Chama Mechtaly — Using Art to Deradicalize the Middle East

Chama Mechtaly is the Founder of The Emma Lazarus Institute for Liberty and Tolerance, an action tank bridging media and policy gaps between the Middle-East and the Democratic West. She is a policy advisor, public speaker, artist, entrepreneur and activist working in service of conflict transformation, deradicalization and regional integration in MENA and beyond. Chama’s art has been shown across the world, and is the founder of the jewelry brand Moors & Saints.

Jay and Chama discuss Chama’s mixed-religion upbringing in Morocco, art as advocacy, how the reception to Chama’s art shaped her policy goals for the Mena region, and much more.

Episode Chapters

0:00 Intro

1:01 Growing up in a mixed family

3:28 Moroccan cultural diversity

10:31Interdisciplinary activism toward cultural integration

23:48Chama’s jewelry line, Moors and Saints

26:44Looking to the gulf for leadership

32:28Outro and goodbye

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