“A New Day: Readings by Afghan and Iranian American Writers” was one of AAAWA’s first events, and marked the first time we collaborated with Iranian American writers. Featuring live readings of poetry and short stories, it took place in March 2010 at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York, right at the cusp of the Afghan and Iranian New Year, or Nowroz. At the time, the event was unprecedented in how it brought together different writers in the diaspora who as of yet had still been at the margins.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the Committee to Protect Journalists in Iran and Afghanistan. Additionally, there was a panel discussion about negotiating gender as a writer.
