Vermont Afghan Alliance

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Vermont Afghan Alliance

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A registered Vermont non-profit dedicated to serving and building the Afghan community in Vermont.

10/01/2026

Over the past month, VAA brought our community together for three Community Forums across Vermont — in Bennington, Burlington, and Brattleboro.🇦🇫

These forums created space for Afghan Vermonters to share their experiences, ask questions, connect with local and state elected leaders, and speak directly about the needs and priorities of their families and communities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us — and to our community partners, including , for helping make these conversations possible.

A special thank you to the local and state elected leaders who joined us, listened, answered questions, and showed their support for Afghan Vermonters.

Three cities, many voices, and a shared commitment to building a stronger and more connected community across Vermont. 💛

09/23/2026

Last week, the Vermont Afghan Alliance had the incredible honor of welcoming Shabana Basij-Rasikh, co-founder of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (.afghanistan ), for a special gathering with members of Vermont’s Afghan community, including our newest SOLA students.

It was an afternoon filled with meaningful conversations, inspiration, and a shared commitment to advancing educational opportunities for Afghan women and girls. Shabana’s powerful story and unwavering dedication left so many in our community feeling inspired and more committed than ever to creating change.

The Vermont Women’s Fund event was also a tremendous success, thanks in large part to Shabana’s willingness to share her story and inspire everyone in attendance. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Shabana and the Vermont Women’s Fund ( ) for bringing our communities together for such a meaningful occasion.

VAA remains committed to standing alongside Afghans in Vermont and ensuring that young women and girls have access to the safe, quality education they deserve. We are especially proud to welcome and support the courageous SOLA students who are now part of our Vermont community. 💙

09/18/2026

We’re hiring a full-time Staff Attorney in Burlington, Vermont!

The Vermont Afghan Alliance, in partnership with Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, is seeking an attorney to provide critical immigration legal services to Vermont’s Afghan and broader immigrant communities.

This role begins December 15, 2026 and includes work in affirmative immigration services, community-based legal support, and removal defense.

The full position description is available on Idealist and Indeed: https://www.idealist.org
https://www.indeed.com

To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and three references to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

09/12/2026

Meet Bryn Schwartz, VAA’s Program Coordinator! Bryn joined the Vermont Afghan Alliance in June and is excited to continue supporting our work throughout the fall semester. 💚

As a Global Studies student with double minors in History and Economics at the University of Vermont, Bryn is passionate about community-centered service, international development, education, and public policy. Through her work with VAA, she supports outreach, communications, civic engagement, and programs that help Afghan community members build connections and access resources in Vermont.

We’re grateful to have Bryn on the team!

09/10/2026

Five years later, Americans still believe the United States should keep its promise to the Afghan allies who stood with U.S. forces.

New bipartisan national polling shows that 72% of voters support admitting Afghan allies, while 84% believe the U.S. should protect them and their families. When people learn the facts, support rises by 20 points.

The public is with Afghan allies. Now, our policies must be too.

Source: AfghanEvac and HIAS bipartisan national poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group (July 23–30, 2026; 1,000 likely voters). Full polling and press kit: afghanevac.org/polling

09/03/2026

The death of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a special forces soldier who fought alongside the U.S. military in America's longest war in Afghanistan is more than tragic. It is a travesty. He was detained in March by ICE -- and died 24 hours after being taken into custody.

Nazeer was in the U.S. legally, provided with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), which was created to ensure that those who served alongside U.S. forces and diplomats would be provided with protection in the U.S. After the fall of Afghanistan, he and his family were evacuated by the U.S. in August 2021.

He leaves behind a wife and six children, who are mourning his loss.

The U.S. made a promise to men like Nazeer -- that we would stand with them if they stood with us. We broke that promise to him.

09/01/2026

Sometimes support means interpreting at an appointment, answering a big question, or celebrating together. 💚

As we wrap up our 2025 Annual Report Spotlight Series, we are highlighting the everyday support that helps Afghan community members navigate life in Vermont and build lasting connections.

In 2025, VAA assisted 250+ people through case management, provided interpretation services to 155+ community members, and welcomed 250+ people to Eid celebrations across Vermont.

Thank you to our community, partners, and supporters for making this work possible. Read the full 2025 Annual Report through the link in our bio.

08/25/2026

Week two of our 2025 Annual Report spotlight is all about connection, well-being, and knowing your rights. 💚

This year, VAA expanded health navigation and case management, completed a first-ever health assessment with Afghan women in Chittenden County, and created new educational resources based on what women shared.💪

We also helped more than 125 community members access immigration legal assistance, hosted four Know Your Rights trainings, and welcomed more than 120 people to community forums with local and state leaders.

These programs help Afghan Vermonters feel informed, supported, and connected—while building stronger communities across our state.🇦🇫

Swipe to learn more, and read the full 2025 Annual Report through the link in our bio!

08/18/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is here—and this week, we’re sharing a few of the stories behind the numbers. 💚

In our first spotlight, we’re celebrating the work that helps Afghan community members build stability and opportunity in Vermont:

This work is possible because of our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners. Thank you to our legal service partners -- , , , and . 💪

We would also like to thank the many Vermont employers who help create opportunities for our community members, such as Rhino Foods, Precision, City Market, Dollar Tree, Walmart —among many more—who help make meaningful work and new beginnings possible.

Swipe to learn more, and read the full 2025 Annual Report through the link in our bio!

08/14/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to Aman!

Today, we are celebrating our Program officer, Aman, and the kindness, energy, and dedication he brings to the Vermont Afghan Alliance community. We are so grateful for all that you do to uplift Afghan community members across Vermont.

Enjoy your special day, Aman! 🎂💙

Address

Burlington, VT

Website

https://www.vtafghanalliance.org/, https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=fab38655a6602c90&from=shareddesktop

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