What is First Thursdays?

First Thursdays is a monthly dinner series for people in the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors interested in Asian American & Pacific Islander (AA&PI) community issues and service opportunities. Each event seeks to educate the audience about an important issue or work in the API community and provide ways for audience members to get involved. Our events are located in the South Bay. The San Francisco/Berkeley version of First Thursdays, Third Thursdays, is our sister organization.

How are First Thursdays Structured?

Our standard monthly dinner event includes:

* One hour panel discussion
* Facilitated Dinner Discussion groups
* Shout-outs

How are topics selected?

Topics are selected from suggestions from the audience, the organizers, and any co-sponsors.

What if I don’t know much about the issues in the community?

That’s okay! We’ve tried to make the panels informative enough to give people an idea of the scope of the issues of the selected topic and some detailed information. In the discussion sessions, we aren’t expecting everyone be a staff member of a non-profit or be actively involved in a voluntary organization. Just be willing to discuss your reactions to the issues brought up in the panel. Don’t feel like you have to speak a lot. We’ll provide resources to look up more information on the topic on your own, so you’ll have more things to talk about next time.

What’s the Dress Code?

Dress comfortably. Most people come to First Thursdays straight from work. Since we all work in different fields, there’s no prevailing dress code for Third Thursdays.

What’s the Donation for?

The suggested donations goes toward the food for dinner, room rental, misc. supplies, and honoraria/donation waivers for speakers and facilitators.

How can I help out?

We always need help in the planning, facilitation, speaker ideas, website maintenance, etc. Email info@firstthursdays.org with a little note saying that you’d like to help out and we’ll be happy to work together.

Where are First Thursdays held?

Our location varies from even to event. If you’re located in San Francisco, be sure to check out, Third Thursdays!

Is First Thursdays a non-profit?

First Thursdays is an all-volunteer organization sponsored by AACI. Organizers come from non-profit and for-profit backgrounds. We typically meet once a month to plan the events. Our fiscal sponsor is AACI.