September 2026 Newsletter | | |
On August 15, surrounded by the beauty of Napa, California, our trustees, Circle of 1000 members, and Circle of Visionaries members came together for IAWF’s Annual Retreat. Together, we reflected on the Foundation’s recent progress, shared our vision and priorities for the years ahead, and engaged in meaningful conversations about the opportunities before us.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi for graciously hosting our meeting and dinner at the breathtaking Darioush Winery. Their warmth and hospitality made an already meaningful weekend truly unforgettable.
We left Napa feeling inspired and excited for all that lies ahead. Together, we are turning vision into impact and building an even brighter future for IAWF.
| | IAW Foundation Featured in the August 2026 Issue of Rah-E Zendegi | | |
We are deeply honored to share that the Iranian American Women Foundation and our founder, Mariam Khosravani, were featured in the cover story of Rah-E-Zendegi magazine!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Aurian Khajehnouri for writing such a moving and articulate portrayal of our foundation's mission. Aurian thoughtfully captured the essence of what drives IAWF every day: turning individual achievements into a collective inheritance, building bridges across generations, and ensuring that no young woman has to walk her professional path alone.
Among the many reflections in the article, this section truly resonates with the soul of our community:
"An immigrant community does not endure merely by remembering where it came from. It endures by learning how to transmit what one generation has acquired to the generation that follows. Culture requires memory, but community requires infrastructure. There must be places where experience is shared, relationships are formed, younger people are welcomed, and those who have succeeded understand that they have something to give back.
For more than a decade, the Iranian American Women Foundation has worked to create such a place.
Behind that work is the idea Mariam Khosravani set in motion years ago: that Iranian women should not simply admire one another’s accomplishments from a distance. They should know one another. They should learn from one another. They should open doors for one another. And they should transform the private rewards of individual success into something of lasting value to the community.
Perhaps that is the most fitting way to understand the institution she has built.
IAWF is not only about the accomplished women whose names are announced from its stages today. It is also about the young women sitting in the audience, listening, observing, introducing themselves, and imagining.
Some years from now, their names may be called from that same stage.
And there can be few more meaningful legacies for a founder than this: not merely to have traveled a remarkable road herself, but to have made the road wider for those who come after her."
This feature is a celebration not just of our founder, but of every single mentor, speaker, attendee, collaborator, and volunteer who has sat across that table, offered guidance, and helped keep the door open for someone coming after them. Thank you for being part of this enduring legacy!
| |
Welcoming Maryam Rahimian to IAWF’s Board of Trustees | |
We are delighted to welcome Maryam Rahimian to the IAWF Board of Trustees!
Maryam has long been committed to education, cultural preservation, and giving back to the Iranian American community. In Sacramento, she helped establish the Iranian Center at Sacramento State, bring Persian books to local public libraries, and organize visits from renowned Iranian poets, artists, and musicians. She has also supported school building projects and student scholarships and previously served on the board of Encyclopedia Iranica.
In addition to her community involvement, Maryam holds a master’s degree in Microbiology and has built a successful career in real estate development and construction.
Maryam’s dedication to education, culture, and community closely reflects IAWF’s mission. We are honored to have her join our Board of Trustees and look forward to the experience and perspective she will bring to our organization.
| | Upcoming Orange County Rising Leaders Event | | |
Join our OC Rising Leaders at Verano Community Center in UCI for a fun and lively game night! Enjoy a cozy atmosphere with delicious pizza and engaging games, perfect for connecting and making new friends.
Date: September 18, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Verano Community Center, UCI
70000 Verano Rd S, Irvine, CA 92617
| Welcoming Our Newest Circle Members | |
We are pleased to welcome the newest members of IAWF’s Circle of Visionaries and Circle of 1000s. Their generosity and shared belief in our work help strengthen our programs and create new opportunities for the community we serve.
Circle of Visionaries
Mahasti Ghazi
Members of the Circle of Visionaries help bring new programs, initiatives, and conversations to our growing community. Through their generous commitment of time and resources, they invest in projects that turn meaningful ideas into action.
Circle of 1000s
Parisa Caviani
Pattie Ehsaei
Javid Nia
Renée Kazemipour Paquier
Niki Rezzadeh
Katy Setoodeh
Mitra Shahi
Circle of 1000s members are an essential part of IAWF. Their dedication helps sustain our work and expand opportunities to inspire, empower, and connect Iranian Americans worldwide.
We are grateful to our newest members for joining us and look forward to the impact we will continue to make together.
| | Dr. Foojan Zeine: Advancing Whole-Person Mental Health Through Awareness, Innovation, and Global Impact | | |
Dr. Foojan Zeine, IAW Foundation Board of Directors member and dedicated supporter, is the originator of Awareness Integration Theory (AIT) and the founder of an expanding global ecosystem dedicated to mental health, human development, education, leadership, and technology. Her work brings together psychotherapy, coaching, research, higher education, professional training, publishing, digital mental wellness, artificial intelligence, media, and international speaking, all with one central purpose: helping people develop greater awareness, heal emotional patterns, and create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
In 2026, Dr. Zeine received the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Practice Innovation Award, recognizing her pioneering contributions to psychotherapy and the development of innovative clinical practices through Awareness Integration Theory.
That same commitment to innovation is now taking shape through WWW.IAII.Life, the new telehealth and holistic wellness platform of the International Awareness Integration Institute.
IAII.Life is built on a whole-person philosophy of care. Grounded in evidence-based Awareness Integration Theory, it brings together psychotherapy, coaching, mind-body health, functional medicine, and wellness education within one accessible platform. Its purpose is not simply to address symptoms, but to understand the interconnected emotional, psychological, relational, behavioral, and physical dimensions of a person’s well-being.
The vision is simple yet profound: meaningful healing requires us to see the whole person.
Dr. Zeine is also the co-founder of the Foojan App, featuring MIRA, an AI-supported companion grounded in AIT principles that helps extend emotional awareness, reflection, and personal growth into daily life.
Alongside her clinical and entrepreneurial work, Dr. Zeine teaches at California State University, Long Beach and Université Paris Cité, has authored or co-authored 8 books and 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, and continues to share her work internationally through research, education, speaking, media, and her podcast, Inner Voice – A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan.
Across these endeavors is one enduring mission: to make awareness more accessible, healing more integrated, and human transformation possible on a global scale.
| | |
Azam Ali of NIYAZ Presents
Seven Realms of Attar
| | |
Seven Realms of Attar is a landmark theatrical spectacle by NIYAZ, the pioneering electro-acoustic music collective founded by Azam Ali and Loga Ramin Torkian, redefining tradition through innovation.
Inspired by Attar’s 12th-century masterpiece, Conference of the Birds, this contemporary production blends live music, poetry, dance, visual art, animation, and 3D projection mapping. Rooted in Iranian cultural heritage, it guides audiences through seven realms of spiritual discovery, from longing and loss to awakening and transcendence.
Created in response to a world increasingly shaped by conflict, displacement, and division, Seven Realms of Attar is an invitation into a shared space of reflection and wonder, a poetic affirmation of our common humanity and our enduring longing for unity, freedom, and spiritual awakening.
Date: October 4, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Royce Hall, Los Angeles
| | |
We invite you to make a difference by becoming a mentor in our Mentorship Program. This initiative connects experienced professionals with young Iranian Americans, fostering growth, guidance, and mutual learning. As a mentor, you’ll have the unique opportunity to share your expertise, help the next generation navigate their educational and career paths, and build meaningful connections within the community.
Join us in empowering the future!
| | Stay tuned for more exciting events & updates! | | | | |
