Membership
“One light feeds another. One engaged community can ignite those around it.”
— Michelle Obama
Community of Peers
By joining NABEA, you become part of a dynamic community of over 400 Black professionals, academics, and students with a shared dedication to Asia.
Sign up today to access exclusive resources, participate in insightful discussions, learn from fellow experts, and connect with others who share your passion for Asia. Membership is free and open to anyone who identifies as Black or African-American.
Membership Benefits
Community
Community is the foundation of NABEA. With members worldwide, our aim is to ensure that no one feels isolated, regardless of their location. Our in-person and virtual meetups offer valuable opportunities to connect, share experiences, and engage with others who are passionate about Asia. Whether you’re new to an area or a longtime resident, you’ll likely find a NABEA member nearby, ready to support and collaborate.
✓ Attend exclusive local meetups
✓ Rely on a supportive community while traveling
✓ Share and celebrate your achievements with the NABEA community
Slack Channel
Our Slack community provides direct access to over 400 members and is central to our network. Whether you're sharing news, seeking career advice, or looking to make new friends, our dynamic Slack Workspace facilitates it all. Apply for membership to receive an invitation to join and stay updated on all NABEA activities.
✓ Engage with our 400+ members
✓ Stay up-to-date on all the latest NABEA news
✓ Help us elevate YOU by sharing your successes on Slack.
Pod Mentorship
Our Pod Mentorship Program pairs each mentor with three mentees, forming a unique learning unit called a pod. This structure fosters relationships among mentees and encourages diverse perspectives to flow in both directions. As a mentee, you’ll be paired with a mentor with decades of experience in the Asia field, along with other young professionals. Together, you’ll expand your professional network, receive career advice, learn from peers, and set professional goals.
For those who serve as a mentor, you’ll help shape the next generation of Asia specialists.
✓ Applications for the Pod Mentorship program opens in May and November
✓ Access exclusive 1:3 Pod mentoring with U.S. ambassadors and industry leaders
✓ Achieve personal and professional growth
Language Groups
Our Chinese and Japanese language groups offer members the chance to practice their language skills, regardless of their location. Led by passionate NABEA members, these groups create a supportive environment for improving language proficiency at any stage of your learning journey. We are actively seeking NABEA members interested in expanding our Language Group offerings to include languages from East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, and beyond.
✓ We currently offer Chinese and Japanese language groups
✓ Join a community of credentialed language teachers and dedicated learners
✓ Practice language skills in a safe, peer-supported space
Events
Highlighting the expertise of our members is a top priority. We host public events where members can share their knowledge with a broad audience, as well as community events for more intimate discussions. These events ensure that our members receive the recognition they deserve for their valuable contributions.
Database
We aim to reshape perceptions of Asia expertise by offering a database of over 200 Black experts specializing in the Indo-Pacific region. This resource helps event organizers and recruiters identify new talent, providing members with direct invitations for emerging opportunities. Add your name to the database and join a distinguished group of researchers, scholars, ambassadors, diplomats, private sector leaders, and nonprofit leaders.
✓ Gain recognition in your field
✓ Stand among high-caliber Black experts specializing in Asia
✓ Receive direct requests for positions and speaking engagements
FAQs
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Fill out our membership application form. Once you complete the form, you'll receive an email to schedule your welcome call. After the call, you'll gain access to the complete range of NABEA programs.
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The best part about NABEA memberships is that they are free!
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Absolutely. Join our ally community by visiting our Become an Ally page. Discover how you can engage with NABEA initiatives to uplift Black voices in the U.S.-Asia discourse.
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We prefer the term “Indo-Pacific” over “Asia-Pacific” as it more accurately encompasses the diverse range of countries, cultures, and peoples our members engage with, from Pakistan to Japan and Cambodia to the Maldives.
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Yes! We have a vibrant community with NABEA members scattered across the globe. While our main NABEA circles are in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Japan, and Shanghai, China, we welcome members from all corners of the world. If you're looking to connect with NABEA members in your city but are unsure where to start, send us an email at nabea@usnabea.org, and we'll link you up with local members.