FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sethu Nair, , 1-646-920-6560
Half the Sky’s Urmi Basu, Red Baraat, and New York Women’s Foundation join Sakhi for South Asian Women’s 25th anniversary celebration on May 15, 2014 at Three Sixtyº Tribeca, NYC.
The first organization to respond to NYC’s South Asian women reaches a remarkable 25 years of service.
April 3, 2014, NEW YORK – On May 15th, 2014 Sakhi for South Asian Women will celebrate 25 years of service preventing and ending domestic violence in the South Asian community at the “People Who Inspire Us” gala, to be held at New York City’s Three Sixtyº Tribeca.
The sold out 400+ person event will honor Urmi Basu, founder of New Light, an organization that supports women and girls in Kolkata’s red-light district. Ms. Basu is well known for her appearance in the film “Half the Sky”, based on a book written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Sakhi will also honor New York Women’s Foundation’s President and CEO Ana Oliveira.
To be held at an impeccable space offering 360° views of New York City’s stunning skyline, the evening will be emceed by Joya Dass, business news anchor at NY1, and the host at AVS. Red Baraat, the pioneering Brooklyn band that has drawn worldwide praise for its exuberant Bhangra-Jazz-Brass Funk infused music, and Punchali Khanna Kumar’s award-winning dance company, Moksha Arts, will provide entertainment.
“This is a historic moment for Sakhi. Since 1989, our year of founding, we have been upheld and supported by more people than we can ever name,” says Tiloma Jayasinghe, Sakhi’s Executive Director. “While so much has changed over the years, in terms of programs, staff and events, the heart of what we do is still the same: support and empower New York City’s South Asian women to survive and thrive through the challenges of abuse, immigration, family, community and health. Then, and today our work is central to the needs of women.”
Envisioned by 5 women who gathered in their living rooms to make positive community impact, Sakhi has been the go-to resource for South Asian women in New York City experiencing domestic violence for 25 years. Among its many services, Sakhi is best known for its economic empowerment program, emotional support services, court advocacy, cultural sensitivity, language assistance, and national policy advocacy. Sakhi for South Asian Women unites survivors, communities and institutions to eradicate domestic violence in the South Asian community in New York City.
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