Kevin A. Mani
Founder & Executive Director
Kevin A. (Arjang) Mani (Farsi: کیوان ارژنگ مانی) graduated with honors from Boston University’s College of Communication with a B.S. in Journalism. He plans to attend law school in the near future and is eager to gain additional exposure to the legal field to further strengthen his foundation before beginning his studies.
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Drawing inspiration from his upbringing as the child of Iranian immigrants, Kevin aspires to become an accomplished attorney, using his legal expertise to advance economic justice through a human rights lens, focusing on protecting immigrant communities and addressing global forced displacement issues.
Kevin recently worked as a paralegal at Dunning Rievman & MacDonald LLP, supporting attorneys in high-stakes international litigation and arbitration cases. This experience enhanced his understanding of international law and the global economic forces shaping development. His previous legal internships include Law Offices of Marjan Kasra, LLC, focusing on immigration law, and with the Office of U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal on Capitol Hill, engaging with federal policy on foreign affairs, immigration, civil rights, and the economy.
Kevin also served as a research assistant for Dr. Tatiana Padilla’s Immigration Raids Project, documenting the frequency and distribution of immigration raids across the U.S. and analyzing their impact on affected communities.
His academic background in journalism has complemented these experiences. For instance, in his publication for The Politica at Boston University, “The United Kingdom’s Social Care Crisis,” he analyzed the broader implications of the U.K.’s post-Brexit immigration system on its social care sector. Similarly, in his article for SAMPAN Newspaper, “Through Farsi, Iranian-American Grocer and Newly Settled Afghan Refugees in Belmont Find Common Ground,” he examined the role of language in fostering community among Boston’s immigrant populations.
Kevin also founded Beyond the Compass, a multimedia platform focused on international relations and the global economy, featuring short documentaries, podcasts, radio broadcasts, and articles. Committed to social justice,
Kevin volunteers with the Child Foundation, supporting access to education for children living in poverty.
Combined with his fluency in English, Farsi (Persian), and French, Kevin has honed his research, writing, and analytical skills and equipped him to effectively engage with diverse populations and navigate complex legal issues.
Quentin Blaizot
Director
Quentin Blaizot recently graduated from Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies with a B.A. in International Relations. His academic journey has centered on regional development and political crises in the Levant, focusing on the intersection of historical contexts and contemporary geopolitical challenges.
Currently, Quentin works as a historical interpreter at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, where he engages visitors in immersive historical experiences, providing educational insight into critical events of the American Revolution. This position, along with his time as a retail supervisor at the museum’s gift shop, has allowed him to develop a strong foundation in public speaking, customer relations, and management.
In addition to his professional experiences, Quentin gained valuable interpretation and translation experience as an interpreter for Baystate Interpreters and as a book translator for Georges Zouain Library, where he translated the autobiography “Notes et Souvenirs d’un Voyageur Libanais” from French to English. His interest in the socio-political landscape of the Levant, his fluency in French and English, and his limited working proficiency in Arabic further complement his academic and professional experiences.
Quentin’s passion for international relations also led him to co-host “Beyond the Compass,” a podcast interviewing experts in the fields of international relations and the global economy. Topics include the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, Israeli judicial reform protests, and Iran’s Mahsa Amini protests. He also served as the president of BU’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty, where he managed operations and developed initiatives to promote liberty-focused discourse on campus.
Quentin’s unique blend of historical insight, regional expertise, and commitment to education and political engagement positions him to make a meaningful impact in fields related to international development, crisis management, and historic preservation.
