People
have been writing about Ralph’s many life accomplishments and rather than
regurgitate the well-known facts of his life, I wanted to share on a more
personal note, the way he has impacted my life and played a pivotal role in my
growth.
The
last few times Ralph and I met, I just assumed he wouldn’t remember little
details from our past, but he would always refer to them, asking about my son,
my daughter, our mutual friends and my plans. He remembered my research topic,
he knew details about my advocacy work, he knew what was important to me. He
always made me feel unique and special. Thinking back now, I am sure I was not
the only one who had this feeling around him. He paid close attention to each
person in his life and made us feel like the center of the universe. This was
one of his many human gifts.
A True Mentor
Ralph
had many qualifications and qualities that are now well-known in the LA
community and beyond. He was a fighter for justice, a steadfast believer in activism
for freedom in all its forms. One of his most important roles was as a mentor. When
I was applying for graduate school positions, I once came to him feeling so
disappointed. I had just been rejected from a Ph.D. program because they were
seeking a pure academic and researcher and my long-life activism history didn’t
align with their vision. I was questioning everything. I told him I felt like my
activism was becoming an obstacle to my progress. He listened to me for some
time without saying anything and then in a very compelling tone told me: “if
you become an academic and have no passion and ambition for change, you are no
longer complete. Your activism is a plus, not an obstacle.” He cheered me on
and reminded me to pick programs that aligned with my life’s work. He kept me
on track.
A Problem Solver
Every
time I came to Ralph with a request, like a letter of recommendation or a lead
on an internship or ideas for how to hold a large event together, he was quick
to respond. He would ask me to sit behind his computer and would dictate emails
to people he knew around the city, networking and bringing people together. People
had so much respect for him that we would always hear back with positive news. He
was so deeply generous and no matter what the issue was, he was quick to
brainstorm for solutions. We never ruminated too long on the problem.
A Caring Role Model
In
2008, we all went to the Democratic convention. My delegation was part of
Hillary’s campaign, he was on Obama’s team and we would have long fruitful
discussions about differences. Our delegation was trying to get a signature
from Hillary about troops in Iraq and he encouraged us to go in front of the
line and make our statement in one or two sentences to get her signature. He told
us to ask people to allow us to go in front of them. He said tell people about
your cause and make your case. He was a seasoned campaigner and a fierce
advocate.
A
few hours later, we found ourselves in a hospital. He was under IV for hours
and we were waiting in the urgent care. I was sitting close to his hospital bed
and looking at his face and hand, hoping he gets better soon. He opened his
eyes, looked at us, and in a gentle voice asked: “Did you finally get the
signature, Soraya?” My friend and I looked at each other and smiled: “Yes,
Ralph, we did!” He said “I am so glad, good job”, and closed his eyelids to fall
back asleep.
We
only later found out that he had stayed up all night the night before and had
barely had anything to eat because he had been part of a resolution team on
homelessness and they had had to work through the night. He was deeply and
selflessly dedicated.
Ambitious
When
Ralph asked me to become his SME (subject matter expert) for his book, I was
trilled and humbled. Ralph was ready to write another book. In one of his last emails
to me he said: “read and comment on that
chapter. Be candid; we have many more chapters to write on that subject.”; he
was ready to continue.
A real friend
One of my great honors in our relationship was being able to
accompany him to UCLA Medical Center for a routine test and appointment. Afterwards,
we went together to Wholefoods. He bought a few items and I bought him Iranian
pastries that he loved. I once gave him a handmade painting with the words “welcome”
on a creamy/ greenish colored canvas. He adored it. He asked “Why do you always
bring me something?” I told him: “Because I love you Ralph. I bought this during
an art walk and thought of how welcoming you have been. I thought you might
like it.” “I love it!” He said.
It was these simple but meaningful
interactions that I will keep treasuring and carry with me to help me through
the grief of his loss.
I am truly honored to have had an amazing
friend, role model, and mentor in Ralph D.Fertig. I am humbled that he wrote glowingly
about me to my doctoral department. He once said that he held me in high esteem
and the feeling was truly mutual. I suspect there are many in this city who
hold him in high regard and miss him dearly.
After every event or
pictures taking, I was creating a folder to send him the photos.I am creating
him one again.
He encourages the qualision to stay together to make changes
Front of Turkish Consulate after we talked to the member of Turkish consulate and gave them the demand for free Berivan
Arminian, Kurds, Greek, American for one cause, social justice and freedom
During my hooding ceremony, a picture for him and his message
invitation for graduation, sent photo to Ralph
2018
In Ralph's House after her book was published. he was super happy for her book and super proud for my dissertation on her table and of course the water melon he loved
In a demonstration to support Kurds in Afrin /Rojava/Syrian Kurd, front of Federal building.
He came with his caregiver on wheelchair, this man is a hero
Interview for Women in
politics and Activism Project
Interviewer: Michael Thomas
Narrator: Dr. Soraya Fallah
February 9th,
2019 was another special day for me. I was Interviewed for Women in politics
and Activism Project by Michael Thomas history student at California State
University, Fullerton for his project on Women, Politics and Activism since
Suffrage led by Dr. Natalie Fousekis. Part of his research is on Iranian American/Middle Eastern
Women in Politics/Activism in Southern California and he wanted to interview
women who are involved with Iranian & Kurdish women's rights activism.
The
interview was conducted in CSUN and took approximately two to three hours.Michael was traveled
from OC to Valley in rain without complain. He is very intelligent MA student
and passionate individual. His responses to my answers were incredibly great
and encouraging.
My
interview was digitally recorded and will be preserved in the Center for Oral
and Public History (COPH) archival collection, and I will receive a
complimentary CD copy from COPH at CSUF.
I
was very comfortable talking about my background. A decent portion of our
interview was spent discussing my biographical background.
Through
him I learned that COPH houses over 6,000 oral history interviews in its
archives for use by researchers and scholars. I am glad I have done this for four
reasons: I spare some time for the past month thinking about my past, what I usually
don’t have time for and it is needed for
everybody to remember their past, reminiscence- ing and writing some auto-
ethnography about themselves. Second I was able to give an honest narrative on
some –only small portion of my life and activism. I was able to talk about my
people, my Kurdish women sisters who are overlooked historically, and last but
not least I get to know Michael Thomas. He is a wonderful individual.
There is not a single new year that we feel it
is time to celebrate. What a holiday season for #Kurds!
Don’t you think instead of Mr. Brett McGurk and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis,and many others
it is time for President Trump
to resign? His decision to pullout theU.S troop from Syria is sabotaging himself and the country he is ruling.
Why the special
presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS at the State Department
resigns? Maybe Trump thinks handling foreign
affairsis like a play station game. I hope he knows that by leaving Syria, he is
putting the lives of thousand others and their allies SDF (who fought ISIS on
the ground) with over 3 million Kurds, Christians and Yazidis into danger. Does
he care about people’s life? Does he care
about another disastrous crime by Turkey, about re-empowering ISIS& IRI in
the Middle East? Does he knowcost of betraying Syria’s Kurds?
Does he know it is time to start building trust
and creating friendship and keeping friends in the Middle East? Mr. President!
stop self-harm and harmful act toward friends. Stop U.S traditional behavior of
betraying Kurds.
Does he do it knowingly or he is lacking knowledge? Or all of the above?
The sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 11 to 22 March 2019.
Priority theme: Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;
Review theme:
Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (agreed conclusions of the sixtieth session);
This video is part of a bigger event at CSUN Grand Hall to celebrate women who received Phenomenal Woman Awards 2018. It is particularly the part in which Dr. Nayereh Tohidi received her award and her remarks. So many people including well known Iranian scholars, TV personals, friends and family members attended to celebrate her achievement. The Phenomenal Woman Awards event celebrates women who have made outstanding contributions to our community through their scholarship, activism, and commitment to excellence. It also allows the Gender & Women’s Studies Department to raise funds to sponsor special programming, support student and faculty research, and finance scholarships for Gender and Women's Studies students. In addition, these contributions support the CSUN Women’s Resource and Research Center, the oldest continuing Women’s Center within the California State University system. https://www.csun.edu/humanities/gende...
UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking
Re. Kurdish Women Salute and Celebrate Your Achievements
Dear Nadia,
First and foremost, we, the undersigned would like to whole-heartedly congratulate you for the well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize recognition. We also wish to congratulatethe Nobel Prize Committee, for such a wise and timely decision on their part.We are delighted that you should share this award with an extraordinary fellow laureate like Dr. Denis Mukwegefor his and your tireless efforts to end sexual violence as a weapon of war.
We salute your courage in telling your own story of suffering and survival, which represents the stories of not only Kurdish Yezidis, but millions of women around the world. You did not only stand against and expose the war crimesof ISIS and the wide-spread phenomenon of women’s sexual attacks, but you have worked hard to put this in the spotlight on an international level, which has never been done before.
Despite all the bitterness, loss, and agony you suffered at the hands Islamic State, which is beyond imagination, you have remained tall and dignified. You are a symbol and a beacon of hope for countless women around the world in an age where rape, trafficking, violence, and death are an everyday occurrence.
Your exceptional actions will restore the hope to scores of women that their perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions and that governments to act to take these issues on board. You have inspired other women to speak up against such war crimes. You are a role model and a warrior for freedom and human dignity.
Once again we salute and congratulate you. Your ongoing struggle is honorable and we stand proud and in awe of your courage.
Our sincere and sisterly regards to you,
a group of Kurdish women from around the world
Oct 11, 2018
The undersigned:
Dr. Soraya Fallah: Researcher California States University Northridge,USA
Houzan Mahmoud: Cofounder of Culture Project-UK
Shikofeh Ghobadi: Sweden
Poshya Kakil: Artist & Architect-USA
Bayan Salman: Writer and novelist-France
Nessar Yousif Hussein: Phd in Law-France
Narmin Osman Hassan: Member of the leadership of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Adalat Omar: Writer & researcher of Genocide-South Kurdistan
Susan Shahab Nuri: Former member of Kurdistan parliament
Lanja Xawe-Southern Kurdistan
Dashni Murad: Singer-Kurdistan
Chinar Binavi: KHRW,CA
Rukin Isik: Doctoral candidate in Gender Studies-USA
Berin Altin: Sociology Ph.d Student-University of Nottingham
Golala Arya: Chemistry Professor Fairfax Virginia USA
Sara Mohammed: Never forget Pella & Fadima Organisation-Sweden
Simin Chaichi,Writer and Poet, Iran
Kaziwa Salih, Ph.d candidate-Canada
Shahla Yar: Norway
Koral Noori: Journalist-Kurdistan
Lanja Abdulla: Southern Kurdistan
Lazo Azad: United Kingdom
Renas Babakir: Kurdistan
Hana Qader: Counselor-Canada
Kazhal Ali: Writer and poet-Switzerland
Nicola Ashraf Shali: Lecturer-Univeristy of Sulaymania-Kurdistan
Shene Awaz: Student-South Kurdistan
Shawnm Yahia: Socilogist-Kurdistan
Bayan Hamasaed: Teacher-Kurdistan
Bayan Ahmed Saeed: Artist and poet-Kurdistan
Basma Mohammed Mustafa: Commissioner at the High commission of human rights in Iraq.
Trifa Amin: Manager-Kurdish/German Centre in Nuremberg & KNK member-Germany
Shara Taher: Writer and Social Psychologist-Sweden
Avan Anwar: Artist-Australia
Avan Omar: Artist-The Netherlands
Kurda Khalaf Saeed: University Nurse and health supervisor in Kirkuk Governorate-South Kurdistan
Shahen Sabir: Writer and Journalist-South Kurdistan
