By the time Alex Anvari was 9 years old, he spoke 3 languages: English, French and Farsi.
His parents had met at the University of Illinois when his father was a Ph.D. candidate from the Middle East; his mother was a Midwestern undergrad.
Alex’s father’s job in academia brought the family to his native Iran. Alex played soccer in the streets, learning the language and culture of his new country.
His classmates at Tehran International School came from 35 countries. “We were just like the UN,” Alex says.
Alex Anvari (right), in jUNe Day soccer action.
So it was natural, when he moved to Westport in 1992 — he worked in “the Oracle economy” — to play in the jUNe Day soccer game pitting local players against UN guests. Soon, Alex was running the event.
He made occasional trips back to Iran, where family members still lived. While Americans have long been fascinated by the country — its fascinating history, the larger-than-life stories of the shah, its longtime role with Israel as a “policeman of the Gulf” — he’s had an up-front-and-personal view of it.
So he’s excited to be moderating an event — sponsored by the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut — a week before UN Day.
Set for Town Hall (Wednesday, October 17, 12 p.m.), it’s a conversation with Dina Esfandiary, international security fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
They’ll talk about Middle East geopolitics, the role of the UN regarding Iran’s nuclear deal, US foreign policy, and business strategy after American sanctions.
“06880”‘s tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.” Alex Anvari is one Westporter who has done that all his life.
Please bring up the lack of any accomplishment the UN has achieved in doing anything to solve hunger, terror, sex trade, terrorism…etc,etc.
The program is a neutral stance for people to better understand the current state of US UN and Iran relations .
As a Staples student who later served in Iran in the Peace Corps, this makes me happy.
Thank you for your interest If you are local join us Wed at Town Hall at noon
I wish I could. I am in the San Francisco Bay area. I went to Staples in 1967.
The event is at Town Hall from 12-2pm and sponsored by the Westport Library
Kudos to Alex. I had the pleasure of playing Sunday soccer with him for many years. He’s a graduate of the Yale School of Management and a very bright guy who always seemed to have great interest in international matters. Wish I could be there.
Fred is referring to the Westport Late Knights, a soocer club comprising players from all over the world. I was fortunate to come upon them many years ago. On those Sundays there was only the sport and robust conversation after.
The UN seemed like such a great idea in 1945.