hen IWA’s Woman Extraordinaire Award recipient and Fete Lifestyle Magazine contributor Shermin Kruse took the podium on October 19 to accept the honor, she spoke about turning sorrow into joy, and recognizing that sorrow itself allows one to appreciate that joy even more deeply.
Kruse addressed the international group, including her family and friends, about her journey as a woman, and how facing the challenges and scars of life led to her determination make the world a better place.
She and her family left Iran when she was 11, and Kruse grew up in Canada. She moved to the United States as an adult and obtained her law degree cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
Among her many accomplishments as an international human rights activist, Kruse focuses on women and children and is dedicated to cross-cultural peace dialogue and negotiation, diversity, and women in leadership. A director of RefuSHE, the international refugee center formerly known as Heshima Kenya, and co-founder and director of the Pasfarda Arts and Culture Exchange, which promotes understanding between Iran and the United States through the arts, she has worked to strengthen cross-cultural understanding and to empower refugee women, even traveling to the Turkey-Syria border. Additionally, she is an Emerging Leader Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a director of the ACLU of Illinois, and a partner in the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano.
A 2017 TEDx speaker and a commentator on foreign policy issues for NPR’s Worldview, Kruse frequently contributes to publications such as Huffington Post and Fete Lifestyle Magzine. She is also is the author of the semi-autobiographical novel, Butterfly Stitching, which is set in Iran. She is married to Stuart Kruse, and they have four children.
International Women Associates (IWA) is a Chicago-area forum that connects women with diverse international backgrounds. Members put global understanding into practice through programs offering education, support, and service. IWA enriches the lives of members through participation in shared experiences that encourage cross- cultural exchange and friendship. IWA’s vision is to create a more just and peaceful world through mutual respect and understanding. IWA works with organizations and individuals whose goals are harmonious with its mission and advocates for universal human rights, especially for women and girls.
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