In late January and early February of 2023, artists, activists, and cultural practitioners from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gathered in the Jordanian capital of Amman for the AFSC’s latest convention in the region, which was organized and facilitated by Sama Consulting.

A mix of presentations to the group, informal discussions over coffee and meals, and site visits to cultural centers provided ample opportunities for artists to speak with philanthropic organizations, for activists to listen to the experiences of educators, and for theater practitioners to meet with poets, to give just a few examples.