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Connections
Connections

What's next for Syria? Syrian immigrants share their perspectives

By Evan Dawson,
Megan Mack, Julie Williams
Published January 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM EST
Five smiling men wearing headphones sit around a table in a radio talk studio: the man front left has short grey hair and is wearing a white button-down shirt, a black blazer, and jeans; the man front center has short grey hair and is wearing a grey jacket and dark pants; the man back left is bald and is wearing glasses and a rust-colored sweater over a plaid shirt; the man back center is bald and is wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer; the man at right has short dark hair and is wearing a navy blue hoodie with "WXXI" in white text.
George Yeadon
/
WXXI News
(foreground) Fares Albaradan, Ahmad Al Abdullah, (background) Berka Mou, and Guasem Al Ahmad on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, January 8, 2025
A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.
WXXI News

Around the world, Syrians have watched in awe as the oppressive Assad regime has collapsed. Suddenly, there is hope for return, for a vibrant Syrian future.

But there are also questions about the people who will lead Syria — now and in the years to come.

We talk to members of the local Syrian community about the monumental changes in Damascus.

Our guests:

  • Berka Mou, case manager for Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services
  • Fares Albaradan, Syrian immigrant who has been in Rochester for nine years
  • Guasem Al Ahmad, Syrian immigrant who has been in Rochester for one year
  • Ahmad Al Abdullah, Syrian immigrant who has been in Rochester for four months

*Note: To learn more about Rochester Resettlement Services or to make a donation, click here or call 585-319-3134.

Connections
Evan Dawson
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
See stories by Evan Dawson
Megan Mack
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.
See stories by Megan Mack
Julie Williams
Julie Williams is an associate producer for "Connections with Evan Dawson" and is also the office administrator for radio, news and technology and operations. She started at WXXI in 2019 and has been working on Connections since 2022.
See stories by Julie Williams