FAI 2027: Chicago, Illinois, United States
January 27-31, 2027
- FAI 2027
- Artists
- Attending
- partners
Affinity Groups
Virtual Affinity Groups Summer 2026
Topic: Teachable Moments
Affinity groups are informal gathering spaces for people of the same lived experience and identity, who have historically been oppressed or underserved. For this round, we are trying something new and suggesting a topic. We are asking folks to share personal experience of teachable moments, mistakes and microaggressions in music. How could things have gone better? In this virtual gathering, the moderator will make sure everyone has a chance to share their thoughts in a welcoming and listening environment.
Upcoming Sessions
Jewish Folks (Daytime)
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Moderated by Mark Rubin and Carolyn Shulman
3:30 PM CT
Folks with Disabilities or Chronic Illness
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Moderated by Alysha Brilla
11 AM CT
Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Folks (Eastern Hemisphere)
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Moderated by Amrita Soon
4 PM GMT+8 (6 PM AEST / 3 AM Central Time)
Pan-Asian Pacific Islander Folks (Western Hemisphere)
Monday, July 20, 2026
Moderated by Trevor Turla and Aireene Espiritu
12 PM CT
Folks Coping with Grief and Loss
Monday, July 20, 2026
Moderated by Stephen Bond Garvan and Treasa Levasseur
2 PM CT
Folks from the African Diaspora
Monday, July 20, 2026
Moderated by Bertrand Evans-Taylor
7 PM CT
SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa)
Wednesday July 22, 2026
Moderated by Tenise Marie and Naghmeh Shafiei
4 PM CT
Contact Janice Jo Lee, Affinity Group Coordinator
if you have any questions at janice@folk.org
All Affinity Groups
Activists and Changemakers
For self-identified activists and changemakers to connect and share their worries and hopes for our world. Share your thoughts on harnessing the strength of community in collective action to drive social change, environmental preservation, and making this world a better place for all.
Folkies 55+
Connect with peers and discuss the unique perspective that is gleaned from time spent in the music business. Explore the wide open landscape of reinvention and renewal of one's sense of place in the community.
Folks Coping with Grief and Loss
This session is for anyone coping with grief or loss who would like to connect with others who share similar experiences. This is a respectful space where all contributions are welcome.
Folks from the African Diaspora
This group is exclusively for folks from all parts of Africa, the international African Diaspora, and Black folks. Participants are invited to share their experiences and build new connections.
Folks with Disabilities or
Chronic Illness
For folks who identify as having disabilities or chronic illnesses to gather together and discuss concerns and issues they are facing, as well as to celebrate successes and build community.
Indigenous Folks
For Indigenous folks from around the world to share stories, experiences and build connections.
Indigenous Allies
For non-Indigenous folks to ask questions, share strategies and connect with each other in international solidarity as accomplices toward Indigenous sovereignty.
Jewish Folks
A space for Jewish folks to gather in shared culture and lived experience. Folks are invited to share stories, struggles, make new intergenerational connections, and find solidarity in community.
Latiné and Hispanic Folks
This group is exclusively for Latiné folks: people of Latin American heritage and the Latin Diasporas. This is an informal session for Latiné delegates to gather and chat, with a focus on sharing their stories and experiences about being Latiné and how this cultural identity translates into what they do. Speaking in Spanish or Indigenous languages is invited.
LGBTQ2IA+
All delegates who identify as LGBTQ2IA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, 2-spirit, intersex, asexual and more) are invited to join this gathering to share experiences, make intergenerational connections, and advocate for safety and liberation.
Next Generation (35 and under)
For delegates under the age of 35 to meet and network. Whether you have been in the folk industry for many years or you are just starting out, this is a space for the next generation to connect, share challenges, ideas, and dreams.
Neurodivergent Folks
This space is for neurodivergent folks in the music industry who find it “easy to build rocket ships and difficult to make toast.” It is a non-judgmental space for folks to meet, share executive functioning and communication challenges in the music industry, tips, and build a sense of belonging.
Pan-Asian Folks
This group is for folks of Asian (West Asian, South Asian, East Asian) and/or Pacific Islander (Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia) heritage to meet and build community through their shared culture and experiences in the folk industry.
Parents and Caregivers
Being a musician or music industry professional poses unique challenges to those who are actively parenting or caring for others. Join this affinity session to connect with others seeking to find balance as they juggle busy home and work lives.
SWANA
For folks from Southwest Asia and North Africa, this affinity group is a gathering place for the diverse and rich cultures within the SWANA region. SWANA is an inclusive term we use to move away from the colonial label "Middle East."
Women
FAI welcomes all women, including transwomen, and genderfluid/genderqueer femmes to meet, share resources, challenges, successes and advice. It is a safe space to build knowledge networks and work towards gender equity in folk music.
