Iranian Community School Kicks Off Expansion Efforts

Nearly 25 years ago, the Iranian Community School didn't need a place to call home -- it  was the home of Shahantadj Deyhimi.

Deyhimi started teaching Persian language classes there with just two students. Soon, Deyhimi had six. And then a handful more. And by the end of 1986, after six months had passed, she had a total of 16.

Now at more than 200 students, the non-partisan, non-political school has outgrown several locations in Fairfax, Mclean and Vienna.  Its current home on Maple Avenue, tucked into three condominimum units, has been a bit too tight for a while, says Amir Tehrani, an advisor to the school's board of directors.

The school needs and wants is its own building-- a place they envision calling the Persian Community Center-- for Iranian families across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, Tehrani says.

the school made its first step toward that goal with a fundraising concert and cultural event, which included  performances by the Silk Road Dance Company, pianist Soheil Nasseri and the Chakavak Ensemble. It drew about 250 people, Tehrani said.

"Yes, I came for the music, but I really wanted to support the school," said Bahman Ameen, of Darnestown, whose children used to attend ICS. "Most of the kids here were born in America. They need to know this culture, too."

After intermission, Khashayar Montazami offered an intial glimpse of what board members, staff and parents wanted in a new building: senior, youth, sports, art, music and dance centers; a community gathering place; Farisi school for grades K through 12, along with Farisi and English as second language courses; and a lecture hall, among other features.

The school has yet to secure land for the project, Tehrani said, but is trying to find a location in the Vienna/McLean/Falls Church corridor.

That's a project that could easily cost more than a million dollars, Tehrani said. The fundraiser, though small, was a start. After overhead costs, Tehrani estimated the school raised about $1,500 from ticket and food sales and additional donations throughout the evening.

Now, the school waits to hear back on a few grant applications they've completed, one of which could provide them with $300,000 to $500,000. A grant like that would give the organization strong capital to do more fundraising, Tehrani said, and come up with $1 million to $1.5 miillion themselves.

"It was our very first fundraising event for the school, but more than anything else it was a chance to raise awareness, so in that regard it was successful," Tehrani said. "If we can continue to raise awareness,we can keep our heritage alive, and if the heritage and language and culture are kept alive, our kids can be aware of it as they grow."