Khalid Ahmadzai: Senior Director of Economic and Community Development
Khalid Ahmadzai was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. In 2001, he assisted with the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan through various non-governmental organizations and helped start the first co-educational international school in Kabul in 2005. In 2010, Khalid and his family moved to the U.S, where he worked to complete his degree while also serving as a liaison for the International School of Kabul with USAID.
After obtaining his Master's in Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service in 2016, Khalid returned to Afghanistan to work with Turquoise Mountain, a non-profit that works to support local Afghan artisans. Khalid led a program in which he helped Afghan carpet weavers export hand-woven Afghan rugs to designers worldwide. He also founded the first coffee shop of its kind in Kabul.
In 2018 Khalid returned to the U.S. and began working with Canopy NWA. Khalid is also the owner of Rumi Afghan Rugs. Through Rumi, he supports Afghan weavers and hopes to spread the untold stories of Afghan artisans.
In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading poetry, biking, and photography.