Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), in partnership with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, will host an event featuring veteran and former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and Afghan refugee Rahim Raufi.
Kander’s efforts helped ensure Raufi and his family could seek refuge in the United States.
In a conversation moderated by Diana Kander, Jason Kander and Raufi will share stories of their connection, the harrowing journey of the Raufis after the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan and the family's long-awaited arrival in Kansas City.
The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the KC Chamber board room at Union Station (30 West Pershing Ave., Kansas City, MO 64108). It is hosted by Harry and Kris Campbell, Louis and Mika Cohn, Kimberly McClain, Lee and Megan Urban, Sacha and Chad Troutwine and KC Chamber’s Welcoming KC program.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Jason Kander joined the U.S. Army. As a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan, he investigated corruption, espionage and drug trafficking, regularly leaving the relative safety of the base while traveling in unarmored civilian vehicles accompanied only by his translator. He achieved the rank of captain and was one of ten national finalists for the Reserve Officer Association’s Junior Officer of the Year Award.
In 2021, after the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, Kander founded the Afghan Rescue Project to assist in the evacuation of Afghans he had personally served with but were left behind, including the family of his Afghan interpreter, Salam. Over the course of several successful operations, Afghan Rescue Project played a role in the evacuation of more than 2,000 Afghan allies from Taliban-controlled lands.
Following the evacuation, Jason connected with Salam’s nephew, Raufi, and began working on getting Raufi and his entire family to safety. Though Raufi escaped being kidnapped by the Taliban, he remained a target of the Taliban. The family successfully escaped to Albania because of secret and creative efforts of Kander, friends and JVS aid.
Tickets and more information are available at tinyurl.com/mwm4n89d.