APF Leadership Council

The APF Leadership Council is a network of Pakistani American professionals, students, and allies who help implement the APF mission to empower the Pakistani American community in all aspects of American life and to build bridges between the United States and Pakistan.

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Work + Mission

The APF Leadership Council fosters dialogue, provides APF programmatic support, and collaborates on issues important to APF by:

Providing expertise and support to APF programming and events
Promoting and engaging in community lifelong learning and leadership development initiatives
Ensuring a connected and empowered community, including participating in networking, mentoring, cultural exchange, and policy literacy initiatives
Participating in research and blog-writing projects
Proposing new projects, initiatives, and events to advance the APF mission
and much, much more!

“I joined the APF Leadership Council to cultivate a sense of community and shared purpose, and for an opportunity to share my story.”

— Waqas Javaid, Northeast Regional Network

Values

The APF Leadership Council is guided by our values, through which we strive to:

Cultivate our unity and diversity, leveraging the variety of our capabilities as individuals while utilizing our potential for collective action.
Build a space for ourselves to explore and engage with our Pakistani American heritage, recognizing the variety of ways in which our community is linked to Pakistan.
Value and respect diversity of opinion, recognizing it as the centerpiece to effective and productive dialogue and constructive criticism.
Leverage the power of information to proactively influence our own narrative, deconstructing stereotypes in the process.
Work to foster a sense of belonging across our geographically, socioeconomically, and culturally diverse community, creating a supportive environment for all members.
Share and publicize our experiences with authenticity, finding greater commonality between ourselves and with all of humanity in doing so.
Uplift each other in our personal and professional efforts in order to improve our representation in all spheres of society.
Achieve empowerment of our dynamic community by recognizing the combined potential of our own sense of belonging and our capacity for collective action.

“I feel grateful to be around a Pakistani American community that helps me stay close to my culture and roots. I hope to do the same for others through the APF Leadership Council.”

— Nitasha Syed, West Regional Network

Structure

National + regional networks

Everyone in the APF Leadership Council is part of the national network. Additionally, members have the opportunity to join regional networks for more direct engagement.

Regional networks are located in:

Northeast

midwest

SOUTH

WEST

Leadership Council Leadership Team (LCLT)

The LCLT consists of a Chair, three Committee Leads and multiple Program Leads, and regional network Ambassadors. Each regional network is led by at least one APF Leadership Council Ambassador who is responsible for organizing regional network members.

Meet the LCLT, including regional network Ambassadors:

Ammad Mahmood, LCLT Chair

Faizan Farukh, Career Development

Noah Usman, Community Engagement

Misaal Irfan, Civic Engagement

Program Leads

Silveth Khawaja, Comm Relations

Dr. Hamed Majeed, Prof Dev

Dr. Mehr Manzoor, Rising Stars

northeast network ambassadors

Hina Gir

Laila Jiwani

midwest network ambassadors

Dr. Mehr Manzoor

Dr. Hamed Majeed

south network ambassadors

Alysha Siddiqi

west network ambassadors

Mehwish Nasir

Noah Usman

The APF Leadership Council has over 150 members across 17 states.

“APF is full of incredibly caring and helpful people with a wealth of knowledge on virtually every subject and career path. It has allowed me to tap into a vast network of current and future leaders that continue to provide me with valuable guidance.”

— Humza Jilani, Oxford University

APF LC member Uzair Younus speaks on a climate change panel about John Hopkins University.

APF LC member Aleeza Ali speaks about her APF Pakistan Fellowship at think tank experts.

APF LC members attended a lecture by the Pakistani Finance Minister at the Pakistani Embassy.

APF LC member Waqas Jawaid attended a private APF event with artist Shahzia Sikander.

APF LC and Board members attend a private reception for artist Shahzia Sikander.

APF LC members participated APF's annual retreat in Houston.

APF LC members speak with board members at annual retreat in Houston.

APF LC member Fatima Salman speaks on a panel about representation at the annual APF retreat.

APF LC members in NYC met APF President Shamila N. Chaudhary.

APF LC member Rabeya Jawaid visited the Chai Spot in NYC and wrote a restaurant review for the APF blog.

APF LC members celebrate women's history month at the Pakistani Embassy.

APF LC member Fatima Salman met actor Kal Penn at the Council on Foreign Relations.

APF LC members take a trek to the U.S. House of Representatives.

APF LC members joined OPEN-Houston and APF President Shamila N. Chaudhary for a women's leadership salon in Houston.

APF LC member Ibrahim Rashid wrote an article on the APF blog about his experience with long COVID.

APF LC members joined APF President Shamila N. Chaudhary on a visit to the U.S. Department of State.

APF LC members spoke to American University students on foreign policy careers.

APF LC members met with Dr. Vali Nasr and Ambassador Robin Raphel to discuss U.S.-Pakistan relations.

APF LC member Rahima Sajid spoke on a panel about child marriage.

APF LC members strategize with board members at the APF annual retreat.

APF LC members brainstorm on APF programs and impact.

APF LC members organized a PPE drive for communities affected by COVID in New York.

APF LC member Saira Saeed presented an exhibit on adoption in Pakistan at the annual OPEN DC conference.

APC LC members volunteer at a DC soup kitchen for the annual day of service.

APF LC members learn about U.S.-Pakistan relations from House Foreign Affairs Committee staff in the U.S. Congress.

APF LC member Uzair Younus speaks about mentorship at the APF annual retreat.

APF LC members visit the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. Congress.

APF LC member Mifrah Malik wrote an APF blog post about a Pakistani American Thanksgiving.

APF LC member Rahim Sajid speaks on a panel about child marriage and human trafficking.

Activities

APF offers many opportunities to Leadership Council members to give back to their communities, participate in thought leadership and convene dialogues, explore the arts and culture of Pakistan and its diaspora, and to lift each other up through mentorship and professional development.

Examples of APF-LC Member Activities & PROJECTS

APF LC members **Waqas Jawaid**, **Zehra Ansari**, **Osman Khan**, and Wasay Rasool prepared Urdu language materials for the New York City community as part of the APF Get Out The Vote campaign.

APF LC members **Faraz Ansari** and **Zoya Sattar** worked with a team of researchers to publish *The Ties That Bind: A Study of Pakistani American Connectivity & Giving to Pakistan.*

APF LC member **Rabeya Jawaid** reviewed The Chai Spot teahouse in New York City as part of the APF Culture Heritage Fund’s efforts to profile the arts and culture of the Pakistani diaspora in the United States.

Member Benefits

Both national and regional networks enjoy the following benefits:

invitation to virtual meet-ups with other members;
invitation to the APF Annual Retreat with APF Board of Directors, Leadership, and special guests;
invitations to participate in APF members-only events;
receive The APF Weekly, a newsletter sharing news and events about Pakistan and its diaspora;
opportunities to write for the APF Blog Active Voice and to work directly with APF on events and initiatives;
access and participation in members-only WhatsApp communities for networking and dialogue; and
access to members-only online library of webinars and other content related to the APF mission.

All who apply and are accepted to the regional networks are automatically included in the national network.

Membership Criteria

APF will select candidates based on the following criteria:

a commitment and interest in community empowerment and building bridges;
a promise to uphold the values of the APF Leadership Council;
a positive and action-oriented attitude;
participate in a manner consistent with APF's values;
commit to attending 1-2 events a year;
contribution of $250 member dues ($50 for recent graduates and $25 for students) on an annual basis; and
a demonstration of leadership or initiative in either your personal or professional capacity.
The age of members ranges from 18 to 45 (there is no age requirement for membership).
Those demonstrating financial need may arrange for alternative payment arrangements of dues and can indicate a preference in the application.
The Leadership Team of the APF Leadership Council reviews and selects candidates in accordance with application deadlines.

Apply

The APF Leadership Council accepts applications on a rolling basis. Apply below!

APF Leadership Council Application