Dalel B. Khalil

Dalel is available to speak on: Cross–Cultural Understanding.

About Dalel Khalil

Dalel B. KhalilDalel B. Khalil is a Syrian–American who survived growing up in the cross–fire of two of the most diametrically opposed cultures — the conservative Arabic and liberal American one. Having been raised precisely in the middle of veil and thong, Dalel has the rare ability to not only understand each culture, but also to address sensitive issues in a creative, palatable way. Best of all, her engaging, fun and charismatic personality enables her to translate those differences to others in a non–threatening, Colbert–like way. She has traveled to 18 different countries and is committed to fostering peace through humor and culture.

Dalel spent time in Damascus, Syria where she volunteered with Iraqi refugees and did public relations work with the Middle East Fellowship, which helps provide humanitarian relief to millions of displaced Iraqis. This was her first trip alone to the Middle East, during which time she traveled extensively through Syria, as well as to Jordan, Dubai and Lebanon. She also got yelled at by rude taxi drivers who begged her to speak English because they didn’t quite understand her “ghetto–fabulous” Syrian accent. (Yill an…!)

Dalel is a columnist for Aramica Magazine, The Independent Monitor, a blogger for Arabisto.com, and will soon be starting her own blog. She currently lectures around the country promoting cross–cultural understanding — most recently speaking at Wellesley College. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter, anchor, talk show host and morning show co-host for three of Pittsburgh’s top radio stations (WDVE, WAMO, KDKA).

About Dalel’s Determination:
A broke actress, she snuck into the ‘DVE studios, makeup and hair done to perfection, slammed her resume and photo down and told the morning show producer You should hire me because I’m good! I just came back from New York and I do a million voices – and your show needs me! And thus began her 8 year radio career!

Accolades

As a Syrian-American who “survived growing up in the cross-fire of two of the most diametrically opposed cultures, the East and the West,” Khalil is no doubt an expert on the subject of assimilation. And though dealing with a potentially serious subject (especially considering the current xenophobic climate of our country), Khalil instead chooses a tongue–in–cheek approach, presenting her ideas as a self-help book — but one that relies heavily on humor to educate and help.
- The Pittsburgh Magazine, June 2010

Topics

• Cross–Cultural Understanding