The mission of NextGenNow is to strengthen and unify Zarathushti communities worldwide through leadership development, inter-generational dialogue and action-oriented initiatives.
NextGenNow serves as an incubator for innovative ideas, leadership cultivation and action-oriented initiatives.
Our hope in the present is to deliver for the future; to mobilize a new generation of Zarathushti bridge builders interested in paving a pathway for more sustainable and resilient Zarathushti communities in the years and decades ahead.
We are forward-thinking Zarathushti youth with a demonstrated track record for leadership on the North American Zarathushti scene. Read more about us below . . .
Mantreh Atashband
Mantreh Atashband has been involved in the HIV & AIDS movement for over a decade; advocating for people living with HIV (especially women and girls) nationally and internationally. She is also the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for a local Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre, where she works toward the eradication of sexual violence against women and girls. Mantreh has been a panelist at various Zoroastrian congresses. She was the Communications chair for the 2007 North American Zoroastrian Congress- IMPACT; and was also the Marketing chair for the NEXUS- 2003 North American Zoroastrian Youth Congress.
Jim Engineer
Jim Engineer is an award-winning public relations executive and founder of e-Rainmaker Public Relations, a Chicago-based high-tech public relations boutique agency he founded in 1999.
Jim served in leadership positions for NextGenNow conferences in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 he speerheaded NextGenNow chat groups in Chicago and New York, and led the NextGenNow guest editorial team in collaboration with the FEZANA Journal to produce the fall 2009 edition: From Roots to Wings, The Next Generation of Zarathushti Leaders. He has represented NextGenNow at Zarathushti conferences, moderating panel discussions and spreading NextGenNow's message.
Jim previously served as Chair of the Public Relations Committee of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA). He has held numerous leadership positions on the North American Zarathushti scene and in Chicago, presenting, organizing and moderating youth and multi-generational content and programming at adult and youth congresses. He started and perpetuated FEZANA Journal's Youthfully Speaking section, served as a founding co-chair of ZYNA, the Zoroastrian Youth of North America, and represented Zoroastrian youth at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. Jim holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University and resides in Chicago's western suburbs with his wife Kiku, daughter Zara, a baby on the way, and an adorable English bulldog named Winston.
Dr. Nikan Khatibi
Dr. Nikan H. Khatibi is a certified medical physician currently completing his residency training in anesthesiology at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a Bachelor of Science in 2004, followed by earning his Masters in Business Administration in 2005 and Medical Degree in 2009.
Nikan has immersed himself in the Zoroastrian community, serving as President of the Youth of the California Zoroastrian Center, Co-Director of Next Generation Now, and Chief Editor for the Youthfully Speaking section of the Fezana Journal. In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the Zoroastrian Youth of North America. He has spoken at many conferences and congresses around the world spreading the message of inspiration and leadership amongst the Zoroastrian youth community.
In the future, Nikan would like to continue his public service by taking on a position as a member of the United States Congress.
Zubin Mistry
Zubin T. Mistry graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a B.A. in Health Administration and Public Policy. As an employee of the Johns Hopkins Health System, he is currently applying to graduate school for a Masters in Public Health.
He served as the Trustee-At-Large for the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington Inc (ZAMWI) from 2007-2009, attended and supported the NextGenNow 2008 conference, Your Future in Your Hands, in August 2008, and represented NextGenNow in presenting on NextGenNow at the 2009 North American Zoroastrian youth congress in Fremont, CA.
Zubin sees NextGenNow as a catalyst for open dialogue in the Zarathushti community and the rest of the world.
