Spring 2025 Showcase Addy

Baked into the Community
Elias Addy

The focus of this project is Charles and Huda Joukhadar, a couple that began a small business named Lebanese Sweet Treats earlier this year.  They sell their homemade Lebanese food every week at the Oxford Community Market in Oxford, Mississippi, with the fare consisting of za’ataron homemade pita and some of the best baklava I have had the pleasure of enjoying, among other growing options.  

After moving from Lebanon to the United States for Charles to attend graduate school in 2009, Huda and Charles moved to Oxford six years ago in 2019 after Charles accepted a position teaching Arabic at the University of Mississippi.  Until recently they were forced to live solely on Charles’ income due to immigration regulations, though upon finally receiving a green card this past year they were allowed a second source of income and decided to found Lebanese Sweet Treats.  

Huda showed me the process of making baklava, which like everything they sell is made in their home kitchen from scratch.  Huda prepares most of the food for the market, and you can clearly see the passion she holds for her food in many of the pictures included in this project.  In addition to covering the business and its growth, Charles also invited me into one of his classes to see another aspect of his life.  His passion for teaching is as clear as Huda’s is for her baking, and together they provide a compelling example of how to become baked into the community.

Elias Addy is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Mississippi majoring in Southern Studies and Political Science.  He was born and raised in his current home of Oxford, Mississippi.  Throughout his time at the University of Mississippi, he has developed literary, research, and artistic skills that he will apply to continue his education in a graduate program upon his graduation.  This will further his long-term goal of working within the field of Southern Studies.