Written by: Jennifer Grace, Silver & Gold Area Team, National Council Communications Committee Member
The 2025 AFS-USA Community Summits got off to a strong start on October 11th, with 2 Summits in Carlsbad, California, and Bloomington, Minnesota. These inaugural gatherings brought together volunteers, host family members, returnees, and staff to explore this year’s theme: Where Belonging Meets Impact. 26 attendees came together in Carlsbad, while 18 participated in Bloomington. Participant evaluations were highly positive, yielding a combined average satisfaction score of 4.5 out of 5.
These local, intimate gatherings are the perfect opportunity to meet AFS staff, meet volunteers from adjoining teams and share ideas and gain knowledge about our dynamic AFS culture.
The summits provided a structured opportunity for AFS community members to connect, share experiences, and build on the AFS’s mission of fostering intercultural understanding. Sessions were co-led by staff and volunteers, ensuring a collaborative approach that drew on diverse perspectives from across the network.
What Made These Summits Spark
The Summits focused on three areas, each designed to equip volunteers with practical strategies for their roles and challenges.
Strengthening Volunteer and Team Engagement
Focusing on tools and methods to boost participation and collaboration within teams, volunteers from neighboring areas discussed common challenges, brainstormed solutions, and explored ways to enhance teamwork. One participant noted: “I thought getting together with my team and adjacent teams was very valuable. We got to know each other and share common problems, brainstorm for solutions and encourage collaboration.” Ideas shared included new approaches to volunteer recruitment, retention strategies, and techniques for making team meetings more productive.
Creating Meaningful Local Impact
The AFS mission extends beyond student exchanges through community outreach and partnerships. Volunteers and staff shared through brainstorming examples of local impact, including intercultural events, collaborations with local organizations, and initiatives to promote global awareness in everyday settings. One volunteer shared: “I loved …how clear it is that we are collectively all there specifically due to how strongly we believe in that mission. Which makes me want to lead my conversations with potential hosts or students by clarifying that mission more in the world—on platforms and in person.” These conversations underscored the integral role of local efforts in amplifying AFS’s global goals.
Supporting Mission-Focused Student Experiences
At the heart of every exchange of course is the student. And yet, there are so many more people that gain value from an AFS experience. The final focus highlighted AFS-USA’s student support framework, emphasizing intercultural learning for students, host families, and volunteers. Topics included orientation best practices, ongoing support mechanisms, and ways to address challenges that arise during exchanges. Multiple attendees stated, “I got a ton of great ideas on volunteer engagement which I am looking forward to implementing.”
Additional highlights from evaluations included excitement about returnee inclusion and ideas for implementation: “I was able to meet my new team so I am excited to get started with them.” The inclusion of returnees added valuable insights, with one attendee stating: “Thank you for doing this. It was really great making connections with others in the region and with young returnees. We definitely need to continue inviting the returnees.” Another described the event as “phenomenal,” particularly appreciating the focus on belonging: “The sense of belonging facets were especially intriguing and rewarding.”
Why These Summits Matter
Events like those in Carlsbad and Bloomington and upcoming in Chicago demonstrate the value AFS-USA is putting on intimate, in-person meetings, and the value of collaboration in our volunteer-driven organization. They build and strengthen our community while providing actionable insights that volunteers can apply immediately. The co-leadership model ensures sessions are relevant and grounded in real-world AFS experiences both on the national level and local level. This hands-on support is a valuable tool AFS-USA is using to support local volunteers.
As the summit series continues nationwide, these gatherings offer a platform for more AFS-USA community members to contribute ideas, learn from peers, and strengthen local programs. Upcoming dates and locations will be announced to all volunteers in the areas and will be posted on the AFS-USA website.
The early feedback from October 11th confirms that prioritizing belonging leads to greater impact. By participating in future summits, volunteers can help sustain this momentum and advance AFS’s mission in their communities.