Maral Farsi

Maral Farsi is the Deputy Director of Legislative and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the State of California. Maral Farsi is extremely proud of the work members of Californian government performs daily in order to strengthen every Californian community. One of the administration’s biggest focus areas is near and dear to Farsi, which is improving the health of all Californians. The state has seen that by improving the health of the people, the economy reaps the benefits.

Studies have shown a bit of a chicken or the egg scenario when it comes to health and economic development. Do healthier people boost an economy or does a healthy economy boost the well-being of the citizens impacted? Maral Farsi believes there’s a synergy between the two. The best way for California to strengthen areas of the state with lower income levels is to ensure that they have access to health care—inclusive of physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Of course, Farsi understands that improving health goes well beyond having access to a good doctor.

As an example, exercise has demonstrated positive benefits for both physical and mental health, which is why federal and state programs support access to public parks. The more that can be done to increase the areas where people can get out and exercise, the more likely it is that people will not only increase their physical activity but enhance their community engagement as well. Arts and culture also offer mental and social benefits through engagement and interaction.

It’s easiest to understand the role a person’s health plays on the economy by looking at it from an individual level. A person who suffers from mental illness may be provided access to a job, but without the ability to access mental health treatment then the stability of that job is in question. If the state invests in a free community-college education, low-cost four-year colleges, and job training and apprenticeships for an individual, but that individual is struck by illness and cannot afford their medications, then that investment has been all for naught. California’s future depends keeping a comprehensive view of health care and access so all citizens can can live up to their highest potential in accessing the California dream.

Maral Farsi is proud of the efforts California Governor Gavin Newsom has made through his recent 2020-21 Budget to focus on the comprehensive view of the total state of wellbeing—with proposed investments in direct medical care, as well as workforce training, arts, recreation, and criminal justice.  These investments allow Californians to add productivity to the state’s economy by giving them access to the personal well-being necessary.

With the fifth largest economy in the world, California is a state that all of America can admire. The state’s commitment to the health of all citizens is setting an example for how other states can improve the economic prowess of their state.

Maral Farsi, Deputy Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, has been an advocate of mentorship for over a decade. Farsi, who graduated from California State University, Northridge and received a graduate degree from the UCLA School of Public Health, participates in formal and informal mentorship programs whenever possible and as long as the commitment offers a helpful contribution to the mentees.

For Farsi, the value of the relationships are mutually beneficial—what she can offer to a mentee by way of advice, guidance, and coaching, she also receives by staying abreast of industry trends and hot topics. She has mentored high school, college, and graduate students both due requests for engagement and because of her own personal fulfillment. Maral Farsi, who has also volunteered in high schools in the Sacramento region in various capacities, believes that she is helping fill a need that she wishes had been available to her.

Mentorship opportunities are available through local and national programs, as well as through ordinary interactions with students and young professionals. Often, alumni programs through colleges and universities and high school college/career prep offices also have formal programs as an entre to mentorship. There are also other avenues to mentorship through youth-focused organizations such as Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and even your local city or county government. There are many resources available online for those who have less formal mentee/mentor pairings. However, how one becomes a mentor is not as important as what a mentor does when they have a mentee.

Maral Farsi urges those who commit to mentorship to be upfront about their availability and what approach they want to take to their mentee/mentor relationship. If the mentor can only meet once a month by phone to provide advice, have a coffee every few weeks to offer networking opportunities, or only review resumes and cover letters—they should say so! The mentee should also be encouraged to seek out other mentors who may provide other assets. Most of all, Farsi believes that a mentor should take risks and share their successes and failures. The challenge many youth face are fears of taking risks because they may make a mistake. But, Farsi says that we all make them and we should use them to better ourselves and teach those following us.