National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Launches IraNexus Database of Iranian-American Organizations

NIAC launches IraNexus -- a much needed tool that will network and strengthen Iranian American organizations across the country.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 28, 2004 -- IraNexus is a database of the non-profit organizations representing the diverse interests of the Iranian-American community. The program is designed to connect the nationally dispersed Iranian-American community, and aid its ability to collaborate and mobilize rapidly.

NIAC has created IraNexus to bring Iranian Americans one step closer to a more mobilized and active community through the vital organizations that serve it. "Many of our community's organizations suffer from a lack of resources and have little or no communication with each other," said NIAC President Trita Parsi. "By connecting groups across the country, IraNexus will enable our community to respond immediately and effectively to discriminatory policies, humanitarian emergencies, and other issues that are important to us."

By becoming an IraNexus member, Iranian-American organizations will access pertinent information about each other in order to network at the city, state, or national level. Through IraNexus, like-minded groups can collaborate and share resources for events and activities on a larger scale than ever before.

Based on the information that IraNexus members provide, NIAC will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the organizations, and design tools and resources specifically targeting their needs and interests.

Fariba Nejat, President of the Iranian Federated Woman's Club and the Payvand Cultural School, IraNexus member organizations, said enthusiastically: By helping Iranian-American organizations become more 'organized both internally and as a network of groups across the country, IraNexus will create a dynamic environment in which our community can work together and learn from each other."

Through IraNexus, individuals and other community members can also access a comprehensive public directory of organizations, housed on the NIAC website, in order to search for specific types of organizations, volunteer opportunities or Persian classes in their city, charitable opportunities, Iran-related resources for local schools, and other ways in which organizations and their communities can become better connected.

As a student organization, we are always seeking new ways to engage our fellow students and local community in our Iranian-American projects and events," said Salman Mohagheghi, President of the Iranian Student Association at the Georgia Institute of Technology. We are excited to be a member of IraNexus in order to exchange ideas with other student groups and organize the types of events that are impossible to do alone."

The success of IraNexus depends on the number of Iranian-American organizations that become members. Only through their active participation will Iranian-American groups strengthen IraNexus as their own and enable it to become a dynamic vehicle of community mobilization and action" said NIAC Executive Director Dokhi Fassihian. We are inviting and encouraging all Iranian-American organizations across the country to join the growing network of IraNexus."

Participation in IraNexus is free and easy. As a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, NIAC has designed IraNexus so that organizations need only visit http://www.niacouncil.org/iranexus/web/default.asp and complete the IraNexus survey to become a member.

I am confident that, through IraNexus and its role in cyberspace, our community will become closer and more interactive," said Dr. Majid Jahangiri, President of the Iranian American Cultural Society of Maryland, an IraNexus member organization. Consequently, the prevailing stereotype in the 'real space of a lack of cooperation within the Iranian-American community will lose its intensity."

More information on IraNexus, as well as the public directory of Iranian-American organizations, can be found on the NIAC website at

http://www.niacouncil.org/nexus/nexusindex.asp

NIAC is a Washington, DC-based 501 c(3) non-partisan, non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Iranian-American participation in American civic life. NIAC does not work with and has no ties with any governments, political parties or political personalities. For more information about the organization, please visit www.niacouncil.org or email us at info@niacouncil.org or send a fax to (202) 518-5507.

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