On Yassin Terou’s first day in Knoxville, he walked down Cumberland Avenue and was taken aback by the strangers on the street smiling at him.

“What are they doing?” Terou remembered asking himself. “That looks funny.”

Now, the owner of Yassin’s Falafel House has embraced his American home, and he discussed the trials and triumphs of moving to America and opening his own business with students and the Knoxville community on Tuesday, March 28, as part of Campus Events Board’s Culture Week.

Before Terou began telling his story, audience members were welcomed to the International House Great Room with a table lined with food from Yassin’s Falafel House. Warm pita, hummus, baba ganoush and falafel sandwiches were offered, and the audience had the chance to taste Terou’s passion for his work.

Then, the short movie about Terou, his family and his business that was created by Square and Twitter was shown. The film chronicled Terou’s move to the United States, knowing no English, and how he went from selling sandwiches outside the Muslim Community of Knoxville mosque to owning his business downtown.

“Since I’ve come to Knoxville, the only thing I’ve felt is love — from Muslims, non-Muslims, even people that don’t believe in anything,” Terou said. “They’ve just given us love.”

Stating that he wouldn’t talk much about the conflict in Syria, Terou focused on his own journey and his belief in the American Dream.

Having nothing from Syria, no photos, no family heirlooms, Terou has focused on Knoxville and how to make his mark on Rocky Top.

“We want to be part of this community; we want to build it and even help you,” Terou said. “We want to help the American community. The people who can’t work. The people who are sick. The old people.

“We want to help you, not only get help.”

This also includes sharing his religion and culture with the larger community. Before opening his falafel shop, Terou sold sandwiches outside of his mosque, and when word spread about his food, non-Muslims would stop by, eat some falafel and get a glimpse into Knoxville’s Muslim community — the same community that helped Terou and his family build their American Dream.

After meeting Nadeem Siddiqi, a Muslim community leader in Knoxville and the campus chaplain, the two paired up and opened Yassin’s Falafel House. They started with $2,000 and two plastic tables. Terou would rent space in a friend’s kitchen, make his food there, then bring it to his storefront to sell.

Now, Yassin’s has grown to accommodate more customers, but Terou still focuses on making simple food well. He aims to serve customers, who have become like family, the best quality food he can.

“This is very good for a Syrian, Muslim guy,” Terou joked.

However, Terou did focus on the seriousness of being a refugee, explaining how long and tedious the process to becoming a refugee can be.

“This is not your choice,” Terou said. “A lot of us don’t want to leave our house. Now, Knoxville’s my home, but when I come, (I thought) maybe I would want to go back. But a lot of people, they don’t have this choice.”

Siddiqi then spoke and applauded his friend and business partner’s drive to make his place in the community. Referencing the current political climate surrounding the Middle East and the Muslim community, Siddiqi said it is Terou’s courageousness that has made the mark Yassin’s has left on the community possible.

“One thing I really appreciate about Yassin is the authenticity and fearless … that video’s not possible without some fearlessness,” Siddiqi said. “If you’re playing it cautious, if you’re playing it safe, if you’re in this zone where no one’s going to affect you, you might sell some falafels, you might sell some fries, but you’re not going to impact the community in any way. It’s not going to happen.”

Acknowledging Terou’s effect on the community, Eddie Roe, CEB member and senior in College Scholars, said when the CEB Arts & Culture committee brainstormed speakers to bring for the event, someone immediately suggested Terou. Wanting to bring in a community leader, CEB agreed that Terou fit the event’s purpose.

“We wanted to highlight a community member who’s really shown this cultural highlight …,” Roe said. “We wanted to bridge the gap with community for Culture Week.”

On April 29, Yassin’s Falafel House will be awarded the Institution for Change award by the non-profit community shares. This honor is awarded to “a business or institution that has implemented an initiative that demonstrates socially conscious business practices in its dealings with the community.”

Stemming from Terou’s compassion and his religion, the award honors Terou’s goal of creating one community, not a divided one.

“As-salāmu ʿalaykum. It means peace be upon you. A lot of people think it’s only for Muslims and Arabs. Peace is for everybody. It’s not only for us,” Terou said. “When I say ‘As-salāmu ʿalaykum,’ I say it for everyone.

“That’s what I believe, and that’s what I hope for you and for us.”