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Deepa Iyer, executive director of the Maryland-based South Asian Americans Leading Together, worked the phone while Purvi Shah, who heads the New York-based Sakhi for South Asian Women, greeted the people pouring into the small room at the 15th floor office of Citizens Committee for New York City. Citizens NYC had lent the space for the event, June 24.
Representatives from several non-profit organizations - Monami Moulik of Desis Rising Up and Moving; Sapna Pandya of NYU School of Medicine's South Asian Health Initiative; Seema Agnani of Chhaya CDC; Luna Ranjit of Adhikaar that focuses on New York's Nepali-speaking community; and Annetta Seecharran of South Asian Youth Action - had already arrived.
Many more, including Amardeep Singh of the Sikh Coalition; Maneesha Kelkar of Manavi and Razia Kosi of Counselors Helping (South) Asians/Indians were waiting to dial in from across the country.
It was the occasion to announce the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations, comprising 31 community-based groups in 12 metropolitan areas. Iyer tapped the phone keys, while a large screen behind her advised remote users to call 301-270-1855 (the SAALT office in Maryland) in case of connectivity problems.
It is a diverse coalition. The 31 constituents came into being at different points of time. There is Manavi, that took shape as far back as 23 years ago, and the California-based South Asian Network that was established 18 years ago. In contrast, there is Adhikaar, that was born just three years ago; even younger is Trikone, for the South Asian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
In terms of locations, they are spread between New York, New Jersey, Detroit, Houston, Chicago, and California. Their areas of expertise vary from working with youth or battered women, deportation and civil rights violations of immigrant communities to housing and health.
The purpose of the coalition is to link up the constituents and help their agendas intersect, Iyer, whose organization SAALT led the initiative, said. The goal is also to develop common community education material, to learn from each other by knowledge exchange and skill-building. And finally, "We are also hoping to provide a policy voice that is rooted in community needs and experiences," she said.
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