Join us for our next Author Series event with Tara Kangarlou. Tara will discuss her new book, The Heartbeat of Iran.
Far from being a political narrative, The Heartbeat of Iran takes readers into the heart and soul of a country that's often seen through news headlines and a political fog that blurs the reality of life for millions of Iranians inside the country. Each chapter is an incredibly nuanced, textured, and intimate journey into the diversity of beliefs, struggles, and complexities of life in today's Iran - all told through the real stories of its people.
At a time when the world is grappling with the impact of the pandemic, political and racial divides, the book offers an unprecedented insight into how people's shared humanity, culture, and aspirations are far greater and more powerful than any rift. The stories in my book are unique to Iran, but are a reflection of the power of human stories, cultural exchange, and bridging divides through authentic storytelling.
About the speaker
T
ara Kangarlou is an award-winning journalist who has reported, written, and produced breaking news, investigative pieces, and broadcast stories for NBC-LA, CNN, CNN International and Al Jazeera America. Her writing and reporting has also appeared in digital news outlets such as TIME, Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, and Al Monitor. She previously served as a fellow at the East West Institute, is a contributor to Al Jazeera, and a frequent commentator on various news outlets covering the MENA region and humanitarian issues worldwide. In 2015, she led Al Jazeera America's team with unprecedented access to report from inside Iran during the nuclear negotiations. In recent years, she has reported extensively from the Syrian border regions of Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan covering issues that impact Syrian refugees, host countries, and the Middle East at large. In 2016, she founded Art of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the psychosocial and mental health needs of refugees in Lebanon. Her forthcoming book, The Heartbeat of Iran will be released on June 1st, and captures the heart and soul of a country that's often seen through news headlines and a political fog that blurs the reality of life for millions of Iranians inside the country. Each chapter is an incredibly nuanced, textured, and intimate journey into the diversity of beliefs, struggles, and complexities of life in today's Iran - all told through the real stories of its people. Tara was born and raised in Tehran and is fully bilingual in English and Farsi.
About the moderator
.jpeg)
Diala Ghneim. Being raised in seven countries for the first 18 years of her life, it is no surprise that Diala found herself drawn to international affairs, diplomacy and politics. Similar to her upbringing, Diala's career spanned across different regions; particularly the US, Jordan and Lebanon. Currently based in Chicago, Diala is the communications and advocacy professional with Syrian Forum USA, specializing in bridging the gap between multilateral institutions and civil society organizations operating in crisis-affected countries. She is also the Communications and Outreach Manager for Mint + Laurel, a social enterprise based in Los Angeles. A contributing writer for Women in Foreign Policy (WiFP) and Miss Muslim; Diala's writing is focused on amplifying the voices of women in politics. In April 2021, Diala co-founded 'Arabs in International Affairs (aia)', the only platform dedicated to connecting, supporting and highlighting the professional journeys of Arabs working in the international affairs sector. You can find her on twitter @Diala_Ghneim.