blossoming into a new decade 2010 gala

2010 GALA
PROGRAM
BL O S S O M I NG
I N TO A N E W
DE C A DE
PROMOTING THE ROLE OF WOMEN AS DECISION-MAKERS
AND LEADERS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
Sakhi for South Asian Women exists
to end violence against women.
We unite survivors,
communities, and institutions to
eradicate domestic violence as we work
together to create strong and healthy
communities.
Sakhi uses an integrated approach that
combines support and empowerment
through service delivery,
community engagement,
media advocacy,
and policy initiatives.
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Board of Directors
Tamseela Tayyabkhan, Chair
Alpa Tolia, Treasurer
Shabnam Mirza, Secretary
Monica K. Arora
Pallavi Atluri
Subadra Panchanadeswaran
Neeta Rastogi Singh
Staff
Tiloma Jayasinghe, Executive Director
Rosaana Conforme, Direct Services Director
Payal Hathi
Shazia Muhammad
Danielle Reydon
Bithi Roy
Reshmi Sengupta
2010 Interns
Nausheen Akhtar
Mandana Ali
Daina Begum
Rebecca Chowdhury
Cassie Jones
Vaidehi Joshi
Namratta Kaushal
Aruna Krishnakumar
Santushi Kuruppu
Faiza Majeed
Alika Mathur
Sonali Rana
Natasha Rizvi
Tara Sarath
Rana Sartawi
Shraddha Prabhu
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October 1, 2010
Dear Friends,
It is with great satisfaction that I congratulate Sakhi for South Asian Women on its 2010
“Blossoming into a New Decade” Gala celebrating 21 years of service to the South Asian
community in New York.
Over the past two decades, Sakhi has helped countless survivors of domestic violence, many of
whom had no where else to turn. This organization has worked tirelessly to provide languagespecific assistance and culturally sensitive advocacy for some of the most vulnerable New
Yorkers. The noble and diligent efforts of organizations like Sakhi for South Asian Women are
essential to claiming victory over domestic violence in our city.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for all that Sakhi for South Asian Women has contributed
over the years and wish everyone a successful evening of celebration on this occasion.
Sincerely,
Scott M. Stringer
Manhattan Borough President
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LEARNING FROM OUR PAST
AS WE BUILD OUR FUTURE
Dear Sakhi Community,
October 1, 2010
Last year, Sakhi looked back and honored its 20 years of transformation, support
and advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic violence from the South Asian
Diaspora.
This year, we are looking forward to Sakhi’s third decade of continued leadership
and cutting-edge approaches to responding to the issue of domestic violence in the
South Asian community. We are planning our future with renewed commitment, energy, and innovative programs to both address and prevent violence against women
and to promote and protect their human rights.
Sakhi itself is renewed - I am its new Executive Director, and we have numerous
new faces among our staff. I have always admired Sakhi’s work, and the unique
position it holds - it is trusted, valued, and respected in the community as well as
amongst its peers and allies. I recognize, now, as I begin my tenure at Sakhi, that
this trust and respect is earned through the hard work and commitment of Sakhi’s
staff, its Board, its volunteers and interns and the longstanding support it enjoys
from community leaders and members like you.
It is your participation and support that enables Sakhi to provide services to women
who are seeking shelter away from a violent home, who are pursuing their GED
while at the same time working, caring for small children, and fighting custody
battles in family court and for those who are new to this country and are looking to
build a vital support system to help them get through hard, dark times in their lives.
With every ticket sold at this event tonight, you have enabled Sakhi to continue to,
among other things:
• accompany survivors to court and provide emotional support;
• hold workshops on computer literacy that will enable women to search for jobs online, create resumes, and use the internet.
• develop relationships with community banks to provide credit and savings
options to women who are looking for loans to support their entrepreneurial
dreams, or to open savings accounts to establish some stability in their lives and
not live paycheck to paycheck;
• provide reproductive health education and support to survivors and
• conduct outreach and education campaigns to underserved South Asian communities throughout the New York area so that they know about Sakhi’s services
and options for women who are experiencing family violence.
We could not do this critical, life-saving work without your support. Thank you!
I am honored to be joining such a community of supporters and allies who are all
committed to end violence against women, focusing particularly on responding to
the issue of domestic violence in the South Asian community in New York. I look
forward to contributing to Sakhi’s future growth and development, and hope to meet
each and every one of you soon!
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Best,
Tiloma Jayasinghe, Esq., Executive Director
STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING
OUR PROGRAMS
The engine that powers Sakhi’s work and its growth is its unique Direct
Service Program, which provides crisis intervention services to survivors of
domestic violence, monthly support groups, and case management support.
Sakhi’s Direct Service work also includes the Economic Empowerment
Program which provides survivors of violence with opportunities to build
skills that strengthen their capacity to become financially independent and
self-sufficient.
These programs are entering an exciting phase of growth and expansion as
we respond to the changing needs of the survivors we work with,
particularly in light of the global financial crisis, and our underlying ethos
that we will give voice to issues which are typically silenced in our
community. Accordingly, we are expanding our direct service work as well
as some of our policy programs. Sakhi has developed expertise in direct
service over its two decades of work, and it is critically important to translate that direct service expertise into policy recommendations and analyses
that can be broadcast to multiple stakeholders - from legislators to
community leaders to related movements for social justice.
For example, over the next two years, Sakhi will develop the Economic
Empowerment Program to incorporate an economic justice framework that
will explore and shed light on the link between violence against women
and economic insecurity. Sakhi will also develop methodologies of service,
policy and outreach that address this link and provide concrete remedies that
empower women’s lives and those of their families. The global financial
crisis has made access to credit and savings opportunities hard for many of
the women we work with - accordingly, we are building relationships
with local banks in order to assist our survivors with
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banking opportunities.
We are also gathering information about the rising problem of financial
abuse where abusive partners ruin the credit of the survivors, through
defaulting on mortgages that are held in the survivor’s name, running up
credit card debt that she cannot pay down and then abandoning her. Once
a credit rating is ruined, accessing public housing, establishing good credit,
and challenging the credit card charges or defaulted mortgages are nearly
impossible for the women we work with. We are working with legal service
agencies to gather information on the prevalence of this form of abuse and
developing responses that can protect survivors from being manipulated in
this way.
Another program which is being revitalized is our Women’s Health
Initiative, which has been in existence for over a decade. Through this
program, Sakhi works to educate and inform survivors as well as
healthcare providers and the larger community about the effects of violence
on women’s mental, physical, and sexual health. Sakhi has historically
focused on providing direct support for the women we work with to access
healthcare and learn about health issues through one-on-one assistance,
workshops, support groups, and public education materials. We also
provide these women with access to a core group of mental health providers
and physicians who speak South Asian languages and can serve the needs
of survivors through low-cost or free consultations and exams.
Sakhi is now transforming this program to incorporate principles of
reproductive health and justice. Sakhi will galvanize the critical work this
program does by exploring the link between violence and health –
particularly focusing on reproductive decision-making and health. Sakhi
will also develop a health education program that links violence to negative
health outcomes in order to engage and educate the community to raise
awareness about these issues and seek help when necessary. This work is
extremely important because the impact of violence on women’s
reproductive choices is one that is silenced - in fact, many women do not
even recognize their right to body integrity in the marital context.
Furthermore, there are hardly any resources or studies that specifically
focus on the reproductive health ramifications of domestic violence among
the South Asian Diaspora.
As we blossom into a new decade, we will continue to give voice to other
silenced struggles faced by the survivors of domestic violence. We are
committed to ensuring that our work is led by the needs and demands of the women we work with and we will continuously strive to prevent and address violence against women in our communities.
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ARTS & EMPOWERMENT
At Sakhi, we are aware that women encounter systems and communities that
suppress and limit their own agency. We believe in women’s ability to become
agents of change and leaders of their lives. Thus, we are invested in helping
women find their voices and tap into the power they possess to transform
themselves and their communities. Sakhi offers many innovative programs which
inspire and facilitate the leadership development of women. Our Arts & Activism
group fosters this process of empowerment and allows women to see themselves in
decision making roles. Through self reflection, the women in these groups deeply
analyze the roles they currently take on and envision taking charge of their lives,
having a voice, making decisions and influencing others. As they experience the
amplified sounds of their formerly silenced voices, they express themselves through
creating inspirational poetry and art in collaboration with each other:
Standing in my Power
Life is a song’s rhythm, my body dances
Freeing my soul, open and divine
Sorrow is a state of mind,
Love, a state of being, nourishing my soul
The person I yearned to be is positive
Yet, I was weighed down with negativity
When I crossed the bridge, kind and warm,
I transformed into a happier person
Overcoming bumps on my path, flying high, soaring,
I am positive and more confident
Knowing power is alive, real, and accessible
Power makes me independent in life
Finding my center, balancing power over and power with
Strength deep within rises free like a flame untamed
My life is a celebration, always alive in my mind
Mind over matter, my every step transcends obstacles
Walking head balanced, shedding dead skin, affirming self
I live into the possibility of a renewed me
Change is everlasting as I carry on in strength
Embracing my butterfly, I become the change
I become the change
I became the change
I am the change
Standing in my power, I open pathways
For sisters to collectively stand in our power.
(Poem is a collaborative work of the Arts and Activism Group)
As the women tap into their impending leadership and decision making capabilities,
they challenge traditional, subjugated roles and, through art, convey a more powerful version of themselves. The poem ‘Standing in my Power’ is a paradigm of the
power women have to be catalysts of change. Works of art like these reflect each
woman’s strength, passion and determination to become influential leaders. The
Arts and Activism program highlights the fact that a woman’s individual potential is
the most untapped and underutilized resource in our society. We believe that it is a
woman’s time to lead.
Sakhi is committed to promoting women’s decision-making power and
unleashing their leadership potential thereby enabling them to become one
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of the greatest forces for global transformation
GALA CELEBRATION PROGRAM
7:00 - 8:00pm
8:15 pm
8:30pm
8:50pm
9:00pm 9:10pm
9:20pm
9:45pm
9:50pm
10:10pm
Cocktails
Welcome by Benefit Co-Chairs Pallavi Atluri and Reena Mathur
Sitar performance by Hidayat Khan accompanied by Dibyarka Chatterjee on tabla
Dinner
Executive Director Tiloma Jayasinghe speaks to Blossoming Into A New Decade
Radhika Coomaraswamy, Honored speaker
Auction conducted by Sandhya Jain Patel, Christie’s Auctioneer
Aasif Mandvi
Performance by Goldspot lead singer Siddhartha Khosla
Music by House of Entertainment, with dancing
Radhika Coomaraswamy is an internationally-known
human rights advocate who has done outstanding work as
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
(1994-2003). In her reports to the UN Commission on
Human Rights, she has written on violence in the family
and in the community, violence against women during
armed conflict, and international trafficking. A strong advocate of womens’ rights, she has intervened on behalf of
countless women throughout the world seeking
clarification from Governments in cases involving violence
against women. She was appointed Special Representative
for Children and Armed Conflict in April 2006.
Ms. Coomaraswamy is a graduate of the United Nations
International School in New York. She received her B.A.
from Yale University, her J.D. from Columbia University,
an LLM from Harvard University and honorary PhDs from
Amherst College, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Essex and the University of
Leuven.
Aasif Mandvi stars in ‘Today’s Special’, a feel-good foodie
comedy, where a young Manhattan chef Samir rediscovers
his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting
art of cooking Indian food. A sparkling romantic comedy
that charms the heart as well as the funny bone, ‘Today’s
Special’ is a lovingly crafted ode to family, food and New
York City.
Since 2006, Aasif has been a correspondent on The Daily
Show with Jon Stewart, and won the OBIE Award for his
critically acclaimed one-man show, “Sakina’s Restaurant”.
Some of his film and TV credits include The Last Airbender, Spiderman 2, Ghost Town, Music and Lyrics,
Tanner on Tanner, The Mystic Masseur, The Siege,
Analyze This, Sex and the City, Oz, CSI, Law and Order, E.R., Jericho and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
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Sitar player Hidayat Khan comes from one of the greatest
families of musicians - his forefathers have been leaders and
innovators of Indian classical music. Hidayat began his formal
training of Indian classical vocal music from his father, Ustad
Vilayat Khan at the age of four; ten years later, his father
formally initiated him into sitar.
Hidayat has performed all over the world, and in prestigious
venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, England,
Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Carnegie Hall and
Alicetuly Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York. He has taken
part in musical compositions for films, TV ads, and fashion
shows and has performed with artists like Ustad Zakir Hussain,
Ray Charles and Andy Gabriel. He is accompanied by Dibyarka
Chatterjee on tabla.
Imagine the West Coast of California, psychedelia-laced
George Harrison, and a 1960’s Indian film, and you’re
getting close to the sound of Goldspot’s second album “And
the Elephant is Dancing” (2010).
Goldspot has lived in the mind of singer/songwriter
Siddhartha Khosla since he was a child, growing up in his
New Jersey home listening to Bollywood oldies and western
rock bands. “Western indie pop/rock sounds together with
Bollywood inspired melodies and instrumentation just seems
like a natural and wonderful musical partnership to me,” he
says. “Mohammed Rafi, Michael Stipe of REM, Kishore
Kumar, and The Beatles have inspired me ever since I could
sing my first note.”
Melanie Kannakoda, actress, dancer and former Miss India
America, is the host of two national TV series - Pulse, the
Desi Beat (IATV) and Destination Bollywod (Star TV) - and
the face of Herbal Essences’ national campaign in Glamour
Magazine.
This year, Melanie has made the jump into the entertainment
space full-time, and most recently was named to Anokhi
Magazine’s 2010 Sexy and Successful List.
In her limited free time, Melanie is building a not-for-profit
organization called “Hospital for Hope,” which is dedicated to
the construction of hospitals in rural India in areas where basic
healthcare is lacking.
She received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from
Stanford University, and served as Student Body President her
final year.
Sandhya Jain Patel is a Specialist of Indian and Southeast Asian Art at Christie’s. Prior to joining Christie’s,
Ms. Jain Patel spent one year as a Fulbright Scholar
in India investigating the materials and techniques
for conserving Indian miniature paintings. Ms. Jain
Patel holds dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology and
Art History from Rutgers University, a Master’s in
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from University
of Medicine and Dentistry, NJ and a Master’s in Art
History and in Fine Arts Conservation from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.
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SAKHI’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Sakhi thanks our generous community supporters and
major donors for their assistance in supporting survivors
and building a stronger community.
BLOSSOMING INTO A NEW DECADE
Gala Co-Chairs
Pallavi and Anil Atluri
Reena and Samir Mathur
Benefit Committee
Simmi and Mickey Bhatia
Hughie Choe
Migna Guzman and Michael Karp
Reshma Patel
Dr. Padmaja Malladi and Bob Reed
Romita Shetty and Nasser Ahmad
Hanita and Ruby Walia
GALA SPONSORS
Patron - $10,000 +
Chandni and Mukesh Prasad
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GALA SPONSORS
Sponsors $5,000 +
Margaret Abraham and Pradeep Singh
Pallavi and Anil Atluri
Barclays Capital
Bloomberg
BRV Sharma Family Foundation
Davis & Gilbert LLP
Migna Guzman and Michael Karp
Reena and Samir Mathur
Romita Shetty and Nasser Ahmad
Partner - $2,500 -$4,999
Monica Arora and Raj Goyle
Simmi and Mickey Bhatia
Hughie Choe
Shabnam Hayder Mirza and Mazin Mirza
Padmaja Malladi and Bob Reed
Reshma Patel
Amita Rodman and Viren Mehta
Radhika and Mukesh Sehgal
Chandra Sunkara
Tamseela Tayyabkhan and Sanjeev Khanna
Alpa Tolia
Hanita and Ruby Walia
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IN-KIND SPONSORS
We thank the following generous donors to our live and silent
auctions:
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Anuja Tolia
Arch Dental Associates
Bob Reed & Kumar Pindiprolu
Butterfly Studios
Citibabes
Citibank
Dedicated Indians of America
Dinika & Anshul Gandhi
Eun Lee
Gazala Chinwalla
Geeta Tolia
Goldie Karpel
Hamilton Farm Golf Club
Little Ustaads
Mansi Shah
Margaret Abraham & Pradeep Singh
Menus & Music
Moksha Arts
Nieman Marcus
Nutan Punatar
Rajul Mehta
Rubin Museum
Salvatore Giardana
Shaban Alam
Soho Sanctuary
Soigne K
Steve Madden
Stuti Javeri
Sugar Cookies
Suma C
The Noble Sage Art Gallery, London
Van Vliet
Xoom.com
Zsa Zsa Jewels
SPECIAL THANKS
Sakhi gratefully acknowledges the following individuals for their commitment and dedication to
ending violence against women.
Neha Surana Chaudhuri
Vivia Costalas
Sarah Crist
Marjeth Cummings
Iqbal Hayder
Santushi Kuruppu
Nita Makhija
Alika Mathur
Radhika Nayar
Sulekha Prasad
Moiuri Siddique
Thank you for your vital support!
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The soul walks not upon a line,
neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself,
like a lotus of countless petals.
- Kahlil Gibran
Sakhi for South Asian Women
P.O. Box 20208
Greeley Square Station
New York, NY 10001-0006
www.sakhi.org
212.714.9153
Helpline: 212.868.6741
program design and layout by Alika Mathur