The Belarusian Diaspora in the US, San Francisco

• In Event: Belarusian Diaspora and Exiled Civil Society: Re-establishment, Old and New Divides

Abstract

The Belarusian Community of the San Francisco Bay Area in California was established at the end of the 2000s and formed primarily on historical and national values, aiming to preserve and promote Belarusian national identity, language, history, and culture. Today, it is one of the largest and most dynamically developing Belarusian diaspora communities in the United States. The paper presents the analysis of the diaspora activities and initiatives over 2020-2023. It highlights how the diaspora's social, cultural, and political life was changing depending on the unfolding political situation in Belarus. The author also discusses potential challenges related to diaspora communities and their experiences in the US and beyond borders.

Author

• Nadzeya Norton, Association of Belarusians in America