Reaching Children in the US/Mexico Border States:The Politics of Social Reform

Scheherazade Shari Shamsavari, Ph.D., ATR, International Health & Education Consultant

Dr. Shari's Talk on April 8, 2026

Reaching Children in the US/Mexico Border States:

The Politics of Social Reform

"It takes a village to raise a child, and my village has been the community at large." Dr. Shari will focus on her social reform initiatives - how a rehabilitation, education and prevention program became law and what that means in terms of social reform.

From Sonoma and Marin counties to the US/ Mexico border states, her goal was to be able to reach all children and adolescents, regardless of means, by offering educational programs (such as art therapy, non-instrumental biofeedback, autogenic breathing training and somatic education) to help them lead more productive lives.

Biography

Dr. Shari is notable for her 30 years of service in local, national and international communities, advancing educational programs to better the lives of underprivileged children. She began her ground-breaking, grassroots work with children in 1990 in Sonoma County, using proven science-based self-esteem and self-awareness therapies. Over the next ten years, with the support of American Association of Women (AAUW), she worked within the communities of Sonoma and Marin Counties, honing her professional skills and cultivating a better understanding of social reform. 

Social Reform became the pillar of her projects as she extended her work to Mexico, Israel, the Dominican Republic, India and South Africa, looking to implement social change to support children in their respective countries. Since 2000, Dr. Shari has divided her time between Sonoma County and Guadalajara in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. On January 14, 2011, she was appointed to the Congress in the State of Jalisco as the Ambassador serving the children of Jalisco. She is actively involved in the Rotary Clubs of Guadalajara district 4140 in her upcoming youth project. 

Dr. Shari is the author of eight academic books in English, Spanish and Farsi. She is presently working on the 2nd volume of Reaching Adolescents, The Politics of Social Reform. She is a lifetime member of Sonoma State University Alumni Association, and currently resides in Santa Rosa, California.