Political activism is at an all time high and as a result, there are enough different political and social organizations to make your head spin. We've done some of the heavy lifting, though, and present you with a list of some of the most popular organizations relating to Persian-Americans and their issues. In no way is this list complete, but it's enough to get you started on your path and get you involved.
Iranian American DemocratsMission Statement"IAD was formed to encourage Iranian-American Democrats to join together to create a more effective political voice and to encourage their active participation in the American political process. Iranian-American interests relate closely to the Democratic Party's principles. As a result by joining and supporting IAD we can better protect our interests, as well as our U.S. Constitutional rights and further enhance our involvement in American politics.
IAD is a non-profit organization and a chartered organization of the Democratic Party, and is committed to the democratic principles of freedom and civil liberties, as set forth in the Constitution of the United States.
Your participation in and support of IAD is crucial in helping us to better serve, protect, and advance the interests of the Iranian-American community."
How to get involved
Download and mail the membership form provided on their website, www.iadoc.org. For more information, email them at info@iadoc.org.
Iranian Alliance Across BordersMission Statement "The mission of Iranian Alliances Across Borders (IAAB) is to strengthen the Iranian diaspora community and empower its youth. In particular, Iranian Alliances Across Borders strives to raise awareness of the Iranian culture and community; to promote leadership in the Iranian diaspora community, with a specific focus on the younger generation; and to connect Iranians across a variety of borders."
Who are they?
Iranian Alliances Across Borders is a volunteer organization with a young dedicated staff spread across the United States, Europe and Iran.
Established in 2003 by students at Wellesley College and Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, Iranian Alliances Across Borders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization that addresses issues of the Iranian diaspora by facilitating community building, developing ways to better understand what it means to be part of a diaspora community, and helping members of the Iranian diaspora community enhance connections with their new communities as well as maintain connections with their root community.
How to get involved
Iranian Alliances Across Borders offers internships throughout the year. Visit their www.iranianalliances.org/support.html for more information.
To volunteer, send an email to join@iranianalliances.org with information about where you are located and what projects you are interested in.
Orange County Young RepublicansMission StatementThe O.C. Young Republicans is an organization consisting of young professionals who are committed to a common sense approach to politics, low taxation and limited government.
How to get involved
Visit their website at www.ocyr.org for more information.
Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)
Mission Statement
PAAIA's purpose is to effectively represent and advance the domestic interests of the Iranian American community at large before U.S. policymakers and opinion makers, the media, and the American public. More specifically, we seek to build a grass roots membership organization that:
brings our community together and provides it with a powerful voice in the public arena;
celebrates our community's many successes and projects an accurate and positive image of Iranian Americans that truly reflects our values and achievements; and
represents a credible, highly respected and influential voice for our community in the U.S. political process.
In short, the three mutually reinforcing pillars of PAAIA's mission are community building, image building, and influence building.
Who are they?
The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, national grass roots membership organization dedicated to bringing our community together to project an accurate and positive image of Iranian Americans that truly reflects our values and achievements, and to building a highly respected and influential voice for our community in the U.S. political process.
How to get involved
Visit their website at www.paaia.org/cs/get_involved for more information about volunteer opportunities and membership.
Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC)Mission Statement• To support and promote the election of candidates for federal, state and local office, regardless of party affiliation who are attuned to the domestic needs and issues of the Iranian American community
• To support and promote Iranian American candidates for public office
• To support and advance legislation as it affects the concerns of the Iranian American community
•To encourage Iranian Americans to actively participate in the American electoral process
Who are they?
The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC) is the connected PAC of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA). IAPAC contributes to candidates for public office, regardless of their party affiliation, who are attuned to the domestic concerns of the Iranian American
community. IAPAC exists because its founders perceived that, as a new immigrant community, Iranian Americans face significant challenges in their adopted country in connection with their participation in the domestic political process and that, therefore, the community would need an organization that would encourage and facilitate that process.
It goes without saying that the vast majority, if not all, of Iranian Americans ardently hope for a free, tolerant and democratic Iran. However, in our experience, more specific discussions of Iranian domestic issues have engendered division within the Iranian American community. Accordingly, IAPAC has elected to focus on domestic issues because, in the judgment of its members and trustees, no other organization had stepped in to fill this significant void. IAPAC believes that it can be successful in its mission only if it focuses the entirety of its resources on domestic issues.
Because of its focus on domestic issues, IAPAC does not engage itself with matters of foreign policy, including United States policy towards Iran. Similarly, IAPAC has no relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran. IAPAC applauds the hard work and dedication of other community organizations who focus on such matters and, inspired by their Iranian heritage and the example of America’s founding fathers, the trustees and members of IAPAC stand with the people of Iran and the people of all nations in their aspirations for responsible democratic government and secure individual rights.
How to get involved
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at www.iranianamericanpac.org/about/volunteer.shtml.
Network of Iranian American Society (NIAS)Mission StatementNetwork of Iranian American Society is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-political and non-sectarian organization based in Southern California. All members of NIAS work as volunteers and are committed to its mission.
Who are they?
We believe that within our great Iranian-American community, we can make a tremendous difference by unifying, educating ourselves, providing support and services.
We are a group of young Iranian-American individuals seeking to achieve self growth and self education, and advance our humanitarian cause within the Iranian community.
We intend on achieving our goal through networking, social events, financial sponsorships and professional guidance.
How to get involved
Visit them at www.niasnet.org
National Iranian American Council (NIAC)Mission StatementVision
Advancing the interests of the Iranian-American Community
Mission
Advocacy: We advance the interests of the Iranian American Community on civic, cultural and political issues
Education: We supply the resources, knowledge and tools to enable civic participation and informed decision making.
Community Building: We provide the infrastructure for bridge-building across the network of Iranian American organizations and the peoples of America and Iran
Core Values
Integrity- We take our responsibility to the Iranian American community seriously. We will stand and defend our principles. Integrity is fundamentally interwoven in our core philosophy, advocacy and actions.
Pride- We celebrate our rich heritage and our contributions to American life to set an example for future Iranian Americans.
Transparency- We are transparent in sharing objectives, sources of funding and positions on issues that count.
Leadership- We lead by example and inspire future leaders by delivering tangible results for our community.
Who are they?
Founded in early 2002, the National Iranian-American Council is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the Iranian-American community.
Iranian-Americans have achieved extraordinary levels of professional and economic success in the United States, consistently ranking among the highest in most surveys of immigrant education and affluence.
From Wall Street to Main Street, from Silicon Valley to the Shenandoah Valley, the impact of Iranian-Americans on American economic life is undisputed.
Still, despite the Iranian-Americans' contribution to the engine of American economic growth, the Iranian-American impact on our civil society - on our politics, our media, our advocacy organizations, our social institutions - is a less impressive story.
That's where we come in. NIAC believes that Iranian-Americans have the ability to play a key role in American civil society with the same levels of success and professionalism that they have played in American economic, academic, technological and scientific life. Our job is to, through education, help Iranian-Americans to get more involved in US politics, media and civic life.
How to get involved
Visit www.niacouncil.org or email them at:
info@niacouncil.org
PARSA Community FoundationMission StatementPARSA Community Foundation’s mission is to become the leading institution practicing strategic philanthropy and promoting social entrepreneurship towards a strong global Iranian presence. PARSA CF invests in these common causes:
• Preservation and advancement of Iranian arts and culture;
• Development of leaders through education and awards systems; and
• Non-profit capacity building and civic engagement.
Who are they?
Inspired by the work of passionate social entrepreneurs and the impact of strategic philanthropy at the Global Philanthropy Forum, The H.A.N.D. Foundation organized a summit in Fall 2005 inviting generous members of the Persian community to share their philanthropic experiences and brainstorm on how successful efforts of the community could be taken to the next level. Facing similar opportunities and constraints, and believing that the social impact of collaborative work can be just as important as producing the public good itself, the participants agreed to pool resources and create a platform to facilitate large-scale philanthropy for Persians worldwide. This infrastructure would enable free flow of information, training and funds necessary to address the needs of the community. To create an enduring institution, the founders committed to hands-on involvement, professional management and establishment of an endowment fund. Ultimately, PARSA CF's history will be shaped by the members of the community that take the initial investment of vision, time and funds and turn them into action, results and voice.
How to get involved
Visit their website at www.parsacf.org or email them at
info@parsacf.org
