February 2017 Newsletter
Issue I

IAWF NorCal Hosts Women's Leadership Conference in San Francisco


The Iranian American Women Foundation is excited for its upcoming Women's Leadership Conference! The Conference will be hosted on April 16th, 2017 at Westin SFO. It will feature a diverse array of engaging speakers, empowering stories, and will provide opportunities to connect with fellow members of the IAWF community. We look forward to seeing you very soon!


SAVE THE DATE

NorCal Women's Leadership Conference

Date & Time
April 16th, 2017 9am-5pm

Event Location
Westin SFO

IAWF CONNECT SERIES

One of the vital goals of IAWF is to connect and empower women in our community. IAWF Connect is a regular series that aims to inspire women who have made great contributions on behalf of our community. On March 2, 2017, we invite you to join us in welcoming Firoozeh Dumas and Yassamin Maleknasr at Hotel Irvine. Join us for a networking mixer at Hotel Irvine's Red Bar from 5:30-6:30pm, where you will be able to meet with  professional 
Iranian women. Following the networking reception from 6:30-8:00 pm, we will hear from guest speakers Firoozeh Dumas and Yassamin Maleknasr.  Firoozeh Dumas is an acclaimed author who gifted us with the smashingly funny hit, "Funny in Farsi".  We are also proud to present Yassamin Maleknasr, an award winning actor and filmmaker, whose latest work, "Women of the Silk Road," pushes us to explore the connections between the East and West.  We hope to see you all on March 2, 2017 for a night of networking, education and inspiration!

MARCH 2ND 2017 | 5:30-8:00PM

For RSVP please click HERE.

 


Narges Bajoghli
New York
 
Narges Bajoghli, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in International and Public Affairs at the Watson Institute at Brown University. She received her PhD from New York University, where she was also trained as a documentary filmmaker. As the recipient of the Susan Knafel Fellowship, Narges spent three semesters researching at the University of Tehran's Faculty of Law and Political Science, and developing projects focused on the victims of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War. Narges is also the co-founder of Iranian Alliances Across Borders, which focuses on empowering the young generation of Iranian Americans through leadership building. IAAB is the largest youth-based organization in the Iranian diaspora. In addition to her academic writing, Narges has also written about Iran for a wider audience in The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Al Monitor, Middle East Research and Information Project, The Huffington Post, and LobeLog. Visit her IAWF profile here.
Nahal Iravani-Sani
Northern California

Nahal Iravani-Sani is a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California, currently assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit. Dedicated to education and mentorship, Iravani-Sani also instructs Trial Advocacy at Stanford Law School and Santa Clara University School of Law. As an immigrant to the United States at a young age, Iravani-Sani is passionate about her role as an ambassador of the Iranian-American community. She has served in leadership positions for our community organizations, including the boards of the Iranian American Bar Association, Pars Equality Center, and the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans. Iravani-Sani has been the recipient of the Unity Award by the San Francisco Minority Bar Coalition and the Distinguished Service Award by the Iranian American Bar Association. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2016 Judge's Night Diversity Award for her commitment and leadership in promoting diversity in the legal profession. Nahal Iravani- Sani has contributed her services to the IAWF as a speaker and mentor.  V isit Nahal Iravani-Sani's IAWF profile  here. 
Tannaz Mazarei
Southern California

IAWF would like to thank Tannaz Mazarei for her contributed services to the organization. Tannaz "Tawny" Mazarei obtained her bachelors in psycho-biology from the University of California at Los Angeles and her Juris Doctorate (JD) from Southwestern University School of Law. She was admitted to the California bar in 1997. Tannaz spent the first ten years of her practice working in two mid-size law firms practicing general civil litigation, eventually becoming a partner in another civil litigation/ family law firm. In 2013, Tannaz founded her own law practice, Mazarei Law Groups, and has focused her practice on personal injury, employment law and general business litigation. In addition to practicing law, Tannaz has been active with Farhang Foundation, acting as the Chair of the Orange County Council, Working Wardrobes, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), IABA (Iranian American Bar Association OC Chapter), Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, and Board of Directors of IAWF. Visit Tannaz Mazarei's IAWF profile  here.
IAWF Mentorship Course Takes Off

This month, IAWF kicked off its mentorship program designed to connect leaders in various fields with aspiring younger generations of Iranian American women.  During the mentorship orientation, members participated in team building exercises to develop rapport and establish trust.  IAWF staff facilitated the orientation, provided professionally created Mentorship Booklets and managed all coordination, and they will continue to provide their professional support. With a diverse background of skills and experience, IAWF mentors bring their expertise in their respective fields to supporting a mentee as they navigate their own career path. IAWF's 10-month long mentorship course aims to provide a space for deeper connection and co-learning, and helping the next generation find focus and clarity regarding their personal and professional paths.  As mentors and mentees continue their 10-month journey, our hope is that they will create lasting bonds that surpass the course. While enrollment for this year's Mentorship Program is closed, please feel free to contact us for additional information if you are interested in learning more about our program and want to be involved next year.
Circle of 1,000 Featured Member: Foojan Zeine

Dr. Foojan Zeine is an international speaker, author, psychotherapist, life and executive coach. She has her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed marriage & family therapist. Dr. Zeine has a large private practice in Tarzana, California. Her expertise is in intimate relations and addictive behaviors. She has extensive experience treating depression, anxiety, traumas, and domestic violence. Dr. Zeine is the originator and the author of the Awareness Integration Psychotherapeutic model, which is a multi-modality approach and intervention toward minimizing depression and anxiety while improving self-esteem and self-confidence. The model was published in the International Journal for Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience. Dr. Zeine is the founder, CEO and the Clinical Director for Personal Growth Institute, a nonprofit organization that offers psychotherapy services to the multicultural and multilingual population. Dr. Zeine has been a guest speaker in many academic and nonacademic institutions. She has given talks at UCLA, USC, Aliant University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. She was a guest on the Dr. Phil show in 2005. Dr. Zeine hosts a live satellite television show, Nedayeh Daroon, on Asre Emrooz TV addressing psychological issues relevant to the general public. She is a frequent guest on Voice of America International Television, GEM TV, Persian Radio, and 670 KIRN. Visit Foojan's IAWF profile  here.
 

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