Affinity Groups | Folk Alliance International 2025 Conference

Affinity Groups are intended to be safer spaces for folks of a specific lived identity to commune with one another within a Folk Alliance context. The idea is to bring folks together in a supportive environment to share experiences, listen and make connections, without fear of discrimination, shame, or reprimand for being of that lived experience. Generally, these groups are folks who have been historically oppressed, erased or ignored. Affinity groups are moderated by a person within the group who has received some training through FAI.

FAI has received feedback from affinity group members that creating these spaces has been one of the more powerful aspects of our conference and that because of these self-lead groups they genuinely feel safe, welcomed, connected, and heard. For this reason, FAI takes a strong position on which delegates are appropriate to attend Affinity groups.
Affinity means people of the same identity. Allies are people who support those from historically oppressed identities, but are not of that identity.

Allyship is an integral part of the FAI community. However, FAI Affinity Groups are not for allies to attend. FAI treats our entire conference program and organization as a place for allyship. By not having folks outside that lived identity experience, an affinity group removes the self-consciousness of having to consider the feelings, questions and suggestions of sympathetic outsiders. This allows the members to focus internally on each other.

Example 1: The Pan-Asian Pacific Islander affinity group is only for folks who are Asian or Pacific Islander. If you are not Pan-Asian or Pacific Islander, the group is not for you to attend.

Example 2: Folks Coping With Loss Affinity Group is for folks who are coping with loss. If you are not coping with loss, the group is not for you to attend.

FAI creates affinity groups upon request. If there is an affinity group you are interested in starting, or if you are unsure if you can attend a certain affinity group, please reach out to our DEIA Coordinator Janice Jo Lee at janice@folk.org

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