PAAIA and IABA Host Nowruz Celebration in New York

By Iman Bacodari

April 10, 2015, New York, NY – On March 29th, 2015, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), in collaboration with the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) held its fifth annual Nowruz Celebration at the New York County Lawyers’ Association building in Manhattan.

Guests were greeted into the impressive marble rotunda with the traditional Haft-Seen table setting. This year’s sold-out event honored Justice Mojgan Lanceman, the first Iranian American Judge elected in New York State. PAAIA’s connected political action committee, IAPAC, supported  Judge Lanceman’s successful 2014 election campaign.   

The evening opened with speeches by Maryam Jazini, current president of the IABA NY Chapter, followed by a speech by Iman Bacodari, the vice chair of the NY Chapter of PAAIA. Bacodari highlighted the recent accomplishments of PAAIA and explained PAAIA’s three pillars of Bridge-Building, Influence-Building, and Leadership-Building.

Justice Lanceman then gave an inspirational keynote speech about her challenging, yet highly successful rise to become the first Iranian American Judge elected in New York State.

In attendance were PAAIA NY Chapter leaders Shaheen Ensanyat and Shirin Jamshidi.  Monna Sabouri, a graduate of the PAAIA Capitol Hill internship program and Sahand Shahrabani, intern for NY Senator Carolyn Maloney were also in attendance.

Honorable Judge Setareh Krause was the Master of Ceremonies. The evening continued with guests treated to an elaborate three-course Persian dinner and a beautiful musical ensemble of traditional Iranian and flamenco music.