Join Eritrean diaspora innovators, professionals, creatives, and leaders for two powerful days of inspiration, connection, and growth.
Before we dive into the summit experience, hear directly from Semhar Araia, Founder and CEO of The Diaspora Academy, about why this gathering matters and what inspired the creation of the Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit.
We are the generation carrying the torch, inheriting the spirit of resilience, and the Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit is our strategic meeting point—our Baito – a powerful assembly of visionary innovators, next-gen leaders, creators, professionals, and young professionals from every corner of the world. We are all connected by the beautiful, bold threads of our shared culture, experiences and ancestral heritage.
The Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit is a virtual conference for second-generation Eritreans in the diaspora—those raised in immigrant households, between cultures, navigating pressure and possibility, and ready to chart their own path.
EDIS brings together the next generation of Eritrean leaders to explore identity, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community impact through meaningful conversations and powerful shared experiences.
10:00 AM -10:15 AM
Opening Remarks:
Honoring Our Light
Semhar Araia
10:15 AM –11:00 AM
The Power of Your Hyphenated Self:
What Diaspora Leadership Looks Like Today
Semhar Araia
11:00 AM–11:30 AM
The Mebrahti Mindset:
Leading with Clarity and Purpose
Semhar Araia
11:30 AM–12:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
12:00 PM–12:55 PM
Curating Your Life:
A Conversation About Discovery, Reconnection and Release
Azieb Pool
Semhar Araia
1:00 PM –1:05 PM
Welcome Back:
Afternoon Intentions & Reflections
Semhar Araia
1:05 PM –1:55 PM
Black Maria:
Living and Moving Between Worlds
Aracelis Girmay
Semhar Araia
1:55 PM – 2:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
2:00 PM – 2:55 PM
Kab Libina:
Creating the Spaces We Wish Existed
Naz Habtezghi, Banna Desta & Sewit Sium
2:55 PM – 3:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
3:00 PM – 3:55 PM
I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For
Bsrat Mezghebe
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
4:00 PM – 4:55 PM
Hagos n’Hizbi:
Joy for the People: Storytelling as a Service in the Twin Cities
Feven Gerezghier & John Ghebretatose
4:55 PM – 5:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
5:00 PM – 5:55 PM
From Sports to Business
Merhawi Keflezghi
5:55 PM – 6:00 PM
Closing
Semhar Araia
10:00 AM -10:15 AM
Welcome and Intention Setting
Semhar Araia
10:15 AM –11:00 AM
Ti’ina and Selam:
The Power of Mental Health and Wellness as Eritrean Diasporas
Semhar Araia
10:00 AM–10:55 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
11:00 AM–11:55 AM
Rest Is Resistance:
Reclaiming Our Boundaries and Joy
Armana Embaie, LOMI
11:55 AM–12:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
12:00 PM–12:55 PM
Hizbina, Hiwetna:
What Must Happen for Healing and Growth
Almaz Negussie Bland, Habesha Health
12:55 AM–01:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
1:00 PM –1:05 PM
Welcome Back:
Afternoon Grounding & Collective Intention
Semhar Aria
1:05 PM –1:55 PM
Building Community
Through Sign Language, Fashion and Memory
Hermon and Heroda Berhane
1:55 PM – 2:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
2:00 PM – 2:55 PM
Kwanqa n’Mebrahti, Language as Light:
Preserving Language Through Technology and Innovation
Daniel Mengisteab, African Language House & Yemane Russom
2:55 PM – 3:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
3:00 PM – 3:55 PM
Digital Diasporas & Music Archiving:
30-Second Gwaylas for 30 Years of Memories
Waleed & Ibtasim Said, Tezez Tapes
3:55 PM – 4:00 PM
Shim Shim Rooms
4:00 PM – 4:55 PM
Community Resilience:
Lessons from Georgia
Yonas Abraha
5:00 PM – 5:55 PM
Zereba Roundtable
ALL
6:00 PM – 6:55 PM
Immigration Conversation
Marron Ghebremeskel
7:00 PM|
Closing Remarks
Get a glimpse of the conversations, insights, and powerful moments that make EDIS such a transformative gathering. These short reels highlight the voices, ideas, and energy shaping the next generation of Eritrean diaspora leadership.
What does it mean to be second-generation Eritrean living in the diaspora?
If you’re like me, you know it means pride, complexity, strength—and questions. How do you honor your heritage while navigating the expectations of the countries we now call home? How do we build community when our lives span languages, cultures, and time zones?
Hi, I’m Semhar Araia.
Founder and CEO of The Diaspora Academy, and I’m inviting you to join me in a bold and beautiful new space we’ve created: the Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit (EDIS).
Two days designed to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of Eritrean diaspora leaders.
New to the space? This is your entry point. Get the inspiration, access, and energy you need to get started.
Ready to lead boldly? The Jigna VIP Level is for the changemakers ready to take it deeper.
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about the Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit.
If you still have questions, feel free to reach out, we’re happy to help!
The Eritrean Diaspora Innovators Summit (EDIS) is a two-day virtual gathering created for Eritrean diasporas, by Eritrean diasporas. It is designed for second-generation and diaspora-born Eritreans who are navigating hyphenated identities while building leadership, careers, and community.
Our goal is to create a space where you feel seen, validated, and empowered to lead, innovate, and collaborate in ways that honor both your heritage and your aspirations.
EDIS is proudly hosted by Semhar Araia, Founder and CEO of The Diaspora Academy. Semhar is an experienced diaspora leader, advocate, and innovator who has spent her career supporting diaspora changemakers around the world.
Through The Diaspora Academy, Semhar and her team provide diaspora leadership training, advisory services, and community spaces that honor the unique contributions of diasporas.
EDIS is for Eritreans in the diaspora, especially:
Second-generation Eritrean diasporas (born or raised abroad)
Diaspora professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, scholars, organizers, and change-makers
Young professionals, students, and emerging leaders ages 18 to 45
Anyone ready to lead with a Mebrahti Mindset, balancing clarity, purpose, and heart
EDIS will be held in English to accommodate all generations. We know you do not have to speak fluent Tigrinia or be fully “plugged in” to Eritrean culture to belong here. If you care about your roots and your future, you are in the right place.
Yes EDIS is open to all!
While EDIS is designed with the Eritrean diaspora experience in mind, it is open to all who are connected to, interested in, or invested in the growth and empowerment of Eritrean diasporas around the world.
Whether you are a second-generation Eritrean born or raised abroad, or a first-generation, a parent of a second-gen child, or someone passionate about supporting Eritrean diaspora leaders, you are welcome here.
Here is what you can expect over two transformational days:
All sessions are held virtually and will be recorded. EDIS is designed to feel engaging, supportive, and practical, with chat rooms, networking breakout sessions and resources for you.
By attending EDIS, you will:
Your journey continues after EDIS with:
You will leave EDIS feeling proud, prepared, and connected to a growing community of changemakers around the world.
Yes – EDIS will happen again!
Absolutely! EDIS is an annual event! We look forward to welcoming you next year on May 1 and 2, 2026!
If you’d like to join the EDIS planning team, sign up to become a volunteer, affiliate partner or sponsor!
We cannot wait to build the next EDIS with passionate Haweys and Hafteys like you!
Reach out to the EDIS team at edis@thediasporaacademy.com and we will be happy to assist you.
We cannot wait to build with you, Hawey and Haftey!
