The 3rd American Azerbaijani Youth Forum titled “From Dialogue to Action” was held at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The two-day forum was organized with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, hosted by the Azerbaijan Center of the Midwest States (ACMA) in Chicago, and supported organizationally by the Alliance of American Azerbaijani Organizations. The event brought together 52 universities from 23 U.S. states, including students, youth leaders, trainers, members of the Azerbaijani community, committee staff, a representative of Azerbaijan’s Embassy in the United States, as well as the Turkish Consul General in Chicago and the Deputy Consul General of Pakistan, News Cover reports, citing Azerbaijan's State Committee on Work with Diaspora.
The forum opened with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and the United States, followed by a minute of silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Elshad Aliyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, highlighted the importance of youth in diaspora activities and Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to youth policy, wishing success to the forum’s work.
Representatives of Azerbaijan’s Embassy in the United States, Turkish Consul General Tahir Bora Atatanır, and Deputy Consul General of Pakistan Saeed Ali emphasized the importance of the event and underlined the role of youth in both education and civic engagement.
Organizers, including Fərid and Mehriban Məmmədov (Midwest Azerbaijan Center), committee member Rəşid Əzimov, and Samir Novruzov from the Alliance of American Azerbaijani Organizations, encouraged young participants to focus on self-development and national unity, reminding them that they represent Azerbaijan while living abroad.
The forum also featured the screening of a documentary dedicated to Heydar Aliyev titled “Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijani Culture: A Strategy for Preserving and Developing National Identity,” produced by ElTV Production in cooperation with the “Vətən” Azerbaijani Arts and Culture Center in Canada.
Panel discussions focused on strategic approaches for youth development and decision-making, bringing together students and diaspora representatives who shared experiences and discussed pathways to success.
A training session titled “Discipline, Pressure & Vision – Becoming the Main Character of Your Life” by Hökümə Kərimova attracted strong interest from participants.
A unified youth networking platform called “Bizim Circle” was presented by İlyas Vəliyev and Təhminə Mehtiyeva, aiming to connect Azerbaijani youth across different U.S. states and improve communication and information exchange.
A presentation on artificial intelligence titled “AI in the Modern World” was delivered by Shakhriyar Mammadov, a senior engineer and IT specialist based in California, with active participants receiving awards for engagement.
A brain-ring competition organized by Nurlan Shukurov and Ülvi Verdiyev tested participants’ knowledge about Azerbaijan, involving over 30 young people in six teams, with winners receiving prizes.
The event also included video presentations highlighting previous youth forums, diaspora activities in the United States, and cultural clips such as “Together” and “History Lesson.”
The artistic segment featured traditional Azerbaijani performances, including folk dances and music, with participants performing “Naz eləmə” and jointly singing “Yaşa mənim xalqım,” followed by a concluding “Yallı” dance.
Certificates were awarded to participants, and the forum concluded with a commemorative group photo.
The first American Azerbaijani Youth Forum was held in Washington in 2024, and the second took place in Virginia in 2025.
