Advocating for MENA Communities:

Webinar with Jamal Abdi

Tuesday, October 13th | 5:00 PM PT/ 8:00 PM ET 

Join us for a special webinar with Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and Executive Director of its sister organization, NIAC Action, for a conversation about the history, evolution, and future of advocacy on behalf of Iranian American and MENA communities in the United States. This webinar will examine the development of Iranian American political advocacy through the history and work of NIAC. Founded in 2002, NIAC emerged during a period in which Iranian Americans were increasingly seeking ways to participate in U.S. civic and political life and to develop a more organized voice on policies affecting their communities.

Drawing on his years of experience in community organizing, policy advocacy, congressional affairs, and organizational leadership, Abdi will discuss the historical circumstances that contributed to NIAC's formation and the broader political mobilization of Iranian Americans. Abdi will reflect on how the political participation of Iranian Americans, including grassroots organizing, civic education, and engagement with elected officials and policymakers, has contributed to NIAC's evolution.

This webinar will provide participants with a historically grounded and practitioner-oriented perspective on the development of MENA advocacy in the United States. Through Jamal Abdi's experience with congressional policy, grassroots organizing, and NIAC, attendees will gain greater insight into how community mobilization develops over time, how advocacy organizations seek to influence public policy, and how Iranian American and broader MENA communities can continue building civic and political capacity in the years ahead.

Registrants must hold an active AMENA-Psy membership of any level (student or professional), and use the email associated with their AMENA-Psy account to register.