((PKG))  PIA – SHAHROOZ SHEKARAUBI
((Banner:  Connecting Through Art))
((Executive Producer:  Marsha James))

((Camera:  Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map:  New Orleans, Louisiana))

((Courtesy:  Shahrooz Shekaraubi))
((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee))
We immigrated here when I was a year old to Virginia and that was when things were kind of changing domestically in Iran.  We decided to go back for a trip, my mother, myself, my brother and through that trip, I had an epiphany about who I was and what I wanted to do.
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((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee))
My name is Shahrooz Shekaraubi and I am the founder and director of the Aftab Committee.  We empower Iranian- American artists through facilitating different types of events, whether it's art exhibits, comedy shows, concerts, etc.  but also as a means for it to be a bridge between these artists, their art, and the Iranian-American community with other communities here in the United States.  
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((Courtesy:  The Aftab Committee))

((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee))
So, the name Aftab in the Persian language means sunlight and that was the vision behind the nonprofit organization, was like, just like sunlight, it doesn't really directly interfere with the growth of what it's helping them grow, but it's a source for positivity and growth.

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((Courtesy:  The Aftab Committee))

((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee))
The Aftab Committee supports all artists that are Iranian- American.  So, it doesn't matter if they are comedians, musicians, visual artists.  Everyone is doing something and what's been really interesting is that every day, I come across three or four new artists that I didn't know existed.  Each artist is different, each artist is unique, so each time an artist comes to us for support, we sit down and have a long conversation with them to kind of try to figure out what they really want to achieve.  And then often with the newly arrived artists that just moved here from Iran, the advice I give them is to try to really indulge themselves in American life as a means to better adapt to navigating their career here in the States.
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((Courtesy:  The Aftab Committee))

((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee)) 

A lot of our success is that actually the changing atmosphere and environment here, just within the United States.  A lot of people are curious about the Iranian-American community and then art that maybe being created within the community.  We had a collaboration with Prizm Art Fair and Prizm Art Fair is the largest African Diaspora Art Festival, located in Miami, Florida.  They created a space for artists on behalf of Aftab to be present at events and so this is our opportunity for the Iranian-American community and the African-American community to kind of create to learn about each other's communities through art where, I think, is the best tool to bring people together. 
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((Courtesy:  2018 Prizm Art Fair))

((Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder & Director, Aftab Committee)) 

A lot of times these artists are not only sharing their own human experience, but they reflect to a certain extent, experiences of their own communities, whether it's the Iranian-American community or whatever other community you may be in.  So, because it's genuine when people come to a space where data is being presented, there's an energy that helps people kind of connect.

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((Courtesy:  The Aftab Committee))