December 5, 2025 – Chicago, Illinois

The Assyrian American Chamber of Commerce hosted a spirited and well-attended Christmas Revival at Crystal Palace, drawing together the leading Assyrian organizations of Illinois, Bishop Mar Paulus of the Assyrian Church of the East, three Illinois state senators, and a range of civic and community leaders. The event marked a renewed effort to strengthen the economic, cultural, and social foundations of the Assyrian community.

Among the evening’s highlights was the Chamber’s presentation of two major awards. Senator Ram Villivalam, who opened his remarks by greeting the audience in Assyrian, received the Assyrian Business Empowerment Award for his support of Assyrian business initiatives and his ongoing advocacy for the community. The Chamber also honored Mr. Tiglat Issabey, head of the Assyrian Cultural Foundation, with a special award recognizing him as an advocate for Assyrian culture, history, and music—acknowledging his leadership in advancing Assyrian arts, historical scholarship, and community programming.

Senator Fine, currently running for the congressional seat of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, praised the Chamber for its work to uplift and unify the Assyrian community, emphasizing that collective progress is possible when individuals and organizations support one another. Senator Kevil Olicol, who played a key role in passing Senate Resolution 211—formally designating April as Assyrian American Heritage Month in Illinois—also addressed the gathering. He noted that the recognition aligns with the Assyrian New Year (Akitu) and honors the profound cultural, historical, and economic contributions of the estimated 100,000 Assyrians living in Illinois, while acknowledging the community’s endurance in the face of historic tragedies, including the Assyrian Genocide. Senator Olicol presented an official copy of the Resolution to Mr. Alan Mooshekh, President of the Assyrian American National Federation.

Mr. Mooshekh thanked the Chamber for its leadership and called for deeper cooperation among all Assyrian organizations, stressing that only through unity can the community advance its collective interests.

Also speaking was Mr. Simon Enwia, who leads an initiative to create virtual employment opportunities for Assyrians in the homeland through VA Teams. He emphasized the dual benefits of the project: providing Assyrian professionals in the region with stable income and supplying American companies with highly skilled talent at competitive rates.

The keynote remarks were delivered by Mr. Robert DeKelaita, Executive Director of the Assyrian American Chamber of Commerce, who outlined the Chamber’s mission to revive Chicago’s Assyrian community and strengthen its entrepreneurial spirit. He explained that the Chamber serves as a unified voice for Assyrian businesses at the local, state, and federal levels, while also creating meaningful opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and grow.

Beyond advocacy and networking, the Chamber provides practical support to help businesses operate more effectively, works to enhance the overall economic vitality and visibility of the community, and functions as an information hub that keeps members informed about economic trends, regulatory developments, and other matters essential to business success. Mr. DeKelaita emphasized that a chamber exists so its members can thrive at a level unattainable in isolation, describing the Assyrian Chamber as “the cement that aligns our business interests with both individual and collective prosperity,” and noting that lifting one another up is the foundation of a thriving community and nation. He then outlined current initiatives, including building a national economic network linking Assyrian businesses across Chicago, Detroit, Arizona, and California; negotiating favorable terms with suppliers and service providers to reduce costs and increase value; advocating for policies that benefit Assyrian entrepreneurs; and coordinating with partner organizations to create a unified and influential national voice for Assyrian economic and cultural advancement. Looking to the future, he described the Chamber’s goals of establishing a fully staffed, professionally run office; offering consistent support to Assyrian businesses and individual entrepreneurs; fostering a strong sense of belonging, pride, and confidence within the business community; celebrating members’ successes; and standing by them during times of challenge. In closing, Mr. DeKelaita reaffirmed the Chamber’s guiding principle: “When you succeed, we succeed—as an organization, as a community, and as a nation.”