Marjon Kashani’s appreciation of cultural diversity developed early as the daughter of a first-generation Japanese and Persian family in San Francisco. Her own experiences with racism and inequality, and the experiences of those closest to her, gave early shape to her commitment to understanding diversity and the struggle for social justice. She has worked in and with a variety of different not for profit community-based organizations in the Bay Area for the past 13 years, as a program developer, popular educator, and community organizer working primarily with urban youth of color. She was also an active member of the Underground Railroad artist collective, where she worked in collaboration with other Bay Area artists to produce cultural events and art pieces with the intent to educate and inspire urban youth to take action against injustice within communities locally, nationally, and globally. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Francisco State University with a focus on Middle Eastern and Islamic communities, as well as a minor in world music and dance. She recently moved to NYC to attend the Hunter College School of Social Work where she is working towards a MSW in community organizing.