Posts Tagged ‘human rights’

International Women’s Day 2018

March 8th, 2018 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

This year’s International Women’s Day brings more powerful context and more promising momentum when it comes to gender equality and women’s rights than ever in history. I have been so deeply moved by the courage, honesty and risk-taking women who have come forward in light of revelations and scandals, that my own internal energy has […]

The Freedom Sculpture – A Shared Dream

June 22nd, 2017 by Bita Milanian - 6 Comments

With Fourth of July, Independence Day (United States) just around the corner, I can’t help but think about our nation’s visionary founders, and the many great leaders who have followed in their footsteps, dedicated to not only preserving but also improving upon the vision set forth by our founders. As a former refugee and immigrant […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Education, Human Rights, Leaders, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: be the change, bita milanian, cecil balmond, charity, cyrus cylinder, cyrus the great, eric garcetti, farhang foundation, human rights, Iran, los angeles, non-profit, philanthropy, Storytelling, the freedom sculpture

When Humanity Prevails: Prime Minister Trudeau to Welcome Malala to Canada

April 9th, 2017 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

As a citizen of the world, I consider many countries my home! As a naturalized American citizen, forced to flee Iran as a young girl, and a grateful refugee who found support in Germany, then the U.S.; I am also often in Canada, where beloved members of my family live. While I am deeply […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Education, Leaders, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: be the change, bita milanian, canada, empowerment, human rights, Humanitarianism, Iran, justin trudeau, malala foundation, Malala Yousafzai, philanthropy, refugees, syrian refugees, usa, women right

Shining a Light Through Music and Dance: Education Is Not a Crime

September 8th, 2016 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

Iranian Baha’is Have a Human Right to Advance Through Study While Practicing Their Faith Education Is Not A Crime; a campaign that raises awareness of human rights abuses in Iran, is committed to protecting the rights of young people who have been barred from studying due to their beliefs, and encourages universities worldwide to admit […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Education, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: baha'i, be the change, bthechange, charity, goodness, harlem, human rights, Iran, Iranian, maziar bahari, nazanin boniadi, non-profit, not a crime, philanthropy, shanbehzadeh, shirin ebadi

A Pure & Beautiful Realism as a Meditation on the Reality of Climate Change

August 25th, 2016 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

Fine Artist Zaria Forman’s Quiet & Powerful Activism Zaria Forman‘s pastel drawings transcend photorealism, bringing the eye and heart into a mystery so strong the mind begins to work differently. Inspired by her mother, Rena Bass Forman, who planned an expedition to Greenland but never made it when she succumbed to brain cancer, Zaria honored […]

Kindness, Compassion & Rock & Roll

July 29th, 2016 by Bita Milanian - 1 Comment

Let’s Give Girls in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Other Countries Guitars That Can Inspire Kids Everywhere What started out for the renowned rock guitarist Lanny Cordola as a single trip to Kabul, Afghanistan, to meet and comfort a family that lost two young daughters in a tragic suicide bombing, has turned into a mission to teach girls […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Education, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: afghanistan, be the change, bthechange, charity, children, empowerment, full house, human rights, Humanitarianism, lanny cordola, music, philanthropy, power of music, rock and roll

Happy Graduation To The Amazing Young Women In Afghanistan : A Great Day To Give

December 1st, 2015 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

It’s a good, busy day today, reflecting on and sharing my thoughts and love with so many amazing social entrepreneurs who are benefiting from the great work the team at Giving Tuesday has been doing over the last few years to bring awareness to the joy that comes from giving. I’ve never been a fan […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Companies, Cultures, Leaders, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: afghanistan, be the change, bthechange, charity, children, education, empowerment, global, Hassina Sherjan, human rights, non-profit, philanthropy, Women

A love letter to America

November 1st, 2015 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

Pari Forood is the first generation Iranian-American author of the true-life novel, The Gates of Light, published in May 2015. After graduating from Vassar College, she was the Press Secretary to Congressman Hamilton Fish, Jr. in Washington, D.C. where she was inspired to write her book about the issue of immigration, both as a policy […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Leaders, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: bethechange, bthechange, Change, education, empowerment, human rights, Humanitarianism, Iran, Iranian, non-profit, pari forood, Persian, philanthropy, Women, women right

A Global Paradise of Kindness Inspired By a Single Moment in a Hospice in India

March 19th, 2015 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

This picture above says it all about Willy Oppenheim, who co-founded Omprakash while he was in college, after volunteering at a hospice center in northern India. I am honored to feature him in my ongoing series on inspiring people and the movements they ignite! In 2004, Willy met an elderly man suffering from paralysis. “The […]

Filed Under:: Uncategorized
Tagged With:: bthechange, Change, charity, children, education, empowerment, human rights, Humanitarianism, india, non-profit, omprakash

Luce & Love

March 4th, 2015 by Bita Milanian - 1 Comment

I’m in Barcelona today, and was unable to attend The J. Luce Foundation’s annual gratitude event that was held last Thursday, February 26th. I was recently introduced to Jim Luce, founder of the Foundation, last fall by a mutual friend, and spent time with him where he is based in New York City. Jim came […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Leaders, Social Responsibility
Tagged With:: charity, children, empowerment, global, human rights, Humanitarianism, Jim Luce, philanthropy

From Africa to America With Love: Two Soul Sisters Stand Up For Children, Education & Better Lives for All

November 8th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - Leave a Comment

Today I am happy and honored to share a story about two women who reached across continents and two very different worlds to bring one vision to light. Kwamboka Okari shelters, feeds, clothes, educates, and advocates for 230 orphans in Kisii, Kenya. Peg Campbell heads up the U.S. team on the Board of Directors for […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Leaders
Tagged With:: africa, art, bthechange, Change, charity, children, education, empowerment, global, Gratitude, healthcare, human rights, kenya, kids, Kwamboka Okari, Mama Sarah Obama, margaret okari, Obama, philips healthcare, telemedicine, Women, women right

#StrongerThanFear- Empowering Girls’ Education Globally: Malala Yousafzai’s Mission

October 25th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - 2 Comments

Malala Yousafzai captured the world’s attention and respect when she survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban in Pakistan while she was riding the bus to school on October 10, 2012. She amazingly survived and the international outcry that followed helped to bring further attention to her cause. Malala and her […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures
Tagged With:: afghanistan, africa, be the change, Change, charity, education, global, human rights, Humanitarianism, india, internationall, Iran, kenya, malala, malala fund, nigeria, pakistan, philanthropy, Women, women right

From International Telecom Pioneer to Global Humanitarian, Bita Daryabari Connects Hearts & Minds

September 5th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - 3 Comments

Bita Daryabari is a woman I have admired for many years, both in my vocation (in the communications industry), as well as avocation (in supporting the advancement of Persian arts and culture). Her work speaks louder than her words, though she is a woman of letters, and in 2008 created the Bita Daryabari Endowment in […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Companies, Cultures, Leaders
Tagged With:: afghanistan, art, artists, bita daryabari, Change, charity, economy, empowerment, global, human rights, Humanitarianism, immigrants, Iran, non-profit, Persian, philanthropy, Telecom, Women, women right

My Classmate Camelia; From Tehran to Manhattan, Our Magical Encounter

July 24th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - 1 Comment

Earlier this month, on a business trip to NYC, I met Camelia Entekhabi-Fard for the first time, or so I thought. We had been introduced by a mutual friend, who met Camelia in Kabul, Afghanistan years ago, and stayed connected on Facebook, following each other’s unusual lives quietly without ever having met personally. Or so […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Cultures, Leaders
Tagged With:: afghanistan, Change, dubai, empowerment, human rights, Iran, Iranian, journalism, journalist, new york, Persian, tehran, Women, women right

We Are Family

June 18th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - 1 Comment

Sometimes the most inspiring people in the world are sitting right in front of you – and part of your closest family. In this post, continuing this series on inspiring people blessing the planet, I am honored to profile Neda Moeini, co-founder & past president of Group of Gold Line, who helped build the business with […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Companies, Cultures, Leaders, WomenIntheChannel
Tagged With:: bthechange, Change, charity, education, empowerment, GENBAND, global, gold line group, human rights, Humanitarianism, neda moeini, non-profit, Persian, Real Time Communications, Software, Storytelling, technology, Women

Made with Love

May 20th, 2014 by Bita Milanian - 2 Comments

As our series profiling visionary leaders who are mashing up business and giving around the world continues, I am honored to feature Chid Liberty, and his Liberty & Justice sustainable .com / .org model. In his twenties, Chid, who is now 34, returned to his home country of Liberia in 2009 to cofound the country’s […]

Filed Under:: Be the Change, Companies, Cultures, Leaders
Tagged With:: africa, Change, charity, chid liberty, Connectedness, economy, empowerment, fair trade, fashion, ghana, human rights, Humanitarianism, liberia, non-profit, women right