Connection Point Director
Yasmina Mrabet interviewed writer and photojournalist Mati Milstein about his recent book, My New Middle East: Inside the Israeli Conundrum.
His responses are below. This is the second part of a two-part interview. Read part one here.
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You mentioned that you wanted to remove readers from their comfort zone. Do you feel you have removed yourself from your comfort zone? And if so, in what ways?
I was terrified of Palestinians. I was terrified of entering the West Bank. It was a place I didn’t know and didn’t understand. It was a place where …

Connection Point Director Yasmina Mrabet interviewed writer and photojournalist Mati Milstein about his recent book, My New Middle East: Inside the Israeli Conundrum. His responses are below. This is the first part of a two-part interview. Read part two here.
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What was the inspiration and intent behind your recently published book My New Middle East: Inside the Israeli Conundrum? Why was it important for you to share this part of your life?
The chapters that make up My New Middle East were written as newspaper columns over the course of ten years. The intention of …

Michele Mician
Palm Springs, CA USA 
“This year my mission is to actively respond to chaos with calm. To take negative experiences and see the good.”
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I live a wonderful life. I have two homes… one in beautiful sunny southwest Florida and one in warm, sunny, and equally beautiful southern California. My work took me to California a few years ago. It is very rewarding and I venture to say I have my dream job. I work as a sustainability manager for a small local government. My job entails working on many projects …

Connection Point Director Yasmina Mrabet interviewed rapper Lady Essence about her work and experience as a woman breaking into the male-dominated world of hip hop. Her answers are below.
Can you tell us a little about your personal background? How did you become interested in hip hop, and what inspired you to begin rapping?
I began rapping when I was 13 years old. It was really on a whim. I didn’t think rap music required talent and felt that it was too easy just to write some silly rhymes and have it be considered artistic. …