Leadership Conference Agenda

The agenda has been carefully crafted to ensure that you have maximum benefit and exposure while in DC. We invited a diverse array of speakers and planned educational, fun and interactive events to keep you fully engaged throughout these three days.

Please check back as we will update the agenda with more details as the conference nears.

For those of you making travel arrangents, the conference kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30 and ends at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct.  2.  Please give yourself enough time for your arrival and departure.

Day 1: Sunday, September 30 - Opening Workshop & Reception

Daily Schedule
Registration:  9 am - 1 pm
Welcoming Remarks & Workshop - 1 pm - 4 pm
Opening Night Reception - 6 pm - 8:30 pm *Note - buses depart at 5:40 pm from hotel

Watch Alan Eyre's Speech at NIAC's 2011 Leadership Conference

Workshop: "Community Building" - How Can We Empower Our Community
A  favorite from last year, attendees will participate in an interactive workshop that will teach you strategies to engage our community and help you recognize options for navigating rocky terrain.

Opening Night Reception
The opening night reception is an opportunity to mix, mingle and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and libations.  It will feature a special guest (to be announced) from the Iranian-American community. Last year's conference receptions featured U.S. Department of State Persian-Language Spokesman Alan Eyre and Iranian-American comedian/actor Max Amini

 

Day 2: Monday, October 1 - Issue Day

Daily Schedule
Breakfast:  8 am - 9 am
Panel discussions, lunchtime keynote & Civic Engagement Workshop:  9 am - 5:30 pm
Dinner Gala feat. Noam Chomsky & Maziar Bahari - 7 pm - 9:30 pm. *Note - buses depart hotel at 6:40

Watch VOA's coverage of NIAC's 2011 Leadership Conference

Panel #1: U.S./Iran Relations: A Washington Insider's Perspective
Unfortunately, war with Iran is a real possibility. Hear from top experts on what can be done to stop it and the role you can play. Panelists will examine several different aspects of U.S./Iran relations including, diplomacy, human rights and the nuclear issue. Confirmed speakers include the Honorable Thomas Pickering (Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs), Farideh Farhi (Prominent Iran Scholar), David Crist (Author and Senior Historian for US Government) and Robert Hunter (Former Director of Middle East Affairs for National Security Council and Former US Ambassador to NATO)

Panel #2: The Iranian People's Quest for Democracy - the role of the Diaspora 
Hear from experts about the situation in Iran. Can change happen?  Is democratization a possibility? What's the role of the Iranian diaspora in this quest? Confirmed speakers include Bijan Khajehpour (Chairman and Co-founder of Atieh International Group), Maziar Bahari (Journalist and Filmmaker), Nazila Fathi (Former Iran-based NY Times writer) and Ramin Jahanbegloo (Prominent Iran Scholar).

Panel #3: Reinventing the Wheel?  What Iranian Americans can Learn from other Communities
The Iranian-American community has a lot to learn from other Diaspora communities such as the Jewish, Armenian, and Arab communities. Let's learn from their experiences and make change within our own community. Hear directly from leaders of different Diaspora communities on how they organize, galvanize, and increase their political influence. Confirmed speakers include Tom Dine (founder, AIPAC), James Zogby (President, Arab American Institute), and Aram Suren Hamparian (Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America). 

Workshop: Demystifying Democracy

Noam Chomsky
Maziar Bahari

In this interactive workshop you will learn how to influence policy beyond voting and donating money, how to frame an issue for maximum impact on an intended audience, how to write effective letters to be published by newspapers and magazine editors, how to set up meeting with elected officials, and how to develop a long term relationship with your lawmakers.

Fundraiser Dinner Gala featuring world-renowned political theorist and author Noam Chomsky & author and journalist Maziar Bahari
A night to be remembered, guests will have the extraordinary opportunity to meet with one of the most critically engaged public intellectuals alive today, Noam Chomsky as well as filmmaker and former Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari. Noam Chomsky has strongly come out against U.S. foreign policy with Iran and will provide valuable insight on how ways we can promote peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the U.S./Iran impasse. Don't miss out on your chance to take a stand against war and support NIAC's efforts.  Guests will also enjoy a three-course meal and plenty of time for networking with fellow attendees.

Day 3: Tuesday, October 2 - Capitol Hill Day

Daily Schedule
Buses depart hotel for Capitol Hill - 8:20 am
Individual meetings with Representatives and/or Tour of Capitol - 9 am - 12 pm
Hill Staffer Briefing - 12 pm - 1:30 pm
Buses depart for hotel - 1:45 pm

Watch Exclusive Capitol Hill Staff Briefing from NIAC's 2011 Leadership Conference

Meetings with Members of Congress
Meet with your Member of Congress on Capitol Hill and have your voice heard on issues that are important to the Iranian-American community. ** In order to guarantee a meeting with your state Representative or Senator, please register by Friday, August 3 to ensure adequate time to schedule an appointment.

Tour of the Capitol
Take an hour-long captivating tour of the nation's historic capitol building and you may run into the Speaker of the House or a Representative of Congress.

Capitol Hill Staff Briefing
NIAC frequently hosts Capitol Hill briefing closed to Members of Congress, Hill Staff, and the media. Now, you will have the opportunity to sit one these high profile briefings featuring a panel prominent leaders and academics speaking on topics such diplomacy, sanctions, war, human rights, or nuclear negotiations.

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