The Latest: Read Sara Abou Rashed’s “In Arabic, the Word
for ‘War’ Is Similar to ‘Love”’ in POETRY Magazine
“Sara Abou Rashed is a powerful voice, an inspiration.”
—Marian Wright Edelman, The Children’s Defense Fund
Palestinian by blood. Syrian by memory. American by citizenship. Eastern in upbringing. Western in residence—a poetic matrix in exile, constantly mapping home.
Work with Sara
Sara is an accomplished poet and speaker who has delivered numerous keynote addresses, performed on stages big and small, and told stories all over. Her experience includes coaching, editing, leading workshops, storytelling, emceeing, commercial videos, live performances, keynote and commencement speeches in schools, universities, galas, corporate leadership trainings and more.
The Latest
Currently, Sara is finishing her MFA in poetry at the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Since Covid-19, her one-woman show, A Map of Myself: My Odyssey to America, has paused travel to different cities, schools, conferences, and universities. Other exciting projects are in the works! Stay connected to get the latest updates on events, etc.
Connect With Me
Empowerment, leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship and community are a few of my core values. I am passionate about change-making initiatives, especially ones concerned with the arts, youth, women, and immigrant and minority communities. Please contact me if your organization is interested in hosting me or if our missions, interests, projects intersect and we ought to cross paths!
About Sara Abou Rashed
Called “an inspiration,’’ by Marian Wright Edelman, Sara Abou Rashed is an exciting young voice in America. She is a poet, speaker, and storyteller.
Originally from Haifa, Palestine, but was born and raised in Syria, Sara moved with her family to Columbus, Ohio in 2013. Since then, she has keynoted at numerous conferences such as the National Convention of Teachers of English, the United States of Women Galvanize, and Senator Sherrod Brown’s Women’s Leadership Summit, among many others.
Some of Sara’s accolades include giving a TEDx Talk, getting nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and performing at the Tenement Museum of NYC. Her writings appear in over 10 publications, including the latest 9-12 English Language Arts curriculum from McGraw Hill, Poetry Magazine, Poetry Wales, Arab Lit Quarterly and are forthcoming in Pleiades and The Nation.
In 2018, Sara wrote and starred in her debut one-woman show titled A Map of Myself, in which she discusses identity, belonging, immigration, and finding home. Her show has been performed over 17 times across the United States.
Recently, Sara graduated from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with an MFA in Poetry. She graduated in May 2021 from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with her BA in Creative Writing and International Studies (MENA concentration).
Partners & Features
Sara Abou Rashed 