Our Team

Ligia Akthar | Intake Specialist

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Ligia has a psychology degree from Lehman College. She is pursuing her master’s in social work to continue serving her community through holistic healing. In her free time, Ligia enjoys reading, spending time with her loved ones, and listening to music. She is passionate about helping others and is committed to positively impacting her community.

Bansi Bhatt | Senior Advocate, Economic Empowerment Program

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Bansi has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and graduated from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University with a Juris Doctor degree. She has always been passionate about human rights issues and women’s rights issues. In the past, she interned for the United Nations where she was able to work on a global scale to address human rights and women’s rights issues. During law school, she interned for the Economic Empowerment Program at Sakhi. She also worked for the Deportation Defense Clinic at Hofstra where she was able to help the immigrant community. She is a huge sports fan and in her free time she enjoys rooting for the Yankees, Knicks, and Giants. Bansi is also a huge animal lover. She is a vegetarian, but is trying to become a vegan. She is fluent in Gujarati and has conversational knowledge of Hindi and Spanish.

Fatematuz Chamak | Senior Mental Health Counselor

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Fatema joins Sakhi as a Mental Health Counselor. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Masters in Social Work and Social Service Administration in 2018. Prior to working at Sakhi, she was a Senior Staff Social Worker for Legal Services of NYC. She is an experienced forensic social worker, knowledgeable of education, family, and immigration law, school-based advocacy, needs of students with disabilities, and interdisciplinary work with attorneys. She is passionate about ending gender-based violence in the South Asian community, and comes from a policy & organizing background. Fatema is also a birth doula and works with South Asian birthing people to help close the gap in health disparities and maternal well-being. Fatema is fluent in Bangla and English, and has a working proficiency in Spanish. When not at work, she is an avid reader, loves swimming, enjoys cooking but not as much as eating, watching artsy films, and her cat Coco.

Linda Cheriyan | Advocate, Community Engagement Program

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Linda Cheriyan joined Sakhi as a Community Engagement Advocate, bringing several years of leadership in grassroots organizing and community engagement. Shortly after graduating with her bachelors from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2018, Linda oversaw and supported day to day priorities as the Director of Operations for the Black Lives Matter Greater New York (BLMGNY) organization. During her time there, she advocated for victims of police brutality, maternal health, food insecurity, and human trafficking, while also serving as campaign manager for a Congressional campaign in the South Bronx. Even as a child, Linda was always interested in challenging the gender norms that existed within her culture and home, and continues to fight for marginalized communities. Linda recently graduated in May 2024 with a Masters degree from George Washington University in Public Administration with a focus on International Women’s Health. In her free time she likes to do photography, travel and hiking.

Shriya Chitale | Helpline Advocate

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Shriya is a senior at New York University who will soon graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science as well as minors in Middle East Studies and History. She first joined Sakhi as an intern for the Anti-Violence Program, helping support survivors with a variety of needs, including case management and safety planning. Shriya is a staunch advocate for treating survivors with compassion, love, and empathy. Her passion for supporting South Asian communities, women, and children drives her work with Sakhi. In her free time, Shriya enjoys reading, ice skating, and listening to hip-hop music!

Fauzia Choudhury | Sr. Advocate, Anti-Violence Program 

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Fauzia’s purpose in life is to use her compassion, empathy, and communication skills combined with her love for healing through art to make this world a better place to live by creating healthy and strong relationships with people and in between people. Fauzia is a final year MSW student at NYU, concentrating in the clinical social work field, and, in the process of getting her LMSW. Fauzia’s goal upon completion of her degree is to apply all her skills and knowledge in the social service field, especially by showing up for the South Asian community and shining more light on the importance of mental health. In her free time, Fauzia enjoy traveling, dancing, and experiencing nature. She loves spending time with close family and friends. Fauzia always aims to move with love, kindness, and compassion.

Seeran Enayetullah | Navigation Specialist, Housing Justice Program

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Seeran holds undergraduate degrees in International Affairs and Anthropology and has dedicated his career to advocacy. He is currently pursuing graduate studies with the ultimate goal of earning a PhD and advancing policy research to better serve communities in need and those that are traditionally underrepresented. His approach integrates anthropological insight with a post/neocolonial and humanistic perspective.

Prior to joining Sakhi, Seeran was a strong advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, working with nonprofits and leveraging his lived experiences to inform his research and policy work. With a deep commitment to community engagement and a background in research and program development, Seeran approaches his work at Sakhi with a trauma-informed lens. He views this experience as an opportunity to grow in his understanding of how to best support individuals and communities impacted by trauma.

Fluent in Bangla and proficient in Arabic and Spanish, Seeran is passionate about education and strives to create knowledge that drives meaningful change. Through his role at Sakhi, he seeks to further refine his approaches to advocacy and policy work by embracing the complexities and nuances of the communities he serves.

During his free time, Seeran likes to cook, go to concerts, read as well as thrill-seeking activities like skydiving and bungee jumping.

Shariq Farooqi | Manager, Anti-Violence Program

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Shariq joined Sakhi in September 2022 as an Anti-Violence Program advocate and has since become a manager in the AVP program. Identifying as a queer gender-nonconforming Muslim, Shariq’s roots are in Hyderabad and Pakistan. Shariq holds a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a Master’s of Science in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Shariq specializes in sexual and reproductive health, with their advocacy anchored in community building and collective power. In his past experience, Shariq conducted research in Nairobi on gender-based violence and gender norms amongst youth for the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population & Reproductive Health. They have also interned at HEART,  the Wilson Center Maternal Health Initiative, and the Atlantic Council South Asia Center. Shariq can speak English, Urdu, Hindi, and Spanish, and is partially versed in Arabic. In their freetime, Shariq enjoys spending time with their loved ones, reading, thrifting, coffee shop hopping, and traveling to different pockets of the world.

Michelle Tseching Fei | Associate Director, Institutional Giving

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Michelle is a social justice lawyer, community organizer, and public health nurse dedicated to driving systemic change through an intersectional approach. Before joining Sakhi, Michelle directed Hawaii’s only Medicaid-based program for the justice-involved, advocating for equitable healthcare access. She also has supported low-income, of color, and immigrant first-time families of color navigating parenthood as a Nurse Home Visitor with the Nurse-Family Partnership.

While serving as Executive Director of the Immigrant Defense Project, Michelle focused her substantive work around community education and policy initiatives, leading a successful statewide campaign that resulted in New York suspending a large-scale federal deportation program. Earlier in her career, Michelle helped launch the Center for Community Problem Solving at New York University with Professor Gerald P. López where, with the support of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, she spearheaded a jail and prison reentry project and an immigrant workers’ rights project. She also previously worked at a community-based law firm representing Central American clients in their immigration cases.

When not working, Michelle usually can be found shuttling her two children to their various activities. In her spare time, she loves cooking and baking, making lei, and watching reality TV. Michelle is a former professional salsa dancer and instructor and a midwifery school dropout.

Atri Hassan |  Advocate, Anti-Violence Program 

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Atri joined Sakhi as an intern in September 2023. Atri moved to the United States from Bangladesh in 2017 to pursue her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies from Clark University. She recently graduated with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Columbia University. Atri is passionate about gender justice and believes that empowerment can only be achieved through collective liberation. Prior to Sakhi, Atri worked in public schools in Worcester to create an inclusive science curriculum for recent immigrants and English language learners and an inpatient psychiatric unit in Boston specifically working with LGBTQ and BIPOC survivors of sex trafficking.

Atri hopes to use her therapeutic skills to create a safe space and provide trauma-informed advocacy for survivors. Outside of work, she likes to read, travel, and go on runs with friends. Atri is fluent in Bangla, Hindi and Urdu.

Tan Hayat | Communications & Development Manager

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Tan Hayat is a Bengali-American and native New Yorker who joined Sakhi in August 2022. He has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations & Political Science from SUNY Geneseo, and a post-graduate certificate in teaching English to Adult Learners from the University of Cambridge. Tan is fluent in English, Bangla, and conversational in French. An immigrant himself who came to the United States as a young child, Tan has worked throughout his career to elevate and empower recently resettled refugees in the United States, immigrant English-learners, and individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement and experiencing homelessness in New York City. Prior to Sakhi, Tan has worked for Catholic Charities, The New York Public Library, and at ACE, a workforce development nonprofit based in Long Island City. In his free time, Tan can be found skateboarding, snowboarding, and traveling to as many new places as possible.

Sakshi Kapur | Manager, Grants Management and Program Data Administration

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Sakshi first joined Sakhi in June 2021 as an intern with the Economic Empowerment program, where she worked with survivors and supported them in handling their economic needs such as housing and education. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Columbia University.  Sakshi is from India and has worked as an international development consultant with a deep focus on regulatory policy, market analysis and international aid project design and implementation and has worked on projects with bilateral and multilateral agencies such as World Bank and USAID. She also holds a previous master’s degree in Development Economics from SOAS, University of London. In her free time, Sakshi enjoys baking, traveling and trying different restaurants in New York City! Sakshi is fluent in English, Hindi and Punjabi.

Azaadi Khan | Senior Youth Program Manager, Mental Health Counselor

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Azaadi first joined Sakhi as an MSW intern in 2018 and continued to work as an office manager till September 2019. Having graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University’s School of Social Work with an advanced degree in Clinical Practice and Programming, they returned to Sakhi as a youth mental health counselor and advocate in July 2020. Azaadi has nearly 10 years of experience working internationally with youth in the fields of arts, education, mental health care, and social and legal services. Beyond Sakhi, they serve as the Communications Chair on the Board of Trustees at Hidayah, an international organization for LGBTQ+ Muslims. In their free time, they are becoming a pretty mean cook, rivalling their aunties. They dream of one day collecting herbs from their own tiny farm.

Malini Khorana | Director of Finance and Operations

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Malini joined Sakhi as a volunteer in August 2015 and re-joined the team as Director of Finance and Operations. Malini has a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Delhi University and an MBA from Wake Forest University. Over the course of a twenty year career at The Nielsen Company, and in her last role as global account leader, Malini worked as a thought partner with senior management to develop marketing and brand strategy and deliver on business plans. Malini also gained experience at the operational level by focusing on the levers of P&L performance such as data quality resolution, contract negotiations, and workforce restructuring and realignment. Malini is excited to bring her business background and experience to help Sakhi as it significantly expands the scale and scope of its programs and has ever greater impact on the community we serve.

Arundhati Krishnan | Advocate, Youth Empowerment Program

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Arundhati has a BS in Psychology and is interested in community and youth empowerment, social and economic justice, and law and public policy. She grew up in Bangalore and studied in the U.S. She joined Sakhi in March 2023 as a Youth Empowerment Advocate and is deeply honored and excited to be a part of the organization and its meaningful legacy. Arundhati has experience with nonprofits in India working with communities and specifically youth welfare and public-private partnerships in education and healthcare, including projects that addressed health (including mental health) and domestic conflict exacerbated by pandemic-related pressures. Other work experience includes grassroots political organizing in the US. She is inspired by the strides in therapeutic psychology and approaches in wellbeing and applying them to work. Arundhati watches movies and listens to podcasts which are useful both for work and personal growth.

Rezowana Linta | Associate Director, Youth Empowerment Program

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Rezowana joined the Sakhi team as a Counselor in August 2020. She graduated from Long Island University with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a focus on Trauma-Focused Therapy and Family Law, in 2017. Prior to working at Sakhi, Rezowana provided therapy to adolescents and their families at an alternative to incarceration program. Rezowana also has experience providing mental health and advocacy services to the LGBTQI population. She is fluent in Bangla, Hindi, and Urdu. Some of Rezowana’s hobbies are hiking, painting, and debating. Rezowana one day hopes to start a non-for-profit mental clinic in rural areas of Bangladesh.

Shubhekchya Malla | Manager & Advocate, Sexual Assault Program

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Shubhekchya joined Sakhi as an Anti-Violence Advocate in November 2020. She graduated from University of Florida with a Masters in Public Health, with a focus on Social and Behavioral Sciences. She has gained experience in working with survivors as a High Risk and Fatality Review Team Coordinator in six counties of Central Florida. She specializes in crisis intervention, risk management, child welfare investigation, Intimate Partner Homicide case analysis and multi-agency committee assembly with 6 years of experience in social services. As a trilingual who is fluent in English, Nepali and Hindi, she dedicates her work towards advocating for survivors in the South Asian communities. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, reading, house music and exploring vegan spots.

Kavita Mehra | Executive Director

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Kavita is an intersectional feminist committed to advancing economic, gender, racial, and survivor justice. She first joined Sakhi as an intern in 2002, during her third year at university, driven by a passion for dismantling systems of oppression and supporting marginalized communities. Inspired by her early experiences, Kavita aspired to lead the organization, and in June 2017, she became Sakhi’s sixth executive director.

Under Kavita’s leadership, Sakhi has embraced a more inclusive and intersectional approach, culminating in a 2024 name change to reflect this essential shift in focus. During her tenure, the organization has grown by over 800% and expanded its services to include a trauma-informed mental health program, a housing program, and a food justice initiative—programs designed to address the complex, interwoven needs of survivors. Kavita’s deep commitment to building a survivor-centered, anti-racist movement led to the opening of Sakhi’s second office in Queens, NY, in March 2020 and its third office in Brooklyn, NY, in 2023. Her leadership has been instrumental in guiding Sakhi through multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that critical, life-saving services reached survivors across New York City while maintaining the organization’s financial stability and growth.

In her role at Sakhi, Kavita was also pivotal in co-founding South Asian SOAR, a national collective dedicated to ending gender-based violence in South Asian communities. She secured $1 million in seed funding for its launch and now proudly serves on its board, supporting over 40 South Asian member organizations across the United States.

Kavita’s thought leadership extends beyond Sakhi. She has written opinion pieces for Inside Philanthropy, City Limits, Ms. Magazine, the Huffington Post, Brown Girl Magazine, and Act To Change. Her advocacy has been featured at the Women’s Economic Forum in Delhi, Harvard University, Columbia University, and in major media outlets such as The Associated Press, WNYC’s The Takeaway, NowThis, CNN, The New York Times, and Vice.

With over two decades of experience in the non-profit sector, Kavita has held leadership positions at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, GlamourGals Foundation, and South Asian Youth Action. Her work has been recognized through numerous accolades, including being featured in Roshni: Emerging Indian Global Leaders and receiving the 2021 Changemaker Award from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, the 2022 Social Impact Women to Watch by Nonprofit HR, and the 2023 Epic Women’s Award from the New York Bar Association.

Kavita earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University with a double major in History and Gender and Sexuality Studies and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a concentration in South Asian Studies from Columbia University. She has further honed her leadership skills through executive programs at Harvard Business School, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School. In 2016, she completed the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Advanced Leadership Program, and in 2014, she was both a Lead New Jersey Fellow and an Athena Mastermind at Barnard College. In 2013, she was a New Leaders Council-New Jersey Fellow.

A proud New Jersey native, Kavita resides in Jersey City with her life partner and son, and she remains committed to fostering a world where survivors of violence and oppression can heal and thrive in safe, equitable communities.

Fhamida Mohasin | Manager, Community Engagement Program

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Fhamida joined Sakhi in April 2021. Prior to joining Sakhi, Fhamida taught at the University Dhaka as an assistant professor of Women and Gender Studies. She also taught in several other private universities in Bangladesh, namely Central Women’s University and Millennium University. Apart from teaching, Fhamida was actively involved with research and participated in the social justice movement and activism over the past decade. Fhamida conducted and collaborated on numerous research projects with several national and international human rights organizations such as Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Units (RMMRU), ILO, and Plan International. She worked on public policy formulation, which focused on domestic workers, domestic violence against Hindu women and Hindu Marriage Act, female migrants, and overseas employment policies in Bangladesh. She also studied sociology of environment and livelihoods, human rights of Dalits, violence against women, migration, with a gender focus. Her publications include decent work deficits in domestic work in Bangladesh; sexual violence against women and girls in the public place; female leadership style, and migration policies.

Fhamida holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. She also has Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Dhaka. Fhamida enjoys singing, reading, traveling, and spending time with family members in her free time.

Zainab Muzaffar | Sr. Associate Director, Development & Communications

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Zainab brings over 15+ years of experience as a creative strategist and business operations expert. Prior to joining Sakhi, Zainab worked with branded destinations in the Middle East on growth and marketing strategies. Zainab completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and has a Master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. She co-founded The Citizen’s Foundation Young Professionals NYC Chapter, built a community of over 1,000+, led over 25 events in the last five years and raised 1M+ for education in Pakistan. She is passionate about bringing attention to issues that impact women and girls around the world. In her free time, she can be found in a boxing ring, on a plane, or lost in a good book.

Rashmi Luthra | Special Projects Advisor

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Rashmi Luthra brings to Sakhi over 20 years of deep commitment to women’s issues and a passion for gender equality. Rashmi graduated Cum Laude from Tufts University and went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. At Tufts University, Rashmi was President of the Women’s Collective. She was awarded the Dean’s Award for Women and Leadership. She also volunteered at Transition House, the East Coast’s first domestic violence shelter. Rashmi began her journey with Sakhi as a volunteer in 2000. From 2001 until 2010, Rashmi worked as a staff attorney representing survivors of domestic violence in legal proceedings involving orders of protection, custody, visitation, support, and matrimonial actions in Family and Supreme Courts. She also participated in legal divorce clinics for pro se litigants. She is fluent in Hindi. In her free time, Rashmi loves to play guitar, cook and hang out with her kids.

Rachana Parekh | Manager, Counseling Program

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Rachana joined the Sakhi team as a Counselor in February 2021. She graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Masters in Forensic Mental Health Counseling in 2018. Prior to working at Sakhi, Rachana worked with children and their families at a child advocacy center, conducting forensic interviews to aid in child abuse investigations and providing trauma-focused therapy. She is passionate about advocating for mental health awareness and providing access to culturally aware services to the South Asian population. When she’s not working, Rachana can be found dancing in the various classes offered in NYC (in styles such as Bollywood, heels, street-jazz, etc.) and spending time with her loved ones.

Kashees Patel | Advocate, Anti-Violence Program

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Kashees joined the Sakhi team in April 2024. She graduated with a degree in Psychology from Rutgers University. Her passion lies in understanding different points of views and behaviors, and ensuring that people feel supported and heard. Kashees was previously a manager at Beacon Specialized Living for a day program for adults with mental illnesses and disabilities. In her free time, she likes to read and crochet along with spending time with friends.

Chandra Persaud | Associate, Programs Data

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Chandra Persaud is a New York State licensed speech-language pathologist and holds a Master of Arts degree in speech-language pathology from CUNY Queens College. As a woman of Indo-Caribbean descent, Chandra is passionate about finding her voice, healing intergenerational trauma, and living proudly with her multiple cultural identities. When Chandra is not involved in her work or volunteer efforts, she enjoys writing poetry, short stories, and reflective essays.

Pooja Raj-Green | Director, Programs

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Pooja has a long standing history with Sakhi and re-joined the team as a Counselor in February 2019. She graduated from Columbia University with a Masters in Social Work, with a focus on Clinical Social Work in International Social Welfare, in 2014. Prior to Sakhi, Pooja provided trauma informed services to the aging population (survivors of the Holocaust) and worked abroad with refugees from Syria. She is fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. In addition to dreaming of obtaining a PhD in Intergenerational Trauma, Pooja enjoys dancing, being lost in her reading nook and secretly hopes to finally learn to swim this year.

Hana Ramdhany | Senior Manager, Finance & Operations 

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Hana joined Sakhi in May 2021. She graduated with degrees in Social Sciences from SciencesPo Reims and Sociology from Columbia University as part of an international dual-degree program. Prior to joining Sakhi, Hana managed finance and operations for Science, Language & Arts, a Brooklyn-based, independent French and Mandarin nursery and elementary school. Hana, as a trans woman, is passionate about supporting children and LGBTQ communities, especially within the South Asian and Caribbean indentured diaspora, and looks forward to a pandiasporic reckoning against gender-based violence. They regularly volunteer with community-based organizations in Southeast Queens and Brooklyn such as the Indo-Caribbean Alliance and Jahajee Sisters. Hana is hopelessly vegan and believes nurturing one’s inner child is key to building healthy, empathetic communities. To this end, she loves reading comics and queer lit and starting too many hobbies, including skateboarding, electric guitar, and card magic.

Sai | Associate, Technology and Operations

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Reshmi Sengupta | Senior Associate Director, Economic Empowerment Program 

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Reshmi Sengupta rejoins Sakhi for South Asian Women as the Community Outreach Specialist. She aims to connect and accentuate Sakhi’s vision and services for underserved NYC South Asian immigrant communities in addition to growing collaborations with our gender and socioeconomic justice partners. She joined Sakhi in 2010 as a volunteer, moving on to work across programs as a Client Advocate, Economic Empowerment Program Manager, and Director of Programs. Reshmi is a fervent advocate for gender justice and the economic empowerment of women, particularly as it relates to working with issues of gender-based violence and bias. She has almost a decade of experience working with the immigrant population in NYC implementing programs focused on long-term emotional empowerment and financial independence. Reshmi obtained a Masters degree in Economic and Education from Colombia University. She speaks Hindi and Bengali.

Manisha Shah | Manager, Helpline

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Manisha Shah started as an Economic Empowerment Intern with Sakhi in 2008 and has a masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai. She has multiple years of experience within diverse service settings in the Tristate area. Manisha previously oversaw shelter services for survivors of domestic violence in the Bronx and she planned and executed a first-of-its-kind initiative to support immigrant survivors of sexual and domestic violence at Manavi & Christ Hospital. In various capacities, Manisha has been a part of initiatives that work with survivors of crime, providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and other supportive services to empower them on their journeys to safety. She is fluent in Hindi and Urdu. In her spare time, she enjoys watching old Bollywood movies and cooking. Manisha dreams of one day starting her own Indian food truck parked at Times Square.

Namrata Sharma | Manager, Economic Empowerment Program 

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Namrata joined Sakhi in December 2021. She studied Law and Political Science. Namrata has international public and private sector experience. She has worked with the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the National Health Service in the UK and the Tea board of India in London. At NHS UK she worked on various public health issues for women of South Asian origin. She also briefly worked with victims of domestic violence. Namrata speaks fluent English, Hindi and Bengali, as well as modest Punjabi and Kashmiri. She loves to travel, eat healthy and stay fit. She is eager to bring her diverse international experience to the Sakhi platform.

Nisa Sheikh | Associate Director, Anti-Violence Program

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Nisa graduated with her Bachelors in International Relations and Diplomacy and comes to Sakhi with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit world. She is a stark social justice advocate with many years of direct services experience specifically in anti-violence and homelessness prevention in New York City. She also has project and program management experience for small and large nonprofits across the country. She has done work around promoting inclusion and harmony between all groups of people. Nisa speaks Urdu, English and Hindi and considers herself to be an international foodie, enjoys finding new desserts to bake, and most of all, loves to hang out with her toddlers. She is motivated by her kids and wants to help create a better world for them.

Sangey Sherpa | Manager, Anti-Violence Program

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Sangey W. Sherpa is a non-profit professional and an advocate for women’s rights. Originally from Nepal, she received her Master’s Degree in International Affairs with a concentration in NGO from Bernard M. Baruch College in NYC and also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Pol. Science and History from Christ University in India. Prior to joining Sakhi, Sangey worked for the Arab American Family Support Center and the Bloomberg Campaign. She has also interned for the United Nations and for Senator Joseph Crowley. Sangey is fluent in three languages and is currently learning Chinese. In her free time, she enjoys reading non-fiction and hiking with her friends.

Kirti Sinha | Family Mental Health Counselor

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Kirti joined Sakhi as a Family Mental Health Counselor in December 2023. She moved from India in 2017 to pursue a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Clark University. After that, she graduated from Columbia University with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 2023. Prior to Sakhi, Kirti provided individual and couples therapy to BIPOC and queer individuals. She strives to co-create a therapeutic space that is as non-hierarchical as possible and driven by curiosity. Kirti believes that our experiences of existing within unjust environments and systems can take a toll on us. As such, her approach to therapy is anti-oppressive and anti-racist. Kirti is passionate about working with historically marginalized groups, especially the South Asian community. Outside of work, she enjoys reading fiction novels, boxing, running, and spending time with her friends and family.

Pria Sibal | Housing Program Senior Manager

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Pria joined Sakhi as a volunteer in August 2015. Pria has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. She then began a career as a journalist and documentary film producer. Starting in the nascent broadcast news industry in India in 1993, she moved on to directing travelogues and documentaries based on human interest stories. Her experience as a journalist with leading Indian broadcasters gave her an analytical scope. Her love for research and desire to make a social impact gave her that extra push to make documentaries. Pria believes every career professional reaches a point where they desire unconventional returns from a job and had the desire to create value in society in her own modest capacity. As part of the Sakhi team, she is committed to empowering women as she feels no woman should be in a situation where she feels inadequate or helpless.

Vi To | Executive Assistant

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Born in Sài Gòn, Vi immigrated to New York at the age of six and grew up navigating the complexities of both cultures. She graduated with honors from Vassar College in 2024, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Drama. Her academic research focused on the gendered interstices of U.S.-Việt Nam relations and the complex dynamics of diasporic histories, bridging familial, linguistic, and national conflicts.

Deeply passionate about decolonial international relations, global political thought, and gender studies, Vi is committed to advocating for marginalized communities. Fluent in Vietnamese, she brings a multicultural perspective and is eager to apply her skills to support the Sakhi’s mission.

Outside of work, Vi enjoys exploring creative outlets through theatre, keeping up with pop culture, and reading.

Siddhi Vora | Advocate, Housing Justice Program

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Siddhi has had experience working in Kutch on issues such as gender justice and racial discrimination among the marginalised. Born in India and raised in Kentucky, Siddhi is committed to community care, advocacy, and social justice. In university, she studied Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies alongside History and South Asian Studies. Her one-year research stint in the coastal city of Mumbai, India and the district of Kutch in Gujarat, India gave her an opportunity to engage with the marginalised community fighting injustice. She’s excited to move to New York City and join Sakhi’s Housing Justice Program! Siddhi is fluent in Kutchi and Hindi. In her free time, Siddhi loves to learn new skills and pick up new hobbies along the way – whether it’s rollerskating, stained glass cutting, or experimenting with natural dyeing. In her free time, she can be found reading, playing cards with friends and family, learning more about deserts and seas, or forcing her loved ones to indulge her and participate in her weekly self-published crosswords. Her ideal way to relax is by taking a long walk, specifically at twilight, or practicing playing her tabla.

Jason Yoon | Manager of Individual Giving

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Jason joined Sakhi in January 2019. Jason has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters in Public Administration from NYU’s Wagner School. Prior to joining Sakhi, Jason has served as the executive director of New Urban Arts, a nationally recognized nonprofit youth arts studio, the Director of Education at the Queens Museum, and most recently, the executive director of Atlas: DIY, a nonprofit working with immigrant youth through legal services, educational programs, and leadership development. He also teaches in Goucher College’s MA program in Cultural Sustainability. When he’s not working, Jason is probably running, swimming, reading, or exploring New York City’s museums and galleries. A native New Yorker and child of Korean immigrants, Jason is excited to support Sakhi’s important work.

Mirum Zafar | Advocate, Economic Empowerment Program

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Mirum holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is pursuing her Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy. Born and raised in New Jersey, Mirum has dedicated her career to supporting immigrant and refugee populations, helping them navigate challenges as they settle into life in the U.S.

She brings valuable experience from her previous roles in three other non-profits, along with her research background at the Library of Congress, where she published a paper on South Asian immigrant assimilation challenges. Mirum is passionate about human rights advocacy, data analysis, and policy improvement, particularly for South Asian immigrants and refugees. Outside of work, she enjoys horror, true crime, and mystery genres, and is a skilled cook who loves exploring new foods. She speaks Urdu, Punjabi, and conversational Hindi and Farsi.