Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy

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Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy We are volunteers building bridges of friendship between the people of greater Seattle and Iran. A secondary goal is to provide a model for other U.S.

Our goal is to use the “Sister City”, or “Friendship City” model to initiate exchanges between citizens of both cities, including city government and business leaders, students, teachers, artists, athletes, professional people, workers, religious leaders, and other groups with shared interests. and Iranian cities. We are and will remain “non-political.” We will neither promote nor defend the policies of the governments of either Iran or the United States, or engage in partisan political advocacy. By promoting exchanges between the people of Seattle and Isfahan, we will emphasize our common humanity and shared aspirations.

SISCA invites the Iranian- American community and our allies, volunteers and supporters to join us in honoring Dr. Khade...
10/09/2026

SISCA invites the Iranian- American community and our allies, volunteers and supporters to join us in honoring Dr. Khademi, a pillar of our community and the driving force behind the Iranian-American community’s collaborative preservation of culture and heritage. His absence has been felt by all since his passing and it is time for us to take stock of and honor the immense impact he has had on our diaspora. We look forward to seeing you at Bellevue City Hall, where the Mayor, Iranian-American NPOs, community members and others will gather for this special remembrance.

Repost from .seattle
با حضور:

✨ مهمان افتخاری: آقای محمد ملکوتیان، شهردار بلویو
✨ مهمان ویژه: خانم صهبا مطلبی، هنرمند برنده جایزه گرمی

🎶 به همراه هنرمندان پیمان مرندیز و رضا محسنی‌پور

Join us for a Celebration of the Life & Legacy of Iraj Khademi.

✨ Honored Guest: Bellevue Mayor Mo Malakoutian
✨ Special Guest: Grammy Award-winning Artist Sahba Motallebi

🎶 With artists Peyman Marandiz and Reza Mohsenipour

📅 October 16, 2026
🚪 Doors Open: 6:30 PM
🕖 Program Begins: 7:00 PM
📍 Bellevue City Hall
450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA

The evening will also include special artistic performances and refreshments.

✨ It was a true honor for the Seattle–Isfahan Sister City Advocacy (SISCA) to meet filmmaker Lilian Mehrel lilianfilm ho...
07/19/2026

✨ It was a true honor for the Seattle–Isfahan Sister City Advocacy (SISCA) to meet filmmaker Lilian Mehrel lilianfilm honeyjoon in person and experience the Seattle premiere of her feature film, Honeyjoon.

Honeyjoon is a heartfelt comedy-drama that follows a Persian mother and her daughter on a journey to the Azores, where they navigate grief, identity, healing, and the complexities of family relationships. Through humor, vulnerability, and self-discovery, the film beautifully explores what it means to reconnect—with one another and with ourselves.

What stayed with us most was its powerful sense of yin and yang—the delicate balance between joy and sorrow, tradition and change, strength and vulnerability, loss and hope. It is a moving reminder that life is about embracing both light and darkness as we find our own path to balance.

Congratulations to Lilian Mehrel and the entire cast and crew on bringing this beautiful story to Seattle. It was a privilege to meet Lilian, hear about her creative journey, and celebrate this special screening with her.

🎬 If you have the chance, don’t miss your opportunity to watch Honeyjoon today! It is a touching, authentic, and beautifully crafted film that will resonate long after the credits roll.

Thank you, Lilian, for sharing this remarkable story with our community. 🙏🏻💙

SIFF Film Center
Honeyjoon showtimes: Today at 5 pm - 7:15 pm

IranianDiaspora

07/17/2026

Repost from Nariman Assadi(نريمان اسعدى) ✨

From lullabies and ancient ceremonial melodies, from lament to ecstasy.

ZÂ brings the sounds and stories of Lorestan to the stage.

از لالایی‌ها و نغمه‌های کهن، از سوگ تا سماع.
زآ، روایتی نو از موسیقی لرستان.

📍 Portland — July 24
📍 Seattle — July 25
📍 Richmond,CA (Added show) July 30
📍 Richmond,CA (Sold out) July 31
📍 Davis, CA— August 2
📍 Chicago — August 16
📍 Washington D.C— August 23
📍 Pittsburge — Sep 5

🎟️ Tickets: linktr.ee/ZAconcert

🎶 Experience the soul of Lorestan through ZÂ (زا) — an unforgettable evening celebrating one of Iran’s richest musical t...
07/17/2026

🎶 Experience the soul of Lorestan through ZÂ (زا) — an unforgettable evening celebrating one of Iran’s richest musical traditions.

From ancient lullabies and ceremonial melodies to powerful songs of sorrow and joy, ZÂ takes you on a journey through centuries of Persian folklore and cultural heritage.

📅 Saturday, July 25
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Rainier Arts Center
3515 S Alaska St, Seattle, WA

Bring your family, friends, and especially your non-Iranian friends to experience the beauty, history, and spirit of Iranian folklore music together.

🎟️ Tickets: linktr.ee/ZAconcert

06/22/2026

✨ Celebrating a Decade of Connection & a Remarkable Achievement ✨

On weekend, SISCA proudly celebrated its 10th Anniversary while honoring a very special milestone—Sara’s graduation from the University of Washington, Class of 2026.

Sara Modjib Shirazi, founder of We Are Zoorkhaneh, has been a passionate advocate for cultural exchange and community building. As she embarks on an exciting internship with UNESCO in France, we wish her every success in this inspiring new chapter.

As we celebrate this milestone year, we extend our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers, board members, supporters, and community partners whose dedication, generosity, and hard work have helped SISCA thrive over the past decade. This achievement belongs to all of you.

Special thanks to Cathia Geller Cathia Geller for her leadership, generosity, and for opening her home to host this beautiful celebration.

While we missed some of our team members and dedicated and tireless volunteers, we look forward to gathering together again soon. Here’s to many more years of cultural exchange, meaningful projects, lasting friendships, and celebrating the connections that bring our communities together.

Thank you for being part of SISCA’s journey. ❤️

Call for Artists — Deadline Extended ✨We’re excited to share that the submission deadline for We Are Zoorkhaneh (WAZ) ha...
04/28/2026

Call for Artists — Deadline Extended ✨
We’re excited to share that the submission deadline for We Are Zoorkhaneh (WAZ) has been extended to May 5th.

This exhibition invites artists to explore Zoorkhaneh not only as a traditional practice, but as a living, evolving cultural space—reflecting themes of identity, community, strength, and transformation.

If you’ve been considering submitting, this is your moment.
🔗 Submit your work: https://forms.gle/sY4qRLWzW7fV6dqg9

📍 View the announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWwrn7DD6oN/?igsh=Y3R1OWRmcTZrbnNq

We would love to see your interpretation and be part of this meaningful collection.

A First-Ever Zoorkhaneh Experience in Washington State | University of WashingtonLed by a Female Instructor from Toronto...
04/21/2026

A First-Ever Zoorkhaneh Experience in Washington State | University of Washington
Led by a Female Instructor from Toronto .fitance

✨برای اولین بار در سیاتل:
تمرین زورخانه با حضور مربی زن ایرانی، تلفیقی از سنت، قدرت و فرهنگ.✨

An exclusive, first-time-ever opportunity to discover **Zoorkhaneh**—an ancient Iranian practice of strength, rhythm, and spirit.

This is more than a workshop—it’s a rare chance to experience a **living cultural tradition** where movement, poetry, and community come together.

🗓 May 14, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Recommended arrival: 3:45 PM)

📍 Alder Commons
1315 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98105
Main Entrance: NE 40th St

🎟 Free Admission
🍽 Food & beverages provided
👥 Open to all fitness levels

🧭 What to Expect

• Intercultural dialogue
• Gender equity
• Community & belonging

📲 Sign up via QR code on the flyer
🌐 [www.wearezoorkhaneh.org](http://www.wearezoorkhaneh.org)

🤝 Partner:
Seattle Isfahan Sister City Advocacy

🌍 SponSISCAortLab
Graduate & Professional Student Senate (GPSS)
Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF)
Amnesty International – UW
SmArt Ventures

🎨 Supporter:
Ancient Art

A moment of culture, strength, and connection—
not to be missed.

Grateful to have been part of such a meaningful gathering.On April 18, SISCA proudly participated in “Nowruz in King Cou...
04/20/2026

Grateful to have been part of such a meaningful gathering.

On April 18, SISCA proudly participated in “Nowruz in King County Washington: Cultural Continuity, Identity Reconstruction, and Community Belonging” at the Seattle Art Museum, hosted by Porsesh Policy Research Institute.

This multidisciplinary event brought together research, storytelling, and cultural expression in a powerful way. From the release of original research on the evolving role of Nowruz in our communities, to a curated video showcase capturing lived experiences, the program created space for both reflection and connection.

We were especially honored to have Cathia Geller represent SISCA on the panel, contributing to a thoughtful dialogue alongside fellow researchers and community leaders on identity, belonging, and cultural continuity.

The live dance performance added a beautiful dimension of celebration, and the afternoon concluded with a warm and engaging networking reception—reminding us that community is not only studied, but lived and nurtured together.

Thank you to everyone who joined, contributed, and helped shape this inspiring experience.

SISCA will participate in a free, multidisciplinary event to be held at the Seattle Art Museum on April 18, 2026, from 1...
04/16/2026

SISCA will participate in a free, multidisciplinary event to be held at the Seattle Art Museum on April 18, 2026, from 12 to 3 pm. Nowruz in King County Washington: Cultural Continuity, Identity Reconstruction, and Community Belonging is hosted by the Porsesh Policy Research Institute The program will feature the release of original research findings that offer insights into the role and evolution of Nowruz within local communities. This will be followed by a curated video showcase highlighting lived experiences and cultural narratives, and a panel conversation with researchers and community leaders to reflect on key themes and implications. Cathia Geller, SISCA Board President, will represent SISCA on the panel.

    This free event will also include a live dance performance celebrating cultural traditions and will conclude with a networking reception that will provide space for connection, dialogue, and collaboration. This gathering aims to create a meaningful platform where research and cultural expression come together to inform, engage, and inspire!

Step into a tradition where strength meets poetry, and movement carries meaning.We invite artists to explore Zoorkhaneh—...
04/05/2026

Step into a tradition where strength meets poetry, and movement carries meaning.

We invite artists to explore Zoorkhaneh—an ancient Iranian practice rooted in courage, humility, and community—reimagined today as a space for dialogue, inclusion, and transformation.

🎨 Submit your work and be part of this powerful cultural conversation.

🗓 Deadline: April 30, 2026
📍 University of Washington

🤝 In collaboration with:
Seattle Isfahan Sister City Advocacy , Amnesty International – UW , and SmArt Ventures

📩 For questions:
[email protected]
Subject: Zoorkhaneh Call for Art

Scan the QR code to apply.

Address

Seattle, WA
98141

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