In early 2015, we launched the Afghan-American Conference (AAC) at the University of California, Berkeley. AAC provided a forum for our community to address these difficult topics in a respectful, forward-thinking manner. It is a grassroots effort at shedding light on these pressing issues, inspiring action, sharing resources, and activating change from within the community. What was intended to be a one-time conference, turned into an annual event, with annual conferences being held from 2015-2019, and plans for future conferences post pandemic.

The discussions, connections and solutions surfacing from AAC further amplified the need for something bigger. In 2019, the organization once known as AAC transitioned to the Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated towards advancing the Afghan-American community through education and outreach, and promoting civic and social engagement.