At TDA, we understand that effective diaspora engagement is a strategy that informs and strengthens global and local industries, communities and economies. Looking back on 2025, our metric for success was simple. We aimed to move from diaspora systems support to diaspora systems building. Our focus on consistent services, products, events and communications helped showcase the importance of diasporas around the world

Building the foundation and narrative

We opened the year by launching our podcast, That Second-Gen Life with Semhar, investing in diaspora advocacy training with Ashoka Diaspora Networks and the National African Student Association to establish the first cohort of our Diaspora Advocacy Policy Influencers Program. 

Convening and community innovation

In May, we hosted the first Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit, a virtual gathering that sparked Eritrean diaspora next-gen collaborations across sectors. As a member of the Eritrean diaspora, it was an honor to convene inspiring Eritrean diaspora second-generation pioneers, changemakers and innovators to discuss the importance of authentic, purpose-driven leadership. 

We also presented at ADIS25, hosted by the African Diaspora Network, and in June, I joined The Bridgespan Group's podcast Dreaming in Color to discuss our work, and later presented recommendations at UN Women West Africa's conference on sustainable philanthropy and remittances with the Ford Foundation.  These engagements revealed there's a shared value of including diaspora perspectives across business, policy and industry. 

Policy influence and strategic positioning

August brought a contribution to UN Women’s playbook, From Remittance to Resilience, emphasizing the importance of including diasporas at the start of strategy We also launched registration for the October Diaspora Leadership Program. September featured a host of partner and client engagements, including speaking at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference with Rep. Ilhan Omar and Don Lemon, a new partnership with Beaux Monde HQ to connect creatives and investors, moderating African Diaspora Day on the Hill on AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure, and collaboration with the Damascus Gate Foundation to advise on diaspora-led philanthropy, cross-border giving pathways, and building diaspora partnerships. 

Institutional engagement and global leadership

October included remarks to African ambassadors at The Africa-America Institute’s DIPLO program and delivery of the three-session Diaspora Leadership Program. In November, we trained students from New York University's Abu Dhabi and presented at IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration and joined the CIMR debate on the role of diasporas in economic development and the SDGs. TDA partners with institutions ready to scale their diaspora programming and support diaspora changemakers at every level. It was an honor to colalborate and build with such a wide variety of organizations.

With gratitude

TDA is thankful for its community of supporters, partners and collaborators who help to make this work possible.  Our goal is to strengthen your diaspora priorities and our collective diaspora impact through strong partnerships, advisory services and trainings.   

We are especially thankful to the organizations who committed to strengthening their diaspora impact with TDA as their partner and collaborator of choice.  We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership and helping you achieve your strategic diaspora goals. 

Your partnership strengthens the field and widens the table for collective impact, and we know the field advances when commitments are clear and learning is shared. We look forward to deepening this work with clarity, coordination, and care.