PAAIA Attends White House Roundtable with Iranian American Community Leaders

July 31, 2013, Washington, D.C. – On July 26, 2013, PAAIA staff, members of the Board of Directors, and NexGen representatives were among a number of other civic organizations and individuals invited to participate in a White House roundtable discussion with  Iranian American community leaders.  The event, organized by the Office of Public Engagement, featured several key administration officials who provided an overview of a range of federal initiatives relevant to the community, as well as   an opportunity for community members to share their views as part of the White House’s on-going efforts toward comprehensive engagement with Iranian Americans.

The roundtable discussion consisted of a morning and an afternoon session. The morning session focused on international policy.  Speakers from the State Department, the Treasury Department, and National Security staff gave presentations to the group on U.S.-Iran relations and answered questions from participants. 

The afternoon session was focused on expanding domestic engagement with the Iranian American community. Presentations focused on the current immigration debate, social innovation, and private sector engagement, with speakers from the Department of Homeland Security,  White House Office of Social Innovation, and the White House Business Council.

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion on steps that the White House can take to further connect with the Iranian American community.

PAAIA would like to thank the White House Office of Public Engagement for its continued initiative to engage the Iranian American community, and looks forward to working with the administration in encouraging the community’s active participation in the American civic process.