enjoys cooking her native cuisine and sharing her culture. She recently taught a cooking class in the Family Center’s Community Kitchen. Participants from our women’s support group assisted Rajaa in the kitchen while the Whitehall Public Library filmed her demonstration of making Chicken Biryani, a traditional dish from her country. Rajaa’s recipe will be included in one of the We’re All Neighbors Meal Kits sponsored by the Whitehall Public Library. These meal kits highlight traditional foods from various cultures in our community.
