Moderators & Guests of Honor

TEA-TALK SERIES

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2017 -2018 -2019-2020-2021

Dr. Oveissi received his doctorate in psychology from University of San Francisco. Dr. Oveissi is a CA licensed psychologist, CA licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and CA Board of Behavioral Science Certified Hypnotherapist. Dr. Oveissi served at USF for four years as a psychological counselor and thirty-three years at Santa Clara University in positions of Adjunct Faculty, Clinical counselor, Campus Psychologist, Training Director, Clinical supervisor of pre- and post-doctoral Psychology interns.

Dr. Oveissi received the honorary award for dedication and commitment in excellence of psychology training from the Organization of Northern CA Universities Training Directors. He also taught at John F. Kennedy University Graduate School of Professional Psychology for 20 years and was awarded The Eugene Benjamin Sagan Memorial award as Outstanding professor in 2006. Dr. Oveissi has been in private practice over the last 40 years and his current office is located at Campbell, CA. Dr. Oveissi is a distinguished psychologist, educator, lecturer and mentor in Northern California. He has done numerous lectures and presentations at institutions such as UC Davis, UCSC, SCU, USF and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Dr. Oveissi had his own weekly worldwide broadcasted program named “Inner Mirror” at Apadana International TV Station for two years. DR. Oveissi enjoys painting, nature, hiking and motorcycle riding.

LAURA CASAS

The Board member of Trustees Foothill & De Anza Colleges District

Casas was elected to the Board of Trustees without opposition in 2007 after being appointed to the board in 2005, and was re-elected in 2012. She holds a law degree from Santa Clara University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Northridge. Active at the state and local levels, Casas was elected by her peers in 2011 to the statewide Trustees Board of the Community College League of California, and is past chair of the League’s Advisory Committee on Legislation. She is a graduate of the HOPE Leadership Institute operated by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, and serves on the boards of Children Now, a national organization that makes children a public policy priority, and ALearn, a grassroots organization dedicated to underrepresented students’ success in college. For the past decade she’s mentored students through Puente, an academic preparation program focused on college success. Her past activities include the Foothill-De Anza Foundation Board of Directors, Santa Clara County’s 6th District PTA, and the Santa Clara County League of Women Voters’ Education Committee. She co-founded a transitional home for domestic violence victims in Los Angeles and has worked as a claims representative for an international commercial liability carrier. Her term expires in 2020. Contact Casas at casasfrierlaura@fhda.edu or through the Chancellor’s Office at (650) 949-6100.

  •  HOMA FARAVASHI

     POET & HISTORIAN & AUTHOR & TEACHER

    Homa is a well-educated woman who has focused her efforts to educate young people about History, Culture, Poetry, Arabic and Persian language arts. She is Persian and Arabic instructor that can teach Grammar, Reading comprehension, Interpretation of Philosophy, and History. She taught Arabic and Persian to 12th grade students at Bu Ali Senior High School in Tehran. The curriculum included Modern Philosophy course work that covered post Hegel theories spanning 19th through 20th centuries and the History courses covered Iranian historical occurrences spanning over the last 300 years.

    Homa received her B.A in Persian Literature. Her thesis was written on the role of women in Divaan-e Nezaami, under Dr. Zabihollah Safa’s supervision. She went on to receive her M.A. in Educational Psychology from Tehran University. Her thesis focused on Persian grammar and the role of mozaaf and mozafon elayh مضاف و مضافٌ علیه. She worked under the supervision of Dr. Qharib at Tehran University. Homa has also served as a lecturer of Persian literature to undergraduate students that were pursuing their Bachelor of Arts degrees. The course work was comprised of teaching the works of various Persian poets/philosophers such as Rumi, Saadi and Khayam.

    Dave Cortese

    Santa clara County Board of Supervisor District 3

    Prior to joining the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, where he has served for over a decade, with four years as Board President, Dave Cortese served eight years on the San Jose City Council, including two years as Vice Mayor, and as a trustee for the East Side Union High School District for eight years. Dave’s lifelong dedication to his community has translated to a diligent record of public service.

    As a member and former Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Dave fought hard to bring federal stimulus funds to the South Bay to rehabilitate our aging roads and ease congestion. As a member of the Valley Transportation Authority, he pushed to ensure that BART will continue its expansion into Santa Clara County and that VTA will have eventual LightRail service to Eastridge. Dave secured Improvements to expressways, HWY 101, HWY 85 and the Tully Road/Capitol Expressway/Yerba Buena interchanges.

    Dave proposed and helped ensure that all County government operations will transition to 100% renewable electric power by 2019 years end. The County Climate Coalition, a project spearheaded by Dave’s office in partnership with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, affirmed the county’s commitment to emission reductions deadlines and called on counties across the nation to achieve this 100 percent renewable energy standard.

    Dave Serves as Vice Chair of the Children, Seniors and Families Committee that makes recommendations on women’s policy issues. He initiated the Gender and Ethnicity Pay Equity Ordinance and the creation of the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement to monitor the County’s Wage Theft and Living Wage Ordinances that he championed as well as workplace sexual harassment.

    As a School Board Trustee, Dave jump-started dormant plans to build a new high school in Evergreen and co-chaired the $80 million bond campaign that led to Silicon Valley’s first new high school in 25 years. He was a major architect of a continuation program at Foothill High School, which became School Linked Services, a program that connects students and families to County social services and counseling. School Linked Services has grown to serve about 200 schools in our County.

    Dave has had the opportunity to work with his father, former Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese over a political career that commenced in 1968. He and his wife Pattie Cortese – who is currently a Trustee on the Eastside Union High School Board – have four children.

    Patrick Ahrens headshot

    PATRICK J. AHRENS

    The Board member of Trustees Foothill & De Anza Colleges District  

    Ahrens was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2018. He is a Cupertino resident and Silicon Valley native who has advocated to expand access and affordability for community college students as an education policy advisor and district director for Assembly member Evan Low in California Assembly District 28. An active community volunteer, he served on the board of directors of the Foothill-De Anza Foundation prior to his election. Ahrens became deeply interested in higher education policy as a student at De Anza College when he was elected to serve as student trustee on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s governing board. He holds an associate degree from De Anza College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is currently a candidate for a master of public administration degree from San Jose State University. After graduating from UCLA, he worked in Washington, D.C., for U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn of California. His term on the board expires in 2022. Contact Ahrens at ahrenspatrick@fhda.edu or through the Chancellor’s Office at (650) 949-6100.

JOHNNY KHAMIS

COUNCILMEMBER – DISTRICT 10 – City of San Jose/Ca

After his parents fled Beirut, Lebanon, Johnny Khamis and his family lived “the American Dream”. Growing up in San Jose in a struggling, immigrant family, attending public schools, and starting his own company, Western Benefit Solutions, laid the foundation for Johnny’s views of how government should serve its people.

Johnny was first elected to the San Jose City Council in November 2012 representing District 10, the Almaden Valley and Blossom Valley areas of South San Jose. He was reelected in 2016. Although intended as a criticism by some, Johnny takes great pride in being labeled “The Numbers Guy” on the City Council because of his focus on fiscal accountability. He has worked to find savings on property leases, worked to reduce bond interest rates and uncovered fraudulent activities on VTA.  His work has helped to streamline the building department, reducing permit fees for home remodels. He has fought to rebuild our police force, and against laws that make our community less safe.

In this highly partisan political environment, Johnny takes pride in working with colleagues with different political views to tackle the community’s challenges.  Johnny is a fighter, working hard for the rights of the people and for the laws that make San Jose safe.

Johnny is a devoted family man and 43-year resident of San Jose. He and his wife, Juliana, have made their home in Almaden with their two sons, Constantin and Alexander.

PEDRAM FALSAFI

GUITARIST, COMPOSER & INSTRUCTOR

Pedram Falsafi is an Iranian-American guitarist, composer, and instructor.  He was born in Tehran, Iran in 1978 and began playing the guitar at age 7. At age 17 Pedram joined the San Francisco Music Conservatory (SFMC) where he obtained his BM and MM in guitar performance and composition. Pedram became a private pupil of Professor Dusan Bogdanvic at the SFMC and later was appointed Professor of Music at Tehran Art University. He has written for solo, duo, and ensemble guitar compositions. Pedram has extensively performed throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. For this program Pedram has selected from the compositions of various musicians from different nationalities. The aim has been to show unity amongst us all who desire to live in peace and harmony. Believing that every sound we make, every note we play, and every word we say remains in the universe forever, Pedram has selected music that comes deep from the hearts and minds of composers who have heard the sound of guns, bombs, and whistles of missiles above their homes yet chosen to express peaceful harmonies in their music that echo preciousness of life.

FARIBA DADFARMAY NEJAT

MODERATOR & ORGANIZER

Fariba Nejat is a leading Iranian-American community organizer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, educator, teacher, engineer and portrait painter. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the Shahid Beheshti University (formerly Meli University) in Iran, a B.S. in Computer Science, and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the National University in San Jose, California. Before assuming leadership roles with various not-for-profit organizations and in the community, she worked as a technology leader in Silicon Valley, California. She also volunteered with Santa Clara Valley charities.

She became a certified high school teacher in Iran and taught Physics and Math until 1983. Her passion of creating a teaching technique through science and art helped her to create a system to teach Iranian Americans how to read and write Persian. She became a mentor to many youths in the Silicon Valley.

She was featured as “one of the six women who changed the face of Silicon Valley” by the San Jose Mercury News in 2004. She has also produced several award-winning artistic paintings and sculptures. For example, one of her paintings, “Beaded Veils from the Gulf,” was prominently displayed in the Capitol Building in Sacramento as a representative of district 13 of California. Her artwork has culminated in a manifestation titled “Faces in the Crowd” which displays her love for art and people. Her most notable achievement regarding her artwork is the portrait painting of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, which included a message of peace by one of the greatest Iranian poets, Sa’di.

PARVIN GHAFOURI

MODERATOR & COMMUNITY ACTIVIST & HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE

From a very young age, Parvin Ghafouri knew she wanted to help people. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine and become a doctor. Little did she know at the time that she would touch many lives without needing a degree in medicine.

Parvin was born in Khorramshahr, Iran. She was 17 years old when she married the love of her life. Her loving husband saw her for who she was and encouraged her to continue pursuing her dreams. He cheered her on and according to Parvin gave her the most important advice in her life. He said, “Go out there and learn but share all your knowledge for free with the people,” and that’s exactly what she did, and she never looked back.

“I took classes, got trained, and went to remote villages to teach women about first aid, maternal health, contraception, and loved every moment of it.” She worked alongside doctors and helped deliver babies. She helped tribal women to read and write which they were not allowed to at that time. She put together groups of women to go to different villages and educate other women. She was a strong advocate for woman’s rights and human rights, who worked hard to mobilize resources to be available to the people in need of fresh water, and electricity. She was a social activist at heart and fought for justice and equal rights. She was twice honored with the highest service award by the King of Iran due to her extraordinary work prior to the revolution.

A proud mother of five accomplished children, Parvin speaks of her life and says, “I close my eyes and see my life as a beautiful dream, full of life, full of love, and full of joy!” Parvin had her shares of struggles during the revolution in Iran when her husband was imprisoned. Afterwards she and her family immigrated to the United States with nothing but one suitcase. She worked hard to get her diploma in Child Development from the San Jose City College and started a daycare center at home. She supported her family and her children’s education single handedly as her husband was quite sick at that time. Her youngest daughter, who was 5 at the time they moved to the USA, now holds a J.D. in law and is running for city council in the city of West Hollywood. Parvin never gave up, struggled through all odds, always strong and determined toward her goals. Nineteen years ago, she lost her husband to Leukemia. But she held on, kept her mission and his dreams alive through her work.

Standing at age 80, Parvin is a happy woman. She thinks of age as just a number because she feels very young in her heart and her mind! The joy she has in her life and the peace that she feels within herself; she wants other women to feel the same way about their own lives. She wants to encourage them to come out, to get involved in their community to build a better future. She has high hopes for the young generation and wants to inspire them to keep fighting for their rights and their freedom. “I learned to tweet, use Instagram and Facebook at age 80 you see, because I need to reach out to the youth, to motivate them to be the right leaders to lead us in democracy.”

She is currently the Vice President of the Iranian Federated Women’s Club (IFWC). Within the organization, she co-founded the 50+ Circle Iranian American project with Fariba Nejat, which is near and dear to her heart. The goal of this project is to bring together Iranian women who left their homes in Iran after the revolution. These women were teens or in their early twenties at that time and felt lost after immigrating to the USA, losing all ties and touch with their community and their families. Together, Parvin and Fariba hope to integrate these groups of women and help them connect with each other through their common history and their life stories.

“Nothing is impossible, because everything is possible, you just have to do it.”-Parvin lives through this motto every day.

Mrs. Parvin Ghafouri is an Iron lady, a front-runner. She is a fighter and a leader. We are grateful for her service, her dedication, and her sacrifice.

SHIRIN ABEDI RAZAVI

MODERATOR & TRANSLATOR

Born in Rasht, Iran, she was genuinely curious and interested about the rest of the world, particularly the west from an early age. Her dream was to go aboard to study. She expressed her wish to her father and her father being a wise man was well aware of his eldest daughter’s potential and agreed to it. At the young age of 12, she left her family in Tehran and started attending boarding school in England.

She adapted to the culture easily and flawlessly and was more than happy to live her dreams. Apart from studying, her interest also involved playing tennis in school and she excelled at it. She played competitive tennis in school and won many matches and prizes. She received her A level (equivalent to bachelor’s degree) in English and later on attended school to pursue Interior Design. After completion of her degree, she went back to Iran and reunited with her family. There she taught English to the soldiers and the officers of the Iranian Airforce. Then she joined the Iranian American Society, affiliated with the then American embassy, and worked in Public Relations as well as an English educator. She also narrated some documentaries in English.

When the revolution took place in 1979, she was heavily encouraged by her family and her supervisor to leave the country. Her father felt that her daughter’s mission and vision will not be supported in the then political atmosphere. Although there were no direct threats for her safety, she left Iran again in 1980 like many did at the time and came to the USA. Many hoped that the Shah of Iran would be able to regain power and restore the balance in the country. “But it has been 43 years since the revolution and things are still the same, ignorance still exists, and many like me will never go back.”

Upon arriving in the USA, having had proficiency in the English language, she never had any trouble looking for a job. She started working as an interpreter immediately at a newspaper agency called the Iran News and translated articles from English to Faris for them. Given the radical political transformation ongoing in Iran at that time, her translation work was very timely and much needed. She also worked as a teacher’s assistant under the Los Angeles Unified School District. She moved to the bay area in 1994 and attended The College of San Mateo to study networking and computer. Over the years she worked with many software and biotech industries including Genentech. Currently she holds a position as an office manager for a biotech company in Redwood. Her only daughter is 34 and currently working for a tech company in San Francisco.

In her personal life, she feels very fortunate and privileged to have had a family, who recognized her for who she was and what she stood for. Her constant thirst for knowledge and the burning desire to prove herself continues to be the driving factor of her life. She feels that every woman should have the opportunity to prove themselves and should not have to be dependent on anyone else. Speaking of women in Iran, she says how education is discouraged and hijab has become mandatory for women over the years. “If women want to wear hijab, they absolutely can, but the ones that don’t, it should not be forced upon them.” She also speaks about the people in Iran and how unhappy and depressed they are with the current regime. “Young people have nothing to do, there is no activity for them, and as a nation it is very demoralizing.”

DR. SHARAT G.LIN

Peace maker & Peace dancer

Dr. Sharat G. Lin PHD., Medical Physics is a research fellow at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center and it’s former president. He writes and lectures on global political economy, labor migration, social movements, and public health.  As a peace dancer, he uses the arts to impassion social justice and build community.

DR. FARDAD BAROUMAND

Fardad Baroumand, M.D. is a double board-certified Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation sub-specialist. He completed his sub-specialty training in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington (Seattle), which is the birthplace of modern Pain Medicine in 1961, home to the world’s first multidisciplinary pain clinic and the Center of Excellence for the World Institute of Pain. Prior to this, Dr. Baroumand received sub-specialty training in Spinal Interventions. Before completing his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialty training (at the Medical College of Wisconsin), Dr. Baroumand worked at Columbia University as a Post-Doctorate Fellow and also completed his internship at the same institution.

Dr. Baroumand is a firm believer in the multidisciplinary approach to pain management. He is very experienced with the procedures and pharmacologic treatments related to pain management, but considers such measures as only one of the potential components of a multi-dimensional treatment plan. His interest in a holistic approach to medicine and promoting wellness has translated to his professional focus on chronic pain rehabilitation programs (such as functional restoration and early intervention programs). He has the reputation of “the go-to guy” for the most complex and challenging cases of chronic pain.

TONIA VALIOGHLI

Iran’s National Swimming Team member Before 1979

Sports Analyzer for Women Sports and Swimming Coach

Tonia Valioghli, an Iranian native born in Tehran, was highly competitive in sports in her youth. She and her five brothers and sisters were all members of the Iran National Swim Team. Tonia Valioghli was a star, she set the record for the hundred meter and two-hundred-meter breaststroke. Her record stood for twenty years. She won the Valiahd Cup, named for the Valiahd Monarchy in 1970. She won many other honors and competitions.

Tonia Valioghli was invited to compete as a member of national Swimming team of Iran in following Friendship matches:

1974 – The seventh Asian games in Tehran/Iran

1974 – Iran vs. West Germany, in Tehran

1974 – World Swimming Championships in Rovinj in former Yugoslavia

1974 – International Championship (age 10-12 group) and she won the bronze (third Place) medal in Belgrade Yugoslavia.

1974 – Iran vs. Hungary in Budapest

1976 – Iran vs. Georgia in Tehran/Iran

1976 – The World Student Olympics in 1976 in Orléans, France.

Tonia continued her education at the University of Tehran but wasn’t able to complete due to Iranian Cultural Revolution. She immigrated to Germany and continued her education in exile. She received a master’s degree in physical education and professional coaching from the University of Cologne. She also coached a number of swimming teams in Germany. Her team won the Junior Championship of Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Tonia Valioghli also had a passion for skiing and table tennis. She competed on a professional level and became advance an ski coach in Germany.

Prior to leaving Iran she won the championship of Iranian Students in table tennis. She was also a member of Homa Table Tennis Club competing in the championship league in 1978. She also has coached professional skiers.

Tonia immigrated to the US in 2011 and is now a US citizen. She misses being able to compete on Iran’s teams but has continued her education and involvement in sports, working as an sports analyzer for women sports. She is working as an International athletics Journalist for Iranian women in VOABBC PersianIran FardaPars TVManoto TV and many more…

 

SHEIDA JAFARI

DIRECTOR, REPUBLIC INVESTMENT, BEVERLY HILLS, CA — 2018–PRESENT

MANAGING PRINCIPAL, ADAR PARTNERS, BEVERLY HILLS, CA – 2012 – PRESENT

Sheida is a digital nomad whose mobility and curiosity has led to serve a variety of organizations while applying the principles of Design Thinking and Strategy. At Republic Investment, she leads multiple projects that cultivate real estate assets with growth oriented experiences and communities. As a serial entrepreneur, she has founded Ladybits -the first female-run tech feed on Motherboard (Vice), Refinery29 and Popular Science; The Lost Hotel- an off-grid structure company that coalesced into the first roving, nomadic hospitality space; and Caravan Gitane- a celebrated high-art immersive experience. Driven by a deep sense of justice, Miss Jafari manages projects that value joy, human dignity and growth in balance with the gifts of our natural environment. She credits her organizational capacity, critical thinking and empathy to her parents, Reza and Shiva, as well as her work as an activist during the Green Movement. Sheida was born in Tehran, immigrated in 1987 to be raised in Rockville, MD and returned to Iran 2006-2009. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

EDUCATION:UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (NY) — POLITICAL SCIENCE, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES 2004

YAASHA SABBA

Attorney at Law

One of San Francisco’s few Family Business Lawyers™, Yaasha Sabba manages Sky Unlimited Legal Advisory PC and is a part of a larger network of attorneys who view the business of law as flawed.  Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to managing business or personal risk, Yaasha and his team have created one-of-a-kind systems for entrepreneurs and families to use in their legal planning that can keep up with the constantly changing business climate and will proactively position them for continued growth.

Yaasha formerly worked as a patent attorney at Visa Inc. with a portfolio of over 1,500 patents under his team’s management, including the technology behind Apple Pay and Android Pay.  Now, his day-to-day ranges between counseling business owners on their legal, insurance, financial and tax foundations, helping families protect their children and estates, and providing inventors with guidance on expanding their ideas.

Yaasha spends most of the free time he can spare from his own family hosting workshops, mentoring Millennials and iGens on financial literacy, and giving presentations on personal financial growth, kids protection planning, and asset protection.  Yaasha is known for stating, “Its easier than ever to start growing your family wealth and take control of your life.”

DELBAR JAHANIAN

Financial Advisor

Delbar Jahanian, CMFC is the local financial advisor and investment manager. She has over 13 years of experience helping families build smarts financial plans, retire from work and manage their investments.

MAZYAR LOTFALIAN

Educator a researcher

Mazyar Lotfalian is an educator and a researcher who lives and works in San Jose. He focuses his research in Silicon Valley providing consultancy based on anthropological research methods to technological and urban design. He received his BA from UC Berkeley and PhD from Rice University. He has taught at several universities including Yale, Pittsburgh, and Emerson College and worked as Assistant Director of Persian Studies at University of California, Irvine. Much of his effort has focused on advancing multicultural education in California. His new book, in press, is entitled, What People Do with Images: Aesthetics, Politics, and the Production of Iranian Visual Culture in Transnational Circuits.

MARJAN SHAHRIAREE HOURIAN
GALLERY OWNER- ART COLLECTOR

Marjan has grown up on art and museums, she loves to spend hours in museums and examine each masterpiece with inquisitiveness and admiration. She learned art and museums from her parents at very early age through visiting and spending log hours at Louvre, going to ballet and listening to classical music in Paris/France. Marjan is a graduate of Brook College in fashion merchandising and design. She had a stint at a fine jewelry department selling and learning about precious gems.

Marjan was married to Mohammad Hourian who was also in love with classical arts and was a very famous Artist. He was a great teacher and his knowledge of art history was phenomenal. He was able to point out art details that may have gone unnoticed. Marjan and Mohammad owned the Hourian Art Gallery in San Francisco.

COMRON HOURIAN

VOLUNTEER , ARTIST and ART COLLECTOR

Comron was born in San Francisco, California, to an artistic family originally from Iran.

From the time of a very young age, he was exposed to all kinds of art, from Traditional Persian miniatures to Modern art. It was at this time when he was inspired to work on his own art and do the many whimsical patterns he was so influenced by.

His father, Mohammad Hourian, is a renowned Persian miniaturist. He is well known within the Iranian community in the USA, for his gallery, the Hourian Art Gallery on Union Street. Mohammed took Comron to museums like, the MOMA, The Legion of Honor, The DeYoung and Asian Art Museum, where he was inspired by the pieces that were there.

At his Father’s gallery, there were many artists who had many shows. Comron was inspired by beauty in the eclectic art that was displayed. This inspired him to be an artist.

Another art gallery owner noticed Comron’s talent. He facilitated two shows for Comron to present his latest work to the public.

One important step in being a good artist is to learn the technique, he is currently studying art at Los Mendanos College. He hopes to continue his study of Art and Art history at the Academy of Art of San Francisco.

JOHN HIROKAWA

Retired Under Sheriff of Santa Clara County

John served in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office with distinction for 38 years.  He retired in July 2016 at the rank of Undersheriff, which is the number 2 in the organization. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has a total of 1800 sworn and civilian personnel and a budget of over $350 million dollars.  The Sheriff’s Office serves the communities of CupertinoLos Altos HillsSaratoga and the unincorporated areas of the County. The Sheriff’s Office also maintains contracts with the Valley Transportation Authority, the Santa Clara County Parks Department and Superior Court for the 10+ Court Houses in the County. With a total County population of approximately 1.8 million people, the Sheriff’s Office has a service population of approximately 200,000.

In 2010, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors appointed John as Chief of Correction, with the dual responsibility of continuing to serve as Undersheriff.  This was a budget cutting measure in 2010, when the jails were merged with the Sheriff’s Office.  The Santa Clara County Department of Correction is the fifth largest jail system in California, and among the 20 largest systems in the United States.

Prior to becoming Undersheriff, he was 1 of 2 Assistant Sheriffs.  As Field Enforcement Assistant Sheriff he was responsible for the operations of Headquarters Patrol, West Valley Patrol, Santa Clara County Valley Transit Patrol, Santa Clara County Parks Patrol, Investigations, and Special Operations.

Prior to his promotion to Assistant Sheriff,  John was the Captain at the West Valley Patrol Division, which is consider the Chief of Police for the Contract Cities of Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills.

John’s other Command experience includes Division Commander of the Community Services/Reserves and Community Oriented Policing Division, Assistant Division Commander of Court Security and West Valley Patrol Divisions.

He has served as the Tactical Commander and Entry Team Leader of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SWAT). He has been assigned to the jails, courts, patrol, detectives, Public Information Officer, and Intelligence/Vice/Special Operations Unit.

John was a Training Officer, Instructor, and Mentor.  He move up through the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office from Deputy, Supervisor, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Sheriff, to Undersheriff.    John is known for his Positive Leadership Skills and Integrity.

John has been recognized for numerous awards for his work within the community.  A few examples are:

  • Santa Clara County Resolution for “Outstanding Work in the Area of Human Rights and Human Relations.”
  • Award of Special Merit for Dedication and Outstanding Service in the area of Human Relations and Human Rights.
  • Unity and Diversity Achievement Award, Santa Clara County Executive’s Office.

Finally John attended San Jose State University, earning a BS in Administrative Justice. In addition, he graduated from FBI National Academy, Class of 2009.

Dr. Mary Elaine Hegland

professor, Department of Anthropology at Santa Clara University

1978-1979 Field research in the village of “Aliabad”: “Dynamics of Sexuality in Iran: A comparison between the older generation and younger generation”

Prof. Mary Elaine Hegland is professor of cultural anthropology at Santa Clara University. From1966 when she went to Iran to teach English in Mahabad as a Peace Corps Volunteer, she has been interested in studying about Iran and has spent perhaps a total of five years in Iran.  Mary went to Iran to conduct field research for her Ph.D. dissertation in June 1978 and stayed in “Aliabad,” near Shiraz, until December 1979, resulting in her dissertation, many articles and her book, Days of Revolution: Political Unrest in an Iranian Village. Now Mary has been working about change in practices and meanings of marriage and sexuality in Aliabad. However, in 1978-1979, Mary did not investigate the intimacies of marriage and sexuality, so doesn’t know too much about what sexual practices and meanings in Aliabad were like in 1978-1979. This talk is based on Mary’s paper prepared for the panel “Omissions and Silences in Anthropological Fieldwork: Revisiting Earlier Research” at the anthropology conference.

PARISA SOULTANI

Filmmaker and Television Host

Parisa Soultani is a filmmaker and television host who has produced, directed and edited numerous documentary films and TV series for national and international broadcasters and the Web. She is the host for LinkTV’s Bridge to Iran series as well as technical director and editor for PBS and KCET-Link’s Global Spirit series. She’s also host and co-producer for One Through Love, a global community of Rumi lovers from around the world. In these times of conflict, she focuses on using the power of film, media, and citizen-to-citezen dialogue to help clear social and cultural misunderstandings and promote a deeper sense of unity while embracing our diversity.

LAYLA SABOURIAN

Entrepreneur and community-builder

Layla Sabourian is an entrepreneur and community-builder who is advancing opportunities for inclusive entrepreneurship on a global level, having taught entrepreneurship in Chile, San Francisco, Mexico and the Russian Federation. Fluent in four languages, she brings more than 15 years of experience in community development, diversity initiatives, education, marketing and communication services to her Tech startup in education:  Chef Koochooloo. Her professional experience includes leadership roles within the Enterprise Software industry as well as consumer products, having worked with Fortune 100 companies such as Yahoo!, eBay and SAP.

Dedicated to her community, Sabourian serves on the board of FairFunders, (Non profit focused on on connecting underrepresented founders to investors) as well as the Iranian Women Federation club (dedicated to cross cultural promotion). She is a graduate of Babson College Goldman Sachs program in the USA and the University of Westminster International Marketing Masters in the United Kingdom.

DELARAI CHLOE TARW’E

The world’s youngest entrepreneur

The inspiration behind Chef Koochooloo, “Delarai” is officially the world’s youngest entrepreneur.
Bubbling with personality, Delarai launched Chef Koochooloo with an affection for both cultural diversity and healthy cooking. Every recipe lesson plan developed for Chef Koochooloo goes through Delarai, she actively cooks, listens to the fun facts and adds her personal touch to each dish. Delarai is attending third grade in Gabriella Mistral Elementary school in Mountain View, and is fluent in four languages. Delarai takes her studies seriously and ensures she takes time to help her community.

Azizeh Rezaiyan

Founder of Silicon Valley Marriage Counseling Center

Azizeh Rezaiyan has been a licensed Marriage Family Therapist for two decades. She studied at the Phillips Graduate Institute of Psychology. Upon graduation, she spent another five years studying at the Integrated Body Psychotherapy (IBP) in Southern California and the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, where she focused on couples therapy, sexuality and infidelity. She has also studied in several countries, including Switzerland and Germany.
With offices in Burlingame and Palo Alto, she offers a multi-cultural view in her warm, empathic and interactive approach as a trained Body Psychotherapist with couples.
Azizeh believes that couple relationship is one of the most challenging, yet inspiring and enriching relations. When conflict is dealt with constructively, it enhances awareness, compassion and gratitude in both partners.
When working with couples, she first explores the underlying dynamics and then helps participants understand and undo the early injuries that form the base of their communication difficulties, fights, infidelity, sexual boredom, emotional distance and even parenting issues. In her work with couples, Azizeh focuses on their level of communion, or bond, and helps them set healthy boundaries that lead to a healthy sense of self for each partner. Healthy boundaries lead to greater awareness of one’s inner life; improve their dynamics with not only their partner but also with others; enrich our communication; and expand the level of creativity to face life’s challenges.
Her work with couples can be a joyous and fulfilling journey that transforms each partner, leading them to achieve greater intimacy, romance and sexuality in their relationship.

JENNIFER JELTZER STARK

Social Justice & Moderator

Jennifer was born in the Piedmont, in an social enclave of Oakland, California. She was born into a fifth-generation Californian family, of accomplished scientists, gifted artists, and loving musicians.

Jennifer’s home, was at the top of a wonderful street, filled with an amazing assortment of eclectic inspirations, books, food, art and romantic gardens. Throughout her life, Jen’s family upbringing influenced her life, in three main interests; writing, art, and the healing art of medicine.

Jennifer is basically self-educated and a lifelong student, with the additional experience, at the College of San Mateo, Foothill College, Pima College and the University of Arizona.

Jen’s real education has been the world. Jennifer and her husband have traveled extensively with their family of four children. Jennifer and her husband moved to Panama, in 2008 after their last child, graduated from high school. There, they started a small organic coffee farm, in the highlands of Panama.

Jennifer feels that her experience of living in Panama, besides the deep understanding of people, gained through raising her own children; were the most transforming, of all her life experiences.

Jen believes the greatest gift of her living in Panama, was that, it broadened her social awareness and helped her, acquire a deeper understanding of people.

While Jennifer lived in Panama without, her children and in a foreign land, she was learning a new definition of herself. Jennifer discovered what it was like to be an immigrant, the differences of blending into a new society. Jen experienced, what it was like to be profiled; even though she had grown up in a socially diverse community, in the Bay Area; having the personal experience, changed her life.

In 2015, Jennifer’s husband of 40 years, unexpectedly passed away. Jen permanently moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. The experiences of her life and her journey, are what ultimately led, Jennifer to working with Fariba and Iranian Federated Women’s Club/Payvand, and the club’s amazing interests and projects.

The American Federated Women’s Club and The Iranian Federated Women’s Club, have brought to Jennifer, a group of people, that have a serious focus on social change, coupled with an artistic drive.

LYNNETTE SCHLICK

RDN/CDE SPECIALIZING in DIABETES CARE

Lynnette Schlick, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator for many years, is the Director of Nutrition Services for six clinics within the Gardner Family Health Network. She counsels kids, teens and adults with the goal of reducing risk of or complications from many illnesses that can be greatly improved by lifestyle changes.
Her talk will make everyday recommendations on healthier dietary habits, physical activity from walking to swimming to exercising in the gym. She will make suggestions on how to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol and prevent diabetes as well as how to reduce risk of complications if you have diabetes. Many small changes in everyday habits can add up to significantly improved health outcomes.

FARZANEH RIAZIAT-SHARIFI

Liaison between physicians & Community

Farzaneh Riaziat-Sharifi was born in Iran and after the 1979 revolution moved to London. She got her high school diploma in London and then moved to the United States. She studied medical assisting and became certified in the field. She worked as a medical assistant and then an office manager at a pediatric office, while she went back to school and got a degree in Business Management.

Recently, she started working with Neurogenx as a liaison between physicians and the community, helping seniors with diabetes become more aware of therapeutic footwear and balance solutions. Farzaneh believes this is important because many seniors with diabetes have complications with their feet and balance, which result in falls and many other life threatening problems.


 

PARISA CAVIANI
FILM MAKER 

Ms. Parisa Caviani is an expert in strategic communication, client relations, and complex program management. She has held leading positions with numerous consumer electronics start-up companies, established semiconductor companies, and International television networks. She works to develop a successful plan of execution and implement an organizational maturity model for the companies she works for.  Her project development experience includes work on facial and gender recognition cameras deployed for retail space and consumer analytics, as well as, extended mobile batteries for Ferrari, and 360˚ race car camera prototypes for NASCAR. Ms. Caviani is the co-founder of Avva Pictures and served as the President of Production. She has fully produced and developed motion pictures and numerous television episodes for satellite television. Her productions have reached an audience of over 50 million viewers. Her most recent movies include “MAYHAM” and “Small Town Crime”. Working on the film “Mayhem”, she produced alongside the same producers of the popular TV show “The Walking Dead”, starring Steven Yuen and Smara Weaving. While working on “SMALL TOWN CRIME”, she produced alongside Oscar winner producer John J Kelly (127 hrs., Divergent, Spy, Terminator) and a stellar cast of Oscar winners and nominees such as John Hawks, Octavia Spencer, and Robert Forster.  Both features were released across US and international territories. Ms. Caviani’s next two movies are currently in development and expected to be released in mid-2019.

Ms. Caviani also dedicates her time to help others in the community. She is the founder of Serenite Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income families fighting pediatric cancer.

REV, KATHY HOMARA

MODERATOR, GEST OF HONOR, DANCE & LICENSED SCIENCE OF MIND SPIRITUAL LEADER

Kathy Homara is a New Thought professionally licensed science of mind spiritual leader, speaker, ritualist and officiator. She recently completed her master’s degree in Consciousness Studies, focused on education, science, psychology, philosophy and world religions. Her passion for understanding human potential and her love for life, science, humanity and the way of the Universe, has taken her from the corporate world toward a path of enlightenment and wisdom teaching. She serves, empowers and educates communities to enable them to transform their lives, live their dreams and thrive. Kathy is committed to teaching the principles of life, living fully and loving freely.

Currently Kathy serves at the San Jose Center for Spiritual Living, Payvand and The Iranian Women’s Federated Club providing spiritual support to people with health, relationship and career discontentment. Kathy also offers classes on the foundations of spiritual parenting, principles of life, radical forgiveness, and living powerfully and abundantly. Based on availability, Kathy also offers various ceremonies including weddings and memorial services.

Kathy is environmentally awake. She sees a world that works for everyone and holds the vision for our children and future generations to thrive in peace and harmony on our beautiful blue and green planet. Kathy knows we are borrowing this planet from our children and that nurturing our children’s brilliant minds is the key to our futures. She is a dedicated advocate for gifted children. She believes in an educational system and curriculum that empowers children and nurtures their innovative minds through hands-on experiences coupled with Science of Mind and Spirit wisdom teachings. Kathy is very artistic, creative and grounded in her spiritual practices. Love, companionship, and peace are the foundation of her path to excellence. Kathy believes nurturing the potential of children is one of the most important solutions to our future now. Nurturing our future generation is one of the most important keys to longevity as a thriving human race. Kathy’s natural inclination in the field of human potential along with her organizational skill, and spiritual practices help her to live powerfully and overcome many challenges as the mother of two young boys. Kathy loves and values music, dance, nature, and spiritually conscious living.

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