Mission

To advocate for and empower our communities through a range of services, including assisting them in improving their mental and social health, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and creating a space for cultural well-being. Afghan Cultural Society’s unique strength is its ability to reach, communicate with, and empower newly arriving refugees and established immigrant communities. ACS multi-lingual and multi-ethnic staff deploy into the ethnic communities they both live in and serve.

Vision

To provide the local Afghan community with a welcoming space where they can participate in
their cultural heritage through events, art exhibits, lectures and classes; find support and access resources they need for their families to thrive; and challenge western narratives about
Afghanistan through advocacy and education.

History

ACS was founded in 2018 as a cultural organization aimed at educating the public about the history, language and culture of Afghanistan and challenging biased western narratives about Afghanistan and its people. 

When Afghanistan fell under control of the Taliban in 2021,  a mass exodus from the country took place. ACS team members quickly began working alongside the state on a volunteer basis to support the resettlement of hundreds of Afghans arriving in Minnesota. By the end of this year, ACS had hired paid staff in order to more consistently support the needs of new arrivals. We went on to enter into an official partnership with the MN Department of Human Services in 2022. Since then, we’ve been building our community led programs in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies aimed at supporting immigrants and refugees.