Last Sunday I witnessed and participated as a panelist in an event in Orange County that
excited, inspired and motivated over 650 women who attended it. The event was called:
Iranian-American Women’s Leadership Conference. The purpose was to celebrate and
honor those immigrant women who have reached success in business, science, technology, philanthropy, fashion, music and movies and …yes, in politics, and to create role models for the young generation. I was introduced as the first and only Iranian-American women to hold an elected political office in the history of the United States of America, a distinction that I was not aware of.

The event was sponsored by Coastline Community College in Costa Mesa and is the product of a brilliant mind, the Executive Director of the College, Mariam Khosravani, herself an accomplished and successful Iranian-American woman.

What impressed me the most was the desire of the new generation of Americans of the Iranian heritage who want to get involved in all levels of our society and to contribute to our great country, America. I was deeply touched when these young women approached me with tears in their eyes just to tell me how proud they were of me and to ask questions regarding my political success, wanting to know how they could get involved.

I have to say I had not seen any event like this. It was patriotic, it was nostalgic, it was filled with laughter, and it was full of energy. I had tears in my eyes many times as I watched how a group of successful female immigrants were celebrating their successes and honoring America for the opportunities she had provided them, opportunities they could never experience in today’s Iran.

But most of all it was uplifting. It focused on the fact that some 32 years ago the majority of the attendees came to America with heavy hearts filled with the sad memories of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, which had made it impossible for them to continue their lives there.

Thirty-two years later, the same immigrants have become contributing members of their new country, the United States of America, and many of them have taken leadership roles in all walks of life and business. The new generation of Americans of the Iranian heritage were on fire, wanting to learn from us, the older ones, who still have our accents and who were not raised in America. They wanted to know how we broke through and how we were able to transform from immigrants into leaders. They were seeking role models and believe me there were plenty of role models there.

As I was leaving the event I couldn’t help being proud. I was proud to have been used as a role model and I was proud that I had a new understanding of what it means to be an American. I saw it in the eyes of everyone who spoke with me. Being an American means to give, to contribute and to keep your eyes on the far away stars and to reach them, even though as a child growing up on the other side of the world you never imagined anything like this.

The event was what legal and productive immigration should be and must be. These immigrants are not burdens to our society; they are contributors to the greatness of our country.

God Bless the United States of America.

Here is how I was introduced at the event:

Farrah Golshan Douglas
Councilwoman

Farrah Golshan Douglas, Councilwoman for the City of Carlsbad, is the first Iranian-American woman elected to this position in American history, in which she is also the first American of Iranian descent to be elected to public office in the San Diego County. As a candidate for City Council in 2010, Farrah received the highest number of votes any council candidate has received in Carlsbad history. She is also the first immigrant to be elected to the council.

Prior to her election to the council, Farrah served as the Chair of Carlsbad’s Planning Commission and the Chair of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, the second largest Chamber in San Diego County. She has received accolades from state and local leaders and Carlsbad residents for her passion, honesty, hard work, and intelligent understanding of the issues facing San Diego County.

Farrah is the founder and CEO of a successful business in Carlsbad, CDS Printing, and has enjoyed an impressive record as a political and business leader in North County over the past 21 years. Currently, Farrah serves as Carlsbad’s representative on several regional boards including San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the League of California Cities, and the San Diego County Water Authority Board (SDCWA).