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IAGB Community Chatter – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
IAGB Community Chatter – An Indian American Perspective on General Election
“An Indian American Perspective on US General Election”
So how do you tackle the challenge of asking two extreme sides to find a common ground on policies or see issues only through the prism of your own community? By virtue of first letting them come to a forum with the mindset that while it’s not easier to have a conversation when you make a case for your own cause and beliefs vs make a case against someone else’s cause and beliefs, but also know that they need to raise the bar and be the example that community can look forward to.
It also helps big time when panelists have this maturity to know that their responsibility is not only towards their own beliefs but towards the larger interest of their motherland (Matru Bhumi) and Adopted land (karma Bhoomi). After all, we all come from the land of Adi Shankaracharya, who famously brought back the old Indian tradition of “Poorva Paksha” to the modern world. The only difference here was the twist that in today’s world, where we want to know and talk about our enemies more than our friends, IAGB threw the challenge of making a case for your own candidate before finding faults in other’s candidate.
The result was a very well received first session in the new series started by IAGB civic engagement team on US General Elections. It’s never easy to take an issue that almost split the communities, cities and countries right through the seam these days but it’s not fair either to let the situation be like that. At the very least, we can all agree to disagree. And with this belief of doing good for the community, IAGB took the challenge of addressing the current political landscape through the lenses of Indian American community.
The principal focus was on issues that directly impacted the Indian American community primarily. The discussion opened with the most important topic in Indian American minds today about the strained relations with China and Pakistan and the role of US foreign policy in this regard. The other important topics addressed were economy and legal immigration. This resulted in leaving out some of the other significant issues such as race relations, police reform, health care and education funding etc. which were kept at bay to be addressed at a later date. Some initial friendly banters were also mixed with some heated exchange later but all in the true spirit of India’s old tradition of debates. But these exchanges gave the larger community, which was actively following and reacting in the comment section, more insight into the key issues that directly impacts Indian American’s status locally and globally. A strong realization that we as a community must come together to make our voices heard in the political landscape. We all can achieve a lot as a group with civilized and thought provoking conversations inside the community.
Our wonderful panelists included Mr Shiva Sheel, Mr Pravin Munkur , Mr Beej Das and Mr Paresh Motiwala. A recording of this 90 minutes session can be found at IAGB page.
Coupling – A Grass Root Movement – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Coupling – A Grass Root Movement
What happens when you ask people to ignore the big news cycle and look close to your home/town? A very meaningful conversation occurs, with over 40 participants, about where our tax dollars are going, how our children’s needs are getting addressed in local school systems and above all, how can we have a voice in this multiracial community as an Indian American, or as IAGB likes to call it, initiation of “coupling”.
In a discussion that started by looking back at the history and timeline of one of the major new housing development projects (that has put Indian American community in the middle of rising population in metro west), the lessons were shared and a hope to create new paths for similar such initiatives was desired by one and all. And all of this urges the Indian American community to get right at the center of the “decision making” process.
A panel, carefully selected, to take a deep dive on tax issues, to address the fact that this community has a huge population that always has some or other excuse (justified or not) for not participating in local governance, to finally have someone (and an organization) that is ready to take this baton of getting Indian Americans involved in the decision making process at local level. This group was also chosen to represent the two key forms of town governance, namely open and representative. The overall theme represented how our community can successfully collaborate internally first and externally later to form a cohesive bond of people and make its presence felt.
Among many other topics covered from how best to participate in your own town governance to getting tax payers of Indian origins with no current voting rights (people on visa), attendees were also keen to know more about how best to be involved with town and how can they actively play a role in those decision makings. A lot of enthusiasm was shared across topics like how the school budget is decided and how commercial taxes (in this case new residential development) help the town keep personal taxes low. How much time a person needs to take out to be actively involved in town garnered a lot of responses and interests both from the panelists and the participants.
An engaging discussion took place on the fact that as a community, Indian Americans, are clearly lacking in bringing their strength to the table. This has been a recurring theme whether it is a local election or an election for State or Federal government.
A grass root movement (“Coupling”) at local town level was picked up as a best stepping stone to create a larger and cohesive presence of community.
Youth Excellence Award Winners
Youth Excellence Award Winners
IAGB Community Youth Excellence Awards 2020 Winners
India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB) is thrilled to announce the 2020 Community
Youth Excellence Award winners, for the sixth year in a row! IAGB thanks all the
nominees for their submissions for the Youth Excellence Awards.
Cynthia Rajeshkanna
Cynthia Rajeshkanna is a 16 year-old rising junior from Northborough, MA. She has co-founded a nonprofit organization called Aptitutor that provides free tutoring, classes, and educational grants with the intent of making free supplemental education accessible to all. Additionally, Cynthia is an aspiring entrepreneur, being the CEO of DineSure, a start-up company geared towards making the dining environment safer for people that have dietary restrictions. On the side, Cynthia also pursues her passion for altruistic service, as the current director of the Northborough Southborough Interact Club, a youth community service group affiliated with Rotary International. Academically, Cynthia is a diligent student with several scholastic awards to her name and she keeps herself busy with many extracurriculars: HOSA, Science Olympiad, National English Honor Society, as well as the cross country and track & field teams..
Adway Wadekar
Adway Wadekar, is a rising senior at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Wadekar excels both inside and outside the classroom – he is a National AP Scholar, a distinction received by only about 50 juniors in Massachusetts each year. He is passionate about research in the quantitative social sciences, and has adekar has also designed and presented workshops to raise the awareness of substance abuse among middle- and high school students.
won numerous awards at regional, state, national, and international competitions, the most prestigious one being at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Wadekar has published his research as a solo author in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. He was selected to participate in the New England High School Journalism Collaborative Summer Workshop, co-sponsored by The Boston Globe, and the Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute. He is excited about journalism as an avenue to connect with people on a grassroots level, and to bridge the gap between ordinary people and scientific discoveries. He serves as the Contributing Writer for the Community Advocate Newspaper, as the Photographer in Residence for the Town of Westborough and as the President of his school’s mock trial team.
Elementor #16422
BHAAG IAGB BHAAG – 5K VIRTUAL RUN
Rules and Regulations
- Register for the Bhaag IAGB Bhaag Virtual Run/Walk on our site
- The registration can be at an individual level or at a family level – Age is not a concern – all proceeds will be donated to a good cause
- Virtual runs – run or walk outdoors but limit the time on roads and continue to support safe and healthy running distances and social distancing
- This Event is just for “one”day (Saturday, June 13th 2020) and our suggested run time is between 8am-8.30am (we recommend morning run/walk to beat the heat)
- Set your running trail in your neighborhood and run/walk 5K or more, at your own pace, and make sure to track it on your prefered app
- Pick up your t-shirt from the location we announce, wear it on the run day to show that you supported our fundraising
- At the end of the run/walk, take a picture of yourself or the family and your track record , post on Instagram/Facebook with the #BhaagIAGBhaag
- Maintain 6ft distance and STAY SAFE!
- REGISTRATION INCLUDES: Optional Performance Wear Tee T-SHIRT – Wear the T-Shirt as part of the Run. Only the first 100 registrants will get the t-shirts.
- IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE ORGANIZERS: With endurance events shut down nationwide, gyms closing, stores being closed…this is our attempt to help keep everyone focused on healthy living, spread a little playful humor all while doing some good deeds in the process. It is not intended to be insensitive or downplay the gravity of the illness. It is very serious. When the virus completes its course, we need you healthy and back on the trails. Please follow all the guidelines from the State Governor and CDC. Stay healthy, fit and don’t become a couch potato! Let’s beat this virus together.