_edited.png){kind=small}
Award Recipients and Speakers
The Annual Gala will celebrate this year’s distinguished award recipients, exceptional leaders whose achievements have left a lasting mark on the our community and broader society. We are proud to honor their vision, service, and unwavering dedication. As part of the evening, each honoree will share brief remarks, offering personal reflections and insights that continue to inspire and uplift our community.
Welcoming Remarks
David Chiu is the 15th City Attorney of San Francisco and the first Asian American in the role. As one of the country’s top municipal law offices, the City Attorney’s Office provides legal counsel to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors and 100+ departments, boards, and commissions that comprise San Francisco’s $16B government. Under David’s leadership, his office has brought nine lawsuits against the second Trump Administration, standing up for immigrants, education, the environment, health care, housing, infrastructure, and public safety.
Previously, David spent 7 years as a California Assemblymember and 6 years as President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors – the author of 185 state and local laws, and the first Asian American in each role. In the Legislature, he served as Assistant Speaker pro Tempore, Chair of the Assembly Housing & Community Development Committee, Chair of the API Legislative Caucus, and Policy Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus. He was the only Board President in San Francisco history elected by fellow supervisors to three consecutive terms.
Before public office, David was Democratic Counsel to the U.S. Senate Constitution Subcommittee, law clerk to a Ninth Circuit federal appellate judge, a criminal prosecutor at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, a civil rights attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, chief operating officer of a public affairs technology company, and president of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. The son of immigrants, David received his undergraduate, law, and master’s in public policy degrees from Harvard.
David Chiu
San Francisco
City Attorney
Pro Bono Award
.png)
Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with a fearless reputation, global reach, and high-level problem solvers in litigation, government controversies, investigations, regulatory challenges, and complex corporate transactions. The firm’s dedication to fierce advocacy extends to all its clients—both paying and pro bono. Each year, Jenner & Block lawyers contribute thousands of pro bono hours, using their skills to expand access to legal services. This commitment is fully integrated into the firm's culture and has earned it national recognition.
Investing time and talent to help others is a defining characteristic of the firm and a true calling. For Jenner & Block, each pro bono case is an opportunity to make real change and lasting impact. An example of particular resonance for the Iranian American community is Jenner & Block’s recent partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center. The firm represented a client who fled Iran after enduring political persecution and converting to Christianity. The case culminated in a grant of asylum, allowing him to live freely in the United States where he can practice his faith and express his political beliefs without fear of being forced to return to where he would face imprisonment, torture, and even death. Today, this courageous client can embark on the next chapter of his life with safety and dignity.
This case, among countless others, reflects Jenner & Block's unwavering commitment to zealous advocacy, service, and expanding access to justice.
Community Impact Award
Abdi Soltani has served as executive director of the ACLU of Northern California since 2009, where he has pursued long-term priorities to deepen the ACLU’s presence in the California Central Valley and elevate the ACLU’s voice on state policy at the California state capitol. An Iranian-American and longtime civil rights advocate, Abdi has worked to transform California into a leader in advancing equality.
He co-chaired the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy with then Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, helping shape California’s legalization framework. Earlier in his career he served for almost a decade as an organizer for, and then executive director of, Californians for Justice, fighting the regressive ballot measures of that era and leading youth organizing on education equity. In 2003, he served as the treasurer and co-chair of the campaign that defeated Proposition 54, which would have banned state and local governments from collecting data on race and ethnicity. He then served as the executive director of the Campaign for College Opportunity focused on California higher education. Abdi has also been involved with the Iranian-American community, having served as Executive Director of the PARSA Community Foundation and serving on the advisory board of the PARS Equality Center.
Abdi Soltani
Executive Director
ACLU of Northern California
Trailblazer Award
Representative Yara Zokaie serves in the Colorado House of Representatives, where she represents House District 52. Elected in 2024, she made history as the first Iranian American lawmaker to serve in the Colorado General Assembly. A native of Northern California, Representative Zokaie earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Davis, then went on to receive both her Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law. Before running for office, she built a career practicing tax law, representing individuals and small businesses against the IRS and the Colorado Department of Revenue.
Since joining the Colorado Legislature, Representative Zokaie has worked to bridge economic fairness with legal accountability to ensure Colorado works for all families and communities. Representative Zokaie sits on the House Judiciary Committee where she considers bills on the justice system’s operation and oversees issues relating to constitutional rights, civil rights, and criminal procedure. She also serves on the House Finance Committee where she helps shape legislation on fiscal policy, and state budgeting.
A proud first-generation Iranian American, Representative Zokaie embodies the values of hard work, perseverance, and community that she learned from her family’s immigrant journey from Iran. On the House floor, she has shared her story with courage, to highlight the resilience of Iranian American and other minority communities, helping advance civil rights protections with empathy and action.
.png)
Representative Yara Zokaie
Member, Colorado
House of Representatives
Luminary Award
Nazanin Boniadi is an acclaimed actress and dedicated human rights activist who has made it her mission to advocate for social justice and humanitarian causes on a global scale. As a long-standing Amnesty International ambassador, she has spearheaded high-profile campaigns championing the rights of prisoners of conscience, advancing women’s rights, and protecting freedom of expression. Alongside meetings with senior officials at the White House and U.S. Capitol, she has briefed members of the U.N. Security Council in an Arria-formula meeting and provided testimony before the German, Canadian and Australian Parliaments, as well as the UK House of Lords.
She has been a vocal supporter of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, using her platform to amplify the voices of Iranian women and persecuted communities who are fighting for equality and justice. Nazanin’s work frequently bridges art and activism, as she collaborates with non-governmental organizations to highlight stories of persecution, conflict, and resilience. She is a sought-after commentator on human rights issues and has appeared on major global media outlets to advocate for freedom and equality. Her dedication has made her a trusted advocate for those who cannot speak freely on their own behalf.
In addition to her activism, Nazanin is recognized for her powerful performances on screen, including roles in Homeland, Counterpart, Hotel Mumbai, and the Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. She continues to leverage her voice and visibility to inspire meaningful change and advance human dignity worldwide.
.png)