Afghan Community Events in Cypress, CA

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.

Afghanistan Relief Organization, operating from Cypress, California, is a non-political, non-religious humanitarian mission founded on the principle of bringing people together to aid fellow human beings. For over two decades, ARO has maintained an unwavering commitment to serving the most vulnerable populations in Afghanistan—women, children, the elderly, and disabled individuals—through direct humanitarian engagement and community-driven programming. What distinguishes ARO is its deep-rooted presence and trust within Afghanistan, established through consistent relief efforts since 1998 and sustained through the dedication of Afghan-American and American volunteers from diverse backgrounds and faiths. The organization's educational initiatives reflect genuine investment in long-term community development, having established its own training centers and vocational facilities that provide free enrollment to low-income students, prioritizing girls and youth from refugee returnee families. ARO's approach emphasizes partnership and mutual support, as evidenced by collaborative relationships with organizations like Sahar Education in advancing women's empowerment through sewing, literacy, and professional development projects. The organization has earned Congressional recognition for its compassionate work during Afghanistan's most challenging periods, with volunteer programs and relief missions documented by national media. Operating with transparency and accountability, ARO's volunteers and staff have demonstrated exceptional dedication to maintaining the highest humanitarian standards while serving over 3,000 students currently enrolled across its educational programs. This commitment to both immediate relief and sustainable community development reflects ARO's holistic vision for supporting Afghanistan's recovery and future generations.