Afghan Community Events in California

Sliman Nawabi graduated from law school in 2012. After being admitted to the bar that year, Mr. Nawabi began working as a trial attorney. Mr. Nawabi grew up in Orange County and spent 4 years in Northern California where he attended the University of California, Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, Mr. Nawabi through his vigorous involvement in the American Civil Liberties Union, Advocates for Youth Justice and Youth Mentorship Program established himself as a leader in the community and activist for individuals deprived of their rights. Mr. Nawabi’s passion for justice guided him to law school where he gained the unique opportunity to explore the world and study human rights law abroad in Toulouse, France at Toulouse Premier Université Capitole, and Barcelona, Spain at Universitat de Barecelona. During law school Mr. Nawabi’s desire to promote civil liberties connected him to the Orange County Public Defender’s Office. As an intern for the Public Defender’s Office Mr. Nawabi established trusting relationships with clients and learned the procedures and strategies of litigation. Mr. Nawabi continued to build on his litigation experience and skills by working on highly complex felony cases with national press coverage under the supervision of John Barnett. Mr. Nawabi is now a Deputy Public Defender for the City and County of San Francisco. He defends the constitutional rights of indigent, marginalized and vulnerable people accused of crimes. He has litigated thousands of cases favorable to his clients and continues to do so.

Spojmie Nasiri, principal attorney, is a first generation immigrant herself who understands through personal experience how difficult and emotionally draining American immigration process can be. Mrs. Nasiri’s education, community involvement and associations reflect her outstanding dedication in the area of immigration law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis and her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of Law. Mrs. Nasiri is a member of the California State Bar and is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Mrs. Nasiri currently practices immigration law exclusively and is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. In addition to her practice, Mrs. Nasiri served as a pro bono attorney with the Immigration Law Clinic at the University of California, Davis where she provided individual representation, pro bono referrals, and pro se materials to detained immigrants. Mrs. Nasiri was also an avid volunteer at the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Stanford University and provides legal services to the Afghan community throughout the United States and worldwide. Mrs. Nasiri has extensive experience with all types of immigration and deportation defense matters. She has conducted know-your-rights presentations on a variety of legal issues affecting immigrant groups at the West County Detention Center in Richmond, California and Yuba County Detention Facility in Marysville, California. She assists clients with a wide variety of immigration matters, including applications with the consulates and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, representing clients detained by the Department of Homeland Security, defending immigrants in removal proceedings in Immigration Court, and representing clients in criminal immigration proceedings in federal court. In addition to English, Mrs. Nasiri is fluent in Pashto and Dari.

The firm's practice includes a diversified range of Real Estate, Civil Litigation, and Commercial Transactions. The firm has also represented partnerships, limited liability companies, closely held corporations and real estate investors as well as entities involved in international trade. Mr. Haroonian has also represented non-profit entities in connection with corporate governance and organizational issues. Mr. Haroonian has been practicing law since 1984. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Haroonian majored in Economics at University of California, Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Southwestern University School of Law. In addition to holding B.A. and J.D. degrees, Mr. Haroonian also has a Real Estate Broker License.

United Afghan Club at UCLA represents a vibrant student-led community organization based at the University of California - Los Angeles, dedicated to serving the Afghan refugee and immigrant communities of Los Angeles, CA and beyond. As a student organization, the club embodies the values of compassion, cultural connection, and practical solidarity with families navigating the challenges of resettlement in a new country. At its heart, United Afghan Club exists to bridge the gap between newly arrived Afghan families and the resources they need to rebuild their lives. The organization recognizes that Afghan refugees arriving in Los Angeles, California face multifaceted challenges—from securing safe housing to finding employment opportunities that match their skills and experience. By mobilizing UCLA's student community, the club transforms campus energy into tangible, meaningful support for vulnerable populations. The organization's approach reflects deep understanding of refugee experiences and cultural sensitivity. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all assistance, United Afghan Club identifies specific areas where families struggle most and creates targeted solutions. Whether connecting families with housing leads, facilitating job placements, or gathering donations of needed items and funds, the club addresses real barriers to successful integration. What distinguishes United Afghan Club is its grounding in personal relationships and community trust. As a student organization operating within Los Angeles, CA, the club builds direct connections with Afghan families, creating a support network rooted in shared heritage and mutual respect. This relationship-centered approach ensures that assistance feels culturally appropriate and genuinely responsive to community needs. The club welcomes community participation and collaboration, inviting individuals and organizations throughout Los Angeles to join in supporting Afghan refugee families during this critical period of transition and establishment.

Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow (AEBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Elk Grove, CA, dedicated to empowering Afghan communities through innovative educational and healthcare initiatives. As an all-volunteer organization with no operating overhead costs, AEBT maximizes impact by channeling all resources directly toward sustainable development programs in Afghanistan. AEBT specializes in multiple service areas designed to build knowledge and skills across critical sectors. The organization operates tele-education programs at major Afghan universities including Herat University and the University of Paktika, expanding access to quality higher education for underserved populations. These programs provide university entrance exam preparation and academic support for students lacking basic educational resources. In partnership with the Raqim Foundation, AEBT has also launched innovative tele-medicine initiatives, bringing remote healthcare services to rural Afghan villages like Kalakan through satellite-based technology. Beyond education and healthcare, AEBT addresses economic development and cultural preservation. The organization promotes economic self-reliance through targeted skill-building programs while advancing peace education and human rights awareness aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. AEBT also delivers essential resources including textbooks to Afghan universities and coordinates with other NGOs to strengthen educational and healthcare infrastructure throughout Afghanistan. Registered as both a California nonprofit and an Afghanistan-based NGO, AEBT maintains dual accountability and operational capacity. Founded by Afghan Americans committed to their homeland's development, the organization combines local expertise with international best practices to create lasting positive change in education, healthcare, and community resilience across Afghanistan.

Founded in 2008 by bestselling author Khaled Hosseini, The Khaled Hosseini Foundation represents a deeply personal commitment to helping the Afghan people rebuild their lives after decades of conflict. Based in San Jose, California, the Foundation was inspired by Hosseini's 2007 trip to Afghanistan as a UNHCR Envoy, where he witnessed firsthand the resilience and determination of repatriated refugee families living in extreme poverty. Rather than offering charity, the Foundation believes in empowering vulnerable Afghans—particularly women, children, and refugees—by providing access to fundamental resources including shelter, education, and healthcare that enable communities to rebuild with dignity and self-determination. The Foundation's leadership team, including Co-founder Roya Hosseini and Executive Director Sandra Hosseini, brings together expertise in law, accounting, and nonprofit management to ensure effective stewardship of donor contributions. Beyond its work in Afghanistan, the Foundation also supports recently resettled Afghan refugees in the United States, recognizing that humanitarian assistance extends to those seeking new beginnings in America. With over $2.2 million granted to date, the Foundation has built meaningful partnerships with international organizations respected for their decades of experience in conflict zones. The Foundation's mission reflects Hosseini's personal journey as an Afghan refugee who found safety in the United States, transforming his success as a globally recognized author into tangible hope and opportunity for those still struggling in his homeland.