Learn Persian with Chaiang Conversation. Growing up Iroini interview with Representative Anna Iskamani, June, welcome to the program. I'm so excited to talk to you.

Thank you so much for having me. I'm thrilled to be here. Big fan, long time listener. And so thanks so much for having me.

Me too. I feel like we've like been family for a long time. So I'm so excited to finally talk to you. And I have so many questions. Like I've been wanting to

interview you for a long time. So first, can you give a little introduction to who you are and where

you are and what you do? Oh, I love to. So again, my name is Ana B. Eskamani. I am first generation

Iranian-American. I'm born and raised in Orlando, Florida, where I currently live.

I'm actually joining you from the state capital in Florida, Tallahassee, because I'm also a state

representative and was first elected in 2018, becoming the first.

And so far only Iranian-American elected any public office in Florida.

I know there will be more.

And I grew up in a working-class family. My dad's family is from Tabriz. I know there will be more. And I grew up in a working class family.

My dad's family is from Tabriz. I'm also from Tehran. And I have a twin sister,

a big brother. And I worked in reproductive rights before I ran for office. So I have a long

history in advocacy and, of course, women's issues as well. Yes, exactly.

So I want to get into that as well.

But can you tell me more about your mother, you and your twin sister, talk about your mother so often and she's such a big part of your story.

So I'd love to honor her with this conversation if you can tell us about her.

Oh, I would be so honored to do that.

So I mentioned my parents were both originally

born and raised in iran they came to united states at very different times in their lives

and they met working at the same donut shop in orlando oh my gosh true american love story

and my dad was actually really shy to share parts of his identity for fear of prejudice

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