Speech

Keren HS Reunion

Seattle, 2025

By Chairman Abraha Zerai

Hello Honored DEKI KEREN XAADA,

1. Joke - Allow me to start with a joke and I will tell it in Tigringa …

I am so privileged to stand in front of Deki Keren Xaada who are always respectful, nice and love one another.  They enjoy laughter and jokes because they believe that happiness is the panacea to all illnesses.

Dear guests, thank you for coming to celebrate Keren and Kerenites here in Seattle, also known as the Rain City, located in the Evergreen State, WA.  Amongst us are people who came from far away.  They came from Australia, Germany, Canada, New York, DC, Wisconsin, Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, Arizona, Portland, California, Illinois, Minnesota, and other places.  Welcome to Seattle.

Allow me to introduce Board Members who worked diligently to organize this reunion.  They are Hassen Fereg, Bahlibi Tecle, Tesfagabir Misgina, Zeinab Warah, Michael E, Woldeslassie Tesfai, Kibra Gebre, Dr. Woldemariam Gebreslassi, Dr. Fickak Habtes, Dr. Mulugeta Abraha, Yemane Desta, Habtemichael Woldesus, Mehari Memhir Estifanos, Mohamed Birhan Wedi Nuru, Meron Mohamed Naka, Michael Negusse, Jowet Habtu, and myself, Abraha Zerai. Members who can’t make it to this reunion, but part of this board are Yacob Idris, Semira Osman, Mohamed Ali Mahmud, Semret Araya, Lydia Zerzgi, Surafeal Abrehe, Hussein Warah, and Teklit Estifanos.

2. Joke –  Our beloved Keren High School principal, Kanoni (RIP) made a joke about how short I am.  I am going to respond to that joke in Tigringa that I am happy to be short as it is a blessing in disguise for me…

Dear guests,

Deki Keren XAADA who reside in Seattle are so honored and excited to be your host this year.  We have Kerenites who contributed $2,000, $600, $500, $300, $250, $200 the rest paid $100.  We raised over fourteen thousand dollars to make this reunion successful.  We have other volunteers who are ready to entertain us for free.  They are Yemane (DJ), Sammy, Rezene, Robel and his wife, Kirbit, Alazar and.  Every Kerenite in Seattle contributed money and energy to make this get together memorable.  The youth organized themselves to help in many ways.  We will do everything and anything to make your stay fulfilling and worthy.  We were waiting for this day for so long.  We have a strong and united Keren Community.  In behalf of this united Kerenites Seattle community, I wish you pleasant time, connecting with childhood friends and making new ones.

 

We have a three-days program.  I would like to mention that Saturday afternoon is all reserved for the youth.  Our children, born back home or in the diaspora have to love and cherish Keren as we do.  We want them to say, “I am WEDI Keren XAADA or GUAL Keren XAADA.”  We have to make them believe that Keren is a special place on this planet earth.  We want them to take the lead in this Keren XAADA venture.

 

Why do we use the term KEREN XAADA? (a) Kerenites are LIBOM XAADA, meaning they are honest, friendly, and are not mean-spirited.   (b) The are tolerant and respect other beliefs, (c) The weather is moderate and comfortable, (d)   It has diverse community – it is inhabited by almost all the 9 Eritrean BIHERAT, and Ethiopians, Sudanese, Nigerians (Tequarir), Somalians, Italians, Greeks and so on. All these people live in peace, and harmony. (e) Keren’s people are inclusive.  When you come to Keren, the first day you are a guest, but the next day you are a Kerenite. (f) Most of all they are respectful and love one another.

 

What does Keren mean?  I heard some say the word is taken from Bilen language that says ‘KIRGHA’ which means stone.  Others say it is derived from Tigrina; keren means mountain.  Yes, Keren is surrounded by 4 mountains named ETAABIR, ZIBAN, SENKIL AND LALIMBA. There are only 3 gates to Keren XAADA; one takes to Asmara, another one takes to Agordat, and the last one takes to Nakfa.  Keren is guarded and protected by its mountains.

 

This is our 9th reunion.  Since its first inception, we saw many successes.  It brought back the childhood Keren memories. It doesn’t mean it was all smooth.  But as the saying goes “The people will board and exit the train BUT the train moves forward with a purpose and a determined goal.”  We will have more and more reunions come; every 2 years we will converge at a place to refresh our Keren memories.

I am WLAD Keren; I am a proud Kerenite; I love Keren XAADA, I believe in Friendship,  Respect, Tolerance, Inclusiveness, and Unity. 

Long Live Deki Keren XAADA

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Keren High School Reunion In Seattle

Report 2025 (Overview)

By Hassen Fereg

Event Name:  Keren High School Reunion Conference July 5- 7, 2025

Location:  University of Washington, Seattle. Moderna Hall.

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Seattle is called ‘Rainy City’ as it always rains.  However, this time, it compromised and it was dry for the three days of the event. It is always around 12 degrees centigrade, reminding us of the old climate of Keren.  We are delighted to share our happiness that the event was a great success, and far beyond our expectations for the work done, mostly by the local volunteer community members who sacrificed their time, energy, as well as financial resources to keep up with the standard of the event.  Around $14,000 US Dollars was contributed to cover the event!!

Our lion’s share of thanks goes to Jowet, Michael, and our chair, Abraha.  Job well done. Thanks.

Friday: (July 5th):  The event was officially opened around 6:00 PM (PST), however, participants were trickling in earlier than Friday.  There were around less than 150, excluding the locals. The Seattle Community provided visiting members with homemade food and drinks, including the local drink of “Sewa” for those who are interested.

The evening was full of laughter and joy.  The community's hospitality and generosity were beyond imagination. There was music and dance till midnight and after.  Everyone left to prepare for the next day.

Saturday (July 6th):  This is the day that the bulk of the activities took place.  The day opened with the event of candlelight vigil in memory of all those who gave their lives for the Independence of Eritrea, in the memory of all Keren classmates, childhood friends, etc, who passed away early, and all Kerenites who were part of this reunion since 2008 and departed.

This was followed by the Chairman's speech in introducing the union, members who worked hard for this event, and the effort exerted by the local Seattle members, Jowet, Michael, and Abraha.  Further, the Seattle volunteers who did make the event what it looked like.

This was followed by Hassen Fereg in expressing the Mission, Vision and Statement of the Union that reflect the discipline.  Aba Nuegesse's speech was no less. He stated that Keren is a mosaic Society and diverse; however, amid these, it maintains harmony, respect for each other, and tolerance.

The history of the only prominent factory of Sheshita (Societa) was shared with the attendees.

 Others who added flavor to the discussion are Awet Rusom (Youth Success); Dr. Sultan (Youth Health on Teen and Adolescence;) and How Youth Can Get Scholarships by Dr. Asfaw.  As well as a youth speaker on Technology, Tomas. Autism – Blain Essays Meheratb.

Youth Challenges and How to Tackle Problems by Araya Gebreselasie was very educational.

The speeches continued up to 6:00 pm, after which dinner, still donated by the community, was served, and music started.  It was a cultural night featuring traditional music, food, and performances that was an evening to be remembered.  It ended a little after midnight.

Sunday, July 7th: In general, this is the picnic day; however, it was more than that in Seattle. With more sheep slaughtered and abundant food provided.  Food was served on two fronts. For those fasting (Christian tradition) and those who are not fasting and can consume meat.  You cannot see the divide, but everything is served.  Thanks to the Seattle community for that.  Drinks-tea and coffee were served.  You can see the true meaning of Keren at the picnic.  Everyone was happy.  Families, individuals, visitors, and locals.

In conclusion, the Keren High School Reunion Conference was a deeply meaningful and inspiring event.  Particularly for the Youth who knew nothing of the union, or Keren for that matter.  With renewed energy and a clear action plan, the Keren Reunion is ready to play a vital role in the community's future.

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SEATTLE 2025

A Reunion with Strong Sense of Community

   By Bahlibi Tekle

The 9th Keren Highschool reunion was held in the city of Seattle from July 4 to July 7, 2025 at the University of Washington. When the decision was made to do the reunion in Seattle many people were not convinced as they had no any idea how the Seattle Keren community would handle this extraordinary reunion. The planning by our Seattle board members namely, Abraha Zerai, Jowet Kifleiesus and Michael Ngusse was a living proof how they convinced the community members of Seattle to be involved to the best of their potential. Everything happened much beyond our expectations. Specially the involvement of our hard-working Jowet, one of our youngest board members, made it possible to have the involvement of the much-needed youth group.

Most of the guests from outside Seattle arrived on Friday July 4 and the dormitories of the University of Washington were ready for them. Our Seattle board members including Zaineb Warah were welcoming the guests. Very vibrant Seattle community members served dinner and coffee to everyone who attended that evening. Music and dance continued throughout the night till 12:00 a.m. Around 200 people attended the Friday evening.

The much-anticipated gathering started on Saturday July 5 at around 10:30 a.m.

As usual the meeting started by lighting the candles for our martyrs and dead. Tesfagabir Mesghina and Bahlibi Tekle led the ceremony calling Redie Zeray, Brot Tekle, Welday Abe, Jemil Petros and Dr. Woldemariam gebresilasie to light the candles in memory of our martyrs, passed away students, and community members who attended the past reunions but who are not with us. Then one minute silence by all participants followed to remember everyone who died collectively.

Before we began our program, a congratulatory and good wish letter from Mr. Woldesus Amar was read by Jowet.

The program started with the special MC s, Jowet gual geometra and Belina Zemhret.  The addition of Belina Zemhret to Jowet refreshed the environment promising the youth involvement. Our first speaker was Abraha Zerai, the chair of the board who gave a welcoming speech and stressing the importance of the diversity of Keren. Then followed Hassen Fereg, a board member, who explained the history and mission of Keren high school reunion.

The first invited guest speaker was abba Negusse Feseha, the pastor of the Seattle Catholic community. Abba Negusse presented an excellent speech about the Unity, Respect, love and diversity in Keren. The next speaker was Tekle Kidane, the son of the director of Shishita. Actually, shishita comes from the word SOCIETA in Italian. He explained the formation and the opportunities shishita provided with the Keren people. Following this presentation everyone was so excited to see the participation of youth in number to present topics very important in nowadays. Sham Desbele, R.N, in coordination of Kibra Gebre, R.N focused on Youth Wellness from a nursing perspective and the dangers of postpartum depression. Awet Russom, a cyber security specialist, gave a special presentation on Youth success. Blain Esayas discussed about Autism and how to handle autistic kids.  Thomas Michael enlightened the audience what AI or artificial intelligence can do. Araya Gebreselasie discussed the timely important topic which is Youth Challenges and how to tackle problems. Asefaw Abraha outlined the information about how youth can get scholarships in U.S. A. Our last speaker was Dr. Sultan Michael presented about Youth health on teen and adolescence.

At a time, there was an open Mic to present Keren jokes. At the end of the day a special award was given to Abraha Zerai, Jowet Habtu, and Araya Gebreselassie for their unlimited contribution for the success of this reunion.

The day of the presentations was fun full of special information. The conference room was so full and many standing on the doors and sideways. There were at least 300 participants listening the presentations excluding the people outside the conference room

Lunch and dinner were provided in courtesy of the Seattle Keren community.

After dinner the skilled musicians started to enlighten the night. We were very fortunate to have the artists; Sami Ghenbot, Rezene, Robel and his wife, and their supporting cast.   Afeworki Shihin sang our old Keren songs to entertain the reunion participants.

Sunday was the BBQ Day which is everyone favorite. The BBQ was led by the three A s as they say. These were Asgedom Dirar, Aregai Negash, and Abraham Tekle. They prepared an abundant food more than enough for every one. I would guess there were close to 500.

In conclusion, the Seattle reunion was so successful. Everyone who came from Canada, the whole USA, Germany and Australia gave very positive feedback. All the expenses were covered through the Seattle community where everyone from Keren contributed voluntarily.

I would like to thank everybody who Participated and the board members who worked continuously for eight months in coordination of Abraha, Jowet and Michael.

Thank you, the Keren Seattle community. We would love to be back in Seattle time permitting.

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Speech

Overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

By Thomas Michael (2025)

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as thinking, learning, and making decisions. AI works by analyzing large amounts of data, recognizing patterns, and using those patterns to make predictions or decisions. For example, when you get personalized music recommendations on Spotify, AI is analyzing your past listening habits and comparing them to the preferences of others to suggest new songs you’ll like. In self-driving cars, AI uses sensors and data to understand the environment and make driving decisions. It’s essentially machines "learning" from experience, similar to how we improve our own skills over time.

One of the most exciting developments in AI is Agentic AI, which is AI that doesn't just follow instructions but can take actions on its own to achieve specific goals. Imagine an AI that can automatically book your travel or handle an entire customer service conversation, solving problems without human intervention. Tools like Salesforce are already using AI to send follow-up emails, log calls, and even automate workflows, helping businesses run more smoothly and efficiently.

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As AI continues to evolve, it's dramatically changing the workforce. Many routine, repetitive tasks—like data entry or generating simple reports—are now being automated, which frees up workers to focus on more complex, value-adding activities. But just like machines and robots replaced factory workers in the past, AI is beginning to replace many office jobs, especially those that involve routine or predictable tasks. For instance, AI agents can handle customer service interactions or process data much faster than humans can.

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But here’s the key: AI is one of the most powerful tools for creating value. Businesses exist to solve problems and create value for their customers, and AI is becoming an essential tool for doing that more effectively and efficiently. To stay ahead, people need to be able to use AI to create more value—better, faster, and smarter than before. Whether you're in marketing, design, education, or customer service, those who know how to use AI to solve problems will stand out. It’s no longer just about doing tasks; it's about leveraging AI to produce more impactful results in less time.

While AI brings exciting new opportunities, it also means the workforce is evolving. Routine office jobs are increasingly being automated, but new opportunities are emerging in areas like AI development, data science, cybersecurity, and ethics. So, it’s important to learn how to work with AI, not against it. This doesn’t mean you need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how to use it to make your work more valuable.

To thrive in an AI-driven world, focus on skills that AI can’t easily replace, like creativity, leadership, and problem-solving. Stay curious and adaptable, and be ready to collaborate with AI to create better outcomes. Whether you’re in tech, consulting, or any other industry, the future belongs to those who can use AI to innovate, solve problems, and drive value. The key takeaway? AI is a tool so learning how to use it effectively will set you apart in an increasingly automated world.

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2025 Keren Reunion in Seattle, WA

When Generations Unite and the Food is Just Right

By: A Proud Participant with a Full Belly and a Fuller Heart Zemhret Seare

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Let’s call it what it was: a Keren flavored masterpiece with a side of grilled magic and a surprise serving of ሽሓን ፉል Keren.

For one unforgettable weekend in Seattle, nostalgia met technology, BBQ met scholarship, and the spirit of Keren showed up in all its stubborn, joyful, dance happy glory. It wasn’t just a reunion, it was a multi-generational summit of culture, laughter, and meat smoke. A gathering that thought it was a conference. Or maybe a conference that accidentally brought 1000 lb Lamb.

To the Founders, the Young Guns, and Everyone in Between

Old school wisdom linked arms with new school hustle and pulled off an event so smooth, even the BBQ sauce felt underdressed. The microphones mostly worked, the PowerPoints mostly behaved, and the laughs? Unfiltered, belly deep, and sometimes dangerously close to choking on ቅጫ/ልገማት. 

And the music? Oh, the music was so good, even people with two left feet tried to moonwalk in slippery dress shoes. None of it would've been possible without the soul-stirring talents of our very own Keren sons Sami Gunbot,Rezene Abu Newas, and Mike Al, who came armed with chords, charisma, and just enough nostalgia to make grown folks dance like it was 1973 and curfew was optional. Their voices hit us right in the memories, and yes, some hips may never recover.

The Presenters: When a Cookout Turned Into ባይቶ Keren This year’s presentations didn’t just raise the bar, they grilled it, seasoned it, and served it with a side of enlightenment. We came expecting hugs and zigni; we left with notebooks, new vocabulary, and mild identity crises. Wait, are we AI READY??

If my memory serves right, this is how I saw it go down.

                  ●  Fr. Negusse Keleta opened the wisdom buffet by reminding us that Keren is more than a place, t’s a miracle of harmony, faith, and the art of coexisting diversity, His message? That our cultural DNA is marinated in peace, family, and a little bit of loud disagreement over where to place the chairs.

·                 ●  Dr. Asefaw Abrha came in like the career fairy godfather. He talked about resources, mentorship, and success strategies for first gen immigrants, without even charging a consultation fee! He offered himself as a helping hand to any young Kerenite looking to climb the ladder. You just had to catch him before someone pulled him to the dance floor.

·                 ●  Dr. Sultan gave us a gentle reality check on child development. Basically, kids need attention both mentally, emotional, and physical. Which means yes, someone has to stop scrolling and actually talk to them. He made it clear: raising children isn’t a solo mission; it takes a village and at least three aunties.

·                 ●  Tomas Michael gave a lively crash course on Artificial Intelligence, though some of us thought AI was a new Eritrean band! He walked us from “What’s machine learning?” all the way to “Can AI outperform ዶክቶር ወልደማርያም ገብረስላሰ a known Kidney specialist. Thomas, even made algorithms feel like a quick family recipe, faster than you can say ‘ሓሊብመንተል ላቦራቶሪ.’”

·                 ●  Awet Rusom stepped in with wisdom passed down from his father: "To know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from. Yes. He encouraged young people to bring their culture along, not just their phones and degrees, and reminded us that forgetting our roots is like eating ጥረ ስጋ without ሚጥሚጣ.

·   ●  Blain Hagos hit us in the heart with her presentation on Autism. Her warmth, honesty, and advocacy brought understanding where there was once silence. She didn’t just inform—she embraced, uplifted, and left the room blinking back tears. The mic may have crackled, but her message came through loud and beautifully clear.

  ●  Mr. Araya Gebreslasse, who is a mental health therapist, was amazing. In just 15 minutes, Mr. Araya delivered a powerful message that left a lasting impact. Drawing from his own personal struggles, he spoke with such honesty, passion, and a genuine desire to help others that he brought many in the audience to tears. His ability to present his profession in such a short time yet offer life-long lessons was truly remarkable. 

•  Kibra Gebre and Sham Desbele teamed up in a way that was both poetic and practical. The two RNs opened with a powerful truth: “We are born of love in our mother,” and from there, they brought much needed light to a topic we often avoid death, dignity, and the legacy we leave. They’re leading the charge to establish a postmortem resource center especially focused towards Eritrean Women, an urgent step for a community still struggling with basic health literacy. It was more than a presentation; it was the passing of a torch. A quiet revolution.

·                 ●  The presentations closed out with a documentary by Ahmed Ragi so powerful, you could hear chairs shifting and hearts swelling. His deep dive into the role Keren students played in Eritrea’s struggle was more than history, it was a group therapy session, a memory lane walk, and a reminder that courage once wore our same school uniforms. We left feeling proud, inspired, and very suspicious of anyone who didn’t shed at least one tear.

·   Belina Seare, was good, sharp wit, and surprised aerobics that had elders wondering if they’d signed up for a reunion or boot camp. She now demands applause before dinner. Together, these presenters turned a backyard reunion into a classroom, a sanctuary, and a time machine. And yes, it officially became the first known cookout where people asked, “Do you have the slides from that?”

This year’s Keren Reunion felt less like a casual gathering and more like a high-level summit, part congress, part cultural celebration, with gourmet food and non-stop dancing. It showed what happens when a forward-thinking community comes together: real dialogue, bold ideas, and enough coffee to fuel a revolution. The dream now? To bring this brilliance home to Keren City, where it all began.

Now, About That BBQ...If you measured success in smoke and second helpings, Seattle walked away with the gold medal and the grill. That barbecue was working harder than a Keren mom on ፋሲካ Or ዒድ ኣልፈጥር  day. Chicken flew off the flame, burgers vanished mid-flip, and no one believed anyone who said, “Just a small piece.”

Comedians: Truth Tellers in Disguise; they brought Keren style comedy loud, unfiltered, Tesfagabr, Mike Em, Fickak, Zeneb, ዓብዱ ሩባት jokes were so funny people were concerned their heart might stop, full of jokes that made even the elders laugh and shake their heads. 

Photographers: Catching the Chaos Like Pros. They captured everything: hugs, dance moves, photobombed elders, and at least 17 people mid-chew. One cousin’s forehead was missing in shot, but thankfully, the ዝልዝል ስጋ always looked stunning.

The Whole Vibe: Unity, Laughter, and Tech Troubles

We didn’t just gather, we sparked a movement. Between the wireless mic mishaps, the impromptu dancing, and deep debates over how spicy is too spicy, the spirit of Keren came alive. The elders brought wisdom, the youth brought rhythm, and the toddlers brought unlicensed chaos.

A huge shoutout to the dream team behind the scenes, led by the calm and brilliant ኡስታዝ Abraha Zerai, with stars like ሕትና ጀውጀው ጀመትራ, ወድ ትካቦ, ወድ ነጋሽ, ወድ ድራር, ወመስኒሁ, Abraham ኣባዱ and more, who made sure the food flipped, the mics worked, the music hit, and the vibes soared.

 

To All of You To the presenters, the tech crew, the grill warriors, the joke slingers Especially Abdu Rubat was amazing, the babysitters, the dancers, the tiktokers, the aunties who packed leftovers, and the uncles who stole chairs we see you, we love you, we ስዋ and መስ toast you.

 

Keren is unity, Keren is love, Keren is joy. Keren is knowledgeable with flavor and a full heart with a full plate. See you at the next one.

Same soul. Different zip code. Bring your notebook... and your appetite

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Dear Kerenites,

Our 9th Reunion is getting closer and closer.  It is from July 4 to 7, 2025. Many DEKI KEREN XAADA have already reserved their rooms. If you are thinking of joining us to be part of this great event, reserve your room asap; there is still room for you.  If you have any difficulty signing up, feel free to call (206) 355-3181.​