sudi farokhnia
presidenT
Sudi Farokhnia is a Risk and Audit professional, passionate social justice advocate, and co-founder of the Iranian American Democrats of California. An elected Delegate to CADEM since 2019, DNC Delegate in 2020 and elected DPOC Central Committee Member since 2023, she is a committed community organizer and philanthropist. She serves on the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee with the Registrar of Voters in Orange County.
With over two decades of activism, Sudi is dedicated to advancing women’s rights, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advocating for progressive values. She works to amplify underrepresented voices, remove voting barriers, and challenge systemic issues like hate, violence, and military spending. As a co-founder of the One Million Signature Campaign and Iranian Circle of Women in Networking, she remains a fierce advocate for gender equality and access to education in Iran and Afghanistan.
Alex Mohajer
VICE President
Alex is an award-winning political activist, organizer, and journalist. He is the Vice President of the Iranian American Democrats representing Los Angeles and served as the first Iranian American and millennial president of the Stonewall Democrats, one the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ political advocacy organizations. He is the recipient of a Truman Award from DPSFV for executive producing the National Vote-at-Home Initiative during the 2020 election and a 2018 Excellence in Journalism Award from the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists.
He holds a BA from UC Berkeley and a JD from Chapman University School of Law. He is a 2024 candidate for State Senate District 37 who has received endorsements from numerous progressive organizations.
Noojan nooraie
Secretary
Noojan Nooraie was born in Tehran, Iran but moved to the U.S. at a young age. She is of Iranian and Kurdish descent. She has been politically minded since her youth with an expressed interest in women’s rights, climate change, and housing inequality.
She has most recently acquired a B.A. in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations from the University of California, San Diego.
parshan khosravi
Treasurer
Parshan is a legislative advocate, grassroots organizer, and unapologetic voice for equity-driven public policy. As a former Iranian refugee and a member of the Zoroastrian community, Parshan is a fierce advocate for immigrant rights, and a believer in the power of education as a mechanism of community empowerment. Parshan’s policy focus areas include higher education, immigration, and labor rights. In his professional job as the Government Relations Director of the University of California Student Association, Parshan leads the organization’s advocacy efforts in Sacramento and Washington DC. Parshan also currently serves as the chair of the CYD Labor Caucus.
fariba (faye) hezar
SoCal Regional Chair
Fariba Hezar is a community activist, organizer, and member of the central committee of Orange County. She is the co-founder of IADC and has served in various capacities since its inception. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology & Chemistry and PsyD in clinical Psychology. She has been a campaign manager for the Iranian community in LA and OC Census in 2010 and 2020. Fariba co-founded Imagine Action OC, and is currently the Vice President and field operation Newport Beach Women Democratic Club.
Fariba has been a Delegate to CADEM, since 2018. Lastly, she is a member of the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee with the Registrar of Voters in OC. National Women Political Caucus a national organization who endorsed and supports electing pro choice women. Her community involvement and activism represents the values she upholds and fights for.
marjaneh afkhami
SoCal Regional Vice Chair
Marjaneh was born in Tehran, Iran and has lived in US all her adult life. She was educated in Iran, Switzerland and US with Masters in Fine Arts , Landscape Architecture and Urban planning . She is aware of the fragility of a stable democratic state and the role each citizen plays . A privilege each citizen is entitled to help maintaining the strong foundation a democratic society needs through active engagement and awareness.
She is passionate about equality , justice, freedom of speech , the separation of state and religion , and most importantly protection of the one and only Earth we know of and inhabit.
shiela parisa rossi
la Regional Chair
Sheila Rossi is a City Council Member for South Pasadena, seasoned strategist, grassroots organizer, and community advocate with over 20 years of experience working in both private and non-profit sectors. Passionate about universal healthcare, education, criminal justice reform, and good governance, Sheila advocates for health equity, transparency, and accountability. She serves as a CADEM AD 49 delegate, JEDI facilitator, a member of SoCal American College of Healthcare Executives DEI committee, and Vice-Chair of the Finance Commission for South Pasadena.
Sheila holds a BS in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from USC. A proud mother of three amazing change makers, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation of progressive leaders.
Brian Calderón Tabatabai
la Regional Vice Chair
Former mayor of city of West Covina ….
soheila bana
NorCal Regional Chair
Dr. Soheila Bana is the Chair of the Northern California region of Iranian American Democrats of California (IADC) and a Richmond City Councilmember. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley and has worked across industry, academia, and government. A dedicated advocate for public safety, community empowerment, and civic engagement, she champions initiatives to reduce gun violence, enhance wildfire preparedness, and support underserved communities.
Dr. Bana is committed to increasing Iranian American political participation and encourages more to run for office to ensure representation. She fosters coalitions for equity and inclusion. Married and a mother of two, she is deeply involved in grassroots organizing, bridging communities, and amplifying diverse voices in decision-making at local and state levels.
sousan manteghi safakish
NorCal Regional Vice Chair
TBD
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Central Valley Regional Chair
TBD
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central valley Regional Vice Chair
TBD
shervin aazami
Chair of Policy Development Committee
Shervin Aazami is an Italian-born Iranian American who grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. A policy analyst by training, Shervin previously worked on Capitol Hill in Washington DC for a national Native American health advocacy non-profit, and now works for a statewide progressive criminal justice non-profit founded and led by Californians directly harmed by the carceral system. Shervin is the Chartered Democratic Club Representative for Stonewall Democrats, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022 to represent the 32nd District.
While forever a Bruin, Shervin also holds a Master of Public Health from George Washington University and a Master of Public Administration from UNC Chapel Hill. Shervin lives with his wife, two rambunctious young children, & dog Vicki, in the San Fernando Valley.
Keristofer Seryani
Chair of Endorsement Committee
Keristofer was born in Tehran, Iran, of Armenian and Assyrian ethnicity and moved to the US at the age of 12. He is a life-long Democrat with a keen interest in Women’s rights and equality. He currently serves as an ADEM delegate for AD12, e-board member, and vice-chair of the Finance Steering Committee within the California Democratic Party. Keristofer holds a B.A. degree in economics and political science from Whittier College and a M.S. in Foreign Service with a concentration in International Finance and Commerce from Georgetown University and has spent the past two decades structuring and developing large-scale energy infrastructure projects.
amitis yaghini
Chair of Membership Committee
TBD
damon maghsoudi
Co-Chair of Outreach Committee
TBD
Azadeh Ghafari
Chair of digital media Committee
Azi is a licensed mental health practitioner who works as a hospital administrator in Southern California. She specializes in public health policy and mental health advocacy within immigrant and refugee populations. During the 2008 and 2012 general elections, she worked as an Organizing Director for the Obama for America campaign. During the 2018 midterm elections, she worked as the Compliance Finance Director for the California Democratic Party (CDP) and went on to serve as the party’s first female Creative Director.
this can be you
Chair of fundraising Committee
TBD