CT Regional team
Counting Albanian Americans in Connecticut.
NAR — the National Albanian Registry — is the community-led count. 58 counted in Connecticut so far.
1 ambassador organizing the count locally.
Director of Outreach
National outreach director.
Sets cross-state strategy and recruits state directors. Connecticut's ambassadors report up here until a state-specific director is seated.
Iliriana Sela
Director of Outreach · National
Connecticut ambassadors report to Iliriana.
Ambassadors in Connecticut
Regional ambassadors on the ground.
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Rrok Merdita
Regional Ambassador
Have a huge influence in the albanian community, and in social media. Reaching over 30 million people worldwide. Also running Burek Boys where we Promote Albanian Businesses in America.
Why Connecticut matters
A real count is where the work starts.
ACS 2024 estimate
10,825
Federal count
Community estimate
43,300–54,125
Methodology page
On NAR today
58
From Connecticut
Capture rate
0.54%
vs. ACS
As Connecticut's Albanian community becomes visible in the data systems institutions actually use, the recognition story gets stronger — for bilingual-ballot petitions in jurisdictions with significant limited-English Albanian populations, for hospital interpreter staffing, for school home-language reporting, and for university heritage programs. None of these unlock automatically from a count; they come from sustained organizing on top of one. The Census ACS stays the official federal source; NAR builds the parallel community count alongside it.
Connecticut concentrations
Waterbury, New Haven
Connecticut's Albanian community concentrates around Waterbury and New Haven — a small-state-but-dense pattern that makes the community more visible to state and local laws modeled on the §203 threshold.
Connecticut ranks in the published ACS Albanian-ancestry counts at 10,825 (2024). Nationwide the Census counts 224,000 Albanian Americans while community estimates put us close to a million — and the same gap shows up here. NAR is the community-led parallel count that sits alongside the ACS, one self-attestation at a time.
What's happening in Connecticut
5 upcoming events.
Festivals, services, fundraisers, and community gatherings the Connecticut team is tracking.
- Mon, Jun 22 9:00 AM – Jun 26, 4:00 PM Religious
Vacation Church School at Three Saints Park: 'The Heavenly Hosts'
Week-long Albanian Orthodox youth program at Three Saints Park, ages 5–15. Bible study, worship, swimming, games, Family Night Friday.
Three Saints Park · Bethany
- Sun, Sep 20 · 5:00 PM–9:00 PM Cultural
Albanian Live Music with Vedat Ademi
An evening of Albanian live music with Vedat Ademi at Aquila's Nest Vineyards in Sandy Hook, CT.
Aquila's Nest Vineyards (Indoor Tasting Room) · Sandy Hook
- Fri, Oct 23 · 6:00 PM–9:00 PM Cultural
Arbëresh Music with Peppa Marriti Band
An evening of Arbëresh (Italo-Albanian) music with the Peppa Marriti Band from Santa Sofia d'Epiro at Aquila's Nest Vineyards in Sandy Hook, CT.
Aquila's Nest Vineyards (Indoor Tasting Room) · Sandy Hook
- Sat, Nov 28 · 6:00 PM–10:00 PM Cultural
Festa e Flamurit Celebration at St. George Trumbull
Annual Albanian Independence Day celebration at St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral, Trumbull — dinner, music, and remarks marking November 28.
St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral · Trumbull
- Fri, Apr 23 · 9:30 AM–1:00 PM Religious
Feast of St. George — Patronal Feast at St. George Trumbull
Annual patronal feast of St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral, Trumbull — Divine Liturgy, blessing, and parish luncheon.
St. George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral · Trumbull
Organizations in Connecticut
13 Albanian organizations.
Religious institutions, charities, schools, and cultural associations — free to list, claimable by the people who run them.
- Albanian American Cultural And Islamic Center Inc Religious institutions
- Albanian American Moslem Community Inc Religious institutions
- Albanian American Muslim Community Islamic Center Religious institutions
- Albanian Student Association at UConn Student & youth
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Albanian Youth Center Greenwich Inc Student & youth - Autochthonous Albanian Social Club Other
- Green Line Albania Inc Other
- Kosovo Heritage Basketball Academy Inc Student & youth
- Society of Albanian American Writers Inc Cultural & community
- St George Albanian Orthodox Church Religious institutions
- US Kosovo Foundation Charities & foundations
- Vatra Hartford Connecticut Inc Cultural & community
- Yale Albanian Society Student & youth
Businesses in Connecticut
10 Albanian-owned businesses.
Added by the owners themselves. Listing is free.
- Professional services
Greenwich, CT
Professional services business in Greenwich, CT.
- Professional services
Middlebury, CT
Professional services business in Middlebury, CT.
- Professional services
Rocky Hill, CT
Professional services business in Rocky Hill, CT.
- Construction / trades
Waterbury, CT
Construction and trades business in Waterbury, CT.
- Retail & shops
Brookfield, CT
Retail business in Brookfield, CT.
- Professional services
Waterbury, CT
Professional services business in Waterbury, CT.
- Real estate
Easton, CT
Real estate business in Easton, CT.
- Professional services
Wallingford, CT
Professional services business in Wallingford, CT.
- Other
Greenwich, CT
Albanian-owned business in Greenwich, CT.
- Professional services
Easton, CT
Professional services business in Easton, CT.
Apply
Join the Connecticut team.
Each state seats up to three Regional Ambassadors plus one state outreach lead. Volunteer role. Listed publicly. Reimbursed expenses for one local event a year.
Or browse all states with open spots →