Posts in CMaker - Advocacy
Finding Your Cause: Veena Handa Reflects on Dedicated Journey in Leading and Volunteering with Community Nonprofit Organizations

“The Vision-Aid mission touched my heart since I have personal experience with the challenges faced by visually impaired.  I have seen my brother who was visually impaired struggling with day to day life when no such help was available from a similar organization. Volunteering for VisionAid has been my most humble experience. After serving on Advisory Board for few years, I was appointed as a voluntary Vice Chair. “ Today’s woman dreamer, Veena Handa, shares her inspiring journey with volunteerism and community empowerment, after her extensive career in executive leadership at companies like John Hancock. Enjoy her story!

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Protecting Human Rights: How These Inspiring Women are Leading the Way for Trafficking Awareness, Advocacy, and Rehabilitation Advancement

“The sex trafficking industry is a 150 billion dollar industry and ever growing. Our organization is dedicated to the empowerment of survivors of sexual trafficking through education and vocational training, and keeping our youth safe by promoting awareness of the issue. For $1600 or $6/day, we are able to provide the Empowerment Program to a survivor which will change her/his life forever.”  Today’s women dreamers, Priya Gupta Israni, Lavina Datwani, and Urvashi Mishra are the leaders behind IHC For Her [soon to be known as TAARA], an organization dedicated to helping sex trafficking survivors. In this inspiring and eye-opening interview with Women Who Win, they share their journeys in getting involved in this cause, their vision for the organization, and more! We are honored to share this story!

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Alanna Flax-Clark Shares Journey as First Seated Model at Fashion Institute of Technology, Para-Equestrian, and Disability Inclusion Advocate

“I was honored to be the first seated model and the first disabled model ever in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Future of Fashion runway show presented by Macy’s. Disabled representation in the fashion industry has been practically non-existent until recently.” Today’s woman dreamer, Alanna Flax-Clark, is a disability inclusion activist, and an internationally ranked Para Equestrian. She has over 15 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy.  In her inspiring Women Who Win interview, she shares her journey, her passion for education, and how she hopes to change the lives of women with disabilities.

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Season of Giving: Co-Founder Revathy Ramakrishna on How Vision-Aid is Empowering the Blind Communities

“Where there is accessibility, there is no disability”. We are excited to continue the Season of Giving with today’s woman dreamer, Revathy Ramakrishna. Revathy is the-co-founder of Vision-Aid, an organization with the mission to Enable, Educate and Empower the visually impaired to live with independence and dignity. Founded in 2004, Vision-Aid’s model includes crucial resources such as braille trainings, life skill coaching, conferences, professional development, technology training and more, equipping visually impaired of all ages with the tools they need to succeed. Revathy shares some of the key people involved, what inspired her and her husband to launch this, her involvement with community nonprofits, and her dream for the organization’s future! Enjoy this inspiring story and celebrate Season of Giving with Us.

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Dream to Do Good: Gouri Banerjee's Journey in Academia, Volunteerism, and Challenging Norms

“While some women dream of fame, wealth, and amazing professional success, I dreamt of doing something “good”. Today’s woman dreamer, Gouri Banerjee, co-founder of Saheli and a retired college professor in Boston, has dedicated herself to tirelessly helping Asian immigrants and local communities. Inspired from a young age by her parents to do good, Gouri shares how her life experiences shaped her passion for challenging norms and women’s studies, as well as her current work with aging South Asian population. A true driver of change, Gouri compels us to think about how we define women empowerment in our own lives and how we can “do good” in our own communities. Enjoy her story below!

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Sexual Assault Prevention Month: Saheli Co-Executive Director Shares How You Can Support the Cause, Stigmas, and The Power of Global Movements

“For every woman who came forward, there were countless others who were silenced.” Today’s woman dreamer, Co-Executive Director of Saheli, Divya Chaturvedi, brings kindness, compassion, and purpose to helping women every day. As April is Sexual Assault Prevention Month, Divya shares her expertise on how you can get involved in the cause and virtual events happening this month, stigmas around sexual assault specific to South Asian communities, and the power of movements and coming forward. A woman dreamer drawn to social justice at an early age, it is a pleasure to share her story!

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Uplifting Women: Rukmini Karki, Asian Task Force and Nepali Women Global Network, Shares Her Journey

“The bright smiles on my clients faces reminds me of a quote, which always inspires me, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high”. Being a senior advocate at ATASK and helping people in need have always had a special and strong bond with me!” Today’s woman dreamer, Rukmini Karki, is a Senior Advocate at Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, and Past President of Nepali Women Global Network. A speaker of five languages, Rukmini empowers and uplifts women and vulnerable communities. She shares how at the age of 13, she saw discrimination in action, and how her mother inspired her to fight for global women empowerment. Enjoy her powerful story below.

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Invent. Innovate. Impact. Time Magazine First-Ever Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao Shares Her Story

Meet Today Woman Dreamer, Time Magazine First Ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao. At the young age of 15, Gitanjali is an inventor and innovator, tackling the world’s most pressing issues. From safe drinking water to fighting cyberbullying and more. Gitanjali has a passion for problem-solving. She writes, “My motivation to solve problems in society started in a very simple manner to solve problems that we face on a daily basis.” A must read for all women, moms, and daughters. Enjoy Gitanjali’s interview with Women Who Win!

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Becoming the Voice of the Silent, From Yahoo News to The Quint, The Life of a Video Journalist

Amy Goodman said, “Going to where the silence is, that is the responsibility of a journalist.” From lawyer to journalist, Today’s woman dreamer, Shibani Gokhale, wears many hats. Upon graduating from Columbia with a Masters in Journalism, Shibani shares her exciting life contributing stories to publications including Yahoo News, and The Quint, and her own show, “Broken Down”. Shibani writes, “I love being a voice for the silent. I love shedding light on issues that the general population is not even aware of. I genuinely enjoy making my videos. I enjoy the process of pitching, scripting, hosting, filming and editing.” Ever wondered what the life of a news producer and Law/Policy Journalist is like? Enjoy Shibani’s story below.

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From Trinidad and Tobago to International Human Rights: A Female Lawyer's Powerful Story

“I became the first female of Trinidadian origins to be awarded the Schuette fellowship in Global Health and Human Rights.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nesha Abiraj, is an International Human Rights Lawyer, fighting for women, children, and refugees, working with global organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Unicef, Nesha shares how she built her career, adversities faced along the way, and the essential role male allies can play in the fight for human rights. Enjoy her powerful story below!

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The Life Lessons of a Diplomat's Wife: Protocols, Responsibilities, Living All Over the World, and Helping Global Communities

“Little did I know that moving to Ramallah was going to give me the greatest and most rewarding personal change. Due to our common oriental customs and traditions, I was able to really relate to the women of Palestine. We are the backbone of our societies and are committed to moving our people forward.” Today’s woman dreamer, Shalini Ahlawat, is accomplished in her own life. Before moving around the world as a wife of a diplomat, she lived her own life adventure. Shalini holds various high-level degrees including Maritime Trade from Queen Mary College in London, and has worked for 8 years as a shipbroker with a maritime shipping company. In 2009, Shalini’s destiny called and she changed direction and chose to become a wife, mother, and representative of India as a diplomat’s wife. “ Shalini shares the life lessons she has learned as the wife of a diplomat, the protocols and responsibilities, and how she seeks to help global communities.

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