Finding My Voice Through Advocacy
Nava Taghavi
This past week, I had the privilege of participating in the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) Civic Leadership Program, an experience that allowed me to advocate for the Iranian American community on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. At a time of heightened political tension involving Iran, I joined fellow Iranian American students and young professionals from across the country to meet with members of Congress and discuss how U.S. policies affect Iranian Americans and their families. Together, we advocated for three pieces of legislation that have the potential to improve the lives of not only our own families, but also millions of people connected to Iran: the I.R.A.N. Act, the Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA), and the Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act (ITIRA).
The I.R.A.N. Act is a bipartisan bill that seeks to ensure that humanitarian exemptions to U.S. sanctions operate as intended. Although sanctions are designed to hold the Iranian government accountable, they can also unintentionally limit civilians’ access to medicine, humanitarian assistance, and other essential goods. This legislation aims to increase transparency and oversight so that humanitarian aid can reach those who need it while maintaining the objectives of U.S. sanctions policy. The bill is expected to be reintroduced in Congress in the coming months.
The Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA) addresses one of the most difficult challenges faced by many Iranian American families: long-term separation from loved ones. The bill would establish a process that allows eligible family members to visit the United States temporarily for important life events, including weddings, graduations, births, funerals, and medical emergencies. For many families, current restrictions have made even short visits impossible. This legislation seeks to preserve family connections while maintaining appropriate security measures.
The Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act (ITIRA) provides temporary immigration protections for Iranian nationals who are already in the United States and cannot safely return to Iran because of political instability, conflict, or humanitarian concerns. The legislation would allow eligible individuals to remain in the United States while conditions in Iran remain unsafe, providing stability and protection during times of uncertainty.
Because these bills require bipartisan support, our work involves much more than explaining policy. Throughout the Civic Leadership Program, we participated in workshops that taught us how to communicate effectively through personal narratives using Marshall Ganz’s framework: The Story of Self, The Story of Us, and The Story of Now. The Story of Self explains why an issue is personally important. The Story of Us connects individual experiences to the experiences of a larger community. The Story of Now explains why immediate action is necessary. Instead of relying only on facts and statistics, we shared our own family experiences to demonstrate how these policies affect real people.
Another important lesson I learned was how to communicate effectively with different audiences. While the purpose of each bill remained the same, we emphasized different aspects of the legislation depending on whether we were meeting with Democratic or Republican offices. By presenting our message in a way that reflected each office’s priorities, we were able to have more meaningful conversations while remaining true to the purpose of the legislation. Our goal was not only to educate members of Congress, but also to encourage them to become co-sponsors of these bills.
All three bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives, and both the I.R.A.N. Act and the TFVA have also been introduced in the Senate. During our meetings, one observation stood out to me. Of the senators we met with, only Senator Adam Schiff of California had already signed onto one of the bills—the Senate version of the I.R.A.N. Act. This reminded me that legislative progress depends on continued civic engagement. Personal stories and conversations with constituents play an important role in helping elected officials understand how legislation affects the communities they represent.
Beyond learning about public policy and advocacy, this experience strengthened my understanding of what it means to be Iranian American. Growing up, I often viewed my Iranian heritage and my American identity as separate parts of who I was. Through this experience, I realized that they complement one another. One of the most meaningful moments of the program was meeting Representative Yassamin Ansari, the first Iranian American Democrat elected to Congress. Seeing someone who shares my heritage serving in Congress reminded me that the Iranian American community is represented and that our voices matter. Her leadership demonstrated that representation is important because it allows our community’s experiences and perspectives to be included in national conversations. It also showed me that young Iranian Americans can contribute to public service and help shape the future of our country.
This experience changed the way I view my cultural identity. Being Iranian American means honoring the history, culture, and resilience of my heritage while actively participating in American civic life. It means using the opportunities and freedoms available in the United States to advocate for those whose voices are not always heard. Meeting Representative Ansari and advocating for legislation that directly affects Iranian Americans and families in Iran inspired me to become more involved in my own community. It reinforced my desire to serve others, encourage civic participation, and work toward meaningful change. Most importantly, this experience taught me that my cultural identity is not only something to value—it is also a responsibility. It is a responsibility to represent my community with integrity, to share our stories, and to help build a stronger future for the next generation of Iranian Americans.
Nava Taghavi is a junior at Poway to Palomar Middle College in San Diego, California.
