Born in China and raised in Canada, Doris Wang is a writer, journalist, and social media specialist who has lived all over the world. In the last seven years, Doris worked as a broadcaster in China and traveled across the country. Wherever she lived, Doris has committed herself to building bridges between people of different cultures. She has won national and international awards, including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Award, for reporting on the impact of cultural exchange activities. She currently works with a team at Saskatoon Open Door Society who is passionate about helping newcomers to settle down in their new home and bringing more diversity to the city.

Fay Motevallian, born and raised in Iran, is a Master’s student in Linguistics at the University of Saskatchewan, where a passion for language and sounds led her to specialize in phonetics. Beyond academics, she channels her creativity into photography and videography. As a member of the Threads team, she actively contributes to video production and editing. In her free time, Fay cultivates a love for cinema and literature, frequently indulging in movies and books.

Hongjian (Jay) Li is an award-winning, multicultural Graphic Designer currently based in Canada. With over 7 years of professional experience in graphic design and visual communication, Jay has worked across diverse cultural and creative landscapes, including Canada, the United States, and China.

Specializing in branding, promotional graphics, packaging, editorial design, and more, Jay brings a refined visual sensibility and cross-cultural perspective to every project. He holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)—one of the world’s top-ranked art and design schools. And a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from Arizona State University.
Jay’s design work has been recognized and featured in several prestigious awards and publications, including: Adobe Design Achievement Awards, STA 100, Indigo Design Award, Sandu Publishing, among others.

Currently, Jay serves as Digital Media Officer at the Saskatoon Open Door Society, where he leads the creation of engaging visual content for multiple platforms. His work spans graphic design, branding, social and editorial design, and photography, with a strong focus on storytelling for newcomer communities, helping them live, learn, and thrive in their new environment.

He believes good design is not only about aesthetics, but also about communication, empathy, and social impact. With curiosity, clarity, and craft— he is striving to make design both functional and emotionally resonant.

Mehdi Ebrahimpour, originally from Iran, migrated to Canada to pursue a Master’s degree in Philosophy. With a background in Computer Science, he has acquired diverse skills beneficial to presenting Threads: Cultural Conversations. Currently a cultural Bridging Facilitator, he eagerly explores global cultures and is keen on fostering collaboration among people from varied backgrounds. Mehdi is passionate about bridging cultural gaps and envisions a future where diverse communities come together to create a better tomorrow with greater social justice.

Nayyer Ghadirian completed a B.A. in Psychology as well as a M.A. in Educational Studies, writing his thesis on the factors associated with the survival of underground education in an oppressive environment. Prior to joining the Saskatoon Open Door Society, his work experience included teaching Psychology and English Language classes in China, as well as work in the fields of vocational rehabilitation, curriculum development, and academic counseling in both Canada and the United States.

Born and raised in Iran, Parastoo Dokouhaki has been a journalist, blogger, and women’s rights activist for over 20 years. She is committed to her community, wherever she lives. Parastoo is interested in echoing the voices of underrepresented minority groups in Canada and seeks equality, diversity, and inclusion. She holds a Master’s in Global Media from SOAS, University of London, and a diploma in Media Production from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Working for Saskatoon Open Door Society, especially Threads, lets her combine her personal experiences as an immigrant with her knowledge of Media.