Information

Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF) has made it a priority to raise awareness and visibility regarding Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died in police custody, and the countless brave Iranian women risking their lives in the movement for women’s rights and freedom.

IAWF has taken action toward this goal by pursuing public visibility of the Iranian Women's Rights Movement through inquiring with major companies and/or buildings, putting together vigils, purchasing advertisements or billboards, visiting schools, and much more.

The visibility initiative holds true to IAWF’s core values to Inspire, Empower, and Connect Iranian American women around the world. Through public visibility, IAWF aims to uplift the voices of Iranian women in order to bring national and international attention to their efforts in fighting for freedom.

IAWF continues to pursue many large-scale visibility projects in major cities. Our visibility projects can be found further on this page.

A 501(c)3 organization, Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF) is the largest Iranian women's nonprofit in the United States.

Jumbotron Billboard at 1500 Broadway & West 43rd, Times Square, NY

Thank you to all our donors who supported our Women's Rights Visibility Campaign.

Your contributions helped IAWF raise enough funds to secure a Jumbotron billboard at 1500 Broadway & West 43rd in the heart of Times Square, in front of one of the busiest subway entrances in the country.

Our display which went live yesterday will run until December 31st, 2022 airing approximately every 15 minutes from 6am to 2am.

IAWF has been able to sponsor this billboard in NYC and the next one in Los Angeles which starts next week because of the generous contribution of its supporters. The billboards will support our goal to amplify the voices of Iranian women and increase national and international attention on the Women’s Rights movement in Iran.

We thank you again for your trust and generosity.

Billboards in Miami, Florida

IAWF launched billboards in Miami, FL, during the Art Basel Show held Dec. 1 - 3, 2022. The above image is one of 6 bus stop billboards and the bottom can be seen at Brickell right off I-95, traveling northbound. These billboards deliver high reach and frequency among Miami locals.

Billboard in San Jose, California

Billboard launched Tuesday, November 8, and can be seen off of 101 southbound in Santa Clara near the San Jose International Airport by Lafayette street. Highway 101 is one of the most congested freeways in Northern California.

Billboard in Berkeley, California

Billboard in Berkeley launched Monday, October 31, and can be seen westbound on interstate 80 and 580 with the words and hashtags #WomanLifeFreedom and #MahsaAmini.

Thank you to Bijan Sartipi for your support.

Billboard in Los Angeles, California

Billboard in Los Angeles launched Monday, October 25, and can be seen at the corner of Olympic and Sepulveda with the words and/or hashtag #womanlifefreedom and #endviolence. The billboard will be on display for at least four weeks.

Photo by Shahab Ettakal

Billboard in Kansas City, Kansas

Through the generosity and leadership of Iranian American Women in Kansas, IAWF was able to partner on the billboard in Kansas City, Kansas launched Sunday, October 23. This billboard can be seen off of interstate 35 North at the Lamar Avenue exit. The display will be on for approximately four weeks.

Photo by AVoice79

Mobile Digital Billboard in Washington D.C.

In honor of the brave women in Iran who are fighting for their basic human rights, IAWF sponsored a mobile digital billboard in Washington D.C. on Saturday, October 22. The digital billboard truck joined demonstrators and circled around the National Mall, home to monuments including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. At the eastern end is the U.S. Capitol, and the White House is to the north. The intention for Saturday's efforts is to bring maximum awareness to the community at large; a direct extension of IAWF's visibility initiatives. IAWF has been able to sponsor this display and others because of the generous contributions of its supporters, with the goal of bringing awareness to the plight of women in Iran.

The billboard names Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who reportedly died in police custody, and many others who have lost their lives in their fight for freedom.

Photo by NSGIran

Honoring International Day of the Girl by Amplifying Iranian Voices on October 11, 2022

The Iranian American Women Foundation LA Rising Leaders Board Members Ariana Romero and Roxanna Ameri (alumna class of '13) collaborated with Marlborough School by hosting Iranian American speakers to shed light on the ongoing fight for women's rights happening in Iran. These most recent protests were sparked by the murder of 22 year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022. Ms. Amini was fatally beaten by the religious morality police force in Iran for wearing her state-mandated hijab too loosely. As the protests have continued over the past several weeks, school-aged girls and young women are on the front lines, bravely risking their lives to fight for their freedom. Collectively, the panelists galvanized students – many of whom are the same age as those protesting – to use their voices to be agents of change.

The All School Meeting (ASM) was hosted by MOSAIC, Marlborough’s student affinity group for Middle Eastern North African identifying students, in conjunction with the Iranian American Women’s Foundation. Kara J., one of MOSAIC’s leaders, gave an impassioned introduction and shared why this topic was one of such importance for the whole community. She said, “Girls our age are out there, as we speak, fighting for their lives and we need to help them. That's why it is so important for us to learn about these events – as girls we need to support other girls. As feminists we need to support other feminists. As women we need to support other women. As decent human beings, we need to use the voice we have been gifted with to fight for those who have no voice at all.”

The panel of speakers at the ASM was deftly moderated by Roxanna Ameri, and included Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American actor and comedian; Tara Grammy, Iranian-born writer, producer, and performer; Maryam Zar, an Iranian-born American activist, lawyer, journalist, political commentator, and founder of Womenfound; and Sharona Nazarian, the first Iranian-American women to serve on the Beverly Hills City Council.

Mr. Jobrani echoed the need for more attention to be brought to these courageous protestors and shared that he hopes this event on campus will inspire Marlborough students to help spread the word. Ms. Zar reflected on the fact that Marlborough’s vision statement boldly reads equity leads education and reminded students that access to an unencumbered education is indeed a distinct privilege they enjoy as students at an independent school in the United States. She said, “Education is crucial for girls and women across the globe. Without access to an education, it is harder for them to reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams.”

Ms. Zar went on to describe her own experience living in Iran as a media correspondent and how it inspires her to stay involved in the fight for female empowerment. During her time in Iran, she had her own run-in with the morality police force: “I ended up on the same bus as Mahsa Amini,” Ms. Zar shared, “and I understood the fear, disempowerment, and humiliation that is delivered to girls on a daily basis. I am moved to act and to be part of the movement that is going to gain empowerment for women around the world.”

The speakers continuously brought up the concept of human rights, which reminded students why this talk was taking place on International Day of the Girl. On a day when the global community is reminded about the fight for women’s rights everywhere, Ms. Nazarian said specifically of this inflection point in Iran: “This is not a religious or a cultural matter, but rather a human rights issue.”

This important conversation continued with a more intimate panel discussion over lunch hosted by MOSAIC, Girls Go Global, and Feminists for Education – all student-run groups on campus. This panel consisted of Roxanna Ameri ’13; Ariana Romero, Chair of the Rising Leaders Board of the Iranian American Women’s Foundation (IAWF), LA Chapter; Pardis Habibi, member of IAWF; Mandy Fazeli, founder of A More Balanced World; Mana Shooshtari, a Field Director for a grassroots political organization; and was moderated by Maryam Zar. Each panelist shared their own experiences and perspectives as Iranian-Americans.

Press:

Honoring International Day of the Girl by Amplifying Iranian Voices by Marlborough

Candlelight Vigil Held at West Hollywood Park on September 29, 2022

Watch the Candlelight Vigil

in honor of Mahsa Amini and the brave women of Iran.

which took place Thursday, September 29th - 5:30 PM

at West Hollywood Park

The Vigil was held at West Hollywood Park on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 5:30 PM in honor of Mahsa Amini and the brave women of Iran.

The vigil, which was held both in-person and virtually, honors Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman who died in police custody, as well as the countless brave Iranian women risking their lives in the movement for women's rights and freedom.

The Mayor Pro Tempore of West Hollywood, Sepi Shyne, was in attendance, along with Councilwoman Sharona Nazarian, and other community leaders.

West Hollywood Park is located at 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., in West Hollywood, California. The vigil was streamed live on Instagram @iawfoundation for those supporting virtually.

Artist Credit: "Freedom Dance" by Fereshte Abdolahimehr (Iran)