Jamila Ghbeish, a Palestinian American, spent her early years in Libya before moving to the United States at eleven. After earning a BFA in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston, she relocated to San Francisco, where she built a versatile career as a photographer, bookkeeper, HR specialist, and general manager for a youth school and sports portraiture company. Her adaptability across various roles has been a hallmark of her professional journey. Passionate about personal growth, travel, and empowering others, Jamila is dedicated to helping people succeed.

MECA has been a powerful force in helping me reconnect with my Palestinian American roots.  Growing up, I often felt out of place, neither fully Palestinian nor American. At MECA, I’ve found a place where my cultural heritage and professional experience intersect, allowing me to contribute meaningfully to a cause that is deeply personal. It’s been an incredible opportunity to use my skills to support a mission that resonates with my identity and values.

Christy McDonald is a visual storyteller who, through a lens of social justice and equality, practices documentary and street photography in an effort to make sense of and interact with the world around her. In 2016 she returned from a photography trip to Palestine driven to learn as much as she could about Palestinian culture, history, politics and language. She started attending events and photographing various solidarity actions and protests and eventually became a regular volunteer at MECA. In October 2023 Christy was scheduled to spend a month photographing in the West Bank but Oct.7th postponed her trip and during an unprecedented time at MECA, she was asked to temporarily help out with Shop Palestine for a “couple of weeks.” Two-weeks turned into two months and eventually she joined our staff permanently.

A fifth generation San Franciscan, Christy holds a BA in Art Practice/Photography, from UC Berkeley. She lives in Berkeley with her husband and dog and has two grown daughters. When she’s not working, traveling or making photos she swims in the San Francisco Bay.

I believe in the work MECA does and the way we work directly with Palestinian communities on the ground in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon. I’m grateful to be a part of such a unique organization, to work every day in an environment of like-minded people and to feel I am at least trying to do my small part toward Palestinian liberation.