Assyrian Heritage Center

[Audio] Assyrian Heritage Center Preserving the Past. Inspiring the Future..

[Audio] Executive Summary Mission Statement Vision To be the global epicenter for Assyrian culture and a model for cultural preservation, intergenerational wellness, cross-cultural dialogue and community engagement. To preserve, celebrate, and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Assyrian civilization—one of the oldest in the world—by creating an inclusive and innovative hub for education, culture, technology, and community..

[Audio] It is widely recognized that good architecture significantly impacts its surroundings. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, Frank Gehry's Guggenheim boosted the City's economy with its astounding success. It changed the museum's role in city development. Vietnamese American Service Center: A first-of-its-kind, $50M, 37,000 sq. ft. facility offering senior wellness, dental, mental health services, childcare, vaccinations, and a pharmacy. Community-Centered Services: Programs were selected based on community input to support health, well-being, and accessibility. Additional Amenities: Includes meeting rooms, open office spaces, and computer access for public use. Project Leadership & Funding: Initiated in 2013 by Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Dave Cortese; fully funded by the county’s general fund. Imagine what it would be.

[Audio] A Bridge Between Past and Future: The Assyrian Heritage Center (AHC) will be more than a building—it will embody Assyrian history, resilience, and hopes for the future through symbolic design and cultural programming. Architectural Storytelling: The Center’s design will narrate the Assyrian journey—from imperial grandeur to survival and revival—using meaningful symbols of continuity, hope, and renewal. Cultural and Academic Hub: AHC will house the Assyrian Heritage Archival Library, preserving artifacts, oral histories, and scholarly works to educate and inspire future generations. Global Context: Assyrian artifacts are widely dispersed—from the British Museum to the Mosul Museum—making the AHC a vital location to reconnect and centralize Assyrian heritage. Scholarly Network: A comprehensive database of Assyriologists and experts will foster global collaboration and expand research in Assyrian studies. Living Archive: The Center will actively collect and share Assyrian narratives—digitally and physically—ensuring the culture remains accessible, evolving, and celebrated. Hanging Gardens of Babylon Reimagined With a Modern Twist What it could be- A Global attraction.

[Audio] Facilities and Programs Component Description Assyrian Museum Interactive exhibits, ancient artifacts, digital reconstructions of Nineveh & Babylon, rotating exhibitions with international museums. Technology Center VR/AR immersive experiences, Assyrian Empire in 3D, AI-powered historical simulations, future Assyrian cities concept lab, co-working space. Gymnasium Fitness and recreation for all ages, wellness programs, traditional Assyrian dance and martial arts. Senior Housing-Multi Generational Affordable culturally-sensitive assisted living. Childcare & Education Language immersion (Assyrian/Syriac), STEAM-focused early education, after-school programs. Art & Performance Center Assyrian music, dance, theater, rotating artist residencies. Community Center Open to all; hosts multicultural festivals, lectures, interfaith dialogues. Culinary & Hospitality Assyrian cafe and restaurant, cooking classes, catering. Event & Conference Spaces Available for rental; includes auditorium, meeting rooms, garden venues..

[Audio] Budget and Location Total estimated Budget $100M Break-Even Goal Year 7 Location San Francisco Bay Area.

[Audio] Phase 1 (Years 1-2): Planning & Capital Campaign Clarify vision, mission and set long-term goals Stakeholder outreach (first $1M), community engagement, retain paid professionals to conduct the initial phases while reporting to an advisory board of Assyrian scholars, community leaders, youth, elders, and cultural experts. Feasibility study, needs assessment, demand, evaluate potential locations, zoning, initial cost estimates Concept development, architectural vision, cultural authenticity Fund raising, finalize nonprofit formation and BOD, governance docs Site selection & planning, hire an architect, preliminary design concepts 7-Year Development Plan Phase 2 (Years 3-4): Construction & Pilot Programming Begin construction Temporary exhibit tours across the U.S. Launch Assyrian heritage digital archive Secure operational partnerships Phase 3 (Years 5-6): Grand Opening & Scaling Full opening of facilities Launch of revenue-generating programs Culinary enterprise and event rentals begin Phase 4 (Year 7): Stabilization & Expansion Reach operating breakeven Begin endowment campaign Explore international partnerships and cultural exchange.

[Audio] Phase-1 First $1M-Feasibility To hire paid-professionals to the Volunteer team, to develop detailed plans for Phase-1, Phase-2 and Phase-3 completion of the project. Approach Known Global Community Leaders, buy-in from the Community and Finalize Plans. Needs assessment Global Survey Who and when to raise the Funds initially.

[Audio] Phase 1 – Architectural Vision A paramount phase 1 goal is finding the optimal physical home for the AHC. Comprehensive research is needed in the following: Initial cost estimates Zoning Establishing an architectural vision Suitable locations Identifying the ideal physical location of AHC is central to the human-heritage mission and will prove indispensable in growing the center. By carefully analyzing where our core demographic lives, growth patterns, and cultural hubs, we ensure that our physical site expands AHC’s community reach..

[Audio] Phase 1 – Digital Version Phase 1 of the Assyrian Heritage Center will utilize extended reality tools to create a digital, augmented reality landscape for users to enjoy at a specific site or from around the world. To this end, AHC will seek out partnerships with leading tech firms (NVIDIA, Google, Apple, etc.). AHC gains access to high-end AI tools and a physical space to accommodate the extended reality experience. These firms gain the opportunity to advertise their AI tools in the socially favorable medium of a human heritage endeavor..

A Look Inside COSM. [Audio] The extended reality AHC aims to offer during its first phase blends current VR and AR experiences available to the public today: COSM, an extended reality entertainment company, is similar to what AHC is striving to provide. For example, they offer the user the experience to feel as though they are in the stadium for a football game, close to the field. AHC would use a similar technology to allow users to walk through the city of Nineveh, the Ashurbanipal library, or even a battle..

[Audio] Phase 1 – Foundation & Strategic Framework Phase 1 develops the concept of AHC and ensures cultural authenticity is a top priority. This could be achieved by studying survey responses, further interactions with interested individuals, and team brainstorming. Further building AHC’s foundation by conducting stakeholder outreach, establishing governance structures, and setting long-term strategic goals will be covered during phase 1..

[Audio] Phase 1. [image] Assyrian Heritage Center - Top-Down Timeline with Responsible Roles Vision & Foundation Community Engagement & Feasibility Study Concept Development & Program Planning Fundraising & Legal Setup Site Selection & Early Design Pre-Construction Preparation Responsible Roles Founding Team / Cultural Advisors Community Leaders / Consultants Program Planners / Designers Board / Fundraising Committee / Legal Architect / Project Manager Architect / Operations Team / Legal Timeline.

[Audio] Organizational Structure Nonprofit Status: 501(c)(3), have already been filed Careful Selection of Leadership and Advisory Board: Executive Director Director of Programs & Community Engagement CFO & Operations Manager Academic Council (Assyrian historians, university professors) Technology & Innovation Advisory Group Advisory Board with specific expertise Community and Youth Engagement Council.

[Audio] Governance & Accountability Transparent financial reporting (Form 990) Annual community reports Community Advisory Board with rotating representation Commitments with public access provisions Risk Mitigation Fundraising Gaps Phased building plan with scalable modules Construction Delays Buffer timeline & contingency fund (10%).

[Audio] Funding & Revenue Model Source Target ($) Major Philanthropists (10 donors) $30,000,000 Foundations (NEH, Getty, Ford) $20,000,000 Diaspora Community Campaign $15,000,000 Government Grants (CA Arts, NEA) $10,000,000 Corporate Sponsors $10,000,000 Institutional Partners $5,000,000 In-Kind Contributions & Land $10,000,000 Capital Campaign Targets ($100M).

[Audio] Source Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Culinary (cafe, catering, classes) $0.8M $1.2M $1.6M Events & Space Rentals $1.5M $2.2M $3.0M Ticketed Exhibitions $1.2M $1.5M $2.0M Memberships & Donations $0.8M $1.0M $1.2M Educational Programs & Camps $0.4M $0.6M $0.9M Government & Cultural Grants $1.5M $1.2M $1.0M Youth Day Care $0.3M $0.5M $0.7M Revenue Streams (Years 5-7 and beyond) Total Annual Revenue Goal by Year 7: $10.4M Annual Operating Costs (Est.): $9.5M Net Surplus by Year 7: $0.9M.

[Audio] Strategic Partnerships University Collaborators Non-Profit Collaborators Corporate Sponsors Assyrian Aid Society * The Smithsonian Institution Getty Research Institute World Monuments Fund Iraq Heritage Assyrian Studies* Assyrian Arts Institute* Assyrian Advisors* Global Church Foundations Gates Foundation Yield Giving (Mackenzie Scott) University of California, Berkeley (Near Eastern Studies) Harvard (Department of Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations) University of Chicago (Oriental Institute) SOAS University of London Stanford Digital Humanities Google (Digital archive & VR partnership) Meta (Cultural AR/VR funding) Airbnb (Hospitality & tourism partnerships) Intel or NVIDIA (Tech lab sponsorship) Salesforce (Community tech education) Aramark or Bon Appétit Mgmt Co. (Culinary training).

[Audio] Diaspora Mobilization: - Global Assyrian community fundraising campaign, digital storytelling, initial surveying of global assyrian population Cultural Diplomacy: - Embassies, consulates, UN cultural delegates Academic Engagement: -Annual Assyrian Studies Symposium, etc. Press & Media: -NYT, Nat Geo, Smithsonian Magazine, YouTube mini-doc series Digital Presence: -Website, social media, interactive timelines and VR previews Marketing & Outreach Strategy.

[Audio] Corporate Sponsorship Plan Google Creation of a Virtual World, past and future, Sponsoring the Visual Museum, with all the content and 3D virtual world of Assyrian Kingdom, Libraries, and New Community Center Amazon & NVIDIA Creation and Sponsors of Technology Center, with AI tools, educational classes, scholarships and hosting Meta Creation of Virtual Global Assyria, Connecting global Assyrian scholars, Universities, Libraries, Assyrian Studies, the New Virtual Country with all of its Population, Resources, People and Places Uber The Creation of Wheels by Assyrians, the future of Transportation, Autonomous cars, Flying Autonomous Planes, connecting Assyrians worldwide and more United Airlines Providing Global Transportation to the Center, with Discounts and Global Partners.

[Audio] Non-Profit Collaborators & Donors Margaret Petros Assyrian Aid Society * Iraq Heritage Assyrian Studies* Assyrian Arts Institute* Assyrian Advisors* Assyrian for Education* Assyrian National Council of Illinois * The Smithsonian Institution Getty Research Institute World Monuments Fund Global Church Foundations Gates Foundation Yield Giving (Mackenzie Scott.

[Audio] Model with Collaborator Organizations How to become credible to Donors and Organizations Advisors- Anna Eshoo, George Casey, Evan Lowe, Zaia Yonan, Nora Lacey Additional Collaborator- African American Community, Vietnamese Community Center Political Connections: Matt Mohan, Ash Pirayou, Dan O'Neill, Barbara Lee Assyrian Air Society- Joint Venture possible Government- Grants, legislations to protect Assyrians.

[Audio] Community Survey Over 86% of respondents feel a strong connection to their Assyrian Heritage. Respondents believed that the heritage center should focus on topics such as: Assyrian language preservation and learning (71%) . Assyrians in modern times (57%). Assyrian contributions to science and technology (50%). Assyrian contributions to art and literature (50%). Ancient Assyrian history and civilization (47%). Respondents felt that a virtual experience consisting of exhibits, webinars, and lectures coupled with social media would be the best ways to digitally engage with the center. 90% of respondents say they are likely to attend in person. 97% of respondents say inclusivity across all Assyrian communities is very important. 90% of respondents also say that it is important that non-Assyrian communities can engage in cultural exchange..

[Audio] Call to Action Community & Town Halls- Sargon, Tony.

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