CONTEXTUAL. HUMANIZED. NUANCED.

STORIES

A selection of pieces I've written over the years.

A City Divided: How Albany was splintered across racial lines

She was fired for being publicly pro-Palestine. One year later, no one is hiring her.

150 years of Chinatown

What does it mean to be Muslim American?

Chinatown says no to Sixers arena — and has a history of fighting back

She pretended to be a woman of color — and traumatized the communities she claimed to help.

One Albany woman's COVID-19 nightmare

Morocco’s World Cup performance fuels pride among Philly Arabs

HPD bridging cultural gaps with Mandarin instruction

Syrian refugee shares kitchen talent with a dash of love for home

Soup joumou is a taste of freedom for Haitians celebrating independence across Philly

Patience pays off for Katy mosque

A trauma garden for migrant children

For one immigrant, Philadelphia Arabs is more than just a Facebook group — it’s a lifeline

Batavia ICE facility first to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

For young Muslims, Ramadan is an adjustment

Pain of gun violence still fresh a decade later

Wars only part of many traumas

As legal status options narrow for immigrants, domestic abuse reports rise

Remote learning challenges refugee students

COVID-19, hunger strikes, scramble for vaccine at Batavia ICE facility

Black funeral homes are rare necessity

Muslims look for marital bliss through new counseling program

Pearland ISD grapples with diversity, discrimination

Census renders Middle Easterners invisible

Vietnamese refugees, immigrants across U.S. face deportation under proposed Trump policy

Intergenerational fight for racial justice

U.S. sees sharp drop in ‘special immigrant visas’

After Floyd, Black therapists are more needed

American Muslims look to Quran when writing wills

Media appearances

NBC News Now: On Pan-Arab solidarity at the 2022 World Cup.

New York Now: On the complications of the Excluded Worker’s Fund.

New York Now: On Black Lives Matter protests in summer 2020.

Times Union: Moderated panel on what’s next for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Times Union: On redlining in Albany.

People’s Perception Project: On student-centered engagement journalism.

Multimedia

Video

Photo

Franklinton Development Association office on the corner of Rich Street and Town Street in Columbus, Ohio. January, 2016.

Emma Haase's artwork titled "Stitches", showcased at The Ohio State University's Survivor Gala in honor of victims of sexual violence and assault. April, 2015.

A cat sits in an alleyway in the Gemmeyzeh neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon. August, 2015.

moving forward.

A child pushes his bike in front of a church standing in front of a mosque in Nejmeh Square of downtown Beirut, Lebanon. August, 2015.

A man fishes on the coast in Beirut, Lebanon. August, 2015.

A small village in the mountains of Lebanon sports its patriotism with continuous lines of Lebanese flags. August, 2015.

A man stands outside of a home in the West Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. January, 2016.

A man stands outside the entrance to the warehouse of artist studios on 400 W. Rich St. in the East Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. January, 2016.

Two men stand in the backyard of a home in the East Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

Graffiti painted on the backside of the warehouse comprised of a collection of artist studios on 400 W. Rich St. in Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

growth spurts.

Graffiti painted on the backside of the warehouse comprised of a collection of artist studios on 400 W. Rich St. in Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

Cory Davidson, an artist at 400 W. Rich St., stands behind the studios in Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

A man walks in front of the 400 W. Rich St. artist studios in the East Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

Cory Davidson, artist at 400 W. Rich St., works on his painting in his studio in Columbus, Ohio. November, 2015.

Sami Mubarak, dental student at The Ohio State University, attends a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

Students attend a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

today, i wrap my hijab a little tighter.

Jana al-Akhras, law student at The Ohio State university, reads a poem at a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

that could have been me.

Students at The Ohio State University hold signs on N. High Street in Columbus, Ohio at a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad, an alumnus from The Ohio State University, attends a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

Multiple students gather outside the Ohio Union in Columbus, Ohio for a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

Students of The Ohio State University attend a candlelight vigil held for the three Muslim Americans, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. February, 2015.

A car is parked outside an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. June, 2012.

Six-year-old Attieh was naturally born with cleft hands and no legs. He is also mute and deaf, however he is very good at communicating — he can understand what you relate to him immediately. June, 2012.

Attieh presents his artwork in one of the camps run by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund in al-Khalil, West Bank. June, 2012.

Two-year-old Dana Sidir sits in the ICU of a hospital in al-Khalil, West Bank with respiratory paralysis. June, 2012.

Dana's mom feeds her her favorite snack, honey, in the ICU of a hospital in Khalil, West Bank. June, 2012.

A Qur'an hangs from the rearview mirror of a car in Ramallah, West Bank.

A road winds through the mountainous region of the West Bank. June, 2012.

Young girls in a summer camp sponsored by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund pose after participating in a fashion show. June, 2012.

A young girl does a runway walk in a fashion show at a summer camp run by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund in al-Khalil, West Bank. June, 2012.

A bus designed as a train drives children registered in a Palestine Children's Relief Fund summer camp through al-Khalil, West Bank. June, 2012.

Children pay tag during recess time at a summer camp in al-Khalil, West Bank. June, 2012.

A church stands in the village of Rolle, Switzerland. March, 2013.

A dock stretches out onto the shore of Lake Geneva in the village of Rolle, Switzerland. June, 2012.

Salem Shukri al-Attas, from the United Arab Emirates, recites spoken word poetry at an event hosted by the Arab Gulf State Institute in Washington, D.C. June, 2016.

The audience gathers for "RIWAYA: Spoken Word from the Gulf" at Busboys & Poets in Washington, D.C. June, 2016.

cover her.

Fatima al-Haddad, from Kuwait, recites spoken word poetry at an event hosted by the Arab Gulf State Institute in Washington, D.C. June, 2016.

The one who throws the trash is here...

Residents stroll the streets of the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon on August 17, 2016.

Moaz walks past graffiti symbolising Palestinian solidarity in an alleyway of the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon on August 17, 2016.

Bare necessities

Coffee and cigarettes sit at the feet of Ahmad Mohamad Ghanam, a Syrian-Palestinian refugee, in his home in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon on August 17, 2016.

Al-hamdulillah

Marwan al Joud, a Palestinian-Syrian refugee, bows in prayer in Ahmad Mohamad Ghanam's home in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps on August 17, 2016.

Ahmad Mohamad Ghanam lights a cigarette in his home in Sabra and Shatila on August 17, 2016.

Hana Leila, Ghanam's wife, holds a picture of their deceased son on August 17, 2016.

Al Hassan, Ghanam and Ghanam's son (left to right) sit in Ghanam's home in Sabra and Shatila on August 17, 2016.

Ghanam smiles for the camera in his home in Sabra and Shatila on August 17, 2016.

LOL

Residents chat on the streets of Sabra and Shatila on August 17, 2016.

Mohamad Mohamad and his wife, Saada Mohamad, sit in their home in Sabra and Shatila on August 17, 2016.

Abed Halimeh holds up his necklace, one charm reading "Palestine" in Arabic, the other a Kalashnikov, and the last in the shape of Handala, on August 18, 2016.

Residents walk through the streets of Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

Young kids and adolescents play in Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

Al Hassan sits outside the main office of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

A young boy walks through Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

Two young boys play marbles on the streets of Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

Residents walk through the market in Sabra and Shatila on August 18, 2016.

Khaled 'Anbar smokes a cigarette under a tent in the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli, Lebanon on August 20, 2016.

Two young brothers giggle in Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016.

Abu Ali Dahadi, Khaled 'Anbar, Osama Dawali and Wassim Dawali (left to right) sit under the shade in the Beddawi Camp on August 20, 2016.

A Syrian refugee works inside his clothing store in Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016.

A young woman walks down a street in Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016.

This neighborhood in the Beddawai Camp was named in memory of the Tel el-Zaatar Refugee Camp, which was massacred in 1976.

Two girls walk down the street of Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016, with the Camp's mosque looming in the background.

A man deliberates his next move during a game of chess in Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016.

Two women walk past a store selling lingerie in Camp Beddawi on August 20, 2016.

A group of women sit together in a tent in a UNHCR Syrian refugee in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

A little girl giggles in a tent in a UNHCR refugee camp in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

Generations

A little girl laughs while hiding behind her grandma in a UNHCR Syrian refugee camp in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

A group of children play with dirt in rocks in a UNHCR Syrian refugee camp in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

A group of children walk through a UNHCR Syrian refugee camp in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

A group of kids play in a UNHCR Syrian refugee camp in 'Akkar on August 23, 2016.

A girl stands outside a tent in a UNHCR Syrian refugee camp in 'Akkar on August 23, 2016.

Children play between the tents at a UNHCR refugee camp in 'Akkar, Lebanon on August 23, 2016.

Children stand in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A young girl carries a baby in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A boy stands in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A woman has a young girl hold her bag as she poses for the camera in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A man works on building the structure for a new tent in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A UNHCR worker gives out free ice cream to residents of UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A man works on building the structure for a new tent in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A young boy cracks up in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A young boy holds up peace signs in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

Children sit around a water well in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

Syrian refugees sit outside their tens in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A little girl stands in a tent in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A young woman walks through a tent, followed by a sheep, in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

Syrian refugees sit around the construction of a tent structure in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

Children snack on traditional Middle Eastern food in a tent in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A group of Syrian refugees sit in a tent in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

A UNHCR worker gives a child an ice cream cone in UNHCR Syrian refugee camp 054 in 'Akkar on August 24, 2016.

About

Massarah is a seasoned journalist, consultant and trainer dedicated to helping newsrooms and journalists implement more inclusive, culturally competent and community-centered engagement journalism at an institutional level.

With a deep commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, she has pioneered new beats from Upstate New York to Texas, showcasing the diversity and complexity of communities of color. Her work focuses on repairing and strengthening the relationship between newsrooms and the communities they serve.

Currently, Massarah is a contributing writer for Vox Media’s Language, Please project, which provides newsrooms with guidance in covering social, cultural and identity-related topics. She is also a consultant for Democracy Notes, the go-to trade publication for the US democracy space. Previously, she supported newsrooms nationwide in producing community-centered political coverage as the Democracy SOS Liaison & Digital Producer for Hearken. She also served as Program Director for The Diversity Pledge Institute’s Learning Circles, providing professional development to BIPOC journalists through small, peer-to-peer learning cohorts.

Before transitioning to journalism consulting, Massarah was a career local reporter. She covered communities of color for The Philadelphia Inquirer, immigration for the Times Union and the New York State Legislature for Johnson Newspaper Corp. She was also a Hearst Fellow, reporting on immigration and diverse communities for the Times Union and Houston Chronicle.

The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Massarah has been passionate about long-form storytelling since the age of 13. Her mission is to explore and expose the nuances of the experiences and identities of marginalized communities — showing the world our communities are not just pawns in a game of political chess, but humans beings.

💡 Interested in working together? Whether you're looking for consulting, training or collaborations in engagement journalism, diversity initiatives or storytelling, feel free to reach out!

*Abraham River. Chouwen, Lebanon. August 2015.*

contact

For more information, email me at massarah (at) qaderstories (dot) com.