Thanks to the support of our community, IAAB was able to execute another important international conference. Coverage of the conference is just beginning to be released through a variety of media outlets, but we want you to hear from the IAAB team first. Video, audio, and synopses of the panels will be available on our website in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Some highlights of the weekend included:

• John Tehranian’s discussion of the ambivalent effects of “white” identification among Middle Eastern Americans;
• NIAC and PAAIA’s discussions on the most effect means of political influence building;
• Round table discussion featuring Ross Mirkarimi, Banafsheh Akhlaghi, Hooman Khalili, and Rudi Bakhtiar on the successes and challenges facing Iranians in the United States;
• Neda Maghbouleh’s mobilization of the theory of “Inherited Nostalgia” vis-a-vis the role Googoosh and other Persian language musicians have played in diasporic conceptions of Iranian-ness;
• Gelareh Bassiry’s important confrontation with domestic violence and notions of patriarchy that escape most public discourse on the status of Iranian women living abroad;
• Taghi Amirani’s talk that brought on bouts of tears and laughs through his discussion of the commodification of Iran expertise and the inherent inaccessibility of Iran, even to Iranians;
• Hanif Yazdi’s eloquent characterization of his diasporic identity: “I should not feel guilty for not being there, for there is purpose in my being here. I cannot feel I do not own the problems of this country, for in working to solve them I will gain the skills I need to help those back home. I do not long for a place that no longer exists, but imagine an Iran that can be and seek to create it;”
• Fared Shafinury and Sholi’s high energy and virtuosic performances on Saturday night, including a rock cover of Googoosh and legendary percussionist Pezhham Akhavass.

Thank you again for all of your support of this amazing project. It was an impactful weekend filled with great ideas, analysis, and conversations. The IAAB staff is extremely pleased with the outcome of our hard work, and we have already started to brainstorm how to further improve the conference in 2011!

-

Also, Check out Nazy Kaviani’s blog on Iranian.com for preliminary coverage:

http://iranian.com/main/blog/nazy-kaviani/so-are-you-white

http://iranian.com/main/albums/beautiful-people

http://iranian.com/main/node/60943