Chama Mechtaly — Using Art to Deradicalize the Middle East

All About Change

Chama Mechtaly is the Founder of The Emma Lazarus Institute for Liberty and Tolerance, an action tank bridging media and policy gaps between the Middle-East and the Democratic West. She is a policy advisor, public speaker, artist, entrepreneur and activist working in service of conflict transformation, deradicalization and regional integration in MENA and beyond. Chama’s art has been shown across the world, and is the founder of the jewelry brand Moors & Saints.

Jay and Chama discuss Chama’s mixed-religion upbringing in Morocco, art as advocacy, how the reception to Chama’s art shaped her policy goals for the Mena region, and much more.

Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:01 Growing up in a mixed family

3:28 Moroccan cultural diversity

10:31 Interdisciplinary activism toward cultural integration

23:48 Chama’s jewelry line, Moors and Saints

26:44 Looking to the gulf for leadership

32:28 Outro and goodbye

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Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight, in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.