ASN began not in an office, but around a dinner table in Beaverton, Oregon, igniting a beacon of hope during one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. In August 2021, as the Republic of Afghanistan government collapsed and thousands of families sought refuge in the United States, passionate Afghan-American immigrants and refugees — (from left to right) Yahya Haqiqi, a seasoned consultant; Darwaish Zakhil, a dedicated community leader;  Zubair Kohestani, a management expert: and Ajmal Wahab, a finance professional, — came together with a shared purpose: to uplift the newly arriving Afghan refugees in their local community. 

As volunteers themselves, they opened their hearts and homes, assisting families with translation, housing, transportation, food drives, connection to resources and case management. What started as a grassroots, neighbor-to-neighbor effort blossomed into a powerful movement. 

By December 2021, ASN became a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3), Oregon’s first culturally specific Afghan-led organization dedicated to serving refugees, immigrants, and families – grounded in lived experience and the spirit of volunteerism.