Iranian Federated Women's Club (I.F.W.C.) and Payvand present "International Women's Day"

Iranian Federated Women's Club (I.F.W.C.) and Payvand present

"International Women's Day"

March, 8, 2007

International Women's DayTicket
Irainain Federated Women's Club and Payvand Present International Women's Day March, 8, 2007 LE PETIT TRIANON THEATRE 72 North 5th Street San Jose, CA 95112 408-381-4268,ifwc@aol.com www.payvand.org


LE PETIT TRIANON THEATRE
72 North 5th Street
San Jose, CA 95112
DIRECTIONS
http://www.trianontheatre.com/index.html
Registration and sign in: 6:30 p.m.
Program: 7:00 p.m.

1) Domestic Violence & Cross Cultural Issues

Ms. Fariba Soroosh (moderator)
Panel members

Ms. Mehrangiz Kar (Co-sponsored by The Iranica Institute, Irvine California)
Leading feminist activist and human rights lawyer. For a complete biography, log onto http://www.mehrangizkar.com/english/biography.php
Latest book:

Crossing the Red Line

http://www.mazdapub.com/BookDetails.aspx?BookID=70

Dr. Ashraf Zahedi
Ashraf Zahedi, Ph.D. is a sociologist and an affiliated scholar....

Ms. Hatixha Gerbeshi from the Easter European Service Agency

Ms. Manna Teclemariam is a social activist who works for a newly founded DV agency helping victims in the African immigrant community
Intermission

2) Poetry and Piano

Ms. Lobat Vala
Ms. Homa Faravashi
Ms. Shaida Ostovar
Ms. Irene Whitesid
3) Music from Loristan, Kordistan and Chahar Mahal Bakhtiri

Ms. Parvin Cox
Mohammad Ebrahimi
Mehran Ebrahimi


Book signing

Ms. Mehrangiz Kar Crossing the Red Line

http://www.mazdapub.com/BookDetails.aspx?BookID=70

Dr. Persis Karim
Let Me Tell You Where I've Been:
New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora Edited by Persis M. Karim
Foreword by Al Young Publish date: May 2006

Ticket: $30.00

Tickets will be available at persian stores, and through the IFWC - Payvand members, as of February 5, 2007

For more information: ifwc@aol.com & 408-381-4268
Proceeds from this event will be dedicated to help Domestic Violence victims
Tax ID Number: 501C-3: 91-1959402


Information about the presenters


Dr. Ashraf Zahedi

Ashraf Zahedi, Ph.D. is a sociologist and an affiliated scholar at the Beatrice Bean Research Group at University of California, Berkeley. She has extensive teaching and research experiences. She has taught at Boston University, University of Lowell, Suffolk University, and Santa Clara University. Ashraf has conducted research at many universities including Stanford University, the Institute for Research on Women and Gender. Her research interests are socio-economic equalities, gender parity, human rights, social policy, social change, transnational feminism, and social movements.

She has been involved in the works of social justice and has served as the Commissioner of Human Relations of Santa Clara County, California. Ashraf initiated the formation and chaired the Santa Clara County Network for a Hate Free Community. She is the recipient of many leadership awards including the “Special Congressional Recognition,” of the United States House of Representatives.




Parvin Cox
Parvin Cox's debut in Britain was in 1993,performing at the Purcell Room, London(South Bank). Soon after she joined the music workshops for the International Medical Foundation formed by the acclaimed singer Barb Jungr. The result of this collaboration is the forming of the 'Shehrezad Ensemble'.

Parvin began her musical work with Jocelyn Pook Ensemble in 1998. Ms Pook is now an established film and TV composer and her original music for Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut was nominated for two awards. Since joining the Ensemble, they have performed in London, New York (World Financial Center), and numerous cities in Italy. Parvin has also sung on Jocelyn Pook's new album Untold Things released on Real World Records.

In February 1999 Parvin performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London South Bank) launching her first album 'Miras', a combination of Iranian folk songs.

Parvin has also recorded music by the British Italian composer Dario Marianelli for drams films for cinema and television (BBC2). On hearing one of Jocelyn Pook's musical productions, Parvin was approached by Sir John Tavener for the recording of a moving piece of music with the BBC Symphony Orchestra for a film by Werner Herzog called 'Pilgrimage'. On the 1st of March 2001 through a live performance at the Barbican Center in London Parvin gave the most moving performance ever of the Tavener/Herzog musical and film collaboration called Sound On Film Live. She has received eye catching reviews by top London news paper music critics such as : the Observer and Times.
Richard Morrison, The Times : Tuesday March 6, 2001: ''It was a relief to escape to the eternal dirges of Sir John Tavener, and I never thought I would write those words. But Tavener's soundtrack for Pilgrimage, the last of the BBC films, must rank as one of his better efforts. As simple harmonies are sustained by stringsand a boys' choir, a stunning Sufi singer called 'Parvin Cox' begins a long series of hypnotic chants, rising to an ecstatic climax and then subsiding into peace. What a pity that the BBC is showing it so late on a weekday night. Why not schedule it for the main BBC1 ''God Slot" one Sunday evening? In 15 minutes it would do more to rouse the faithful and intrigue the sceptics than Songs of Praise has achieved in 15 years.

Mohammad and Mehran Ebrahimi www.bazmyband.com



Mohammad Ebrahimi began his musical journey during high school from 1968-1974 in pre-revolution Iran where he began the rigorous apprenticeship in traditional or classical Persian music.

After several years of training under some of the best masters of Persian music, he took the tests for becoming an actual instructor, coming in first and second place in several categories of instruction.

Shortly after this accomplishment, he was recruited by Iran's ministry of art and culture under the department of folklore, chartered to promote Persian classical music across Iran. As a result he travelled to many interesting places inside Iran and learned even more from the local ethnic and cultural muscial styles specific to each region.

Mohammad came to the US in 1984, and with the partnership of his younger brother Mehran, began to perform at traditional Persian functions, bringing smiles and heart warming memories to all in attendance.

Today the Ebrahimi brothers are often sought for traditional Persian events, as well as performing in international folk music events. They also provide expert instruction for those interested in learning to play the traditional Persian instruments of Santur, Tonbak, Flute, Daf, Sorna, and Dohol.


Irene Whiteside

Irene was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and spent most of her life studying classical piano performance. Since age 5, she was an annual winner in the local Kiwanis Music Festival, and continued taking top awards in the regional and national Kiwanis Festivals. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of Calgary. She received 2 scholarships for further studies in Austria from the Johann Strauss Foundation, as well as a summer school scholarship the Austrian Canadian Club. She studied for 2 years at the Mozarteum International School of Music in Salzburg, Austria where she received an Artist Diploma. For 25 years she taught at Mount Royal College in Calgary, adjudicated Kiwanis Music Festivals throughout Canada, and performed extensively in both Canada and the United States.

Irene has had a diverse career, that includes owner of BI-Rite Interiors construction company, and Admin at Canadian Airlines in Canada. In 1999 she immigrated to the United States where she worked for 5 years on the Board of Supervisors at Santa Clara County. Currently she is President of MeridianVoIP, Inc., which is an internet telephone company.

Irene also volunteers with several community organizations including the Lions Club, Degree of Pocahontas, Santa Clara County United Veterans Council, Milpitas High School NJROTC program, Girls for a Change, and Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley.

The Angel Awards California State's Outstanding Pro Bono Lawyers
This is the inaugural issue of our Angel Awards, in which we honor California lawyers who demonstrate a fierce commitment to pro bono work. The awards this year recognize 16 attorneys throughout the state for a wide range of work -- from helping victims of domestic violence to protecting the rights of asylum seekers. These dedicated lawyers include sole practitioners and attorneys from small firms as well as from large international firms. The Angel Awards are our way of thanking them for their service. -- The editors of California Lawyer

Fariba R. Soroosh Family law facilitator, Santa Clara County Superior Court Two and a half years ago Soroosh, a longtime volunteer at Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley, came up with the idea to create a program that helps low-income pro per petitioners and respondents obtain or challenge permanent restraining orders. A few months later Saffren joined the organizing committee, and together with Pro Bono Project they planned, designed, and then tested the Domestic Violence Limited Scope Representation project before it was implemented in January 2006. Saffren, Soroosh, and John Hedges, the executive director of Pro Bono Project, conferred with family court judicial officers, advocacy attorneys, and child-protection agencies to ensure that the plan addressed their concerns. Both women helped conduct training for volunteer attorneys and certified law students, who now number more than 40. "This program has become a model in California, and we are getting interest from other states," says Soroosh. "It's been so successful, I'm thinking we should expand into other areas of family law." -- kelly niknejad

Ms. Homa Faravashi

Ms. Homa Faravashi received her B.A . in Persian literature, from the University of Tehran. Her thesis was written on the role of women in Divaan-e Nezaami, under Dr. Zabihollah Safa's supervision.

She received her M.A. in Educational Psychology from the Tehran University. Her thesis was on Persian grammar and the role of mozaaf and mozafon elayh مضاف و مضافٌ علیه, under the supervision of Dr. Qharib

― Her publications include, " Pileh", "Panjereha", "dar aabi bavarha", and "yadeh yareh mehraban": یاد یار مهربان

Yaad-e yaar-e mehrbaan (on the life of her husband, the Iranian scholar, Dr. Bahram Faravashi).

She is teaching Persian Culture, History, history of Literature and Poetry at De Anza college in Cupertino Ca.



Shaida Ostovar

Shaida Ostovar was born in Abadan, Iran. She began studying music in her youth at the National Conservatory of Iran, under great Masters of Music such as Hossein Dehlavi, Hossein Tehrani, Mohammad Esmaili, M. Pourtorab, F. Fakhredini, Mrs. Hakoupian, Mrs. Ghassri, and Mrs. Barkeshley. Upon finishing her work at the Tehran Conservatory, she entered the Fine Arts Department at the University of Tehran where she studied performance and composition. At the age of seventeen, she began performing in the Zarb Orchestra, Women's Orchestra and the Roudaki Hall Chorus under the Tehran Opera. She is currently teaching music theory, improvisation and instruments such as the Piano and Zarb, in the Bay Area. Also, she was the Chair of Music of Iranian Federated Women’s Club, dance and music instructor for children and adults at Payvand Cultural school; founder of Shaida Ensemble. Shaida is a mother of two daughters. Her daughters Parissa and Laila have participated in the art works of the book "My First Nowruz" and are very active in the Iranian Community. She has been in United States of America since 1978. Shaida is currently working on forming a chorus group for adults.


Book signing


Persis Karim

Persis Karim was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area by her French mother, Evelyne M. Karim and her late Iranian father, Alexander Karim.She grew up feeling a little "different" and spent a good deal of her childhood explaining an identity she couldn’t fully grasp. During the 1979 hostage crisis, she had a kind of awakening. After graduating from college at UC Santa Cruz, she felt an immense longing to learn more about her Iranian heritage. In the early 1980s she began learning Persian and got involved with a group of Iranian expatriates who were working to raise American awareness about the Iran-Iraq War. As the 1980s wore on, she felt a longing to become more familiar with Persian language and literature as well as the politics of the Middle East. In 1990 (on the eve of Perisan Gulf War I), she started graduate work at the University of Texas in Middle Eastern Studies. She followed her master’s degree, with a Ph.D. in comparative literature.

She is currently an associate professor of English and Comparative literature at San Jose State University where she teaches literature and creative writing. She has published her poetry in numerous literary journals.She lives in Berkeley with her husband and her two beautiful sons.

Let Me Tell You Where I've Been:
New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora Edited by Persis M. Karim
Foreword by Al Young Publish date: May 2006
From the book:
"This fall, my two-year-old son, undaunted, eats his first pomegranate.
His tiny, probing fingers, harvest the seeds one by one. With hands stained
by this baptism, he offers them to me like the remnants of an untold story
inherited in the womb."


Reviewed/approved by talieshah -.