Passing the Torch of Success 2010

January 17th Event in Orange County

Dear Friends of PAAIA,

We would like to offer you 20% off the admission price for the upcoming Passing the Torch of Success in Orange County. Purchase your ticket before the end of December and you will receive a 20% discount.

Nearly 2000 Iranian Americans gathered for the historic “Passing the Torch of Success” event at UCLA’s Royce Hall on May 10, 2009. “Thank you for an amazing event at UCLA”, said Mehrnoosh, in attendance, “it has really inspired me as an Iranian American.” Also in attendance, Amir added “[This was] the best advice I had ever gotten in my life.”

Following the success of this unprecedented event and by popular demand, PAAIA is pleased to bring a similarly inspiring gathering of extraordinary Iranian Americans to Orange County. This event will be hosted by the illustrious Rudi Bakhtiar and the charismatic comedian K-Von and will feature a new, diverse group of Iranian Americans who have paved a path of excellence and will bring with them unique experiences and inspirational messages.


  • Reza Badiyi, Legendary Film and Television Director
  • Asieh Namdar, CNN Anchor and Senior Writer
  • Judge Ashley Tabaddor, Immigration Judge (In Personal Capacity)
  • Judge Rodin Rooyani, Immigration Judge (In Personal Capacity)
  • Banafsheh Akhlaghi, Former Western Regional Director of Amnesty International
  • Leila Vaziri, World Record  Breaking Swimmer
  • Shardad Rohani, Composer, Conductor and Performer


Sunday January17
Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Orange County Performing Arts Center
2:00 – 5:30 pm (pre-event program starts at 1:00)

Tickets have now been made available for purchase through Orange County Performing Arts Center
www.ocpac.org

Students $15, General public starting at $35
For more information, please email us at info@paaia.org

Iranian Americans Gather in Chicago for PAAIA Chapter Launch

Washington, DC, October 30, 2009 - The Chicago Chapter of PAAIA was launched October 24th at a luncheon held at Gibson's in downtown Chicago.


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IAPAC Endorses the Campaign of Azizi

October 28, 2009, Washington, D.C. - The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), today announced its endorsement and financial contribution to the campaign of Bahareh Azizi for the Atlanta City Council District 6. The election will be held on November 3rd of this year.

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Farsi translation at Kodoom.com


October 30, 2009 - Iranian American Perspectives on Iran










Presenting the next in a series of compilations of the perspectives and analyses of a number of Iranian American experts concerning recent developments in Iran.


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NBA Star Hamed Haddadi Celebrates "Iranian Heritage Night" Across the Nation

Hamed Haddadi the first Iranian to play in the NBA and the center for the Memphis Grizzlies, and his manager Mayar Zokaei noticed that at every road game Iranian Americans came out in impressive numbers to show their support and meet Haddadi. Seeing this as an opportunity to mobilize the Iranian American community, and with the support of the NBA they created Iranian Heritage Night.

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Iranian American Professor Helps Quadriplegics Gain Independence


Maysam Ghovanloo, Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is changing the lives of persons with high level spinal cord injuries through his innovative tongue driven wheelchair. The Tongue Drive system gives quadriplegics the opportunity to steer a powered wheelchair and operate a computer mouse with a small magnet attached to their tongue. For Ghovanloo, this is just the beginning, as he hopes that the tongue drive system will also provide quadriplegics with the capability to control television, access a computer and anything else that can be controlled by a computer. 


Click here to see the video


PAAIA Welcomes Amir Omar to Washington D.C.

October 22, 2009, Washington, D.C. – Last night PAAIA members and friends hosted a happy hour reception with special guest Amir Omar (Council Member-Richardson, Texas) at Lima Restaurant and Lounge.  

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Farsi translation at Kodoom.com



Nina Mohadjer - Making Education Work in Ridgefield

Iranian American Runs for the Board of Education

October 21, 2009, Ridgefield, CT – Born in Iran, raised in Germany, and a resident of Ridgefield Connecticut since 1995, Nina Mohadjer is a candidate for the Board of Education. The election, which will be held in November, marks the first time an Iranian American is running for public office in the State of Connecticut. 


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Farsi translation at Kodoom.com


Internationally Acclaimed Composer Hafez Nazeri at Carnegie Hall

Hafez Nazeri and the Rumi Symphony Project present:  “Iranian Sounds of Peace”

October 23, 2009, Washington, D.C. - Hafez Nazeri, Iran’s most influential young composer, together with his internationally acclaimed father, Shahram Nazeri – dubbed the "Iranian Pavarotti" and the first to set Rumi’s poetry to music over 40 years ago - continue their legacy of expanding the definition of Persian music with a performance entitled "Iranian Sounds of Peace".

Click here to read more about Hafez Nazeri

"I RAN Home (In America)": Promoting Iranian Culture and Identity through Art

October 23, 2009, Washington, DC – A new art exhibit opening in Washington, DC featuring the work of Iranian American artists is drawing much attention in the nation’s capitol. “I RAN Home (In America)“ is an exhibit that aims to educates the American public about Iranian culture and reveal the effects of Diaspora on community identity. According to Isabella Ellaheh Hughes, one of the curators for the  exhibit, the  purpose of the exhibit is “ to focus the conversation on the art and cultural practices of Iranian-Americans and raise awareness about the large Iranian-American community that resides in this country”.

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Comedian Max Amini Presents: Exotic Imports

Iranian American comedian and actor Max Amini will hold two live performances at the Bethesda Theater, on October 23rd and October 24th. His comedy show: “Exotic Imports” will be hosted by Washington, D.C.’s own Tehran SoParvaz and will feature five comedians, all from diverse Middle Eastern backgrounds. 


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Bay Area Iranian Americans Gather in Support of the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project

Palo Alto, California, October 16, 2009 - On Sunday October 11th, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) in collaboration with the Friends of the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project (PFAP) and World Association of International Scholars (WAIS), co-sponsored an event to raise awareness about the Persepolis archives and the ongoing federal lawsuit to protect these tablets.  Speakers included Professor Mathew Stolper, head of the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago; Nema Milaninia, President of the Iranian American Bar Association; and Professor Glenn Schwartz, Professor of Archeology at Johns Hopkins University. The event was streamed live on PAAIA’s website for those who could not attend.

Click here to read more