By Mia McCauley, Student Intern
Constellations of MENA: Illuminating Traditions and Shared Light sets the tone for this year’s Middle Eastern North African Heritage Month (MENAHM) at UW-Madison, inviting the campus community to view the region not as a single story but rather as a vibrant constellation of cultures, identities, and histories.
Led by the MENA Heritage Month Planning Collective, this March is filled with events created by students, for students.
The celebration begins with MENAHM’s kick-off event, A Night Under the Stars, on March 5. The kickoff features celestial-themed crafts, a DIY spice mix station, desserts, and fresh waffles-on-a-stick, as well as culturally based activities and prizes. Attendees are encouraged to wear traditional cultural attire.
To understand the heart behind this year’s theme, MENA Programming Intern Lina Raouf reflects on how the idea emerged, what it represents, and how it deeply resonates with MENA identities and community.
“Constellations of MENA came from brainstorming with the MENA Heritage Month Planning Collective, which consists of 25 amazing members representing many different backgrounds found in the MENA region,” said Raouf. “The MENA region is often spoken about as one singular entity, when in reality it is made up of dozens of cultures, languages, religions, and diasporic identities. We wanted a theme that honored both individuality and unity.”
From the Lights and Bites candle-making workshop to meaningful humanitarian aid partnerships at the MENA-Ful Mission: Packing with Purpose, MENAHM brings together creativity, community, and compassion in ways that reflect the heart of each part of the MENA region.
Another key event to look forward to is the 2026 Keynote, A Conversation with Ahmed Badr, on March 26. Badr, an Iraqi-American author and social entrepreneur, will share his journey and showcase multimedia projects from his work with displaced youth. As the founder of Narratio, an organization dedicated to supporting the creative expression of displaced young people, he will discuss how storytelling can serve as a tool for agency, community building, and leadership development. This free event will be followed by a moderated Q&A and is open to the public.
“I hope the community walks away with a deeper understanding of how diverse the MENA region truly is,” said Raouf. “ I want students who identify as MENA to feel seen and affirmed in their identity. At times, our community can feel overlooked or not fully understood, and my goal for this month is to help change that by creating visibility, celebration, and representation. I want people to leave with a sense of warmth and connection—learn something new, make a new friend, or create a memory that makes them happy. MENA Programming and MENA Heritage Month have been the most impactful parts of my undergraduate career. They have helped me grow both personally and professionally, and have allowed me to leave a real impact on my community. I truly hope this community continues to grow stronger and stronger in the years to come.”
For many students, this year’s theme holds a personal resonance, making Badr’s conversation particularly meaningful as it echoes personal stories of belonging.
“Being Moroccan and Turkish, identity has never felt singular to me,” said Raouf. I grew up navigating two cultures within my own home, learning different traditions, languages, and ways of seeing the world. The idea of constellations resonates with that experience because it honors complexity. It makes room for multiple identities to coexist while celebrating the distinct beauty of each one.”
Students are also encouraged to attend other campus events that celebrate MENA Heritage Month. On March 6, the Transfer Transition Program will host Breakfast Before Dawn. Come for an early morning gathering featuring delicious pre-dawn bites and warm company in the early morning hours. On March 19, experience the free musical performance Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile at Hamel Music Center featuring singer Laura Elkeslassy. Presented by The Conney Project on Jewish Arts and sponsored by the Mead Witter School of Music, this event unearths the music and stories of Judeo-Arab divas from midcentury North Africa, weaving North African folk and sacred music, spanning from traditional Andalusi style to popular Chaabi, to Francarabe cabaret.
“It is amazing to see events happening across campus during the month which engage in the diversity of the MENA community,” said Noreen Siddiqui, advisor to the MENAHM Planning Collective. “I hope that everyone is able to take part in some of these many events.”
Sponsored by the Multicultural Student Center and made possible by students whose passion for their heritage goes beyond borders and stereotypes, MENA Heritage Month recognizes a vibrant community, their stories, and their cultural contributions to the UW–Madison campus and beyond.
As the month unfolds, students are strongly encouraged to participate in the events, conversations, and celebrations that make the MENA community special. To begin the month in the spirit of connection, be sure to attend the MENAHM kick-off event on March 5.
For more information on Middle Eastern North African Programming or MENAHM, visit here.