Over the past year, AFS-USA’s Community Summit series brought together volunteers, host families, returnees, alumni, and staff from across the country under a common theme: Where Belonging Meets Impact. Designed to allow more volunteers to attend than a typical National Summit, these regional gatherings provided opportunities for participants to connect, learn from one another, share best practices, and strengthen their commitment to the AFS mission.
A key goal of the Community Summit model was to expand participation. While national summits have historically provided valuable opportunities for learning and connection, travel distance, costs, and scheduling limitations meant that many volunteers were unable to attend. By hosting multiple regional events within driving distance of volunteers, AFS-USA was able to reach and engage a greater number of volunteers across the country, allowing more members of the AFS community to benefit from these in-person experiences.
Between October 2025 and May 2026, six Community Summits were held across the United States, creating meaningful opportunities for volunteers to collaborate with neighboring teams while building stronger local and regional networks.
Fall 2025 Summits:
Carlsbad, CA and Bloomington, MN: Oct 11, 2025
The Community Summit series began on October 11, 2025, with concurrent gatherings in Carlsbad, California, and Bloomington, Minnesota. These inaugural events welcomed volunteers from surrounding Area Teams and demonstrated the value of smaller, highly interactive gatherings. Participants exchanged ideas on volunteer engagement, participant support, and creating greater impact in their communities. Attendant evaluation results from the first two summits reflected positive feedback, with an average satisfaction score of 4.5 out of 5.
Chicago, IL: Nov 8-9, 2025
The series continued in November with the largest summit of the 2025 Fall season in the Chicago area. Nearly 100 volunteers representing eight Area Teams gathered to learn together, build relationships, and celebrate the AFS mission. The Greater Chicago Area Team served as host, welcoming attendees with local hospitality, volunteer-led presentations, and opportunities to showcase the city’s culture. The event also coincided with the annual AFS-USA Board of Directors meeting, allowing participants to hear directly from AFS-USA leadership and celebrate volunteer achievements, including recognition of the 2025 Young Volunteer Award recipient.
Winter and Spring 2026 Summits:
Scottsdale, AZ: February 21, 2026
Arlington, VA: March 14, 2026
Delaware, OH: May 2, 2026
In 2026, the Community Summit series expanded to Scottsdale, Arizona; Arlington, Virginia; and Delaware, Ohio. Each event maintained the same focus on connection, collaboration, and volunteer development while adapting discussions to local needs and interests. Volunteers from across the Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions came together to exchange ideas and strengthen relationships that support the work of AFS in their communities. The Community Summit in Arlington was the largest of all the Community Summits, as it was held in conjunction with the annual ECA Programs Workshop. All ECA attendees participated in that Community Summit.
Throughout the series, participants explored three core themes that connected directly to their volunteer experiences:
Building Teams Where Belonging Drives Impact: Volunteers discussed strategies for recruitment, onboarding, retention, and team engagement. Many participants valued the opportunity to collaborate with neighboring Area Teams, share common challenges, and develop practical solutions together.
Building Belonging in the AFS Community: Sessions focused on creating welcoming environments for volunteers, host families, students, returnees, and alumni. Participants examined how strong relationships and a sense of belonging help strengthen local AFS communities and advance the organization’s mission.
Support and Learning at AFS-USA: Summits provided opportunities to discuss participant support, intercultural learning, volunteer responsibilities, orientations, and ongoing training resources. Volunteers exchanged ideas and best practices that they could immediately apply in their own communities.
Across all six summits, attendees consistently highlighted the value of making new connections, learning from peers, and feeling energized by the shared commitment to AFS’s mission of intercultural understanding.
Looking Ahead to Fall 2026 and Winter/Spring 2027
The success of the 2025–2026 Community Summit series demonstrated the value of bringing volunteers together in regional settings. In addition to strengthening volunteer networks and providing practical tools and fresh ideas, the regional format enabled AFS-USA to engage far more volunteers than would have been possible through a single national gathering. By reducing travel barriers and bringing programming closer to local communities, the Community Summits expanded access to leadership development, collaboration, and mission-focused learning.
Building on this momentum, AFS-USA and the National Council are planning another round of Community Summits beginning in Fall 2026 and continuing through Spring 2027. These one-day events will continue to provide opportunities for volunteers to connect, learn, and collaborate while adapting content to meet local interests and needs.
In early June, Area Team Chairs were invited by email to express interest in bringing a Community Summit to their region during Fall 2026 or Winter/Spring 2027. Click here to see the announcement post on MyAFS News. If your team would be interested in being considered for an upcoming Community Summit, please work with your Team Chair so that they submit the interest form by Tuesday, July 7.
Whether you attended one of this year’s six summits or are considering participating for the first time, future Community Summits offer an opportunity to strengthen your connections within AFS, share your experiences, learn from fellow volunteers, and help advance our mission in communities across the country.