Author

Fiza Pirani

Fiza Pirani immigrated to the United States from Saudi Arabia with her family in the mid-90s. Though she was born in India — and is still hoping to revisit her birthplace one day — Atlanta has been home for more than two decades. Fiza was previously a staff writer at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she earned a Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism and founded Foreign Bodies, an award-winning mental health newsletter centering immigrants and next-gens. Her freelance work has been published in 285 South, Teen Vogue, The Guardian, and Electric Literature, among other publications. Fiza is currently at work on a memoir-in-progress.

Fiza's Latest Articles

Specific ways you can support Atlanta’s immigrant and refugee communities right now

We’ve been gathering information about what concerned folks can do to support immigrant and refugee communities.

808s and heartbreaks: Atlanta rapper Phay sits down with 285 South and talks Palestine, faith, and finding joy amid grief

The musician gained renewed attention last year for “Watermelon Seeds,” a song he wrote in response to Israel’s assault on Gaza. This fall, it’ll be part of his final full-length project, Heartbreak Phay.

Don’t miss these immigrant vendors at your next visit to the farmers market

A roundup of some of the diverse vendors selling items at local community farmers markets.

Just in time for Ramadan, Yemeni cafes make a cardamom-scented splash in Metro Atlanta

Open late into the evening, Middle Eastern and South Asian coffeehouses serve as alcohol-free “third places” for those who’d rather skip the bar scene. And there’s a big appetite for them.

Duluth-based artist channels home through reclaimed woodwork   

“I’ve always loved the map… It’s a thing with all of us Palestinians, really,” says artist Hamza Arman.

South Asian voter group splits with parent PAC to form Desis For Democracy

They See Blue says they don’t want any part in painting Democrats in a negative light, but its Georgia chapter maintains accountability is essential.