Sophia Qureshi

Formed in 2015 by a group of Latino leaders, “Los Vecinos de Buford Highway,” has evolved from a high school classroom project to an association that connects residents, nonprofits, and government agencies. The organization primarily focuses on housing issues affecting the undocumented and Spanish-speaking communities, offering neighborhood networking, programming, and legal support.

Of the approximately 75,000 Afghans evacuated to the United States when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, more than 1,500 came here to Georgia, with the vast majority resettling in Metro Atlanta. The arrival of record numbers of new families in a short time has tested the resources of the area’s resettlement agencies. So, informal networks of people have stepped up to help the new arrivals, some of whom have first-hand experience with the challenges facing these Afghan families.

When Azhar Mehmood and his wife Farah opened Mughals in 1994, they not only invited Atlantans to experience authentic Pakistani food, but also helped lay the foundation for Pakistani cultural life in metro Atlanta.