User:Irmagogy

Imako (Irma) Gogiashvili - was born and raised in Georgia - during the period of Soviet occupation (ancient country tucked away in Caucasus Mountains, diverse place where Europe and Asia meet). She worked for several years in Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), dedicated to strengthening human rights and democratic processes around Eastern Europe. Irma's family was actively involved in Georgia's resistance movement against Soviet Regime and contributed to the fall of the USSR. Irma worked with OSCE's Election Observation Mission in Georgia in 1995, when first elections were help in independent Georgia after 70 years of Soviet rule. She also became a mother at eighteen years old and raised her son as a single mother in a very conservative and traditional society. After moving to the United States Irma worked in Silicon Valley, until she decided to pursue her dream and continue her education in International Conflict Resolution. She received her Masters from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and worked in several Bay Area based Non-Profits since. She's worked with the Asia Foundation and Give2Asia, including on an assignment in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2012, and worked with Amazon Watch, organization dedicated to helping Indigenous communities in South America fight for protecting Amazon Rainforests. Irma is also an artist and musician, and passionate about Georgian Culture and Music. She organizes cultural events in Bay Area that expand understanding of Georgian Cultural Heritage and encourage the dialogue between people. She speaks - aside from English - Georgian, Russian, French, and little Spanish. Occasionally, she also helps small arts organizations and theatre companies with their projects.

Imako Gogiashvili is also direct descendent of Shalva Karmeli (Gogiashvili) and Kukuri Gogiashvili as well as Avalishvili Family. She is a mother, daughter, granddaughter, and worshipper of our Mother Earth. Irma is currently working on several projects related to Georgia, singing in newly founded Georgian choir, rehearsing music in her own new trio Sans Souci, and writing fascinating stories about Georgia, women, pagan traditions, her ancestors and more. She also uses a wide array of her artistic talents and participates in various performances around the Bay Area.

In addition to English, Irma speaks French, Russian and Georgian Languages, and understands Spanish and Serbian.