DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo to be keynote speaker at conference.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: ASHA for Women will celebrate a quarter-century of serving South Asian survivors of domestic violence with a series of events this fall in the national capitol region.
A free day-long conference to help service providers understand the unique needs of South Asian women, will be followed later by the organization’s annual gala. Both events will be held on separate days next month, in October.
The goal of the conference is to improve connections between South Asian women seeking services and providers from local law enforcement, mental health and social work communities.
“Much of our work is focused on assisting survivors as they face new challenges, often alone for the first time in this country. This can be everything from obtaining a restraining order to finding affordable housing,” said ASHA for Women President Priya Kulkarni, in a press release. “This event is designed to help the agencies out there understand the needs of the women we represent and serve them better.”
The keynote speaker for the conference is DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo, a longtime civil rights advocate with a keen understanding of the need for cultural sensitivity in legal matters. Presented in collaboration with South Asian Bar Association-DC, the event will be held at the Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University, on October 3rd.
Find out more at: http://ashaforwomen.org/event/cultural-competencies-conference/
Later that month, ASHA for Women will host its 25th anniversary gala celebration, ‘Hope has many faces.’ Since its founding, ASHA has been run almost entirely by volunteers; a network of volunteer advocates respond to the needs of South Asian women seeking support and assistance.
At the gala, ASHA will share stories and celebrate another year of their unique, powerful work. Unlike traditional social work agencies, ASHA and its volunteers often serve as navigators, guides and trusted friends. This support can range from language and cultural assistance to providing the down payment so a woman can purchase her first home.
This year, the gala will feature a keynote speech from AT&T Federal President Kay Kapoor.
“Organizations like ASHA for Woman can become a haven for South Asian woman who face abuse and are often geographically separated from their families,” said Kapoor. “With the community’s involvement, ASHA for Woman raises awareness and lends support, solace and new beginnings for domestic violence survivors.”
The ASHA for Women 25th anniversary celebration gala will take place at the Arlington campus of George Mason University on October 18th.
Find out more at: http://ashaforwomen.org/event/25th-anniversary-celebration/