Our Theme for 2025–2026: Belonging

At our third annual retreat, one word rose again and again in our conversations: Belonging. As a team, we chose this to guide SAAFC’s work for the year ahead. The decision wasn’t just a theme—it was a reflection of the stories we’ve heard, the needs we've witnessed, and the realities our communities continue to navigate.

Belonging means being seen, supported, and rooted—even in a world that often pushes us toward disconnection. For South Asian Americans, claiming space, telling our stories, and building relationships with one another has become not just a form of healing, but a source of power.

This theme will guide everything we do this year, from storytelling and art to mental health education and community connection. It builds on last year’s focus on Relationships, continuing our commitment to exploring how we care for ourselves and one another in meaningful, culturally grounded ways.

We’re excited to explore what belonging looks like—through conversations, shared spaces, and collective action. However you show up, we hope you know: you belong here.