The Executive Team
“The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.”
Executive Director, Founder
Melina Farahmand
Californian Melina Farahmand is a storyteller and social entrepreneur who wears many hats. At just twelve years old, she established Past Present Future Co., a news and media platform to educate and inspire people through discussions on various topics, including politics, sports, science, and more. She believes that discussing relevant issues can lead to positive change in communities and that ordinary people have the power to do extraordinary things to transform the world for the better.
Melina strongly supports engaging with leaders and politicians to address societal and political issues. She has contacted and received many letters from national leaders commending her efforts, including former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, and Representative Ted Lieu.
In 2018, while still in high school, she authored her first book, 'From Dust to Breath,' which was later updated and became a top release in Amazon's ethics section. Her second book, 'When the Stars Collide,' was published in 2021. Her film and video editing talent is also evident in her social media editing page, @moonchildmeli, where she has built an extensive portfolio of editing work. Additionally, Melina is the Executive Director and Founder of this voting rights advocacy initiative, Guardians of Our Democracy.
In July 2022, she was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as an honorable martial artist. She recently graduated with honors from CU Boulder with a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies, having also published undergraduate research in ENVS.
Research Director
Anissa Hoveyda
Anissa Hoveyda is a California State University of Long Beach graduate who obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal studies. Anissa is an educator fulfilling her dreams of becoming an Elementary school teacher. She plans on soon becoming a part of the ITEP MSCP program, where she will be able to obtain both her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and BA at the same time to be prepared to teach diverse learners in public school settings. As of now, Anissa is working for the Los Angeles Unified School District at Peary Middle School, where she is a Teacher Assistant, gaining experience in what it is like working with different types of students in the classroom. Anissa is inspired by her father, a Pediatric Physical Therapist who helps treat children’s physical needs. Outside of her school and work life, Anissa enjoys spending time with her cats, roller skating, and reading poetry. Her main goal is to help inspire her future students to become the best version of themselves and help students fulfill their dreams.
Secretary
Marilyn Foley
Marilyn Foley, originally from Alexandria, Virginia, moved to Los Angeles, CA, in 2010 to explore her passion for the arts. Since moving to LA she has spent time volunteering and bringing awareness to issues affecting the people around her and beyond. She is also passionate about slow fashion and sustainability and owns an eco-friendly clothing brand called Housed LA.
Community Outreach (West Coast)
Marcela Yerena
Marcela Yerena is a native Southern Californian and a daughter of Mexican immigrants. She is a mother to two amazing kids and a partner to a supportive and encouraging spouse. Marcela is passionate about social justice and strives to live a life centered on advocating for and empowering others. As a former educator, she moved beyond the classroom to pursue other endeavors that are better aligned with her values and are equity-centered in every aspect. Marcela studied at the Chaminade University of Honolulu and obtained her BA in Theology from the University of San Francisco and MA in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. She had the opportunity to travel to Latin America as part of her education and study abroad in Florence, Italy. Her travels have taught her what an amazing world is out there for us to learn from and grow into better human beings.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
Claire Brothers
Claire is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and hopes to attend law school. Claire is passionate about Constitutional law, American political history, and political theory. She has interned with Representative, now Senator Kyle Mullica, for the 2021 and 2022 Legislative sessions in the Colorado House of Representatives. Additionally, Claire worked as a Field Organizer for Kyle Mullica’s 2022 campaign for Colorado State Senate District 24.