Dec 5, 2018 By: yunews
Anna Monahemi Kaplan Travels an Amazing Journey
It鈥檚 been quite a journey for Anna Kaplan 鈥85S, 鈥90C, the newly elected New York State senator who will be representing District 7. Born Anna Monahemi in Tabriz, Iran, to a Jewish family, she was sent to the United States for safety when the Islamic Revolution swept the country.
Kaplan arrived with 39 other Iranian children as part of an international effort to save Iran鈥檚 Jewish youth. She was eventually granted political asylum by the U.S. government.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the most American of stories, but the story鈥檚 beginning as a frightened, powerless minority animates everything I do,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y undying gratitude to this great country for taking me in during my most desperate hour is what compels me to public service.鈥
Kaplan was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago, where she learned to speak English and completed high school. After more than a year, her parents were able to enter the country legally; when the family was reunited, they moved to Queens, New York. Kaplan graduated from and . In 1995, she became a U.S. citizen.
鈥満诹仙 All provided me with an outstanding education and is one of the important stepping stones in my life that allowed me to achieve many of my proudest accomplishments, including my recent election to the New York State Senate,鈥 Kaplan recalled. 鈥淎s an immigrant, I am especially aware of the importance of access to higher education, and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities presented to me through my experiences at 黑料社 All.鈥
Kaplan married and settled in Great Neck, New York, where she and her husband raised two daughters. Active in the public schools and her community, she was asked to run for the Great Neck Library Board, winning the seat. In 2011, she was elected Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman for the Fourth District, and four years later, she was reelected to a second term as Town Councilwoman with 68 percent of the vote.
On Nov. 7th, 2018, Kaplan defeated incumbent Elaine Phillips to represent Senate District 7. 鈥淚t starts with a simple message,鈥 she said. 鈥淓veryone matters, everyone is deserving of respect and everyone should have a voice in how they're governed.鈥
It鈥檚 been quite a journey for Anna Kaplan 鈥85S, 鈥90C, the newly elected New York State senator who will be representing District 7. Born Anna Monahemi in Tabriz, Iran, to a Jewish family, she was sent to the United States for safety when the Islamic Revolution swept the country.
Kaplan arrived with 39 other Iranian children as part of an international effort to save Iran鈥檚 Jewish youth. She was eventually granted political asylum by the U.S. government.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the most American of stories, but the story鈥檚 beginning as a frightened, powerless minority animates everything I do,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y undying gratitude to this great country for taking me in during my most desperate hour is what compels me to public service.鈥
Kaplan was sent to live with a foster family in Chicago, where she learned to speak English and completed high school. After more than a year, her parents were able to enter the country legally; when the family was reunited, they moved to Queens, New York. Kaplan graduated from and . In 1995, she became a U.S. citizen.
鈥満诹仙 All provided me with an outstanding education and is one of the important stepping stones in my life that allowed me to achieve many of my proudest accomplishments, including my recent election to the New York State Senate,鈥 Kaplan recalled. 鈥淎s an immigrant, I am especially aware of the importance of access to higher education, and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities presented to me through my experiences at 黑料社 All.鈥
Kaplan married and settled in Great Neck, New York, where she and her husband raised two daughters. Active in the public schools and her community, she was asked to run for the Great Neck Library Board, winning the seat. In 2011, she was elected Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman for the Fourth District, and four years later, she was reelected to a second term as Town Councilwoman with 68 percent of the vote.
On Nov. 7th, 2018, Kaplan defeated incumbent Elaine Phillips to represent Senate District 7. 鈥淚t starts with a simple message,鈥 she said. 鈥淓veryone matters, everyone is deserving of respect and everyone should have a voice in how they're governed.鈥
