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.
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!
“APF has provided me with invaluable training to develop my writing, leadership, research, and management skills, while facilitating lifelong friendships in the process. The skills I gained through APF will forever be helpful to me in my future career trajectory.”
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.”
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
DMV
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:
Program Leads
northeast network ambassadors
DMV NETWORK AMBASSADORS
midwest network ambassadors
south network ambassadors
west network ambassadors
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.”
Watch an APF Leadership Council Information Session
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;
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
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.
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, when applicable.
Apply
The APF Leadership Council accepts applications on a rolling basis. Apply below!