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ART FOR AUTISM

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Senses Cultural and its Iranian sister organization Shokraneh Mavaddateh Jahani (Blessings of Universal Contribution) are excited to present its first exhibition “Art & Autism” at Niavaran Institution of Art & Cultural in Tehran that will take place June 30th through July 5th this summer of 2016.

Curated by Senses Cultural’s new curator and art director Atiyeh Razavi, the exhibit is a combination of over 40 well known and emerging artist in Iran. Razavi began working on the exhibition in early March, and due to the popularity of art and philanthropy in Iran for the last 5 years, Razavi has great hopes for the upcoming exhibition. “I see that Iranians have developed a sense of supporting charities”. Razavi holds a BA degree in photography from Tehran University’s Department of Art and Architecture.

When asked about the support she has been receiving by local artist, Razavi stated “the artist have been very supportive and are attracted by the support of American organizations such as Senses Cultural, which has encouraged artist to get involved.”

Razavi has been working with galleries and exhibitions for the past 10 years but has not always experienced such success . “In Tehran, it is very difficult to put together a big exhibition, but the initiation of the Museum of Contemporary Art was very beneficial”. This exhibition will be her first experience working with the organization, but she has participated in other art exhibitions in Iran.

CEO and Executive Director of Senses Cultural Tata Monfared states, “This will be our first high quality experience with this institution as one of the most reputable art institutions of Iran and a holding organization for Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.The significance of holding the exhibit in Iran is due to the growing number of autism cases.”

The art pieces donated by artist featured in the exhibit will be for sale and will benefit start up schools that will help Iranian immigrant and Middle Eastern families dealing with autistic children through education and support.

After the exhibit, Senses Cultural hopes to continue its efforts by producing more exhibitions in the United States and abroad to continue to raise funds for this cause.

By Angelica Ekeke’s

Info
Location: Virtual Conference
Date: June 8, 2016
Duration: 11 Days
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Farideh Niroomand
Dr. Niroomand believes that autism and the autism spectrum are opportunities to turn individuals into successful members of our community. Through Senses Cultural, she offers training to ensure support and a continually better quality of life to families and individuals dealing with autism. She is skilled in improving communications with autistic people, and offering guidance for self-care. This in turn helps moderate low frustration tolerance, and possible acting out or aggressive behavior. Her work concentrates on offering support, advocacy, referrals, treatment plans, and awareness. At Senses Cultural, she also offers educational webinars.
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FARIDEH NIROOMAND
Dr. Niroomand believes that autism and the autism spectrum are opportunities to turn individuals into successful members of our community.
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Senses Cultural is a nonprofit organization and has received its 501c3 nonprofit approval, which allowing to receive tax-deductable donations, among other benefits. Please make out your tax-deductible contributions to Cultural Media/Senses Cultural or make your donation through our website and Facebook page. WAYS YOU CAN HELP We want to hear about your thoughts on what we are presenting to you. Tell us about innovative ideas for promoting our rich Iranian culture. We want to share these ideas and spark conversation about how to create opportunity and prosperity for everyone.
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FARIDEH NIROOMAND
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FARIDEH NIROOMAND
Dr. Niroomand believes that autism and the autism spectrum are opportunities to turn individuals into successful members of our community.
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Board of directors
Joanna Durkin
Joanna Durkin’s career in education began in her hometown of Taipei, Taiwan in 1980. After moving to the U.S. in 1992, she continued her passionate involvement in education and the health consultation industry. In 1997, she created the American Study Program (ASP), an organization that helped teenage students from Asia study in the U.S., and promoted natural healing with Chinese herbal medicine. Durkin is a member of Kiwanis East Midtown Sacramento, a licensed Life Coach, a DTM in Toastmaster International, president of the American Study Program, and the international education director of Durkin & Chen in Shanghai, China.
Board of directors
Alessandro Prigione
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Board of directors
Alessandro Prigione
Dr. Alessandro Prigione is a professor of general pediatrics at the Heinrich-Heine-University (HHU) in Germany. Previously at the Max Delbruck Center in Berlin, Dr. Prigione is an expert on various forms of intellectual disability. His team at HHU bridges two different research areas: i) human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-based neuronal disease modeling, and, ii) mitochondrial metabolism.
Board of directors
Tata Monfared
Tata Monfared is the founder and president of Senses Cultural, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, CA, dedicated to promoting the science and treatment of autism in the United States, in Middle Eastern communities, and internationally. She leads Senses Cultural research, education, travel and arts programs designed to promote the science and treatment of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her vision has led to collaborations with a host of countries, universities, and research institutes, and she has personally funded programs to bring together educators in the field of autism. Through her leadership, Senses Cultural has obtained an exemption by the U.S. Department of Treasury to work in sanctioned countries. As a result, Ms. Monfared was able to take a high-ranking U.S. delegation of scientists to Iran, a country where she has held regular workshops, seminars and art exhibits to promote the science of autism and help local communities. In 2018, Senses Cultural signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UC Davis MIND Institute, a research center committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care, and cures of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.The MoU facilitates the exchange of academic faculty, students and information with Senses Cultural to promote joint educational, scientific and cultural programs. Together, the two organizations successfully planned the launch of an international stem cell conference in 2021. Ms. Monfared has simultaneously worked with the MIND Institute and with Dr. Alessandro Prigione at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine based in Berlin and now at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany, to develop a proposal that provides funding for two research positions to carry out genetic studies on autism. The proposal will lead to a larger research grant.
Board of directors, Founder & President of Senses Cultural
Tata Monfared
Tata Monfared is the founder and president of Senses Cultural, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, CA, dedicated to promoting the science and treatment of autism in the United States, in Middle Eastern communities, and internationally. She leads Senses Cultural research, education, travel and arts programs designed to promote the science and treatment of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her vision has led to collaborations with a host of countries, universities, and research institutes, and she has personally funded programs to bring together educators in the field of autism. Through her leadership, Senses Cultural has obtained an exemption by the U.S. Department of Treasury to work in sanctioned countries. As a result, Ms. Monfared was able to take a high-ranking U.S. delegation of scientists to Iran, a country where she has held regular workshops, seminars and art exhibits to promote the science of autism and help local communities. In 2018, Senses Cultural signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UC Davis MIND Institute, a research center committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care, and cures of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.The MoU facilitates the exchange of academic faculty, students and information with Senses Cultural to promote joint educational, scientific and cultural programs. Together, the two organizations successfully planned the launch of an international stem cell conference in 2021. Ms. Monfared has simultaneously worked with the MIND Institute and with Dr. Alessandro Prigione at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine based in Berlin and now at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany, to develop a proposal that provides funding for two research positions to carry out genetic studies on autism. The proposal will lead to a larger research grant.
Board of directors, Founder & President of Senses Cultural
Randi J.Hagerman
Dr. Hagerman is medical director of the UC Davis MIND Institute and director of the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and is an internationally respected leader in Fragile X research including fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disشability and the leading single-gene cause of autism.
Board of directors
Read more about Dr. Hagerman here.
Randi J.Hagerman
Dr. Hagerman is medical director of the UC Davis MIND Institute and director of the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and is an internationally respected leader in Fragile X research including fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disشability and the leading single-gene cause of autism.
Board of directors
Read more about Dr. Hagerman here.
Setayesh Ganji
Setayesh is a Rome_based visual and multimedia designer who currently got her master in design from Sapienza University. her passion of traveling the world, observing cultures and history, she amalgamated her creativity, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence which made her a perfect match for senses cultural to communicate messages not only visually striking but also functional.
Visual Designer
Setayesh Ganji
Setayesh is a Rome_based visual and multimedia designer who currently got her master in design from Sapienza University. her passion of traveling the world, observing cultures and history, she amalgamated her creativity, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence which made her a perfect match for senses cultural to communicate messages not only visually striking but also functional.
Visual Designer
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Filmmaker
Homeira Azimi
Homeira Azimi, a filmmaker and director, joined the Senses Cultural Foundation and Shokraneh Mavadat Jahani as our Art Ambassador of Autism. Senses Cultural Foundation congratulates this outstanding cinematographer for her achievements to help us attract artists who are passionate about promoting understanding about autism. The presence of artists in our community, and their support for our humanitarian projects, can significantly help reduce the challenges associated with raising a child with autism. Ms. Azimi was born in Tehran. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Literature. She helped produce films such as “Metropolis” and collaborated in the production of “When We All Sleep” produced by the renowned Persian film director Bahram Beyzai. She also worked with Varouzh Karim Masihi in the movie “Doubt” and the exhibition of Nasser Daghahi’s photographs. The movie “Dear Lady and Summer” is about Homeira Azimi’s experiences working on feature films. Ms. Azimi has also played in the movie “In the Mirror” which is a production of the Young Cinema Association.
Filmmaker
Shuka Kalantari
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Communications
Shuka Kalantari
Shuka Kalantari was our temporary Director of Communications from April-July 2018. She spearheaded initiatives to further the goals of Senses Cultural and the Academy of Health. Her background is in media strategy, journalism and podcast production. Her work focused on health issues and culture of immigrant communities. Shuka has reported from Turkey, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Thailand, Canada and across the United States. You can follow her on Twitter @skalantari and find out more about her work at shukakalantari.com.
Communications
Ludovic Robert
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Photographer
Ludovic Robert
Ludovic is a London-based documentary photographer who is represented by Wostok Press. He works on environmental and social issues focusing on women and children’s rights. He is currently working on local projects, and supporting Senses Cultural advance the wellbeing of women, children and families suffering from neurological disorders.
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Scholar
FARIDEH NIROOMAND
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Negar Yazdanpanah
Negar is a graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada. She has been working with Senses Cultural since 2017.
Graphic designer
Negar Yazdanpanah
Negar is a graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada. She has been working with Senses Cultural since 2017.
Graphic designer
Sina Araghi
Sina Araghi is a commercial and documentary photographer based in Los Angeles. Born in Tehran and raised in California, Sina has been photographing everything around him since the age of thirteen. In 2006, Sina completed his studies in Print & Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Sina’s clients have included Giorgio Armani Corp, Elle Décor, Time Inc., La PrensaGrafica, WGSN,SoCiArtsProductions, Vision& Hope, and ChicPeek.com. His work has been exhibited in “Souvenirs From Iran” at Farmani Gallery, the “Flying with the Cage” at Phantom Galleries in LA, and the “heART of Iran” exhibition at the California State Capitol. Sina’s photographs can be found published in the book “Urban Iran” by Mark Batty Publishing and online at www.photobysina.com. Sina supports Senses Cultural mission to advance a peaceful and healthy world through the arts.
Photographer
Sina Araghi
Sina Araghi is a commercial and documentary photographer based in Los Angeles. Born in Tehran and raised in California, Sina has been photographing everything around him since the age of thirteen. In 2006, Sina completed his studies in Print & Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Sina’s clients have included Giorgio Armani Corp, Elle Décor, Time Inc., La PrensaGrafica, WGSN,SoCiArtsProductions, Vision& Hope, and ChicPeek.com. His work has been exhibited in “Souvenirs From Iran” at Farmani Gallery, the “Flying with the Cage” at Phantom Galleries in LA, and the “heART of Iran” exhibition at the California State Capitol. Sina’s photographs can be found published in the book “Urban Iran” by Mark Batty Publishing and online at www.photobysina.com. Sina supports Senses Cultural mission to advance a peaceful and healthy world through the arts.
Photographer
Behrooz Badie
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Photographer
Behrooz Badie
As a young teenage amateur photographer, Behrooz landed the role of shooting and capturing his uncle’s wedding with an old-school Canon in 1984. Nearly three decades later, Behrooz continues to capture people’s powerful moments as a favorite hobby. With two sons away in college, photography has become his life’s focus and that of his wife’s. The couple is often in the midst of chaos on wedding days, though they love every second of it. As a very friendly cast, they share nothing but the utmost respect and love for Senses Cultural’s mission which they help advance through photography.
Photographer
Robert Miller
Robert Miller has over four decades of experience working with families of children with a wide variety of disabilities throughout the world. From 1999 through 2013, he served as Executive Director of the National Fragile X Foundation in the United States. Robert advises the Senses Cultural Academy of Health on matters related to serving families who have children with special needs. He helps organize and coordinate responses to families in need. Robert holds a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education – Services for Families, from San Francisco State University.
Human Service Consulting
Robert Miller
Robert Miller has over four decades of experience working with families of children with a wide variety of disabilities throughout the world. From 1999 through 2013, he served as Executive Director of the National Fragile X Foundation in the United States. Robert advises the Senses Cultural Academy of Health on matters related to serving families who have children with special needs. He helps organize and coordinate responses to families in need. Robert holds a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Special Education – Services for Families, from San Francisco State University.
Human Service Consulting
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Derek Wilson
Derek Wilson is a writer and researcher based in Pennsylvania. He received a BS in Biology from Susquehanna University in 2016 and went on to work as a researcher in the biological sciences. During this time, he developed his skills in writing and raising funds for his lab/research. Always passionate about helping others, he now leverages his writing and research skills to raise money for non-profits and other worthy causes.
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Derek Wilson
Derek Wilson is a writer and researcher based in Pennsylvania. He received a BS in Biology from Susquehanna University in 2016 and went on to work as a researcher in the biological sciences. During this time, he developed his skills in writing and raising funds for his lab/research. Always passionate about helping others, he now leverages his writing and research skills to raise money for non-profits and other worthy causes.
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