“When they took my husband at 3 a.m., our world shattered.”
Maria, her two children asleep in the next room, heard pounding at the door. Within minutes, federal agents forced entry and kidnapped her husband. The children awoke to their mother’s screams. Now, with no source of income, no legal status, and the threat of further raids each night, the family is homeless—terrified and fractured.
Maria’s story is not rare. Across the U.S., immigrant families face sudden ICE raids, violent deportations, and the wrenching trauma of separation. We are racing to respond, especially where children are left behind, parents vanish, and communities tremble.
Recent months have seen a surge of ICE raids, including in Los Angeles, intensifying fear across immigrant communities. Families are being deported with little notice, separated without recourse, and rendered destitute overnight. Solitary confinement of immigrants has skyrocketed: over 14,500 individuals were put in isolation between April 2024 and August 2025 exacerbating psychological trauma. We cannot wait for policy changes alone. The mental health crisis is unfolding now. Without immediate intervention, children’s development will be derailed, grief will calcify into despair, and families may never heal.
We are directly involved as this is a humanitarian crisis, and we provide our services (mental health support and resources) to the families left behind.
About A New Era America
A New Era America (ANEA) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers wellness-centered mental health services and relief for vulnerable communities facing humanitarian crises in the United States.
We embody a new era of American values: empathy, solidarity, truth, dignity, stability, hope, and bold humanitarian leadership (and action). At ANEA, survival and healing go hand-in-hand, we work with our partners who provide urgent aid to victims of crises – while we restore long-term mental health, wellness, dignity, and resilience.
Our flagship program, 4WARDSTEPS provides transitional Wellness & Recovery, a campaign-based model that allows us to “pop up” quickly in crisis regions and deliver trauma-informed mental health and wellness services, and pathways to healing and recovery. Whether it’s homelessness or at-risk youth in Los Angeles, families separated by deportation, veterans, or survivors (and refugees) displaced by war or disasters, we step in as the bridge between crisis and stability. We provide what is missing in every crisis we take on (mental health services, tools, and resources). We help people elevate their mental health and prevent future and ongoing impacts of trauma.
Mission
To heal minds and restore humanity for individuals impacted by humanitarian crises, delivering wellness-centered mental health care that empowers them and their communities to thrive.
Team
Samir Zakir
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Founder & President
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Director of Programs
Lyle Volkwyn
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Director of Operations & Public Affairs
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Dr. Merry Taheri, DNP
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Director of Mental Health Innovation & Impact
Bob Burke, Esq.
Bob Burke, Esq.
Bob Burke, Esq.
Director of Advocacy, Government Partnerships, & External Strategy
NAME
Bob Burke, Esq.
Bob Burke, Esq.
Medical Director (the Psychiatrist or Psychologist)
NAME
Bob Burke, Esq.
NAME
Director of Content, Storytelling, and Communications (social media team, talent relations)
NAME
Bob Burke, Esq.
NAME
Chief Financial & Compliance Officer
Partners
Clinical Providers, Healthcare Networks, Sponsors, NGOs
