Greater Middle East Alliances

About Progressive Democrats of America – Greater Middle East Alliance

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) has long been at the forefront of grassroots activism, championing progressive policies and advocating for economic, social, and environmental justice. The newly established PDA Greater Middle East Alliance marks a historic milestone as the first non-geographical branch of PDA, designed to merge domestic progressive policies with a comprehensive international vision, particularly focusing on the Middle East. This initiative will engage in political advocacy, international solidarity, and progressive policymaking to create a more just and equitable global society.

History of Progressive Democrats of America

Founded in 2004, Progressive Democrats of America emerged as a force dedicated to transforming the Democratic Party from within. With a strong commitment to policies that prioritize people over profit, PDA has consistently pushed for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, racial and economic justice, and an end to perpetual war. The organization gained national recognition through its unwavering support for Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential election, mobilizing a grassroots movement that significantly influenced progressive politics in the United States. PDA’s work continues to shape policy discourse, advocating for bold reforms that align with the needs of working-class Americans and marginalized communities.

Greater Middle East Alliance – Board Members

Hanieh Jodat – GMEA Global Director

Hanieh Jodat began her career in the nonprofit sector with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) USA, where she developed a deep commitment to human rights and advocacy. Since then, she has become a prominent political activist, serving as Senior Partnership Coordinator at RootsAction, Strategist with Defuse Nuclear War, and recently founded the Progressive Democrats of America Middle East Alliances, the first non-geographic arm of PDA.

As a political strategist, Jodat has worked with progressive leaders like Congressmembers Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, and former Senator Nina Turner, serving as a surrogate and Political Director for Turner’s congressional campaigns. A founding member of the Women’s March, she served on the boards of WMCA and WMLA and helped organize the historic March for Our Lives and Families Belong Together LA.

Jodat is a former Bernie delegate and currently serves as an Assembly District Delegate in California. She is the first Iranian American woman appointed to the Resolutions Committee of the CA Democratic Party. A contributor and op-ed writer for TruthOut, she has also been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, NBC, and Al Jazeera and has written for Jacobin and Common Dreams. Her advocacy has been recognized with awards from the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and UNHCR.

Dr. Aisha Jumaan – Board Member

Dr. Aisha Jumaan is the founder and president of Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation. She is a public health expert with more than 30 years of experience in vaccine-preventable diseases, cancer research, maternal and child health, nutrition, and primary health care. She works as an Independent Consultant managing health projects in Yemen. Previously, she directed the HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project at PATH and spent over a decade at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she served as team lead for the varicella and zoster vaccination program and held various roles across the National Immunization Program, Cancer Control and Prevention, Nutrition Division, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. She also supported the CDC’s Field Epidemiology Training Program and taught epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

In Yemen, Dr. Jumaan worked with UNFPA, UNDP, and the Peace Corps on health program development, evaluation, and training. She served as an Assistant Professor at Sana’a University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and consulted for several organizations, including USAID, Save the Children, and the Dutch Embassy, contributing to research and capacity-building efforts to strengthen Yemen’s health system.

Aisha Jumaan earned her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC., her Masters in Public Health from Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and her BA, Biology from Mills College, Oakland, CA.

Hassan El-Tayyab – Board Member

Hassan El-Tayyab is an author, songwriter, and FCNL’s legislative director for Middle East policy. Hassan co-chairs the U.S. Ceasefire Coalition and leads FCNL’s work to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, advocate for Palestinian human rights, and advance diplomacy with Iran. Hassan was honored by the Arab America Foundation and the Middle East Policy Council as an awardee of their respective “40 under 40” initiatives for his policy work on Capitol Hill.

His passion for foreign affairs is rooted in his desire to make life safer for people in the Middle East, including his extended family in Jordan, Palestine, and Yemen. He is convinced that advancing a more diplomacy-based foreign policy in the Middle East is critical, not only for the family he loves, but for peace and stability worldwide.

He is frequently invited to guest lecture at colleges and universities around the United States on foreign affairs. His writings and commentaries have been featured in numerous national and international news outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, BBC World News, Politico, and more.

Lily Greenberg Call – Board Member

Lily Greenberg Call is an organizer, activist, and spokesperson. She has nearly a decade of experience in political campaigns, anti-war and climate movement organizing, and domestic and international human rights work. She served in the Biden administration as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the Department of Interior until May 15, 2024, when she became the first Jewish political appointee to resign in protest of US policy in Gaza.

Lily has appeared as a guest on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, and given commentary and written articles for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, The Guardian, and Truthout. She has spoken at several religious events and campuses including Princeton University, Georgetown University, and Yale College.