The Bellevue area is rich with Persian culture. However, many people of Persian decent are looking for a community that honors and understands their background and values. Arvand Elmi, a sophomore student at Bellevue High School, is taking the initiative to change that with his organization Modern Mesopotamia.

              

“My mission with Modern Mesopotamia is to give people in Bellevue the sense that they belong in the Persian community,” Arvand explains. “I hope that we can reach those who are lonely and looking for a place to belong.” Arvand is no stranger to feeling out of place in a new country. “When I moved to the US at six years old, I remember feeling very lonely for the people and culture I had known in Iran,” Arvand recalls. “It was always such a gift to find other Persians in the area.” Looking back on the memory, Arvand expresses gratitude that he was so young when he moved and was better able to learn the language and adapt. However, thanks to his family, he has never lost his connection to his heritage and homeland.

One of the most influential people in Arvand’s life has been his grandmother. In his mind, he was pretty much raised by her. She is the one who encourages him to speak in his original language, Farsi, and to remember the history and stories from his ancestors in Iran. In fact, he credits her with inspiring him to start a club for other people from his background.

However, the dream for Modern Mesopotamia didn’t start there. In his ten years living in Bellevue, Arvand realized that there were many Persians in the area looking for community. When he started high school at BHS, he thought for sure there would be a Persian cultural club. He was surprised and disappointed to find that there was not. He began to talk with other students who shared his heritage and his desire for a space to share their stories. Like him, they wanted to stay connected to their Persian culture while living in the US.

So, with the encouragement of his grandmother and his own initiative, Arvand started a club of his own at BHS. At first, the goal was to increase the circle of students in the club, giving them a space to belong and to share their stories. The members met regularly and reached out to their peers in hopes of expanding the club. One of the culminations of Modern Mesopotamia was an event organized by Arvand and his peers held on the Persian New Year. 

The event idea came from Arvand’s own experience with holding on to his culture. He admitted that the history and old stories of long-gone family members could get boring. However, what always made heritage come alive for him was holidays. He remembers his grandmother hosting each of the Persian holidays as he was growing up and the excitement that came from each one. His favorite was the Persian New Year, called Nowruz, as it was the most exciting of all, mostly because it was the only time that schools closed in Iran. He recalls the anticipation of the event when he was a child in Iran. This love for the holiday led him to host an event celebrating Nowruz with his fellow students.

At the event, there were multiple booths representing a traditional activity for the holiday. One of the activities was an egg-painting booth, which represents fertility and life for the Persian culture. After activities, guests sat at tables set with seven décor items, each representing life and renewal. Mayor Robinson also made an appearance and spoke at the event, declaring March 20th, 2024, as the day of Nowruz.

After the success of this event, Arvand hopes to organize more like it that will reach even further into the community. He knows there are more people in Bellevue that need to feel the belonging and care that the members of Modern Mesopotamia can offer.

If you would like to be a part of what Arvand is building, keep an eye out for future events. Modern Mesopotamia is working on a website where all the information will soon be published. You can also reach out to Arvand himself with questions, stories, ideas, or anything you would like to share at his email: s-elmial@bsd405.org.

Whether we are of Persian decent or not, let’s all commit to building a better community for ourselves and those around us in Bellevue. Thank you, Arvand, for leading the way for us in this worthy goal.