Akbarpour Empowers Iranian Community

Born in Mashhad, Iran, Iran Today founder Susan Akbarpour, 31, has journalism in her blood. Her father, Reza Akbarpour, was a journalist, artist and caricaturist. He and her mother Fariba, a poet and writer, produced Melat Magazine,which lost its syndications rights shortly after the Iranian Revolution.

Akbarpour, who says she has always wanted to be a journalist, overcame tremendous adversity since the age of 12 when her mother died in an accident. She helped raise her two younger brothers, and her dreams to write continued. She spent nine years in Iran breaking down barriers as an awardwinning femal journalist and newspaper editor.

In 1997, Akbarpour immigrated to the U.S. and created the first English/Farsi newspaper in Northern California, Iran Today.

Through Iran Today, Akbarpour hopes to boost community interaction among Iranians, battle stereotypes, and improve U.S.-Iran ties. It is my hope to show Iranians as a strong, educated, friendly community. We are not terrorist or hostage takers or other stereotypes. Akbarpour plans to create a magazine for Iranians in the high tech field and Iranian teenagers.