January 21: Najia Sherzad Hoshmand
By Rotary Club of Indianapolis on January 17, 2025
| Join us Tuesday to hear from Najia Sherzad Hoshmand, a dynamic community leader dedicated to supporting and uplifting the Afghan community. With a wealth of experience in business, finance, and community advocacy, Najia has been an influential force both in Afghanistan and in Indiana. Najia is the Founder and President of the Afghanistan American Community Center (AACC), a non-profit organization established to empower and elevate Afghan Americans. In addition to her role with AACC, she serves as the Director of Refugee Resettlement with Patchwork Indy and a Community Liaison with Welcome Corps, a federal refugee resettlement program. In these positions, she plays a key role in mobilizing sponsorship groups and providing essential support to refugees as they settle into their new lives. Before embarking on her journey in the United States, Najia held significant roles in Afghanistan, where she worked for both international organizations and government agencies. She was instrumental in supporting the Afghan government and the U.S. mission in Afghanistan as they worked to rebuild the country. Her commitment to women’s empowerment is especially notable, as she has contributed to various initiatives aimed at promoting the rights and opportunities of women. Notably, she was appointed the first woman to an executive position at the Central Bank of Afghanistan, serving from 2015 to 2017. Fluent in five languages, Najia’s passion for helping others extends beyond her professional work. She has been actively involved in volunteering for the Afghan community in Indiana, particularly as a representative for 280 women and children at Camp Atterbury after her family’s resettlement to the U.S. in 2021. Najia holds a bachelor’s in business from Delhi, India, an MBA from Dunya University in Kabul, and a second MBA from Kelley School of Business at IUPUI. Her leadership is shaping the future of the Afghan community in Indianapolis, as she builds strong networks and advocates for new opportunities. All are welcome at Rotary programs. If attending in-person at The Rathskeller reservations and prepayment are appreciated, but not required. Register on Square at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/. If registering on site we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. You can view the lunch menu here. Lunch and networking start at 11:45 a.m. and the program runs 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09. While our Tuesday programs via Zoom are free to attend a suggested donation of $3 – $5 is appreciated in lieu of the typical room fee. These contributions help defray the cost of our hybrid meetings. Please note that donations to the Rotary Club of Indianapolis are not tax deductible. You can support our hybrid meetings at https://rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/. Meeting ID: 710 170 874 Password: 821795 If joining via a mobile phone for audio only click one of the following numbers: +13126266799,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,710170874#,,#,821795# US (New York) You can also join us from a landline phone. +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 710 170 874 Password: 821795 |
