Honoring Mansour Taeed
For the Preservation and Advancement of Iranian Dance and Culture WHEREAS, May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to honor the history, contributions, and cultural heritage of the AAPI community; and WHEREAS, Mansour Taeed is an esteemed theater artist, educator, and community leader who has shaped the Iranian-American cultural landscape in the Bay Area for over four decades; and WHEREAS, Mr. Taeed was pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, but courageously left his academic path to follow his passion for the arts and storytelling; and WHEREAS, he co -founded the Darvag Theatre Group in the 1980s, producing powerful experimental and socially relevant works that reflected the experience of Iranians at home and in the diaspora; and
WHEREAS, he later established Adeline Stage and co-founded Central Stage in Richmond, which became vital performance spaces for Iranian and international artists; and WHEREAS, Mr. Taeed has volunteered his time for decades directing children’s plays at the annual Nowruz celebrations of the Nima Farsi Language School, reflecting his commitment to nurturing cultural pride and creativity in the next generation; and WHEREAS, through vision, dedication, and personal sacrifice, Mr. Taeed has created opportunities for storytelling, civic engagement, and cultural connection, sustaining the arts even without local government support.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, and the Richmond City Council do hereby formally recognize Mansour Taeed for his outstanding legacy as a cultural builder and for his invaluable contributions to Iranian American theater and community expression.
___________________________ ______________________________ Mayor Eduardo Martinez Council Member Soheila Bana City of Richmond District 4 April 22, 2025