On April 29th, 2025, our Center for Community Health’s Refugee and Immigrant Health Unit (CCH-RIH) team hosted a landmark statewide event in Sacramento for the Afghan Refugee School Impact and Youth Mentoring (ARSI/AYM) programs. The event was titled Strengthening Partnerships and Shaping the Future for Afghan Refugees and was held in collaboration with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Public Health Institute (PHI), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), and the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC). The conference brought together a total of 156 attendees, including community leaders, educators, funders, and organizational representatives from across California.
This statewide gathering was more than a conference; it was a call to action and a celebration of collective progress. Centered on advancing the health and well-being of Afghan youth and families, the day was filled with heartfelt stories, program successes, and visionary thinking about what’s possible when communities come together with shared purpose.
A Powerful Start: Honoring Youth Voice
The day began with opening remarks by Kathy Yang, Carolina Sheinfeld, and Abdi Abdillahi from CDSS highlighting the strength of partnerships across the state as well as acknowledging current and future challenges. Next Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai from PHI shared about the collaborations and positive impact of the PHI Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health. We then heard from Abdul Basit Azizi, an AYM program participant from Afghanistan in a moving keynote. Now a mentor with the San Diego Afghan Connections and Cultural Center’s AYM program, Abdul spoke with passion about what the program means to him, the value of community, and the importance of investing in youth programs. His message set the tone for the day – that youth are not just the future, they are leading the way now.
Addressing Identified Priorities: Panels and Breakout sessions
Two dynamic panels anchored the program. The first, “Youth Engagement: Shaping the Future Vision,” showcased the voices and leadership of Afghan youth who are reimagining what success looks like in their communities. Panelists Tahira Safi and Beheshta Jailani shared experiences with mentorship, advocacy, and building spaces that affirm identity and belonging.
The second panel, “Responding to Community Needs,” highlighted the innovative work of ARSI/AYM community partners addressing education, health, and social service gaps. The four panelists – Narges Jalah, Alia Aboul-Nasr, Sarah Babar, and Fatma Saleem – shared best practices, lifted up challenges, and emphasized the need for healing-centered and community-driven approaches.
Interactive breakout sessions created space for dialogue and collaboration on key issues aligned with ARSI and AYM program goals, including youth engagement, early childhood and school-age support, and family and community partnerships. These sessions encouraged peer-to-peer learning among sub-awardees and allowed attendees to reflect on successes from the first phase of the ARSI and AYM programs while exploring actionable next steps.
Looking Ahead: Collective Vision and Continued Partnership
Throughout the day, a shared commitment to addressing health challenges and systems change was clear. Participants left with new connections, deeper understanding, and renewed motivation to continue this work in their own communities. While still being collected, participant feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive and the CCH-RIH team looks forward to building on the momentum from this conference to continue supporting Afghan communities across California.
This conference served not just as a milestone, but as a catalyst for continued momentum. We are grateful to everyone who joined us, whether as a speaker, attendee, or partner, and we look forward to building on this foundation together.
To learn more about the ARSI/AYM work at our Center, please click here.