Policy advocacy & strategic analysis
SOUL maintains an active presence in U.S. policy circles, engaging directly with the institutions and individuals shaping decisions on Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
Our work includes briefings with congressional offices, dialogue with the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies, and collaboration with bipartisan policy organizations and think tanks. Through these channels, we provide timely perspectives on political, security, and regional developments affecting Lebanon.
SOUL also contributes to crisis communication, public messaging, and civil peace initiatives, helping ensure that complex developments are understood with clarity and that Lebanese concerns are represented in serious policy discussions.
By building sustained relationships across government, research, and advocacy communities, SOUL works to keep Lebanon present in the conversations where policy is shaped and decisions are made.
Washington matters for Lebanon
Washington is central to SOUL’s long-term strategy because it brings together the institutions that shape U.S. foreign policy, congressional priorities, international diplomacy, and global public debate.
Maintaining a credible presence there allows SOUL to move beyond episodic advocacy and build sustained relationships with policymakers, institutions, experts, and opinion leaders whose decisions can directly affect Lebanon.
Our goal is to establish SOUL as a trusted and enduring point of reference on Lebanese affairs—one capable of translating realities on the ground into informed policy engagement and connecting Lebanese concerns with the institutions that can help shape meaningful outcomes.
In this role, SOUL serves as a bridge between Lebanon and Washington, strengthening understanding, continuity, and strategic dialogue over the long term.
Cultural diplomacy
Lebanese heritage is an essential part of SOUL’s identity and public engagement, both in Washington and in Lebanon. Through cultural, social, and artistic initiatives, we create spaces where Lebanon is experienced not only through politics and policy, but through its history, traditions, creativity, and community life.
Our activities include art exhibitions, cultural dinners, heritage presentations, social gatherings, and public events that bring together Lebanese communities at home and abroad. In Lebanon, these initiatives help strengthen local cultural life, preserve collective memory, and create opportunities for connection across communities and generations.
In Washington, they also serve as a form of cultural diplomacy, introducing wider audiences to Lebanon’s richness and diversity while strengthening relationships with diaspora and Arab-American institutions.
For SOUL, culture and art are more than celebration. They are tools of connection, identity, continuity, and soft power—linking Lebanon to its diaspora while reinforcing the social fabric within Lebanon itself.
August 4 memorial & cultural resistance
Preserving the memory of the Beirut Port Explosion is one of SOUL’s enduring commitments. Through art, culture, and advocacy, we work to keep the victims, their families, and the demand for justice in public view.
Our annual memorial exhibitions in Beirut, Byblos, and Bejje, including our signature “Keep Their Memories Alive” initiative, bring together established artists, students, and emerging talent around themes of memory, justice, and resilience.
SOUL also engages directly with victims’ families, participates in memorial ceremonies, and advocates with institutions in the United States and France to sustain international attention and accountability.
Cultural heritage advocacy—New York, NY
The Pen: Poets in the Park — SOUL's correction effort
SOUL’s Cultural Diplomacy in Action
NYC Parks Correction — The Pen: Poets in the Park
When New York City installed The Pen: Poets in the Park at Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza in April 2026, the monument aimed to celebrate nine influential writers of the Mahjar movement. Yet its interpretive plaque introduced a significant historical inaccuracy by identifying all nine poets as “Syrian.” This designation reflected an outdated Ottoman-era immigration label once used by U.S. officials, not the writers’ actual birthplaces.
This misattribution erased a core part of Lebanese literary heritage.
SOUL’s research established the correct record: seven of the nine poets were born in present‑day Lebanon, while two were born in Homs, Syria. Recognizing the importance of historical precision in public cultural representation, SOUL documented these findings and initiated a formal correction process with NYC Parks.
VDL Interview—Pierre Maroun
This effort reflects SOUL’s cultural diplomacy in action—ensuring that public monuments honor the identities and legacies of Levantine writers accurately and respectfully.
NYC Parks Correction — The Pen: Poets in the Park
On June 2, 2026, we followed up with Mr. Jonathan Kuhn of NYC Parks regarding the progress on the historical clarification and correction of the park monument.
Mr. Kuhn confirmed that "NYC Parks has amended the interpretive sign language to more clearly state that the majority of the vanished community known as “Little Syria” or the “Syrian Quarter” was from Lebanon and that the relevant authors referenced in the sign and artwork will be explicitly identified as “from Lebanon.”
Pierre A. Maroun
President Shields of United Lebanon.
Advocacy throughcultural & social events
SOUL4LEBANON hosts a variety of events that celebrate Lebanese culture, support local communities, and foster connections among expatriates and friends of Lebanon.
Christmas recitals
Join us for free Christmas recitals featuring choirs, musicians, and family gatherings in Bejje, Byblos, and Beirut.
Lebanese product expos
Discover showcases of local crafts, foods, and artisanal goods, supporting small producers and rural entrepreneurs.
Cheese and wine evenings
Experience cultural gatherings for expatriate families visiting Lebanon, celebrating Lebanese hospitality and heritage.
New Year's Eve celebrations
Participate in free New Year's Eve and holiday celebrations for communities with food, music, and activities for all.