October 2020 | Issue I
Upcoming Events

Stay home & stay safe!


Did You Know?

This year marks 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote. New Zealand enfranchised its female citizens in 1893, making it the first nation or territory to formally allow women to vote in national elections. At least 19 other countries also did so prior to the U.S. passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Learn more about women's suffrage around the world here.
IAWF Mentees Complete
Life Academy Program
IAWF hosted its first virtual Life Academy, an educational program consisting of three sessions over the course of six weeks. Mentees from IAWF’s Mentorship to Internship program were invited to attend the course and hear from accomplished speakers across diverse industries. Aggie Afarinesh facilitated each session, where mentees took part in informative workshops and activities aimed at ensuring their success in their careers. We were honored to have been joined by incredible speakers across a variety of professional fields as they shared their past experiences and best advice with our mentees. You can read some testimonials from our participants below, and you can apply to join our Mentorship to Internship program here.
“IAWF’s Life Academy has proven to be an invaluable program as I navigate the complexities of my career growth and trajectory. It helped me understand the components of success and how to infuse them into my everyday life, and I can’t wait until the next session!” - Lisa Hurwitz

"The opportunity to participate in the Life Academy was an incredible experience to connect with successful and like-minded Iranian-American women across the United States. I learned valuable skills in career development and communication that will serve me greatly throughout my career." - Soha Ghanian

"Life Academy provided me with the wonderful opportunity of engaging in a network of fellow Iranian women at different levels of professional development. Hearing about people's stories inspired me to be unafraid of branching out into different career paths, while the practical skills we learned will surely help me succeed in the workplace." - Mona Amirseyedian
Voting PSA with Hon. Nahal Iravani-Sani
The Supreme Court has launched a campaign to encourage all citizens to vote in the upcoming general election. You can watch our member and past speaker, Hon. Nahal Iravani-Sani, deliver an important message above. You can also view the video in Farsi here. Remember to submit your ballot or vote in-person by November 3rd, and you can find further voting information here.
Maggie Soleimani Elected to LA Assessment Appeals Board
We would like to congratulate our supporter and member, the Honorable Maggie Soleimani Esq., who has been elected as the Chair of County of Los Angeles Assessment Appeals Board for a fifth consecutive term. We're proud to share this achievement, and wish Maggie the best as she continues to serve in this position.
Lily Samii Releases Coffee Table Book
Congratulations to our member, Lily Samii, on the release of her new book, Lily Samii: A Journey Through Life and Fashion. The book takes readers on a fascinating journey through her incredible life. Learn about her magnificent childhood in Iran and her secret obsession with fabrics, nature, and movement. Travel with her across the globe and peek into the glamorous world of Hollywood and costume design, where she was trained by Edith Head and James Galanos. Join Lily as she opens her iconic boutique, LYZ, in the sleepy town of Larkspur. For 30 solid years, women of means, local elite, political leaders, and celebrities relied on Lily's fashion sense to wardrobe them appropriately. Her success with LYZ was recognized by national fashion magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Women's Wear Daily. In 1996 she launched her own label, opening her headquarter in San Francisco and a showroom in New York. She continued her career as a couture designer with gowns and outfits she created for celebrities and influential women in politics, society, philanthropy, and the arts and simply for a woman who wanted their special day to be truly special. You can learn more about Lily and order her book on her website.