Iranian Students of California

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Bakersfield, CA
Iranian Students of California

Iranian Students of California (ISC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to empower students and alumni of Iranian heritage across the United States.

09/25/2026

Behind every Emergency Fund grant is a student or alum facing an unexpected moment of hardship, and a community that chose to show up for them.

These testimonials come directly from students and alumni who have received support through our Emergency Fund. Their stories show just how critical access to these resources can be during times of unexpected hardship.

For many, this support has been a lifeline during incredibly difficult circumstances, helping cover basic needs like rent, food, medical expenses, and other necessities when there were few places left to turn.

To everyone who has donated, supported, or helped make this fund possible, thank you. Your support has reached people during some of their most difficult moments, and these stories are a reflection of the impact you have made.

09/21/2026

Curious about where a career in economics can take you?

Join us for the next installment of our webinar series, bringing together Iranian economists and economics PhD students for an inside look at graduate school, research, and the many career paths within the field.

Our panelists will share their experiences navigating economics, from choosing a graduate path and pursuing research opportunities to building careers across academia, consulting, healthcare, and other industries. Come with your questions and learn more about the opportunities within the field!

📅 September 29th
⏰ 7:00 PM PST
💻 Zoom
🔗 Register through the link in our bio!

CareerDevelopment

09/17/2026

Across our first three funding cycles, we received 360 applications and reviewed hundreds of requests, including applications carried forward between cycles.

A total of $68,000 in emergency assistance was distributed to 68 recipients, with each receiving a $1,000 grant.

With the support of our partners, Iranian American Women Foundation assisted 3 additional students during Cycle 1 and Pars Place | Iranian-American Community Center supported 8 additional students during Cycle 3 - bringing our collective impact to 79 students supported.

Applications were carefully reviewed based on urgency of financial need, supporting documentation, eligibility, and available funding.

Thank you to our donors and partners for making this support possible. Together, we continue supporting members of our community facing unexpected and urgent financial hardship.

Note: The difference between applicants shortlisted for verification and verified/funded recipients reflects applicants who did not respond, withdrew, did not submit required documentation, or were determined ineligible during verification.

09/14/2026

From tech and medicine to law, business, the arts, public policy, nonprofit, research, design, entrepreneurship, and beyond, our PAL community spans 24 different industries and fields, bringing together Iranians across Northern and Southern California with different experiences, backgrounds, and paths.

Whether you’re figuring out your next step, curious about a new field, looking for advice, or simply want to meet someone who’s been where you’re headed, our PALs are here to connect.

Explore our PAL network and find someone to connect with through the link in our bio🔗

08/25/2026

Thinking about dentistry? 🦷 Discover the different paths within the field and explore where a career in dentistry can lead.

From navigating dental school and choosing a specialty to advanced education, research, and building a career, our panel is bringing together perspectives from different stages of the field to share what they’ve learned along the way.

Gain insight into the different paths available and ask questions directly to those who have navigated them.

🎟️ Free RSVP - Link in bio!

06/18/2026

• MEET YOUR PANELISTS •

Curious about what it takes to build a successful career in computer science and artificial intelligence, or how professionals navigate opportunities across research, entrepreneurship, and industry?

This session brings together accomplished leaders in the field to share insight into their educational journeys, career experiences, lessons learned along the way, and perspectives on the rapidly evolving world of technology and AI.

Panelists:
• Amirhesam Abedsoltan - PhD Candidate in Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego
• Arya Bastani - Cofounder and CEO, Camfer
• Hooman Mohammadi - Senior AI/ML Engineer and Technical Lead, Meta AI

Moderator:
• Hiva Mohammadzadeh - Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer, IntuigenceAI

🎟️ Free RSVP: Link in bio!

06/09/2026

Our Students & Alumni Emergency Fund was created in response to an urgent and growing need within our community. Since launching, we have heard heartbreaking stories from students and recent alumni facing financial hardship, housing insecurity, food insecurity, medical challenges, and other unexpected crises.

At the same time, we have been deeply moved by the generosity of donors, partners, and community members who have stepped forward to help. This initiative has demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together around a common purpose: ensuring that no student or recent graduate faces hardship alone.

While our first round of funding has been completed, the need continues to far exceed the resources available. We are actively raising funds to support future rounds and help more students and alumni facing urgent financial hardship. If you would like to contribute, partner with us, or help spread the word, we would be grateful for your support. LINK IN BIO.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared the fund, volunteered their time, or connected individuals to resources. Your support is making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.

05/28/2026

Last Saturday’s Southern California Community Circle at UCLA was a powerful reminder of how meaningful it is to create intentional spaces for our community to come together.

Throughout the afternoon, students, alumni, and professionals from across Southern California gathered for thoughtful conversations, shared experiences, and genuine connection across industries and generations.

A special thank you to our incredible panelists for speaking openly about their journeys and sharing honest insight into navigating careers in healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Their perspectives sparked conversations that continued well past the formal program and left many attendees feeling both inspired and grounded.

We’re also deeply grateful to our collaborators, and , for helping bring this event to life and for continuing to invest in spaces that strengthen our community.

What always makes Community Circle so impactful are the moments in between, the side conversations, mentorship moments, new introductions, exchanged ideas, and relationships that continue long after the event itself ends. Thank you to everyone who spent their Saturday afternoon with us and helped create such a welcoming and meaningful environment.

Networking

05/26/2026

• INTRODUCING OUR STUDENT & ALUMNI EMERGENCY FUND •

In light of the ongoing challenges impacting members of our community, many students and alumni are facing unexpected financial hardship due to circumstances beyond their control. For many, this includes difficulty covering living expenses such as rent, groceries, medical care, and other essential necessities.

To support those navigating these circumstances, we have established the ISC Student & Alumni Emergency Fund, a community-driven initiative created to provide short-term emergency assistance to individuals facing immediate financial need.

This fund is made possible entirely through your generosity. Every donation directly supports students and alumni facing financial hardship, helping provide stability and relief during this difficult time. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

• Apply for support: https://lnkd.in/gGKNR5Xp
• Contribute to the fund: https://lnkd.in/gg-enbHp
• Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gRGVBaKn

As a community, it is times like these that remind us the importance of supporting one another!

05/15/2026

• MEET YOUR PANELISTS •

Up next in our Trails of Lights series is the Navigating the Arts Edition!

Curious about what it truly looks like to build a career as an artist, or how contemporary artists cultivate and evolve their creative practices over time?

This session brings together established Iranian contemporary artists to share insight into their artistic journeys, creative processes, experiences with formal art training, and the realities of navigating today’s contemporary art landscape.

Panelists:
• Farshid Bazmandegan - Contemporary Visual Artist, UC San Diego & UCLA
• Roksana Pirouzmand - Contemporary Visual Artist, California Institute of the Arts & UCLA
• Helia Pouyanfar - Contemporary Visual Artist, UC Berkeley & UC Davis

🎟️ Free RSVP: Link in bio!

Address

1300 Valhalla Dr Apt 73
Bakersfield, CA
93309

Website

https://iranianstudentsca.org/, https://linktr.ee/iranian.students.ca

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