Saviz Shafaie attended the University of Central Florida as a student seeking a master's in social work. Originally born and raised in Iran, he was an activist in both Iran and America, fleeing to exile in America upon the change in government in the late 70s. He was also an Iranian poet and a businessman; owning and operating Powerhouse Restaurant in Winter Park. Saviz remained an activist until his passing from cancer in the late 1990s. His mother donated his collection to the LGBT History Museum of Central Florida in 2010 as a gift. These materials, along with an addition, were transferred to the University of Central Florida Special Collections and University Archives in 2021. This collection houses various photos, artifacts, and clippings related to Shafaie's activism through "We the People Coalition," HOMAN, AIDS awareness, the University of Central Florida's GLBSU, and other LGBT and Iranian activist groups.
