Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO)

About Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO)

The Afghan-American Community Organization is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to advance the Afghan-American community through education, outreach, and the promotion of civic and social engagement. Ever since 2015, our vision remains unchanged and we remain committed to building a more empowered, supportive, and engaged Afghan-American community. We are dedicated to support the Afghan community in the United States and Afghanistan, and have done so for years by: 1. Raising funds to provide healthcare and medical supplies for vulnerable communities in Afghanistan 2. Partnering with other community organizations and allies to find ways to support the Afghan diaspora 3. Organizing an annual national conference for Afghan-Americans - the largest of its kind 4. Launching the first scholarship program solely for the Afghan-American diaspora and awarding nearly a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships to students After the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, we witnessed a surge of new refugees to the United States. AACO stepped up by identifying the needs of the newly arrived Afghan community and ultimately offering educational materials, synthesizing legal information, and advocating for the rights of our Afghan sisters and brothers at the military bases. We continue to: 1. Translate legal documents to help Afghan evacuees navigate paperwork by paying Afghan Fulbright scholars; 2. Sponsor, organize, and participate on panels to promote legal pathways for those seeking to leave Afghanistan 3. Successfully advocate for legislative changes to provide benefits for Afghan evacuees We are determined to continue our efforts in order to create a more empowered, supportive, and engaged Afghan-American Community.