Join us for the 9th annual Afghan American Conference at the University of California, San Diego on September 6-8th! This space brings together voices from across the Afghan American community to engage in meaningful discussions and networking opportunities. Whether you're a student, professional, or community member, this conference offers the opportunity to connect, learn, and empower one another as we uncover our roots. Don't miss out and apply now!

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WHAT ROLE SHOULD I APPLY FOR?

Listed below are the possible roles you can apply for to attend the Conference. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many roles that are of interest.

Participant: Attend the Conference and actively engage in sessions and programs throughout the weekend.
Facilitator: Facilitate or co-facilitate a breakout session at the Conference. Selecting this role also allows you to submit a proposal for a new session topic and the ability to lead it.
S.E.E.D. Speaker: Share a short, TED-style talk on an idea, story or topic you are interested in to the Afghan-American community and inspire the audience. Selecting this role will allow you to learn more about S.E.E.D and submit a proposal for a S.E.E.D talk.
Conference Ambassador: Work closely with the planning team, participants, speakers, performers, and fellow Conference Ambassadors during the three-day event to ensure the successful execution of the Conference. This role is only open to previous conference participants.
Cohort Lead: Co-lead a small group of participants to continue more in-depth conversations beyond the Conference breakout sessions in a smaller and more intimate setting. This role is only open to previous conference participants.
CARE Team Member: Meet one-on-one with participants who request an address of their physical and/or mental health concerns throughout the weekend. CARE Team Members may respond to instances of injury, illness, anxiety, emotional distress/triggers, and wellness checks. Those with professional medical and/or mental health training are encouraged to consider this role. While open to all applicants, it is highly recommended that only previous conference participants apply.

FAQ

AFGHAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE (AAC)

AAC is an annual, nationwide three-day conference for young community leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, grow professionally, and build relationships. In 2014, eight Afghan-Americans pioneered what the diaspora lacked for years: a safe space for candid discussions about the issues most pertinent to us. Historically, our community came together almost exclusively in social settings, however, none of these gatherings were conducive to serious discussions about the state of our community. Too often, taboo topics were swept under the proverbial Afghan rug and never approached.

In early 2015, the first ever AAC was hosted at the University of California, Berkeley. AAC provided a forum for our community to address difficult topics in a respectful, forward-thinking manner. The conference is a grassroots effort that sheds light on pressing issues–inspiring action, sharing resources, and activating change from within the diaspora. What was intended to be a one-time conference turned into an annual event. Due to the pandemic we had to cancel our in-person conference in 2020 and we hosted virtually in 2021. With everything our diaspora has been through in the last couple of years, the need to come together as a community is stronger now than ever. This is why we are so excited to announce our first in-person conference in 3 years.

AAC is equal parts professional, cultural, spiritual, social, and personal. The holistic conference consists of keynote speeches, town halls, networking mixers, entertainment, S.E.E.D talks, and an array of various breakout blocks that follow the types below:

AAC Breakout Types & Overview:

Culture & Connections: Centers cultural preservation as well as understanding of our shared and diverse Afghan heritage.
Leadership & Skill Building: Builds knowledge, skills, and expertise to support leadership and professional development.
Industry Speed Networking: Makes space for present and aspiring professionals in specific fields to directly connect with one another. These session options will be informed by registration.
Community: Offers insight about issues impacting the Afghan-American community. These are informative, lecture-style sessions that incorporate participant engagement but are overall more facilitator-driven.
Diaspora Dialogues: Engages participants in open and honest conversations affecting the Afghan-American community. These are more participant-driven sessions facilitated by passionate community members.
Brave Spaces: Provides a welcoming space for guided conversations about community challenges. These sessions are typically our most sensitive topics and require special attention and care. Participants either identify directly with the subject or are curious about learning more.
Civic Engagement: Equips participants with knowledge, awareness, and tools to further become more active members of their communities beyond conference weekend.
Safe Spaces: Creates exclusive areas for those of a particular identity to foster further comfortability with discussions held.

AAC 2022 KEYNOTE & S.E.E.D. TALK PRESENTATIONS

Sara Wahedi, Keynote Speaker | 2022 Afghan-American Conference

AAC ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS

“I learned that we are more diverse than I ever gave our community credit for, and that we can celebrate our people’s vast diversity. Our differences - for the first time - felt like a strength rather than an obstacle.”

— Reza Hessabi, Upland, CA

LEARN MORE ABOUT AAC BY EXPLORING PAST CONFERENCES