Naiyareh Karimimanesh Bahá’í Service Fellowship established at Tahirih Justice Center
Tahirih has received generous support for its Bahá’í Service Fellowships Program in honor the memory of a young lawyer who was passionate about the legal profession and the Bahá’í Faith.
The Naiyareh Karimimanesh Bahá’í Service Fellowship honors the memory of Naiyareh Karimimanesh, a 27-year-old lawyer who passed away in 2007 after a car accident. Naiyareh had a profound impact on those she left behind.
“This is our way of carrying on Naiyareh’s work as a lawyer and as a supporter of justice for all,” said her mother, Carelle Karimimanesh, who established the fellowship in her memory. She resides in San Mateo, California.
Naiyareh graduated from Emory University in Atlanta where she studied history, religion, and Persian language. While at Emory, Nai’s life was full of learning and adventure. She traveled to Israel and Jordan, earned a position as a Jimmy Carter Presidential Center intern, and was elected to represent her fellow students as a university senator. She went on to earn her J.D. from Georgia State University in 2005.
After graduating from law school, Naiyareh worked as a research assistant and staff attorney with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia. She continued her work in the legal profession as an associate with Sharon Ware & Associates.
The Naiyareh Karimimanesh Bahá’í Service Fellowship will fund three fellowships and provide overall support to the program. The Fellowship is designed to engage fellows in service to humanity, promote the equality of women and men, and provide an opportunity for fellows to learn from the work of a well-established, Bahá’í-inspired, nonprofit organization.
Fellows are Bahá’ís, and work in a variety of staff roles assisting Tahirih’s clients to achieve justice while also being of service in the local Bahá’í community. They commit to serving Tahirih for a one-year period, and receive a stipend and health insurance for their service.
