Third Annual Conference on the Iranian Diaspora
April 28 - 29, 2007 | New York University | New York, NY
Kimmel Center (10th floor)
60 Washington Square South
(Between La Guardia and Thompson St)
New York, NY 10027
For further information on our previous conferences, please see the 2004 conference and 2005 conference schedules.
Day 1: Saturday, April 28, 2007
8:30 - 9:20 Registration & Breakfast
9:30 - 10:00 Opening Remarks
10:00 - 11:30 Panel 1: Screen Cultures: Transforming Community Through Media
This multimedia panel deals with the role of media—such as the internet, satellite television, and films— in the cultural expression and transformation of exilic and diasporic communities.
- Homa Sarshar, Journalist
Iranian Media as Cultural Opposition - Hamid Naficy, Northwestern University
Iranian Cinema of Displacement—Exilic, Diasporic, or Ethnic? - Pardis Mahdavi, Pomona College
Cyber-space and Cyber-sex in the Iranian Diaspora - Farzad Sharafi, Portland State University
Kurdish in Iran and America: New Media and the Negotiation of Hybrid Identities
11:40 - 12:40 Lunch
12:50 - 2:20 Panel 2: Growing Pains: Addressing our Communities' Changing Needs
This panel deals with the diverse needs of the diaspora and some of the creative solutions that have been developed to address issues including the well-being of the elderly, cultural awareness among youth, and civic participation.
- Brian Oliner, Children of Persia
Civic Participation: Where the Community is and Where it Needs to Be - Shabnam Rezaei, Norooz Productions
Culture Through Entertainment: The Quest for Connecting Iran 's Children to their Past - Mary Elaine Hegland, Santa Clara University
Iranian Grandparents Facing Cultural Change and Making New Lives - Abbas Zeineddin, independent researcher
Needs Assessment of Atlanta's Iranian-American Community
2:30 - 4:00 Small Group Workshops
- Homa Khamsi, Founder of Nima Farsi School
Beyond Speaking Farsi
An Iranian mother discusses her experience in establishing a Farsi language school in her community and the role of language study in developing awareness and pride in one's heritage.
- Mahnaz Motevalli, Children of Persia
The Strengths and Challenges of Interning in Iran
A team of young Iranians will speak about their experiences interning in Iran. Speakers include: Daniel Yousef Tehrani, Ramin Ostadhosseini, Shima and Sara Khaki, Jasmine Ainetchian, Narges Alipanah, Sarvenaz Nouri, Atieh Novin, Sarvnaz Lotfi, and Danesh Mazloomdoost. - Persheng Sadegh-Vaziri & Simin Farkhondeh, filmmakers
Documentary Film: Caught Between Two Worlds
A documentary film that depicts the diverse lives of Iranians in the US . The film weaves in and out of segments of more than 10 peoples' lives in Los Angeles , New York , and Washington D.C. - Persis Karim, San Jose State Univesrity
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I'VE BEEN: New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora (2006)
A reading and discussion by Persis Karim (Ed.) and contributing authors: Marjan Kamali, Amy Motlagh, Sheila Shirazi, Tarssa Yazdani, and Desiree Navab.
15 Minute Break
4:15 - 5:45 Panel 3: Faces of the Diaspora—The Dilemma of Perception and Representation
This panel deals with the implications of self-perception and representation within the Iranian diaspora.
- Kamin Mohammadi, writer, journalist
The Intimate Outsider: The Challenges of Representing Modern Iran to Western Media and the Iranian Diaspora - Ahmad Kiarostami
Mishana Hosseinioun, International Convention on Human Rights
Six Degrees Of Disconnection Within The Iranian Diaspora - Sara Sarkhili, Iranian Studies
Group, MIT
What Defines Iranian-Americans: Perception of Iranians of the Iranian-American Community
Closing Remarks
8:00 - midnight Concert & party with the Abjeez and Hypernova!
Day 2: Sunday, April 29, 2007
9:00 - 9:30 Coffee/Tea
9:30 -11:00 Panel 4: Immigrant Networks: Negotiating Cultural Complexity within Modern Nation States
This panel addresses Iranian immigrant experiences within the political and legal frameworks of their host societies, with particular emphasis on race, religion, and civil rights.
- Kathryn Spellman, London Middle East Institute at SOAS,
University of London
Iranian Cultural Scenes in London - Banafsheh Akhlaghi, National Legal Sanctuary for Community
Advancement
Iranian-Americans and the Impact of Post-9/11 Policies - Kazem Vafadari Mehrizi, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
The Rise of the Iranian Diaspora in Japan - Meenoo Chahbazi, Iranian-American Bar Association
Iranian Racial Identity, Racial Classifications & Civil Rights
11:00 - 12:15 Brunch
Optional session: An Open Forum: The Role of the Iranian Diaspora in Political Conflict, KC 804 & 805
12:25 - 1:00 Roya Bahrami, Santur artist
Multi-Cultural Identity Communicated via Artistic Expression, followed by recital.
1:10 - 2:40 Panel 5: Going Home: Tales of Return and Departure
The Going Home panel explores homecomings of the second generation, whether they are found in Iran , abroad, or somewhere in between.
- Ali Ghezelbash, Strategic and Political Advisor, Norsk
Hydro
Having the Best of Both Worlds—how returning home changed my perspective - Tahereh Sariban, Atieh Bahar Consulting
Roots and Homes: choices and responsibilities - Hushidar Mortezaie, Designer
THE NEW LOOK: The New Iranian Aesthetic - Anna Fahr, Filmmaker
Khaneh Ma: Documenting A Journey Home
2:50 - 4:20 Panel 6: Transnational Alliances: Collaborating Across Borders
This panel explores the rich possibilities for transnational collaboration in the economic, scientific, and cultural spheres.
- Kamiar Alaei, Harvard School of Public Health
Reverse Brain Drain - Nassim Assefi, Writer, Physician
What is Our Duty to Our Homeland? - Yaser Kerachian, Knowledge Diffusion Network
Iranian Scientific Diaspora Networks - Alidad Mafinezam, Mosaic Institute
Diasporas and Development: The State of the Art