Narges Jalah is a dedicated advocate and community leader based in the Bay Area, with roots in Pasadena, CA. Beginning her career in financial technology, Narges found herself drawn to more meaningful and impactful work, leading her to transition into the realm of social justice and community empowerment.

After welcoming her son, Narges embarked on a journey to make a difference in the lives of others. Joining the Council on American Islamic Relations, she took on the challenge of creating and managing programs tailored to support newly arrived Afghans in the Northern California region. In this role, Narges has been instrumental in bridging gaps and providing vital resources to those in need.

Narges's collaborative spirit shines through her work, as she partners with various organizations and stakeholders who share a common goal of uplifting the community. Through her efforts, she has witnessed the transformative power of collective action and collaboration.

Driven by her passion for serving the Muslim community, Narges remains steadfast in her commitment to making a positive impact. Her dedication and advocacy serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration to those around her, embodying the values of compassion, empathy, and resilience.

What advice do you have for fellow Afghan-Americans who are looking to make career changes?

For Afghan-Americans considering career changes, I recommend exploring opportunities aligned with your passions and strengths. Networking within both the Afghan-American community and broader professional circles can provide valuable insights and connections. Additionally, consider seeking mentorship from individuals who have successfully navigated similar transitions.

What has been the most rewarding part of becoming a mom?

The most rewarding part of becoming a mom has been experiencing the profound love and joy that comes with nurturing and watching my child grow. Every milestone, from the first smile to the first steps, fills my heart with happiness and fulfillment.

What impacts do you hope to make in your new role for and with AACO?

In my role with AACO, I aspire to foster greater empowerment and representation for Afghan-Americans in advocacy for the community. By amplifying our voices, addressing community needs, and promoting cultural pride, I aim to cultivate a stronger sense of unity and progress.

What have been your most memorable moments alongside Afghan-Americans?

Some of my most memorable moments alongside Afghan-Americans include celebrating cultural festivities, participating in community events, and witnessing acts of resilience and solidarity during challenging times. These experiences have strengthened my connection to my heritage and enriched my understanding of our shared identity.

What are some opportunities you see for our community that you plan to give attention to in your new role?

In my role, I focus on initiatives that promote education in legal services, economic empowerment, and social integration within the Afghan-American community. By creating access to resources, and advocating for equitable opportunities, we can empower individuals and uplift our community as a whole.

What motivated you to apply and work full-time for AACO?
My motivation to work for AACO stems from a deep commitment to serving and uplifting the Afghan-American community. I am driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to our collective progress and to address the challenges and opportunities we face with dedication and integrity.

What are some of your passions outside of your work?

My husband and I share a passion for travel. Together, we've traveled to 35 diverse destinations, and we're determined to pass on to our son. With him, we've already been on 30 flights in just two years! But our adventures go beyond the international trips, every summer, we go camping or glamping in our camper van we usually go to to Tahoe, Yosemite, and other parks.

Omar Aziz wears many hats in life. He is an educator, a PhD student, a husband, a father to two daughters and most recently, AACO’s Executive Director–the organization’s first full-time position. Born and raised in Fremont, CA, Aziz is currently settling into his new life in Maryland with his family and embarking on two adventures that both center around the Afghan-American diaspora. Within his PhD program in higher education at George Mason University, Omar is concluding his dissertation research focusing on Afghan-American college students and the intersection between race, ethnicity, and immigration. Simultaneously, Omar begins his post as AACO’s Executive Director with the goal of building a stronger, more engaged, and more cohesive Afghan-American community.

Tell us about your experiences in school, work, and beyond throughout the last decade?

“I started at UC Santa Cruz (go, Banana Slugs!) where I studied business management and economics, but I found that my passion lay in education. I got into the Teacher for America program where I taught high school in Miami, FL for two years. From there, I decided to go into education as a career, specifically working with students outside of the classroom and working with students in university settings. I ended up getting a Master’s degree in Higher Education and eventually got into my current PhD program at George Mason University, where my research focuses on Afghan-American college students. I’ve been working at universities across New Jersey, California, and Virginia along the way, with my most recent position as Director of the Middle Eastern Student Center at UC Riverside for the last 3 years. 

So before coming here to Maryland, it’s been a long journey of moving to different places across the country for the last 15 years. Work and school have brought me amazing opportunities. I even spent some time living and studying abroad in Turkey and Palestine for different programs.

What importance do you put on study abroad, especially for Afghan-Americans?

“For me, leaving the country was the first time I realized how American I am. I grew up thinking I’m from Fremont, I’m Afghan, and that’s who I am. But after going to Turkey, to a predominantly Muslim country, thinking I was just going to fit right in since we’re all similar, have similar backgrounds, it clicked with me just how American I am, in addition to being Afghan.

Something I remember that one of my dear Turkish friends pointed out to me was when he said one day, “You’re wearing baggy shorts and a backwards hat. You are not one of us.” I was like, “You know what, you’re probably right.” My study abroad interestingly helped me tap into my American side. I think I shied away from it or tried to deny the fact that I also grew up with American culture and values in addition to my Afghan values. So I think going abroad helped me realize that. I think it’s super important to get yourself out of your environment. 

I wish I could’ve gone to Afghanistan at some point. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity or never went, but going to some of these other countries in the Middle East and South America and other places, have really opened my horizons. I’m really grateful for these experiences.

How have you been involved with AACO through the years?

“I attended the first Afghan-American Conference in 2015 as just another skeptical Afghan, wondering who these people are and what this conference is exactly. I entered and was absolutely blown away by the friendships that were made, by the organizers, by the programs, by the conversations that occurred. I left truly inspired. 

Following that, along with a couple other folks who attended the first year, we created, The Samovar Network. It became a multimedia platform, doing Google Hangouts, YouTube videos, Facebook Lives, and eventually a podcast about having more critical conversations amongst the Afghan community. 

Then, I applied to join the AACO organizing committee. I served different roles eventually, but at the beginning, I was the Task Force Coordinator, trying to get community projects up and going. After that, I transitioned to supporting Programming for the next couple years. For my last year right before the pandemic, I was Programming Director and ended with that position. Then, I got married, had my first daughter, so it was important for me to take a step back and ended up taking a break over these last few years. Now, I’m grateful to return with the opportunity to serve as executive director. It’s a huge honor for me.

What motivated you to apply for the executive director position and work full time for AACO?

“I always said, if I could get paid to do this work, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat. It’s something I am really passionate about, something that I love doing. I’ve always enjoyed this work despite the chaos that often comes with working within community. It’s also really fulfilling, beautiful, and rewarding. To be able to do this full time, is just such an incredible opportunity. Even during my time away from the organization, it was still top of mind for me. I still felt connected and drawn back. I would spend my free time learning more about nonprofits and how to lead a nonprofit because I was so passionate about this community and organization. When I saw the executive director application go live, I really wanted to give it a shot and see if they wanted me back because I could see myself being a good fit for this organization. 

I’m grateful I was selected and I think it’s come at a good time in my life. It’s the right time for me. It’s also scary because there’s a lot of uncertainty and unknown with such a young organization but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I hope I can do right by this community and everyone who’s helped get me to this position where I can have this role.

What are some opportunities you see for our community that you plan to give attention to in your new role?

“On one hand, being a small community is challenging. We’re such a tiny population in this country but that also means it doesn’t take a lot of people to make a big impact. A small group can make a really large impact in this community. I think we’re at a bit of a crossroads where our community dynamic has changed with the recent 2021 events–the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan, the Taliban takeover, and this new huge wave of Afghans that have come in. Our Afghan population in the U.S. has doubled in such a short amount of time. So I ask, what does the future look like? How are we going to continue to build this community that brings together those people who have been here for generations and established themselves in the U.S. with this newer wave of folks who have just recently come in? How can we work together to build this cohesive community that is going to support each other, uplift each other, and empower one another? 

Initially the AACO Conference is what drew me to this organization and I’d like to see more opportunities for our community to engage outside of that. I also want to see us get more involved with different generations, whether it’s younger kids, whether it’s our parents’ generations, if it’s more young professionals, more seasoned professionals. I want there to be something for everyone within this organization that they can feel like they’re a part of.

I also want us to give back and incorporate service more–serving our community, giving our Afghan-Americans more opportunities to give back both here in the U.S. and Afghanistan. 

I am thinking about the future of AACO, and trying to ensure that we are thinking long term, that we have a sustainable financial plan and model that will allow us to continue to grow and continue this work over a long period of time.

Having lived in many different U.S. cities and experiencing different pockets of Afghan-Americans, what are some ways you think we could build a more cohesive community here?

“I think we often overstate the differences. At the end of the day, we have communities and micro communities across the different regions, and different crowds and bubbles within all parts of our Afghan diaspora. That’s what makes us such a beautiful and amazing community–we have so many different kinds of people, languages, religions, and ethnic groups, that make us who we are. This diversity is what makes us so unique and so incredible as a country. 

I think the work we need to do is find more opportunities to engage with one another. This is not uncommon for other refugee communities–we tend to stick with our families, with the people closest to you because we’ve gone through a lot of trauma. Sometimes it’s hard to trust outside of those people that are within our families because we had to do that to survive, to get to this country and to get to where we are. We had to keep our circles really tight because of what folks have experienced. Building a sense of trust with one another and grace for each other as a community is what it’s going to take to become a stronger and more cohesive community. We have to be able to acknowledge that we’re all not going to be perfect. There’s going to be mistakes that I make or that AACO makes, but we just hope that folks see that we’re doing this all with the best intentions and the right goals. I really believe in giving each other grace, support, and trust–more than maybe we usually do.

What do you think makes our relationships with fellow Afghans so complex?

“There’s something different about meeting another Afghan. I don't know what it is–if it’s the way we talk, the way we carry ourselves–there is just something that you immediately understand. This is biased but for example, I think we’re the funniest people in the world. I could never laugh as hard as I laugh in my life with someone other than an Afghan. The funniest moments and the biggest laughs I’ve had in my life have always been with another Afghan. These moments of pure comedy and joy–the feeling with another Afghan is unmatched. On the other end of that, when you feel that trust and connection, and at times if it goes awry and that trust is betrayed, it hits harder because you think, these are my people, these are the people I thought understood me and got me. How do we get to a point where we’re not also setting ourselves up with unrealistic standards that we’re never going to meet? There are going to be good and bad Afghans. There’s going to be ones who burn you. There’s going to be the ones you love. How do we not take one bad experience or moment with one Afghan and label us all with that?

What has AACO meant to you in one sentence?

“I think of words: joy, family, and chaos. It’s given me so much joy, so much fulfillment. It’s given me a family. I have really close friends from it. I basically met my wife through AACO and now have two beautiful children. It’s also brought a lot of chaos, but I think chaos and joy are intertwined. Working within community is hard but that’s what makes it so great and so rewarding. The harder you work on something, the bigger the challenge, the better it feels when you’re done. It has meant connection to my family, friends, and loved ones. My experience with AACO cannot be replaced.

What are some of your passions outside of work and your studies?

“Being an obnoxious Warriors fan is definitely one of them. I also really love podcasts. One of my favorite shows is called, “Dissect,” which breaks down the music and lyrics of different musical albums. If you’re looking for a recommendation tied to Afghanistan and history, there’s an interesting show called, “Blowback,” which has seasons dedicated to the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. I also like playing sports, even if I’m not the best at them, like basketball, soccer, and volleyball. 

What are some of your 2024 resolutions?

“I want to find balance and give my full focus to all areas of my life: to my schoolwork, to my job with AACO, and with my role as a dad and husband.”

Anaita Wali Zada is a student, former journalist, and actress, recently having starred in her first-ever acting role in the film “Fremont.” Wali Zada, a former refugee who sought asylum in the United States in August of 2021, captivated audiences by her connection to character Donya, a young immigrant woman who works in a Chinese fortune cookie factory and faces challenges with sleep deprivation and PTSD from her past life working with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Similar to Donya, Wali Zada also currently lives in the California Bay Area where she is steadily acclimating to her new life and community.

What made you send an email to the director of "Fremont" to be considered for the role of Donya?

“For me, it was eight months of being in the country and I was looking for where I can start because when I first arrived here, I completely lost my way. In Afghanistan, I was a journalist with my own TV show and I reported the news. Here, I had to start new. I quickly started learning the language, looking for a job, and tried to find new things to do here. I would see so many people and so much talent, so I wanted to start again. The film was a way for me to start again. I received an email from one of my friends who said the movie is looking for talent for the lead actor and that I should try it. I read about the movie, how it was about an Afghan woman who just arrived in the U.S. who wanted to start a new life. I really felt related to the character and I wanted to do it. I wanted to start again from zero. I sent [director] Babak [Jalali] an email and after two calls, I came out to the Bay Area and we started shooting the film.

What was it like acting for the first time?

“I was really nervous when I first started on the movie. In the film industry, we work 12-hour days, and at first I just wondered, why am I working this much? And the language was difficult at first. The movie is in both English and Farsi. We had four Afghan characters and the rest were English speakers. It was really difficult for me at first to speak and then I realized I need to memorize first. I got a lot of help from the producer and director on pronunciation and that was helpful for me. 

At the same time, I really enjoyed being on set and working with the team and cast members. It was quite amazing learning about the film and how it made me feel. I got to know so many people during the process and that was trippy. 

How do you relate to your character Donya?

“We have similarities–being new in a country, feeling guilt that we left home, and personality wise, I’m calm and a little bit quiet like her. When I look at Afghanistan and I see people with so much trouble and challenges under the Taliban rule, and I’m here. I live free. All Afghan girls are my sisters and they have to live under Taliban control, and sometimes I feel a lot of guilt like Donya.

I am waiting for my family to see the movie. I am waiting for the right moment to show them me as Donya and what they think. When I told my mom I’m going to do this, she said, “Do it. I believe in you. Just be careful.”

Why do you think fellow Afghans should watch this film?

“There are a lot of movies and stories about Afghan women, about all the bad things they experience, and their sad lives. For “Fremont,” it was a really good time to tell this story. We didn’t victimize Donya’s character. She has her own agency. I love her for it. 

Afghan women are strong. They have a sense of humor. They can laugh, be funny, and be like any other person around the world. We are not so different from other women from other countries. I want my people to see and have that confidence to believe in themselves. This film shows an Afghan woman who is strong, who has her own life and can live this way. It’s important. Watch the movie and you will also laugh a lot too. 

What are your plans/hopes for the future - your studies, with acting…

“For now, I want to continue all my studies, graduate, and work in more movies. I will continue to work for Afghanistan, too. I will be wise for Afghan women. I will try to create something for Afghan girls because they need to be educated. As much as I can, I want to give them the opportunity to study, even if it’s just for one or two girls. 

What advice do you have for other Afghan women who may be settling into a new life in the U.S.?

“One thing I’ve learned since being in the U.S. is to be patient. You must be patient and keep believing in yourself. When I first came, I never thought I would work in a movie or be a lead actor. Now I believe that I can do, talk, and be whatever I want if I focus, believe in myself, and work hard. There’s a lot of opportunities here–never give up. We have bad memories from what happened in Afghanistan to us. Men and women, we worked hard for our Afghanistan. It’s not easy to start again. Stay strong.

What has your personal experience been like in the U.S. so far and specifically in the Bay Area in California?

“I was so surprised to see so many Afghans in Fremont. It was amazing. The way they came and supported the film was really unexpected for me. I didn’t think they would think much of the movie, just as another film about an Afghan woman. I like the Bay Area as my new home. It’s my new Kabul. The Afghan community, the hills, the weather. It feels like home.”

Laila Ayub is a first-generation Afghan-American, an immigration attorney based in Northern Virginia, and Co-Director of Project ANAR, an Afghan community immigration justice organization originally created as an emergency response effort during the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021. Prior to co-founding Project ANAR, Ayub was Special Projects Attorney at the Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), where she coordinated advocacy efforts alongside asylum-seeking families and individuals detained in ICE custody in Texas. Through that work, she led collaborative campaigns, tracked detention conditions, assisted in litigation efforts, filed civil rights complaints, and directly represented families and individuals in immigration proceedings, toward the goal of obtaining their release and ultimately abolishing detention.

Project ANAR is an effort founded and led by Afghan-American women immigration lawyers and organizers who have spent the last two years developing resources, engaging in community education and advocacy at all levels, and offering direct legal services to Afghans. Ayub and the ANAR team are working to sustainably assist newly arrived Afghans and those who continue to seek refuge.

What motivated you to study law and become an immigration lawyer?

“Like many others, immigration is a part of my family’s experience. My family came to the U.S. in the late-’80s, early ‘90s and applied for asylum. Even though we often refer to ourselves as refugees because that’s what our community is, there’s actually a legal process to becoming a refugee and a lot of people don’t get access to the refugee program and instead, they have to find a way to come here and then apply for asylum, which is not an easy process. From my family’s own experience, they faced challenges and then they had to hire a lawyer to help them. I’ve been able to see how much of a difference a lawyer makes for a family like my own through the immigration process. 

I ended up going to law school specifically to do immigration. I didn’t anticipate that I would end up in this position that I’m in now, to be assisting primarily Afghans in this process, but I’m definitely grateful to be here and that we can do it through an organization and a group of primarily Afghans. We’re an Afghan-American led organization and we are driven by the community’s needs.

How did Project ANAR start?

“When August 2021 came, I found myself supporting and answering a lot of questions from family, trying to leave Afghanistan during the Kabul Uprisings and reach the U.S. This pushed me to create a document that compiled basic information about immigration pathways for Afghans. I shared this out with immigration lawyer friends, Afghan organizer friends, and specifically Wogai Mohmand, who is also a lawyer and a co-founder of Project ANAR. After we quickly disseminated that resource, our work organically grew into a pro bono legal services project where we connected Afghans who needed help completing immigration applications with attorneys who wanted to volunteer their services. 

At that time, Afghans had very few options as a result of years of immigration policies that eroded pathways for refugees. One of the only options available to them was humanitarian parole, something we were encouraged to pursue even by people within the government, members of Congress, and congressional offices. So it was this application for humanitarian parole that everyone found themselves needing to complete, and what we found ourselves needing to support community members through. We very quickly saw that we needed to advocate for the government to actually act on those applications and give people a pathway to the U.S. 

In the last two years, we’ve been in this position where we are both immigration lawyers and an Afghan community organization. We have continued to assist Afghans in the U.S. and those who are still outside seeking a pathway.

You, along with Project ANAR, do difficult work on a daily basis, work that can be considered mentally and emotionally tolling. How do you take care of yourself through it all?

“We have a great team. I find a lot of joy in just being able to work alongside them all and drive the work that we’re doing. We are a small organization and are guiding our efforts ourselves, so we’ve been able to really focus on doing our work through the lens of our values. We get to focus on the advocacy side because we know that even as immigration lawyers and despite whatever skills we may have, there are so many factors still out of our control. We recognize that there are certain things we can do and certain things we can’t control, but we can advocate toward our goals.

Something that really helps in doing the work we do is approaching it from the angle of offering information and equipping people to navigate the system themselves. We do many workshops that are all about empowerment and giving people information. It’s always helpful to remind ourselves that our community is resourceful. There are so many people who are doing good work. There are reasons to be hopeful even with so many challenges.

I also think we are good at giving ourselves room to take breaks, whether it’s Eid or just down time, we’ve been able to build a space in which we all want to work.

You co-hosted a session at the 2023 Afghan-American Conference: Navigating the Immigration System Alongside Newly Arrived Afghans. What motivated you to lead this session and what was the outcome? 

“We have a model of working with volunteers to help us assist as many people as possible because everyone can and does play a part in meeting our community’s needs. We’ve seen throughout the last couple of years how it’s been our community that has been filling in the gaps left by the government. Because of that, we were really excited for the opportunity to host a workshop with AAC participants, a large group of people who are actively seeking community too and who are looking for ways to engage in the work that we do. People came from around the country for the Conference and they know their communities best, so it was really valuable to expand our network in this way.

Personally, I attended the last AAC in D.C. and still keep in touch with the people I met during that weekend. I was excited to be back, meet more people, make new friends, and share about our work.

What are some ways people can further engage in Project ANAR’s work and help those who are seeking refuge?

“Again, it is our community who have really been stepping up, not necessarily alone, but we have been leading these efforts in a lot of ways to assist newly arrived Afghans and we would love for this to continue.There are a lot of resources that exist, whether they were created by Project ANAR or a different organization, and it’s just a matter of connecting people to these resources to help make a change. We are always open to people reaching out to us so we can help them find the right resources for themselves or for their contacts both inside and outside the U.S.

Also with our recent efforts assisting Afghans arriving through the Southern border, something very new for our community that other populations and organizations have experience with for a long time, there is opportunity to build more solidarity with other communities and learn from them. 

Lastly, there’s definitely a huge opportunity for people to just be advocates–especially if you or your family members are waiting through the immigration process or know someone in detention–to voice your concerns and to advocate for people even if you aren’t a legal worker.

What are some of your and Project ANAR’s future goals?

“We started with trying to find a pathway for Afghans who are outside of the country, and so many of the people we have assisted are still waiting, including our own family members. Most everyone on the ANAR team has family members still in Afghanistan who we’ve applied for and who either got denials or are still waiting in the process. We have seen for the last two years how the government has really failed to act for them. It’s a big focus for us still to get that story out there and make sure people don’t forget about that group of people who pursued this pathway.

Generally, we plan to continue to work toward this goal of obtaining permanent legal status for Afghans in the U.S. and pathways for Afghans overseas. Our vision is to put an end to the systems that displace our people and put barriers in front of them in accessing immigration status. Immigration relates to everything–people need to be able to live and move freely. It’s our answer to how Afghans have been treated for decades.”

Jamil Jan Kochai was born in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan, but originally hails from Logar, Afghanistan. His family immigrated to Sacramento, California where Kochai uncovered his passion and talent for creative writing. Kochai is now an award-winning short-story writer and novelist, and currently a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University. His short stories and essays have been published and praised in esteemed publications, including The New Yorker, The Best American Short Stories, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. 

Through his debut novel, 99 Nights in Logar, and collection of short stories, The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, Kochai’s writing leads readers through an adventure-filled surreal view of Afghanistan. In reality, Kochai and his family aim to raise awareness and support for the Afghan people through their charitable efforts that have supplied families in Logar and beyond with essential food, water, and financial support.

What was your experience like growing up in Sacramento, California as a young Afghan?

“I am lucky to have grown up with a really supportive and loving family, but I definitely experienced some cultural barriers. I grew up in a Pashto-speaking household where I didn’t learn any English at home. When I entered school, my kindergarten teacher didn’t have much experience teaching ESL. I would get punished for not understanding directions. It was a traumatic experience but I slowly picked up the language. 

I went back to Afghanistan in 1999 when I was 6 years old for the summer and forgot all the English I had learned. I didn’t even recognize the alphabet anymore and got very behind in school when I returned. That year in second grade, I had a teacher named Ms. Lung who took the time to sit with me every day after school to teach me how to read and write. Over the course of a single year, I caught up to the other students. 

There were many tumultuous aspects to growing up in the U.S. but overall, I was blessed with my family who really cared about my future and my education. Also along the way, I was fortunate in that I kept meeting these really remarkable teachers who helped me and I don’t think I would be where I am today if it weren’t for them.

How did your passion for writing ignite?

“It’s funny that I had so much trouble with English as a kid, but as soon as Ms. Lung unlocked something within my brain, I remember wanting to devour any book I could get my hands on. After finishing the Harry Potter series, I was constantly looking for the next novel, the next adventure I could go on in my head. It felt so magical to me. Writing started with my love affair with reading and then kept building up. 

Once I reached my senior year in high school, the only classes I did well in were English and literature. I had an English teacher who pushed me to take this creative writing class she was teaching, which is when I started drafting short stories that my teacher and other students loved and supported. It was from this point on that I realized how much I loved to write and how there was potential for it in my future. 

How did your family feel about your interest in creative writing and how did they impact your experience?

“My mother and father both came from farming communities in Afghanistan. My father didn’t get to graduate high school because of the Soviet war and my mother didn’t even get past elementary school. And before them, my grandparents were all farmers and they didn’t go to school at all. So there wasn’t a long tradition of education in my family, but there was a really great emphasis on poetry and storytelling. My father, for example, loves to read, recite, and write poetry. From a young age, literature and art were prioritized in our home and valued. I carried that with me when I began writing stories. Beyond that, I grew up in a household blessed with remarkable oral storytellers like so many other Afghan families. My grandmother, father, mother, and aunts would tell me incredible stories about their lives in Afghanistan which majorly influenced me and how I’ve conceptualized and thought about storytelling as well.

But with that said, I come from a working-class family. My mother and my father have worked incredibly hard their entire lives, mostly manual labor jobs to give me this shot at higher education. So I felt pressure to get a practical job, come out of college as soon as possible, and take care of my family. So everything I did was under my parents’ eye and supervision. I constantly played this balancing act between my family’s expectations for me to become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, with my deep desire for creative writing. 

In the end, I convinced them to let me study English to help boost my performance on the LSATs and eventually launch my career in law. I seriously did consider becoming a lawyer, but quickly learned it wasn’t for me. I then convinced my parents to let me complete a two-year Masters program at UC Davis in English and creative writing. During that time, I decided I would either leave with a finished novel or I would need to give up my passion, go to law school, and care for my family. That’s when I started writing like a mad man. It was my only chance. 

At the end of my Masters program, I published my first novel and showed my parents I could make a career out of writing.

What inspired you to write your first book, 99 Nights in Logar?

“Most of the novel is autobiographical but I have to give credit to my family as well. The book is not only about my personal experience revisiting our village in Afghanistan when I was twelve years old, but it also draws on my relatives’ stories of back home.

Basically, one night when we were in Logar, our beast-like guard dog escaped and the whole family went looking for him so he wouldn’t attack anyone in the village. While on the hunt, I got scared and let my cousins go on the search without me. I sat under this tree at nightfall, totally by myself, looking at a beautiful purple-hued sky that fell on the orchards and entire countryside. That image stuck with me for so long afterward and I knew there was a story in this memory. What if I hadn’t gotten scared that day and went on the chase with my cousins? That’s the whole conceit of the novel, and it was such an exhilarating project for me to excavate all these memories within the narrative–my relationship with my cousins, my parents, and my relationship with the country as a whole. 

Why do you think your novel resonates so well with both Afghan and non-Afghan readers?

“When I first started writing the novel, I never in a million years thought it would get published, so I was writing it for me, my family members, and our small community. When the novel got sold, it dawned on me that other people, non-Afghan Americans specifically, are going to read this. My relationship with the novel changed at this moment and put pressure on me to rethink the book from this new non-Afghan lens. It got me thinking about Islamophobia, misconceptions about Afghanistan, some of the racist rhetoric we’ve seen about Afghanistan in the last few decades. I thought, how can I write a novel that feels honest and authentic to my and my family’s experience of the country and at the same time, wasn’t exploiting my people? I didn’t want the novel to pander to a non-Afghan audience, which I think benefits the whole reading process as a whole. I wrote it in the voice of a 12-year-old Afghan-American kid, and I was purposeful to not spend too much time explaining things and turn into a tour guide for my reader. I wanted to grab ahold of my reader’s hand and have them run with me. There’s not a lot of translation or explanation in the book. I wanted the reader to experience the novel as intimately as they could, which I think resonated well with Afghan and Muslim readers, but also with non-Afghans because they weren’t being treated like tourists who needed to be guided through the entire way. Of course, there were those who felt excluded from the project, too, but I think the fast-paced, take-my-hand-and-run-with-me mentality worked.

What are some of your current and future philanthropic goals?

“For years, my family and I have always tried to donate and make charitable efforts, but it was really in 2020 during the pandemic when Afghanistan was getting hit hard with COVID-19 when we came up with the idea to start a fundraiser. We made a GoFundMe account, hit our goal of $5,000, sent the money to our relatives in Afghanistan where they began the process of local food distribution. We wanted to do this correctly and make sure the donations were allocated as equally as possible throughout the village, providing families with essentials like rice, oil, and other food.

Since then, we’ve ramped up fundraising year after year, improved our system with distribution, and are now in contact with a local charity organization to collaborate on more long-term initiatives to help people help themselves. Providing families with access to livestock like sheep, for example, or sewing machines to start a business. 

Since retiring, my parents stay busy by handling all fundraising logistics with everyone in Afghanistan and I mostly help with marketing and raising awareness. Last year, they were able to go back home and help with the food distribution on the ground. They met with village leaders to learn about exactly what they need and where funds could help beyond supplying food for families. For example, we’ve been able to support building wells and water pumps in areas with little access to water.

You were an AAC facilitator in 2019 and 2022. How was your experience leading these writing-focused workshops? 

“I’ve led many workshops and events about creative writing throughout the years, but facilitating at AAC was incredibly precious to me. I would always expect just a few attendees but would be met with a packed room. I actually got nervous and emotional at these workshops because it was an all-Afghan audience. Being able to talk about Afghan storytelling and literature with Afghans and then having discussions with them afterward about very vulnerable, tender elements to our community meant so much to me. It’s obvious there is a desire for Afghans to tell our own stories, and it was heartening for me to see that in Conference attendees.

What are some upcoming projects you’re looking forward to that you can tell us about?

“I’m working on my second novel currently, tentatively titled, Falling. It’s set in West Sacramento, California. It’s about an Afghan-American family and their haunted house. We’ll see where I go! 

I’ll also be teaching in the English department at Sacramento State University in the fall. I hope to also do more communal events and activities with fellow Afghans. We’ve had great Afghan writers, but I’m really excited about this new terrific generation of writers that are coming up next. InshAllah, I feel like we have a renaissance of Afghan and Afghan-diasporic literature on its way.”

Durana Elmi was born in Afghanistan and moved to the United States at three months old. Always determined, she dedicated herself to achieving success and independence through hard work and doing whatever she could to give back to the people in Afghanistan.

Elmi is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Cymbiotika, a leading supplement brand in the health and wellness space, and the founder of Helping Hands for Afghans (HHFA). Using her platform, her voice, and her community, Elmi aims to empower women and help them recognize their innate power so that they can overcome obstacles and become the best version of themselves. Alongside her successful career, Elmi is a wife and mother of 2 young girls.

Have you been to Afghanistan since you moved to the US?
“Since moving here, I have not been to Afghanistan, and it makes me very emotional to think about. People have asked me, ‘Why do you get so emotional? You don't remember Afghanistan—you've never been back.’ 

 When I think about Afghanistan, I think about my parents. I think about the hardships that they endured to get us here. I grew up with a very strict father, so reading and seeing what the young girls are going through today reminds me a lot of my childhood. By sharing my story today, I hope to empower young girls to believe they can achieve what they want, despite their obstacles.”

What has led to you being as motivated as you are?
"My father was very strict when I was growing up, and the cultural restrictions didn't make sense to me. The confinements of my home and endless restrictions also took a toll on me. Sometimes when you have a very strict parent, you can go in one of two directions: you can either self-destruct or use that hardship to make something of yourself. 

 During that time in my life, when I felt trapped, I eventually realized that my father meant well. I realized that he had a different upbringing and different values. I also realized that I wanted to become wildly successful and independent. My strict upbringing was what propelled me to get where I am today. I studied hard to get into UCLA; from there, I dedicated myself to becoming the businesswoman I am today. 

 I really do believe that every hardship has a reason—it's to either help you learn more about yourself or prepare you for what's to come in the future. I'm incredibly grateful for my past because I'm a product of my hardships. I feel I can endure anything because of what I went through. I'm very motivated to overcome all that comes my way and pave the way for my daughters.”

What has motherhood been like for you?
“I have two daughters, and it's crucial for me to be an exemplary role model for them. We do our best to raise our daughters to value their culture. It's also important to me that they understand what the children in Afghanistan and Iran endure daily. 

 Something about me is that I never hit my children. I believe in talking to them and having them understand what they've done wrong. I don't believe that you need to hit or belittle your child for them to understand the issue at hand. I've endured much of that growing up. However, reflecting as an adult, I understand that my parents raised me how they were raised. I can't fault them for that; it wasn't an ideal situation, but again we go through what we go through for a greater reason. At the end of the day, I can only do better for my kids. I want my daughters to know that, as a woman, they can be anything and everything. Above all else, I want to teach them to stand on their own two feet.”

Can you tell us about your philanthropic work and how you got started?
“Since my first job at 17, I've always donated money to Afghanistan, especially to women and children in need. One of my uncles has an orphanage there, and I would donate through him. 

 I've tried to adopt as many children as I can financially. When the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban took place, it devastated me as it still affected many Afghans living in America. I spent many nights crying. One night my husband said, "You should get up and do something about it. You are a successful Afghan woman. You have the influence and power to really make a difference." His words soothed me because I realized he was right. Shortly after, I created a non-profit called Helping Hands for Afghans.

 After Helping Hands for Afghans was established, we hosted our very first benefit concert. The concert included Iranian singers like Tohi, Sammy Beigi, and Andy. We even flew Valy in from Germany. It was a successful collaboration of the Iranian and Afghan communities coming together. A hundred percent of the proceeds went to Afghanistan and newly arriving refugees that came to the US.

 I also built a school in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the school continues to undergo attacks. However, I will continue to do what I can to keep the school open, providing the children with the necessary tools and resources. 

 Through our philanthropic work, we want to teach our children the importance of thinking for themselves and giving back to those in need. It's very important for me to have them understand that the only difference between the kids in Afghanistan today and us is mere luck.”

Can you tell us a little about your company, Cymbiotika?
“Cymbiotika is a leading supplement brand in the health and wellness space. I'm a Co-Founder of the company alongside my husband, Shahab Elmi, and our business partner Chervin Jafarieh. Our inspiration for starting the company came from recognizing that the modern diet lacks nutritional value. We saw that many people today cannot reach their health goals and be the best versions of themselves simply because their bodies aren't getting the nourishment they need. Our supplements are sourced from high-quality ingredients, and we aim to help people reclaim their health through education, community, and consistent wellness routines.

 Shahab Elmi is our CEO. He has an extensive background in sales and distribution and is the visionary behind our company's growth. Our business partner, Chervin, is passionate about the science behind making our products. I love the people side of the business; managing operations, overseeing internal teams, and nurturing the company culture is my passion. 

 Cymbiotika's goal is to change how people live, eat and take on their days. We want to be a part of your day and help you win your day back. All of our supplements are organic. We have no fillers or synthetics in our products and put significant time and research into all the products we develop. Our products go through six-eight months of research and development before we launch them.”

How do you juggle motherhood, your career, and your philanthropic work?
“My husband and I have several successful businesses together and raise a family together. We make it a priority to take time for our children, both at school and while we're at home. It's challenging, but I take it one day at a time. 

 My energy is very important to me. I know that sounds a little funny, but I protect my energy. The people I surround myself with are very important. I want to surround myself with people who empower, inspire, and ignite passion in me. Whether it's my family, friends, or colleagues, the energy of the people around me inspires me every day to be better than I was yesterday.

 It's really important that people take care of themselves. Self-care is very relative and can look different for everyone, but I'm really into a skin regimen, meditation, and exercise. When you take care of yourself from the inside, you can be the best version of yourself for those around you on the outside.”

What advice do you have for other women who hope to one day have a life as well-rounded as yours?
"To never give up and always believe in yourself. Live a life of gratitude. Do everything with intention and purpose. Live life inspired and surrounded yourself with people who love you and motivate you every day to be the best version of yourself.”

The trajectory has soared for Afghan-American percussionist artist Salar Nader. Dubbed the fastest hands in Hollywood, Nader’s performances create roaring applause around the world and now on Broadway. He is the sole musician in the stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” on Broadway which opened July 21st, 2022 at the Hayes Theater in NYC. Using an array of authentic Afghan instruments, Nader showcases the unlimited sounds, rhythms, and national dance (Attan) of the tribal regions of Afghanistan on stage throughout the entire show. Some of these include the dhol, zeerbaghali, Paghmani dholak, bami Kabuli, and of course the Tabla. Groomed by Tabla virtuoso, Zakir Hussain since the age of seven, Nader is known for his work with Grammy award-winning bassist Stanley Clarke, composer Michael Andrews, producer Lil Jon, The Gypsy Kings, and much more. Broadway is a pivotal time in his career, especially at a time when music has been banned in Afghanistan and cultural preservation is at risk.

How did you start playing the tabla?
“I was always fascinated by the instrument. There’s this picture of me from when I was a kid in New York. In the picture, I’m sitting next to the tabla player at my aunt's engagement. I was actually sitting next to him during the whole event. I was that little kid that was always trying to play the instruments.

At some point during my childhood, someone dropped off a set of tabla at my house which I began to practice on. Then in 1988, one of our relatives came over and they said, ‘this boy of yours, every time I come over, he's playing tabla percussion. He needs a mentor. He has the talent.’ The relative mentioned that in Berkeley, California, there's a teacher by the name of Ustad Zakir Hussain, the son of Ustad Alla Rakha, who might be able to teach me. During that conversation, I ran upstairs, got ready, and came back to the table and said, 'I'm ready.' And they told me ‘we're not going today, we're going in a few months.’ I was so excited though, I couldn't wait.

I actually remember some musicians who are really good friends now, but I remember back then they didn't understand why I was so attached to the instrument. They probably thought I was going to ruin the night at my aunt's engagement. But low and behold, what they didn't know was that I had found my calling in percussion. In particular in tabla, dholak, and zerbaghali.”

What was it like being in the class with Ustad Zakir Hussain for the first time?
“Later on in 1988, I walked into his class for the first time. The average student was in their mid 30’s, going all the way up to 70 years old. Ustad Zakir Hussain had the ability to make children feel comfortable in his classrooms. It wasn't a situation where I walked in and was afraid. I looked around and thought, 'whoa, there are so many tablas here.' There were about 40 sets and I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

I sat down and he was really gentle with me. He said, ‘you play tabla? Can you play a few things for me?’ So I played some traditional Afghan beats and some faster beats that you would hear at parties. I remember he looked up and said 'there's something here, this kid has talent.' There were three levels back then: level one, intermediate, and advanced. In my first year as a 7/8-year-old, I was in the beginner level and the following year he put me in the advanced group.”

 Where did your passion for music stem from?
“I should probably mention that in the early and mid 70's, my dad actually sang on RTA television in Kabul. This was right before the first fall of the country; he was working on developing his singing career. He sings and plays many instruments including the attan rubab which is on the Broadway production I'm on right now. I would say he was the first person who inspired me. A lot of my success has to do with my father, as well as my mother. On my mom's side, my grandfather’s cousin was Nainawaz. He wrote all the biggest hits for Ahmad Zahir. We have some decent talent and blood in the family and maybe it trickled down to me too.”

 What does tabla mean to you? What special meaning does it have in your life?
“The instrument's been my best friend. It's been through everything with me. The highs and lows of life. Music is medicine. When you hear something with the right tone, frequency, and vibration, it's healing. Anytime I've connected with a tabla, no matter what's going on in the world, it just feels like having the best high in the world. The best boost of dopamine and serotonin goes off in my brain. It's like biting into my favorite dessert.

Afghan music has always been rooted in Sufi-based traditions. The music wasn't just meant for partying or for profit. I think the people who invented these instruments, never imagined they were going to be in front of 10,000 people or that the performance would be monetized. It was done more for spiritual reasons and I always remind myself of that.”

Can you tell me about a memorable experience you’ve had at one of your shows?
"I met a fellow member of the Afghan community who came to our show (the Kite Runner on Broadway), and his daughter is going to be playing the lead role in Aladdin. Her name is Senzel Ahmaddi. I had just met her a week prior and I thought that it was amazing that Afghans are piercing the veil and taking on these big roles on Broadway. So when I met her father I asked him what his favorite part of the show was. He took me off to the side and told me the pre-show was his favorite part. The pre-show is a 10-minute solo I do before the show even starts. That's where I pay homage to all the musicians of Afghanistan and to all the teachers I've had in my life. It's a spiritual moment for me. He said that when he looked up and saw me playing on stage, it filled him with pride and joy because Afghans were being represented in such a beautiful way. He said with everything going on in Afghanistan, that moment watching me on stage was a spark of light for him. It's so important to know that we're all cultural ambassadors. We are ambassadors of our people no matter where we are and we should make sure to shine that light as bright as we can.”

How have you managed to become such an exceptional musician?
“One really important thing for me has been my incredible mentor, Ustad Zakir Hussain who to this day, has never said anything more than 'well done.’ He’s taught me that it's important not to get caught up in compliments, because sometimes compliments can make you feel like you've arrived when in reality you're only 5-10 baby steps in.

Practicing is also really essential. I practice every day. Tonight, I'll go to the theater at six o'clock and I'll go up there and practice for about 20 minutes. I go on Facebook live to hold myself accountable. People are watching and listening, so it makes me feel like I'm playing in front of an audience.

In this day in age, it's also crucial not to get too attached to ‘like’ counts on social media or compare yourself to others because these things can actually stunt your growth.

Basically always doing a self-check. I ask myself questions like 'how was I playing a year ago? What areas am I still a little gray in?’ It's like education, it's a never-ending process. For example, in certain fields, people get their Ph.D. and think they're done. But the doctors that are incredible overachievers, they’re the ones that keep learning, they keep putting out journals, they keep studying, they keep sharpening their tools, whatever they may be. That's what I'm all about. It's the relentless pursuit for betterment. I wouldn't even call it a success. Just daily betterment because nobody's in that room with me when I'm practicing for two or three hours and pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into my craft. I'm doing it for myself at the end of the day. So the end product is when my people are enjoying my music and they get to say 'he belongs to us. He belongs to Afghanistan.’”

Anisa Amani is a 3rd grade teacher from the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento, California. After experiencing struggles as a student with an undiagnosed learning disability, Amani made it her mission to become the educator she wishes she had growing up. Afghan refugee students make up nearly 76% of her school’s population and 100% of her students are living at or below the poverty line. As an effort to mitigate the racial tension in her student population, Amani initiated a month-long Culture Learning Series where the students were able to learn about their peers’ cultures in a fun way and inclusive way. 

Why is your school heavily populated by Afghan refugee students?
“In around 2016, Sacramento was declared a sanctuary city for Afghan refugees based on the existing Afghan population. When the SIV recipients were being led into the country, the state was looking for the best place for them to live. The Bay Area is already too full and there would not have been adequate housing for them. The city of Sacramento had a lot more housing available and apartment buildings were given government subsidies to house refugees in the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento. My school is the center of those apartment buildings and that's why we have a lot of students that go there. Our school district is the largest in Sacramento. We have the largest population of Afghan refugees in the area.”

What is the most meaningful part of teaching children?
“I feel like I have 26 best friends every day. I’m really open on communication. I let my class know that the most important thing to me isn’t what they get on a test. It's how they’re feeling. How they’re feeling today, how they feel tomorrow, and how they felt yesterday. I tell them that at any point, if they’re tired, hungry, or cold, they have to tell me because they’re not going to be able to learn in that kind of environment. There is a friendship and mutual respect between us and that’s because of the intentional relationship building that I have focused on.”

What can the system and educators do to foster the learning development of refugee children?
“A big part of being an educator is being a lifelong learner. When you don't know the population that you're serving, you should do whatever you can to learn about it. For example, during parent-teacher conferences, you can use that time to not only go over grades, but also to the parents what they need. What you can do for them to support their child’s learning. A lot of times refugee families will have packed up and left everything behind. They don't have the tools at home to continue their learning outside of school. There have been times when I’ve given students notebooks and pencils and because there is such a lack of resources, those things turn into toys for them or their younger siblings because they don’t have any real toys. It’s important to find new and unique ways to provide the resources and tools for the children so they can succeed. It’s also important to be aware that giving refugee children used and abused things is not okay, most of the time new is better. 
As for the education system, I think it's important that we give our language learning students more English language development time. By law, we are required to give them 40 minutes a day. We could also give teachers more training so that they’re better prepared for that 40-minute block, because if teachers are not prepared for it and the district or the state doesn't require them to be, then the students might not be getting the best use of that time. I would say requiring more professional development and cultural competency courses would be awesome too.”

What has it been like teaching Afghan refugees?
“My first year was a big year in terms of my own learning. At that time, I was lucky enough to be in grad school doing educational research. My research was on lessening the racial tension between the existing Sacramento community and the new Afghan refugees. My goal was to decrease the tension. On the first day of school, a little boy who I'm going to call Jordan, that's not his real name. He yelled out, ‘I hate the Farsi kids.’ And when I asked him why, he explained, ’I hate hearing them talk, I don't know what they're saying. And it makes me feel like they're talking about me.’ And that made me realize something was going on. My goal for my educational research was to create a series of lessons that would lessen racial tension. So, after that incident, I gave my students a survey that asked them, ‘What do you know about race, ethnicity, and the culture of your classmates? Do you like going to school with people from a different race, ethnicity, or culture? Or do you dislike it? What are the three best things? What are the three worst things?’  I did that without telling the students what race, ethnicity, or culture means. I found that not only did they not know those things about their classmates, but they also didn’t know it about themselves, and they didn't have the words to identify themselves at the time. After that survey, I realized they had some learning to do.
One thing I learned through my research was that to get students comfortable enough to talk about these things and to be vulnerable enough to share their culture, they need to have some self-esteem. We went through a series of self-esteem building and self-love exercises, which was great. I wrote a poem that promoted inner and outer beauty to encourage self-love. The poem talked about how their mind, heart, and future are bright, and how their hair, skin, and smiles are beautiful. After the self-love exercise, we started talking about what the word ‘culture’ means. I explained that culture includes music, food, language, traditions, clothing, and what a community has in common. Then we started sharing the holidays we celebrate, the clothing we wear, and the languages we speak. Afterward, I had the students draw pictures of what makes up their culture. They were then able to come up with words to identify themselves and their culture. After they finished, I paired up students from different cultures and they interviewed each other. They held each other's little culture books, looked through them, and got to ask each other questions. After the month-long culture lesson series, students were twice as likely to mention similarities rather than differences. It was interesting. I did whatever I had to do to understand my students needs and how I could best support them.  I had to find a way for them to learn about each other's culture in a fun and non-harmful way.”

What led you to become a teacher?
“Growing up, I really struggled academically. I was a dual language learner because I was learning English and Farsi at the same time while going to Sunday school at the Musjid where I was learning to read and write Arabic too. While that was happening, I had an undiagnosed learning disability, which went undiagnosed until I was about 20 years old. Prior to college, it was a big challenge for me to learn. I would sit in class and pay attention as best as I could. I was really driven. I always wanted to appear smart. I knew how to fake school. I knew when to raise my hand halfway, but not actually high enough to where I would be called on. So, it looked like I was participating, even if I didn't know the answer. But when it came to the assessments, it was obvious that I was struggling in many ways. My parents were informed that I was struggling and they supported me. They took me to tutoring before and after school and to different learning facilities as well. Despite this, nothing was really sticking. My learning journey was a struggle. Community college was the first time I fell in love with learning. The class I enjoyed most was a sociology class. We talked about institutionalized racism and institutional discrepancies amongst people of color, and the economically disadvantaged. That was a big red flag for me. I started realizing that maybe I wasn't given the proper support I needed because I was different. Different in terms of my learning style, language, religion, and culture. I was the only Afghan student in my school and the only student who spoke another language most times. Community college was where I felt empowered to go to school to become the teacher that I wish that I had in the classroom. Someone who was an advocate for all learners.”

You mentioned that you had a learning disability that you didn't discover until you were 20. What was it like when you finally learned what it was?
“That was the greatest moment ever because I always knew that something was going on. I would think, I'm sitting here, I'm paying attention. I'm taking notes, I'm reading the same things as everyone else. I'm going above and beyond by staying after school, coming in before school, and going to office hours. I even went to a couple of learning centers as a kid. So, I was left wondering why things aren’t ticking for me. I began to feel like some people aren't made for school. Once I got that diagnosis, it all made sense. At that point, I had learned to not only do school to look smart but also do school to absorb the information. At that point, I had learned what I needed to do to be successful, but the diagnosis still gave me a sense of relief. It was nice to know that there was a reason I struggled to learn, and it wasn’t just me being ‘lazy’.”

Yousof Etemadi was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and made several moves before ultimately ending up in Southern California at the age of 8. Etemadi found a sense of community and discipline in sports at a young age and has remained involved in sports ever since, even playing for the Afghanistan National Team at one point. He currently works as a varsity basketball coach at Foothill High School, where he led his team to a Southern California Regional Championship and State Runner up in early 2022. Alongside coaching, Etemadi also works full time as a Director of Programmatic at Krush Media Group.

When did you join your first team and what did you love about it so much that made you want to coach?
”I started playing sports in high school. I played basketball and tennis. I just love the team aspect of it. Some of my best friends come from athletics - from teams I've been on throughout my life. I love the sense of community and everything that comes with it. I’m extremely competitive and that has always driven me. I played in high school, then I played at Cal Poly Pomona, and then for the Afghanistan national team. As I got older and wanted to stay close to the game, I got into coaching. 

Being an immigrant, I feel that our parents didn’t have the full chance to understand a lot of what their kids went through during the pivotal years growing up because they weren’t exposed to the same things. They grew up in a different country with different experiences and influences.  So for me, sports was a big part of my life. Sports can be a great avenue to get kids through school. It’s a great way to keep them motivated. To play sports in high school they have to work hard, complete their assignments, and maintain their grades. 

When I was growing up, my family didn’t really understand what FAFSA was or how to receive an athletic scholarship because they did not attend school here. So, I had to do all of that myself. I did all the research and outreach, including my recruitment. Given my experience, I am able to be a resource for kids today that don’t have the guidance to navigate a post high school basketball opportunity.”

How do you think sports have shaped you personally?
“I think sports brings a lot of discipline. I'm pretty disciplined in my day-to-day life. Sports also provides a sense of community, allows you to make friends etc. We have a lot of kids in our program that need some direction or discipline. I think through sports, you can build good habits that can help you improve your life. I'm not a big believer in motivation. I believe in discipline. I don't think motivation shows up when you most need it, but when you're disciplined, you're always going to do what you need to do.

Being competitive and having a drive to be better every day is something we instill in the players that we coach. We want them to succeed daily and sports can help build all these characteristics. We have a motto about “winning your day” on our team. It tells the boys that when you get up, you have to be the best that you can be to win your day. If you live by that 75% of the time, I think you're going to be in a good place throughout your life.”

What is your coaching style?
“I don't coach based off fear. I'm not a big yeller. I believe in teaching my players, we want our players to be confident in everything they do. In practice, we work on drills that can transfer directly to their lives and in the game in positive ways. We preach on winning your day, getting up early, getting your stuff done, getting your schoolwork done etc. When you show up to practice, you have to work hard. We don’t coach attitude and effort. I tell the team that if I have to coach your attitude and effort, then there’s no reason for you to be here.

I was a player myself not that long ago, so I try to think about what the players would want from a coach. I try to coach in ways that will work for them and for us as a team. Kids don't really respond to yelling and screaming anymore. Punishment doesn't really do anything. And attention spans are limited. Kids ingest so much content these days, and so a two-hour practice is just another thing they can scroll through if we don’t capture their attention and engagement. Even with that effort, they’re not going to grasp it all, and it’s on us the coaches to figure out how to get through each kid in their own unique way, which is part of the challenge.”

Do you think social media has changed the way kids play sports?
“Social media has completely rewired their brains and we’re all guilty of it. Verbal communication doesn't exist so much these days. They really struggle with it. In my opinion, this generation of kids have been pressed to hide their emotions and their feelings. A lot of them have a hard time living in the present moment because they’re living through their devices and digital games, which changes the way you interact daily. In return, it's getting much more difficult to coach and teach because their attention spans are gone. You have to find ways to get your information through and make it stick so they can deliver it in the game setting. Social media provides instant gratification, and not much is left to impress anyone. If I were to bring LeBron James into our gym, you don’t get that much of a “wow” reaction anymore because they see anything they wish through their devices. 

We do a lot together, go to college games, bring ex professional players to practice speaking to them, and as much as they appreciate it, the physical excitement of all that is gone.  And that’s not just for the younger generations, I think we as adults are similar these days, and therefore guilty of it as well.  Social media has a huge effect on all of us, young and old.”

Did you have things like that happen for you when you were younger and did you react differently?
“Yeah, it didn’t happen as often but when we saw something, we were excited and impressed. We were really “wowed” by everything, and those experiences stuck with us, it helped create special moments for us. 

To continue to create special moments through sports for the youth today, us coaches have to change. We have to adapt to the present day and get creative on how we teach the game.  

I feel that's why we were so successful this year, we were able to get the most out of the kids that we had. We have good basketball players at Foothill but I felt like we had better players that trusted each other and their coaches.  The special moments we created together helped us stick together in tougher games and ultimately win a SoCal Regional Championship.”

Based in Northern Virginia, Marjan Darab is a Physician Assistant who works in the intensive care unit (ICU). In her free time, Darab volunteers her time by working with newly arrived refugees to help them get acclimated, become self-sufficient, and undergo the process of getting their drivers license. She has been volunteering for Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center since October, 2021. Her love for volunteering was instilled in her by her parents who understood the value of giving back to the community after having to flee Afghanistan in the 80’s. 

Can you tell us a little about the experience you've had working with newly arrived refugees?
“This experience has been a roller coaster, but very rewarding. I’ve been volunteering with Fresh Start and it’s allowed me the opportunity to build new relationships and develop new friendships while hearing the remarkable stories of Afghan refugees. I get to experience first hand how resilient these individuals are and how they've been able to overcome adversity, to make their journey here to the States and to try and rebuild their lives from scratch - it’s really admirable. I have met so many different individuals from so many different backgrounds with different stories including families, solo female travelers, and individuals who've made the decision to leave behind their families in hopes of providing for them in a way that they wouldn't have been able to in Afghanistan. Witnessing their stories gives you a different perspective on life and it’s one thing that I admire a lot about our community- the hard work and dedication that Afghans have, to be able to rebuild their lives. This perspective allows me to appreciate the opportunities that I had because of the sacrifices my family made.”

Are there notable times from your volunteer sessions that have stayed with you?
“A specific moment that will always stay with me is one of a first-time mother who’s home we volunteered to furnish. She was in her apartment by herself with her new born daughter, while her husband was out looking for a job. I was speaking Farsi with her introducing our organization and after the introduction she started tearing up and said, ‘wow, I haven't interacted with a fellow Afghan female in so long. Since I have come, I feel like I have been by myself.’ She had given birth in the hospital by herself as a non-English speaker, going through the experience alone because there were no visitors allowed aside from her husband. She said it ‘felt good to speak to somebody new, to be able to make a connection and to be able to speak her language.’ That brought me to tears, because that’s something I take for granted at times- to make personal connections, socialize, and to have friends, or even someone to check in on you. She didn't have that, and for a brief moment the comfort of my presence speaking Farsi uplifted her. It was a very touching moment and all I could do was hug her.”

What motivated you to start volunteering? Is it something you did growing up?
“My parents, as Afghan refugees, always encouraged us to volunteer. Community service was at the core of my upbringing, even as a young child, it was instilled in us to always help our neighbors and give back to our community. When our schools offered community service opportunities, my parents would sign me up to volunteer. It's something I’ve done as a young child into adulthood.

Since 2016, I've gone on multiple medical missions including to Refugee camps in Greece and Jordan servicing mostly Afghan and Syrian refugees. I volunteered as a medical provider at the clinics offering urgent medical care for ill and injured refugees on their journey. I really enjoy my time when volunteering and it’s my yearly goal to do so.” 

Who are your role models?
“First and foremost, my number one role model is our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). I really try to lead my life by his example. Next, are my parents. My dad passed away a few years ago but the values and teachings he instilled in me continue to help me personally grow and shape who I am. My mother is resilient, patient, kind, and lives her life with such grace. Both of my parents have paved the path for us to live such ambitious and full-filling lives and I promised to never take for granted the sacrifices they made.”