Kurdish-American Cultural Institute (KACI) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization established in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000, and officially registered in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). From its founding, KACI has aimed to assist Kurdish community members in adjusting to life in the United States, embracing its diversity, and adapting to new cultural environments. Through impactful community service initiatives, KACI has long supported refugees and immigrants across Tennessee.
Following its registration in the KRI, KACI expanded its mission to host programs and create cultural bridges between Kurdistan and the United States through public diplomacy work. The Institute is dedicated to advancing public diplomacy by fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and international collaboration. Through educational initiatives and programs in language, the arts, and history, KACI promotes greater cultural awareness and appreciation of Kurdish heritage within a global context.
KACI actively facilitates exchange programs between the Kurdish community and other communities in the United States and abroad, creating opportunities for shared learning and cooperation. Notably, KACI initiated and organized the sister city agreement between Erbil and Nashville, which was officially signed in September 2023, marking a historic milestone in strengthening civic development, goodwill, and long-term international partnerships. Additionally, KACI hosts conferences, exhibitions, performances, and lectures that showcase Kurdish culture while promoting multicultural engagement.
Through these initiatives, KACI continues to strengthen cross-cultural dialogue, enhance global partnerships, and contribute meaningfully to the practice of public diplomacy.