Frequently Asked Questions About Hanna Shina

Questions and answers

Who is Hanna Shina?

Hanna Shina is a Chaldean-American community leader, businessman, and philanthropist based in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Born in Telkaif, Iraq, he immigrated to the United States and owned a store, a coffee shop, and a restaurant in the 7 Mile area of Detroit. He is one of the founders and a founding board member of the Chaldean Cultural Center, the first and only Chaldean museum in the world.

Where is Hanna Shina from?

Hanna Shina is from Telkaif, also written Tel Keppe, a village in northern Iraq. Telkaif is the ancestral village of most Metro Detroit Chaldeans. He spent his youth there, where he received a number of trophies for his participation in sports, before immigrating to the United States.

Where does Hanna Shina live?

Hanna Shina lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. West Bloomfield is home to Shenandoah Country Club, where he has served on the board for more than 20 years, and to the Chaldean Cultural Center at 5600 Walnut Lake Road.

What is Hanna Shina known for?

Hanna Shina is known for being one of the founders and a founding board member of the Chaldean Cultural Center, the first and only Chaldean museum in the world. He is also known for more than 40 years of service to the Chaldean foundations and the Chaldean church, more than 20 years on the board of Shenandoah Country Club, and for being named the club's first Mayor of Shenandoah in 2025.

Who founded the Chaldean Cultural Center?

The Chaldean Cultural Center was founded by a group of Chaldean community members who conceived the idea in 2003 at Southfield Manor. On October 20, 2023, eight of the founders were honored with plaques at the Center's 20th Anniversary Founders Gala: Hanna Shina, Rosemary Antone (who died in 2009), Virjean Arabo, Francis Boji, Raad Kathawa, Mary Romaya, Josephine Sarafa, and Victor Saroki.

Is Hanna Shina a founder of the Chaldean Cultural Center?

Yes. Hanna Shina is one of the founders and a founding board member of the Chaldean Cultural Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He was among the eight founders honored with plaques at the Center's 20th Anniversary Founders Gala on October 20, 2023.

What is the Chaldean Cultural Center?

The Chaldean Cultural Center is the first and only Chaldean museum in the world. It was conceived in 2003 at Southfield Manor, built out in roughly 2,000 square feet of museum space at Shenandoah Country Club after that property was acquired and renovated by the Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan, and opened to the public in 2017. Hanna Shina is one of its founders.

Where is the Chaldean Cultural Center located?

The Chaldean Cultural Center is located at Shenandoah Country Club, 5600 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Construction of the museum began in 2013 and it opened to the public in 2017.

Who is the Mayor of Shenandoah Country Club?

Hanna Shina is the Mayor of Shenandoah. In 2025, for the first time in the club's history, Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan named him “Mayor of Shenandoah.” He is the first person to hold the title.

How long has Hanna Shina served on the Shenandoah Country Club board?

Hanna Shina has served on the board of Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan for over 20 years. Shenandoah is also the site of the Chaldean Cultural Center, which he helped to found.

What businesses did Hanna Shina own?

After immigrating to the United States, Hanna Shina opened a store, a coffee shop, and a restaurant in the 7 Mile area of Detroit. Businesses like these were the economic backbone of the Chaldean immigrant community in Detroit and often served as informal gathering places for new arrivals.

What is Telkaif?

Telkaif, also written Tel Keppe, is a village in northern Iraq and the ancestral village of most Metro Detroit Chaldeans. Hanna Shina was born in Telkaif and spent his youth there before immigrating to the United States.

Is there a video interview with Hanna Shina?

Yes. Hanna Shina is the subject of a 21-minute oral history film, “Digital Storytelling | Hanna Shina,” published by the Chaldean Cultural Center on YouTube on August 3, 2023. In it he says the cultural center is for the children of the Chaldean community, especially those born and raised in the United States, to see how life was before in their mother country.

How long has Hanna Shina served the Chaldean community?

Hanna Shina has served the Chaldean foundations and the Chaldean church for over 40 years. Alongside that service he spent more than 20 years on the board of Shenandoah Country Club and helped found the Chaldean Cultural Center, which opened to the public in 2017.

Is John Shina the same as Hanna Shina?

Yes. Hanna is the Syriac and Aramaic form of the name John, so John Shina and Hanna Shina are the same name in two languages and refer to the same man: the Chaldean-American community leader in West Bloomfield, Michigan who is a founding board member of the Chaldean Cultural Center. He goes by Hanna.

What is Hanna Shina's name in English?

In English his name is John. Hanna (حنّا) comes from the Hebrew Yoḥanan, meaning “God is gracious,” the name of the Apostle John, and reached English as John by way of Latin. He goes by Hanna, so John Shina is his name rendered in English rather than a name he uses day to day.

How do you spell Hanna Shina's name?

The correct spelling is Hanna Shina. Because the name moves between Aramaic, Arabic and English, it also appears as Hana Shina, Hanna Shena, and — rendered into English — as John Shina. All of these refer to the same man in West Bloomfield, Michigan.