Learn about the U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Affairs

We represent the American Baha'i community on the national stage.

By contributing to the some of the most urgent and timely discourses of society, we hope to help evolve America further in the direction of unity and justice.

Vision
Our Work
Locations
Team

VISION

Society is built on ideas.

Sets of ideas, or discourses, help shape our institutions and communities, and even our individual minds. Although intangible, the discourses of society wield a powerful influence on how society conceives of itself: its strengths, its challenges, and the range and scope of its potential progress.

Our Office contributes to these discourses based on the principles of the Baha’i Faith, drawing from the collective experience of the American Baha’i community to apply these principles in action. These principles include the oneness of humanity, the essential harmony of scientific and religious truth, the need to eliminate the extremes of wealth and poverty, and the need to abolish all forms of prejudice.

Our work leads us into close collaboration with like-minded individuals and groups. With them, we hope to recast the national conversation around urgent social issues, discovering new ways of engaging with them that propel America to greater heights of unity and justice.

Our Work

What We Do

The Office of Public Affairs for the Baha’is of the United States was founded in 1985 to represent the American Baha’i community on the national stage.

Today, we collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations, individuals, and groups to advance thought around our focus areas, which currently comprise racial unity & justice, the environment, economic justice, human rights, the role of media in society, and gender equality & the advancement of women.

Our Office operates under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, the elected governing body of the American Baha’i community.

Locations

D.C. and New York

Our main office is located in Washington, D.C., at Dupont Circle.

We also have a satellite office located in New York, which represents the American Baha’i community at the United Nations. Our New York office works on various topics such as the UN and civil society, faith values in global affairs, and the advancement of women.

The New York office is part of a larger network of the Baha’i International Community – a body that represents over 180 national Baha’i affiliates and has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Our Team

Despite social distancing, we are still eager to connect with you!

Meet the team

Frequently
Asked
Questions

How do we approach our work? What do we mean when we talk about discourse? How do Baha'is think about social issues, such as climate change? Why are Baha'is persecuted in places like Iran and Yemen? Find the answers here.

LEARN MORE

Want to collaborate on a specific focus area?

Let us know your area of interest by filling out the form below.