North America

I was born into an Assyrian Christian family in the Northwest of Iran and raised in the city of Urmia.

In January 1979, I left Iran to pursue higher education in the United States amidst the turmoil of the Iranian Revolution. 

Following in the footsteps of my parents-my father, a physician and my mother, a midwife-I pursued a career in healthcare, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Clinical Science. This foundation led to a 31-year career in clinical laboratory management.

Observing my parents' selfless dedication to the marginalized and vulnerable inspired me to cultivate a compassionate spirit from a young age. I have always been drawn to helping those in need, particularly the voiceless and powerless. As a follower of Christ, the words of Matthew 25:35-37 have become my guiding principle and golden rule.

During the 1980s, I was involved in an Iranian women's organization advocating for women's rights in Iran and providing assistance to the El Salvadorans during their civil war.

The Assyrian communities in Iraq are currently marginalized and without a voice. My heart is heavy with concern for this ancient community. I dedicated 9 years as a volunteer outreach/advocacy director and board member at the Assyrian Aid Society of America, and now I continue to advocate for Assyrians as a volunteer at the Susek Evangelistic Association (Assyrian Project).

Rochelle Yousefian – Community Leadership Overview

• Rochelle Yousefian served as President of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose from 2012 to 2022. Prior to her presidency, she dedicated over seven years as Vice President and Secretary of the organization, playing a critical role in expanding community programs and cultural initiatives.
  
  

• During her presidency, Rochelle successfully organized annual Assyrian New Year (Kha b’Nissan) celebrations, including flag raising ceremonies, public parades, and securing official proclamations from local city and county governments recognizing the Assyrian New Year. These events helped promote Assyrian history and pride throughout the broader community.
  
  

• Rochelle was also instrumental in securing official proclamations recognizing August 7th as Assyrian Martyrs Day, commemorating the Assyrian Genocide, particularly the mass atrocities committed during World War I and beyond. Under her leadership, awareness of Assyrian historical struggles gained formal recognition among civic leaders.
  
  

• Beyond her local leadership, Rochelle was appointed Western Regional Director of the Assyrian American National Federation (AANF). As co-chair of the AANF National Convention held in San Diego, she was pivotal in reviving the long-lost traditional values associated with these national gatherings. Notably, she successfully reinstated the Youth Summit, re-engaging young Assyrian Americans in cultural preservation and leadership for four consecutive years.
  
  

• Rochelle was a leading advocate during the humanitarian crisis triggered by ISIS attacks in Mosul, Iraq. She helped organize mass demonstrations throughout the Bay Area, elevating the plight of Assyrians and other religious minorities. Thanks to her efforts, the Assyrian American community's concerns were brought before local government representatives, state officials, and members of the U.S. Congress.
  
  

• Her leadership extended to the Assyrian United Organizations of California (AUOC), where she served as Secretary for four years and chaired three annual AUOC conventions, strengthening the collaboration among Assyrian associations across the state.
  
  

• Known for her inclusive and unifying approach, Rochelle has worked closely with all Assyrian churches in the Bay Area, building bridges across denominational lines and promoting community solidarity.
  
  

• Most recently, Rochelle is one of the principal organizers of the Assyrian World Conference 2025, to be held in Yerevan, Armenia — a historic gathering aimed at unifying Assyrian leaders, scholars, and advocates from around the world to address national priorities and global representation.

My name is Alina Sargiss. I’m born and raised in Yonkers, NY. I grew up going to conventions every Labor Day until I started my own family. The Assyrians of Yonkers are a small but proud community and my parents instilled in me the importance of our rich heritage. I got married and raised my family in San Jose, CA. There I served on the Board of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose as Secretary and chaired the Children’s Program Committee from 2009 until my family relocated to Orange County, California in 2015.

Yosh Gahramani is an Assyrian American born in Urmia. He immigrated to the united States since 1978 and has been a local proponent of the Assyrian community in the Bay Area in California.

Yosh has been one of the most supportive and influential people in bringing the Assyrian World Conference into existence. Since 2017 when he joined the cause he has brought his management skills and financial support to make the Assyrian Representative body a reality.