About Mana

Mana Kharrazi is a community leader and organizer with more than 16 years of experience in advocacy, campaigning, and movement-building.

Most recently Mana was Economic Security Project’s Director of State Cash Campaigns, working closely with state tax policy and economic justice organizations to advance policies that build economic power for all. Prior to ESP, Mana served as MoveOn’s Rapid Response Campaign Director, leading various innovative and groundbreaking campaigns on behalf of the organization. Mana organized the first ever Banned Bookmobile tours, multi-state tours featuring elected champions, advocates, and writers in some of the states most impacted by book bans. Mana also led the organization's rapid response campaigns. In her role, Mana utilized an array of strategies and tactics, including: launching million dollar ad campaigns, developing compelling messaging based on expertise and polling, and leading a range of rapid-response tactics such as mobile billboards, aerial banners, and creative actions. Mana spearheaded a wide range of campaigns and initiatives for MoveOn that garnered extensive media attention and campaign wins.

Formerly, as Executive Director of IAAB, Mana trained and developed over a thousand young leaders to build capacity within their communities. Mana built a national base across the country, working alongside hundreds of parents, educators, student organizations, and community leaders to improve the lives of Iranian Americans in a demonized climate.

Under Mana’s leadership, IAAB grew into a leading Iranian-American community organization and was featured on CNN, CNN International, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, and PBS Frontline’s Tehran Bureau. Mana has appeared on BBC Worldwide, BBC Persia, Huffington Post, Frontline, NPR, and other news outlets. She has also written for The Guardian, Vox, and The Washington Post. Mana and Camp Ayandeh, IAAB’s celebrated high school leadership camp, were also featured in The Limits of Whiteness: Iranian Americans and the Everyday Politics of Race, a groundbreaking work about shifting racial status in the United States.

Mana led IAAB during its legal battle against the Muslim Ban, IAAB v Trump, the first legal challenge to Muslim Ban 3.0. The lawsuit succeeded in obtaining an injunction in October, 2017 and won in the Fourth Circuit in February, 2018 until the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the Ban in June. As part of the lawsuit, Mana spoke on the steps of federal court, the U.S. Supreme Court, and at dozens of rallies, conferences, social good companies, congressional meetings, and events. Mana helped introduce the No Ban Act, speaking alongside its congressional champions at various press conferences before it finally passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Prior to leading IAAB, Mana was a Field Director at Amnesty International USA, leading the organization’s work in Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. Mana served in Amnesty’s Southern regional office, which focused on combatting counterterrorism policies, immigrant detention, the death penalty, and maternal mortality. Mana helped coordinate actions in Savannah, Georgia during Troy Davis’ evidentiary hearing in federal court. Mana led numerous trainings and spoke at institutions throughout the country, partnering with ACLU, NAACP, and other social justice organizations.

Mana also served as the Educational Director of a Greek refugee organization and co-developed the first comprehensive educational program for youth in Greek refugee camps. Mana implemented the program and trained volunteer teachers at Elpida camp, navigated Greek bureaucratic structures, and worked with partner NGOs to serve the needs of Syrian, Iraqi, and other refugee populations in Northern Greece.

In 2019, Mana received the ‘Voice of Courage’ Award from Muslim Advocates for her leadership and organizing of IAAB and her boldness in standing up against the Muslim Ban in IAABvTrump. Mana is a ‘Progressive Women’s Voice’ of the Women’s Media Center and a 2018 Ford Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project. Mana was also featured in Neda Nobari Foundation’s ‘West of Middle East’ podcast series as a changemaker in education.

Mana was born in Tehran, Iran and lived in Germany with her family before moving to the United States as a toddler. Mana spent most of her childhood in the Southwest and Southeast. Mana received her B.A. in International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies, along with a minor in Persian, from Emory University. In her free time, Mana loves soccer, storytelling, and travel.