On a recent cold night, a group of people met in a Cambridge cafe to discuss grief and joy.
Piano and soft vocal music filled the space as guests put their thoughts to paper. Then they passed a microphone around the room, reflecting on the difference in collective grief compared to individual grief, and sharing how they deal with their emotions. The evening wrapped up with bakhoor incense — made out of oil-infused wood chips — floating through the air as people exchanged contact information.
“People are craving depth and connectivity and something bigger than themselves,” cafe co-founder Ahlam Said told GBH News.
The new cafe in Huron Village, named Minara, was inspired by the Muslim tradition of sitting spaces where people convene to talk about topics that matter to them. Said told GBH News she’s already seen curious passersby poke their heads in, then stay awhile.
“It serves a really specific need of people that wanna gather in the evening and build community outside of bars. And not just Muslims; people in general aren’t drinking,” she said.
Magdiela Matta
GBH News
The people who came to the grief and joy–focused event represented a range of ages and personal histories. One woman came with her daughter to explore how music can help process emotions. Ezekiel Freeman was invited by one of the night’s speakers. He said the event reminded him of his study abroad experience in Morocco, where he felt welcomed by locals’ hospitality.
“It taught me a lot about the community and how they really take care of each other. It wasn’t something I was used to seeing as a Black man,” Freeman said.
Philip Agnew, a co-founder of Black Men Build, a national organization centered around healing for Black men, said the event was a great place to speak about and experience Muslim culture, outside of current events. “It’s important for spaces like Minara that highlight the beauty of Palestinian, of Muslim, and Arab culture in a way that isn’t just about the resistance, but that highlights the beauty of this culture,” he said.
Magdiela Matta
GBH News
Minara is a project by MIPSTERZ, a nonprofit arts and culture collective amplifying and enabling Muslim creative voices. The core team at Minara is made up of four people: Ahlam Said, Jana Amin, Abbas Rattani and Yusuf Siddiquee.
The founders describe it as a “third space,” a term for a gathering place outside of someone’s home and work, such as a library, park or cafe. Other third spaces around Boston include DS4SI and Just Book-ish.
“Everything from South Asian Carrom to Arabic Tawla to different conversation decks, that can help you and your friends yap while here and really lean into the power of third spaces to bring us together,” co-founder Jana Amin said.
Since Minara opened on Dec. 5, events have included a celebration of Uyghur history through literature, live storytelling and neighborhood jam sessions. With help from grant funding from the Boston-based Barr Foundation, the cafe plans to stay open at least through January.
Co-founder Rattani recalled an experience abroad when he saw a long line of people putting their differences aside to enjoy a meal at a Muslim-owned eatery. He hopes people at Minara will also be able to connect across differences.
“I’m inviting everyone and anyone to suspend their thoughts about what they think this place is and just take a leap of faith, and come check it out,’’ Rattani said. “Be in the space, get cozy, get creative, and let your imagination run wild.”