Title: Executive Director
Company: Afghan Coalition
Location: Fremont, CA United States

Rona Popal came to the U.S. in 1977, when she was just 19 years old. She spent two years in New York, and then she moved to California, where she worked for the Alameda County Social Services. Ms. Popal founded the Afghan Coalition in 1996, and is now recognized as a community leader and champion of Afghan rights, locally, nationally, and internationally. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to strengthening Afghan immigrant families living in the U.S., improving their access to social services, and building a strong and united Afghan-American community. They also seek to empower refugee families, women and youth, and build bridges between the United States and Afghanistan.

In addition to her work with the Afghan Coalition, Ms. Popal is also active in the Afghan Women’s Association, and is now starting another project in Afghanistan. Additionally, she has represented the Northern Californian Afghan community in international conferences and summits, and has had the honor of serving as the Northwest U.S. delegate to the LoyaJirga in Afghanistan. Ms. Popal has fought an uphill battle as a woman in a male-dominated field, and she has been targeted by many groups and programs. This has led her to initiate an annual Women’s International Day, which acknowledges the work of women in business who are giving back to their communities. Ms. Popal’s greatest strengths are working with groups and on projects. She is a workaholic who is passionate about women’s causes.

To prepare for her career, Ms. Popal graduated from California State University with a degree in international studies. She hopes to someday pursue a master’s degree in social work. Ms. Popal was inspired by her parents, who taught her to help people in need. She would like to be remembered as a woman who had a passion for her people.

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