Maryam Zar is a civic leader, policy advocate, and public servant based in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. With over a decade of experience in community development, women’s rights, and disaster recovery, she has been at the forefront of shaping resilient, inclusive communities throughout Los Angeles.
She is Chair Emeritus and two-time President of the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) and currently chairs the Land Use and Planning Committee for the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), where she guides regional policy on development and infrastructure. She has served on numerous civic boards, including the Pacific Palisades YMCA, the Design Review Board, and the Palisades Park Advisory Board.
Maryam is the founding Chair of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, which became a citywide model for collaborative, community-based solutions. She led wildfire recovery efforts as the founder of the Palisades Recovery Coalition, helping shape the town’s rebuilding strategy with a focus on sustainability and workforce housing.
Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, she served on the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women, advocating for gender equity, and is the founder of Womenfound, a nonprofit that uplifts women’s voices in post-conflict and developing regions. She has been recognized as Woman of the Year for Senate District 24 by Senator Ben Allen, Volunteer of the Year by LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and Honorary Fire Chief by the LAFD.
Maryam co-hosts the Palisades Podcast, has been featured on KPCC and KCRW, and speaks regularly on civic engagement and human rights. A journalist and advertising executive in post-war Iran during the 1990s, she brings a global lens to local policy.Born in Iran and raised in New Jersey, Maryam holds a B.S. in Mass Communication from Boston University and a J.D. from Pepperdine Law School. She lives in Pacific Palisades with her husband and their three children.
Statement of Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
Maryam Zar, Pacific Palisades Recovery Council
My name is Maryam Zar, and I am a resident and homeowner in Pacific Palisades, where I own both a townhouse and a single-family home. I am also considering a future run for public office, potentially for a seat currently held by a termed-out representative. I share this openly in the interest of full transparency.
My involvement in Pacific Palisades has always been rooted in community service. Since 2016, I have served in various volunteer roles including Education Representative to the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) from Paul Revere Middle School (where I was Parent Board Co-Chair), PPCC Vice Chair, Founding Chair of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, PPCC Chair (most recently in 2022), and Chair of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC). I was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as a City Commissioner and was elected as a Delegate for Assembly District 50 under Assemblymember Richard Bloom.
I have never received any monetary benefit from my community work. My ongoing efforts are motivated solely by a desire to support and guide the recovery and revitalization of Pacific Palisades through a strategic, community-driven Longterm Recovery Plan. I remain committed to serving with integrity, transparency, and a focus on the common good.
Fire resiliance Story:
