acaa logo

We are the
American Central
Asian Association

  • US logo
  • kyrgyzstan flag
  • tajikistan flag
  • kazakhstan flag
  • uzbekistan flag
  • turkmenistan flag

We strive to serve and represent the needs of the Central Asian community in the US.

About usContact us
Our mission arrow_downwardOur programs arrow_downward

Who are Central Asians?

People from
kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan,
turkmenistan and uzbekistan
  • acaa logo
  • acaa logo
  • acaa logo
  • acaa logo
  • acaa logo
infoClick to learn more

Central Asia is a subregion of Asia which stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. The region consists of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

In the pre-Islamic and early Islamic eras (circa 1000 and earlier) Central Asia was inhabited predominantly by Iranian peoples, populated by Eastern Iranian-speaking Bactrians, Sogdians, Chorasmians and the semi-nomadic Scythians and Dahae. After expansion by Turkic peoples, Central Asia also became the homeland for the Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tatars, Turkmen, Kyrgyz, and Uyghurs; Turkic languages largely replaced the Iranian languages spoken in the area, with the exception of Tajikistan and areas where Tajik is spoken.

From the mid-19th century until almost the end of the 20th century, Central Asia was colonised by the Russians, and incorporated into the Russian Empire, and later the Soviet Union, which led to Russians and other Slavs emigrating into the area. Modern-day Central Asia is home to a large population of European settlers, who mostly live in Kazakhstan; 7 million Russians, 500,000 Ukrainians, and about 170,000 Germans. Stalinist-era forced deportation policies also mean that over 300,000 Koreans live there.

Our mission

Identify the needs and implement programs to support the Central Asian community
  • account_circleAnonymous:

    I am from Uzbekistan and suffer from a rare disease. Because of the rareness of the disease, I have no physcial support group that I can go to. I also don’t have family or a community that I can rely on in the U.S. There is also a language barrier that exists when it comes to receiving help. Because of this, I’ve been struggling with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. It was only when I found Annabel Counseling Services, a partner company to ACAA, which has therapists that speak several Central Asian languages that I was able to get some of the support I need. After finding out about the formation of ACAA, I was very excited and look forward to the support and unity within the Central Asian community that the organization will be providing.

  • account_circleAnonymous:

    I am a citizen of Turkmenistan and my husband is a citizen of Uzbekistan. We live in the State of New York in the United States. He is continuously abusing me verbally and financially. I can not leave because I depend on him financially and I have 3 kids whom I can not take care of myself and have no place to go, because my family is in Uzbekistan. I wish there were people or organizations who could understand me and support me, people who would know my culture and his culture and wouldn't judge me... I am totally lost now and do not know what to do, as my emotions affect my kids daily.

  • account_circleAnonymous:

    I was born in Kyrgyzstan but raised in the U.S. Applying to colleges as a Central Asian was really hard because when I filled out the forms, they would ask me to identify my racial/ethnic background but I didn’t know which ones to choose since Central Asia was not included into any of them. Also, when I was applying for scholarships, a lot of them were based on racial/ethnic belonging, and since Central Asia doesn’t belong to any of them, there wasn’t a community or organization that would be supporting me through the college application and education process. I remember feeling jealous of my friends who would receive care packages and financial aid from their community organizations. As a member of ACAA, I hope to implement more support towards students that don’t fit the criteria for any of the more recognized racial/ethnic communities.

Learn more

The community

Community Engagement

Research

Central Asians are a group that hasn't previously been represented or studied in the U.S. Therefore, our research department is working on the first-ever community needs assessment for Central Asians. The team is in the planning-piloting phase of the project and preparing for distribution. Once the data is collected and analyzed, the results will be published. Based on the results, more programs will be implemented.

Learn more

Community events

We are partnered with Annabel Counseling Services PTLC., psychological counseling, and social work company that provides resources, therapy, and social work services to the Association

Learn more

Volunteers

ACAA cares about education which is why we run an internship and volunteer program available to anybody 16 years and older. The program aims to raise awareness of social issues, as well as give the opportunity to intern/volunteer in an environment that supports the volunteer's career goals Volunteers/interns are placed into their department of interest and are given training and work in alignment with their goals.

Learn more

Our programs

Our programs and resources aren't limited to members of the Central Asian community, we are always looking to help those in need.

All of our programsarrow_forward

Research Projects

Community Assessment Our research department is developing the first-ever community needs assessment for Central Asians. The U.S. The Census itself does not mention Central Asians under any racial/ethnic category. This erasure hides the challenges that Central Asians face as a minority group and limits their access to resources. With this assessment, we strive to improve our programs, shed light on the systemic challenges faced by Central Asian immigrants, and advocate for public support. ACAA is seeking community leaders with access to large groups of Central Asians living in the U.S. to help distribute the assessment. If you or anyone

Learn morearrow_forward

Student Support Services

Our mentorship program pairs Central Asian students with experienced mentors who have successfully navigated similar educational journeys. These mentors provide guidance, share insights, and offer a supportive ear on issues ranging from managing workload to college applications to help you overcome obstacles and make the most of your time as a student.

Learn morearrow_forward

Internships And Volunteering

ACAA cares about education which is why we run an internship and volunteer program available to anybody 16 years and older. The program aims to raise awareness of social issues, as well as give the opportunity to intern/volunteer in an environment that supports the volunteer's career goals. Volunteers/interns are placed into their department of interest and are given training and work in alignment with their goals. If you are interested, contact us at americancentralasianassociation@gmail.com.

Learn morearrow_forward

Social Work And Legal Support

Our department is dedicated to providing essential assistance and guidance to individuals and communities in need. We recognize the complex and often challenging processes individuals face when navigating legal systems, especially with the limited translators available for Central Asian languages. Thus, we aim to provide culturally sensitive guidance and support to ensure equitable access to justice and resources. Our team consists of highly skilled and compassionate social workers and paralegals who are passionate about making a positive impact in people's lives. We offer a comprehensive range of services in Russian, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik and Turkmen designed to address a

Learn morearrow_forward

Our blog

Resources and News for Everyone

All of our postsarrow_forward