Maryam Abolfazli (Ă-bowl-FĂZ-lee) is a proud single mom, second-generation immigrant, international economic and political development professional, and native Tennessean.

Maryam has dedicated her life to bringing people together. In 2023, Maryam helped her fellow residents organize and raise their voices in support of freedom, safety, and opportunity for all. This work led to her being named one of the “Nashvillians of the Year” by the Nashville Scene.

Maryam began on this path at age 24, when she traveled to Afghanistan to work for the United Nations and assist the Afghan government in rebuilding its war-damaged water infrastructure. Maryam next ventured into grassroots economic and civic engagement, for women, youth, and other advocates, creating online schools for entrepreneurship and business development for women, civic education for teachers, and social entrepreneurship for disability, climate, and housing advocates to gain skills and impact their communities in the Middle East. She traveled throughout the region to assist in building democracies and civil societies.

An early adopter, Maryam quickly incorporates new technology, communication approaches and efficiency processes into workflow to ensure success. Her career has been marked by innovative vision and solid back-end financial and organizational management.

To organizing, Maryam brings a strategic mind, a relational approach, and fun.