PAAIA congratulates nine Iranian American recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, PAAIA consults with immigration attorney Parastoo Zahedi on the Department of State's call for increased visa scrutiny, and PAAIA interviews Tony Award Nominee Arian Moayed, star of the provocative dual-language adaptation of Hamlet. ------------------------------------------------------------ Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser (http://mailchi.mp/paaia/b7majazeir?e=70eba44e2f) .
** PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALLIANCE OF IRANIAN AMERICANS ------------------------------------------------------------ ** NEWSLETTER ------------------------------------------------------------ ** May 17th, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------ ** PAAIA Congratulates Nine Iranian American Recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor ------------------------------------------------------------ Ellis Island, New York - On May 13^th, 2017, nine highly accomplished Iranian Americans, including IA-100 member Mohammed Farzaneh, were awarded the 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for outstanding achievement in their personal and professional lives, as well as their commitment to the preservation of their Iranian culture and heritage and noteworthy citizenship to the United States. Established in 1986 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO), the Ellis Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation’s most prestigious awards, paying annual tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America’s unique cultural mosaic. The Medals are presented on Ellis Island to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation, and the world. The U.S. Congress sanctions the Ellis Island Medals of Honor and recipients’ names are listed in the Congressional Record. Six Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of industry, artists, and others are among the remarkable group of individuals to have received the award. Click here (http://paaia.org/CMS/paaia-congratulates-eight-iranian-american-recipients-ellis-island-medal-honor.aspx) to view the full article. ------------------------------------------------------------ PAAIA Consults with Expert Immigration Attorney, Parastoo Zahedi, on the State Department’s Proposal for Tighter Visa Scrutiny http://paaia.org/CMS/state-department-calls-increased-visa-scrutiny-including-social-media-investigation.aspxWASHINGTON, DC – Recently, the Trump Administration proposed (http://paaia.org/CMS/state-department-calls-increased-visa-scrutiny-including-social-media-investigation.aspx) stricter vetting procedures, including investigating social media profiles, to keep visa applicants who warrant additional scrutiny “in-connection-with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities” out of the country. The tighter vetting measures have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a public comment period. If initiated, the new measures could apply to Iranian visa applicants. PAAIA recently reached out to Parastoo Zahedi, an expert immigration attorney who has been practicing immigration law since 1989, to provide legal analysis of the proposed measures and their impact on Iranian visa applicants. Click here (http://paaia.org/CMS/paaia-interviews-expert-immigration-attorney-parastoo-zahedi-state-departments-proposal-tighter-visa-scrutiny.aspx) to read her analysis. ------------------------------------------------------------ PAAIA Interviews Tony Award Nominee Arian Moayed, Star of the Provocative Dual-Language Adaptation of Hamlet https://sheencenter.org/shows/hamlet/New York, NY - Waterwell Theater Company (http://waterwell.org/) is undertaking a professional stage production of Shakespeare's Hamlet set in 1917 Tehran, during the dawn of World War I. Performing Shakespeare's words in both English and Farsi, Waterwell’s adaptation of Hamlet explores the shifting cultural identities that Persians were facing as the rest of the world was modernizing. With passages spoken in Farsi, this version of Shakespeare's celebrated tragedy explores parallels between Hamlet's central existential dilemma and the compromises of a nation faced with the encroachment of Western influences, then and now. The production features a cast of Iranian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian actors including Tony Award nominee Arian Moayed, the first Iranian actor to play the role of Hamlet in the United States. PAAIA recently had the opportunity to discuss Waterwell’s cultural adaptation of Hamlet with Arian Moayed who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in 2011 for his performance as Musa in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. PAAIA: Hamlet has been adapted to many cultures and settings, including recent productions in Iran. How is this different? And how does it reflect the struggles of Iranians everywhere? Arian Moayed: Having two Iranian immigrants - one acting and one composing - involved in the play of Hamlet, performed in Manhattan set in 1917 Iran, bridges the gap between ideas and ideals. This is what we’re all about at Waterwell productions. This play is an original. Click here (http://paaia.org/CMS/paaia-interviews-tony-award-nominee-arian-moayed.aspx) to read the full interview. ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Become a Member of PAAIA: (http://paaia.org/become-a-member) ------------------------------------------------------------ We rely on your generosity to help us oppose discriminatory measures like President Trump's travel ban, foster greater understanding of the Iranian people and their culture, and build programs that connect, support, and empower our community, especially our youth, for the benefit of present and future generations. Click here (http://paaia.org/become-a-member) to become a member of PAAIA today! ============================================================ ** Follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/paaia) | ** Friend us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/PublicAffairsAllianceofIranianAmericans/) | ** Forward to a Friend (http://us12.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=815031feb2c3d0f64af28ce90&id=4f36e0dae8&e=70eba44e2f) Copyright © 2017 Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, All rights reserved. You are receiving updates on issues that concern Iranian Americans from PAAIA because you signed up on our website. Our mailing address is: Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. 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