India Association of Minnesota

July 2023 Newsletter

1973 - 2023 India Association of Minnesota 50 Years

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India Association of Minnesota (IAM) cordially invites you to participate in our annual signature event, “IndiaFest 2023,” to celebrate 50 years of IAM. Come and join us to celebrate the rich heritage, traditions, diversity, and culture of India. This FREE event is open to all Minnesotans. Experience India in a Day! 

IndiaFest 2023

Where: Minnesota State Capitol Grounds 

When: Saturday, August 12th, 2023

Time: 11.00 AM - 9 PM

To celebrate the monumental 50th anniversary, we will host special performances, diverse selection of food and drinks, fun activities for the entire family and live musical entertainment.

We would love to see you again at IndiaFest this year. Please reserve your spot in the individual area of interest now. There are a limited number of spaces available, so act quickly. Like every year, we would like your partnership in the following areas.

- Exhibit booths and Parade Participation - Please register to secure your exhibit booth and parade participation. Registration deadline date: July 7th, 2023 - Registration Link

- Cultural events participation - Please register your group. Registration deadline date: July 7th, 2023, Registration Link

- Volunteers - Please register to be a volunteer at IndiaFest. Registration deadline date: July 31st, 2023. Registration Link.

-Food Vendors - Restaurants and caterers are invited to register their business at the IndiaFest by July 10th,2023. Registration link

- Kids Games & Entertainment

- Bazaar - Small businesses, please register if interested in setting up a booth to demonstrate your offering or service to a broader community. Application deadline date: July 7th, 2023, Registration Link

- Scholarship & Award Nomination. High school students are encouraged to apply. Application deadline date: July 15th, 2023 Registration Link

For the latest IndiaFest 2023 Updates

Like Us on Facebook to get the latest news and updates about IndiaFest 2023. 

IAM Facebook Link - @IndiaAssociationOfMinnesota

IAM Youtube Link - https://youtube.com/c/IAMMediatv

IAM Instagram - #iamnorg

IAM Twitter - @iam_iamnorg

Please attend the follow-up kick-off meetings with registered participants and partner organizations to learn more about IndiaFest 2023.

For more information, visit www.iamn.org or email us at info@iamn.org 

IAM 2023 Scholarship Award

India Association of Minnesota (IAM) invites Minnesota based 2023 High School graduates to apply for its Annual Student Scholarship. These scholarships are part of IAM’s continued commitment to engage and recognize youth.

For students who have demonstrated excellence in General Academics, Community service, Entrepreneurial leadership, or Arts/Sports will be recognized for outstanding achievements. 

The awards will be distributed during India Fest on August 12th, 2023. Application deadline extended to July 15, 2023.

To apply https://www.iamn.org/student-scholarship-awards

Save the Date!

IAM 10th Annual Golf Tournament

IAM is excited to present our 10th Annual Golf Event on Saturday, August 26, 2023. This year's event will again be at the beautiful Baker National Golf Course in the heart of the Baker Park Reserve in the western part of the Twin Cities. It will be a day of fun, golf and networking, with Indian food and music to close out the day.  

Golfers - watch for your invitation in your email!

India Association of Minnesota

Recognized by Spirit Airlines Charitable Foundation

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Spirit Airline's Charitable Foundation awarded India Association $10,000 in recogniton of IAM's work representing and promoting the Indian community, as well as diversity, in the Twin Cities area.  Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Linde Grindle presented a check to IAM President Tanwi Prigge.

Spirit Charitable Foundation looks for organizations who make a difference, in markets Spirit Airlines services. On May 31, 2023, Lanie Morgenstern called IAM to give the great news that IAM had been selected to receive this unexpected "Gift from the Skies". IAM is extremely grateful and thanks the Spirit Charitable Foundation and Spirit Asian Resource Group for this generous gift and looks forward to a continuing relationship.

Pictured above: Manoj Voona, Sohini Sarkar, Sheth, Tanwi Prigge, Ramla Hasanali, Linde Grindle, Alice Northrup. Burhanuddin Hasanali and Lanie Morgenstern. Not pictured: Ananya Velpuri.

Spirit’s Asian Resource Group’s mission is to promote a deeper understanding of the Asian perspective while encouraging collaboration and engagement to foster a cultivating environment where all outlooks have a seat at the table. The group generates awareness of the Asian cultures represented at Spirit through engaging, cultural activities, inspiring a safe and welcoming space to discuss current events impacting the Asian community, and acting as a resource for new Team Members’ assimilation. Conversations led by our Asian Resource Group create meaningful change that drives our DEI&B initiatives and decision-making process and demonstrates Spirit’s commitment to “More Go!” for all.

IAM Participating in the Community

Flint Hills Family Festival

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, a beautiful summer day, India Association of Minnesota again participated in The Flint Hills family festival at Rice Park and Landmark Plaza in St. Paul. The festival was a great success. IAM spanned two booths, offering a lot of interactive kid’s activities - Diya painting, nail painting, traditional motifs coloring, carrom, tattoos, saree draping, photo booth and the crowd puller henna art! There was never a dull moment at the booth and numerous kids and adults  participated.

The IAM team was led by Swapna Sengupta Halder. IAM Intern, Anand Seemakurthy and his father, Venkat, helped with setup and Anand manged the activity booth. IAM Board member, Mangala Acharya, did saree draping, took pictures and did henna painting. Past presidents, Suyash Jain and Kiran Bandi lent a hand whereever needed.

Intern, Anjali Nambudiri worked with the kids in the activities booth. IAM Board member, Hasmukh Patel and family did henna during the afternoon. IAM Vice-President, Meena Bharti was there to help with the activities and do the tear down. It was a great time and truly a team effort.

Asian Fair

The inaugural Asian Fair was held at Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth on June 3, 2023. The turn out for this first time event was amazing. US Sen Amy Klobuchar, US Rep Dean Phillips and State Rep Ginny Klevorn were in attendance. Ten Asian cultures were represented as well as other exhibitors. Asian food, performances and games & activities were offered.

Spectators enjoyed learning bout IAM's mission while sipping on Mango Lassi at the IAM booth manned by volunteer interns and members. The event was a vibrant celebration of Asian American and Pacific islander culture, fostering unity and cultural exchange.

IAM History

Deepshikha Gupta

IAM President 2003

Dear Community Members:

I start this note by thanking each and every community member of IAM who has worked

tirelessly to make this representative community organization an effective voice in the wider

community. I extend my thanks to Alice Northrup for undertaking the IAM History project (past

presidents’ notes) to give us the historical perspective on the work done by the organization, and to Neena Gada who got me involved with the India Association. Neena took me under her wings when my family had just moved to Minnesota and asked me to get involved with the India Association and SILC. I am still thankful for the trust placed in me by the organization, and I write this note with humility and appreciation.

I served as the president of the IAM in 2003. I was the board member and vice president in 2002 when the organization was led by Mr. Ashoke Mandal. Ms. Rabinder Bains was the vice-president for 2003 and the president-elect for the next year. Our work that year was supported by a very active board. Though each board member contributed to our work, leadership responsibilities for significant projects resided with Bankim Desai, Kumud Sehgal, Govind Vatassery, and Preeti Mathur.

When I think about the year I had the privilege to serve the community through the platform provided by IAM, a few things stand out. We organized long-standing events such as the annual dinner, the Independence Day (Indian) celebration, and the Festival of India. In addition, we participated in the Festival of Nations at RiverCenter in St. Paul through cultural programs, international bazaar (market), and a food booth. Among other events that took place that year was the visit of the Indian ambassador, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, to the Twin Cities and a breakfast meeting with community members.

We came together as a community to mourn when Ms. Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian women astronaut, was killed in space aboard the space shuttle Columbia.

The IAM officers visited Rochester to talk to Mr. V.P. Singh (7th Prime Minister of

India from 1989-90).

Our special project that year was to revise the mission statement for IAM and get it

approved by the board. The new mission statement was developed by Ram Gada, Anoop Mathur, Sarat Mohapatra, and Vasant Sukhatme. Board members worked tirelessly to increase the membership of the organization and its visibility among the wider community this year.

I believe that through impeccable leadership and a diverse board, IAM has become a force of change in Minnesota. Many programs that were just starting in 2003 (e.g. India Festival) have become a major event in the Twin Cities, raising the profile of Indian American Minnesotans. I believe that diverse leadership and membership of the India Association make it a strong organization that is inclusive, effective, and a true representation of the wider Indian community.

I consider myself honored that I was given an opportunity to serve the organization and the community.

IAM Membership

India Association of Minnesota invites you to become a sustaining member of the organization. As the Indian population in Minnesota increases, it is more important than ever that the community be involved in the activities of IAM as it represents our common interests.

The benefits are many, including participation in the annual election of IAM officers and board members, running for a seat on the board or becoming a part of the IAM committees (Government Relations, Cultural, History and SAARI).

For more information send an email to contact@iamn.org and an IAM board member will contact you. To become an IAM member Click Here or click on the QRcode.

Welcome to new IAM members

Spotlight

Dr. S. K. Dash to be honored by

Edina Rotary Club

The Edina Rotary Club invites you to a celebration to recognize Dr. Dash for his generous gift to The Rotary Foundation and his membership to the Arch Klumph Society. This Directed Gift will be considered a Global Grant for prospective projects in India.

Dr. S. K. Dash is a globally recognized scientist, visionary, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is a founder of the probiotics industry worldwide and established UAS Laboratories - a developer and marketer of innovative probiotic products that have been instrumental in growing the probiotics industry from a $10 million-a-year to an estimated $100 billion-a-year industry.

An active philanthropist, Dr. Dash has also been integral in the establishment of several

universities, hospitals, schools, and orphanages around the world and served on the boards of leading industry and cultural organizations worldwide, including the setup of the Dr. Dash Foundation. For his inspiring and innovative work for mankind and role model for millions of youths across the globe, Dr. Dash has received numerous national and international awards for his accomplishments in the fields of probiotics, science, technology, and philanthropy at the state and national level in India and the United States.

Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023

Time: 12:00 pm

Please arrive by noon to give enough time to be seated

Where: Edina Country Club

5100 Wooddale Ave, Edina, MN 55424

During the luncheon that includes fresh Indian cuisine, respected leaders from the Rotary Club and local community will present speeches and India presentations.

Please RSVP as a guest at https://edinarotary.org/event/arch-klumph-society-recognition

Or email rotary.becci@gmail.com, to let us know if you are planning on attending. Space is limited, so please RSVP as quickly as possible.

Rita Mustaphi Honored

Katha Dance Theatre is proud to announce that Founder and Artistic Director Rita Mustaphi has been awarded a 2023 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreographers! She is among only three choreographers chosen for the honor, which includes grant funding for the creation of a new project and additional support for research and development. The fellowship was created with the goal of helping support mid-career artists "whose work demonstrates artistic excellence." 

To learn more about the fellowship and the other honorees http://www.mcknightdancechoreo.org/

Neerja Singh - 2023 Bush Fellow

"Neerja Singh, who has been the state of Minnesota’s clinical director for behavioral health since December 2020, is a recipient of the 2023 Bush Fellowship, which provides a grant of up to $100,000 to support further study, special projects and reflection. (Parenteau Graves / Bush Foundation)

Raised in India, Neerja Singh enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 2001 for her master’s degree in social work. A licensed mental health professional and drug counselor, she spent eight years as a youth clinician with Ramsey County Corrections and then Nexus Community Partners in St. Paul before becoming the behavioral health clinical director for the state.

She feels there’s more to learn. In her free time, she plans to go back to school at the U to enroll in a professional master’s program in civic engagement, with an emphasis on social justice."

To read entire article Click Here

Youth Spotlight

IAM Intern Indra Khariwala

TEDxYouth@Edina

What is the difference between perfection and personal success? In this talk, Indra Khariwala shares her journey exploring the boundaries between perfection and success and learning to identify what kinds of sacrifices are really worth it. Indra Khariwala is 15 years old and a sophomore at Edina High School. She is the middle child in a family of 5. She has an older brother (17) and a younger sister (8). Indra enjoys theater, playing the violin, Kathak (Indian dance), biking, and spending time with family and friends. Indra’s talk focuses on the fact that a situation can be imperfect and still successful or perfect and unsuccessful. Her personal experiences during her freshman year led to new realizations and she hopes to inspire others to prioritize perseverance over perfection in order to become successful. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

IAM Intern Anjuli Nambudiri

Last week I traveled to Phoenix to compete in the 2023 National Speech and Debate tournament. I competed in Congressional Debate, where competitors debate student-written mock legislation, using proper parliamentary procedure.

To attend, I had to qualify at my district tournament, which took place in November. At Nationals, I debated over 30 pieces of legislation, with topics ranging from ending the Cuban Embargo to investing in Hypersonic Weapons. I advanced to the semifinal round, placing in the top 60 in the country. It was an awesome experience; I met debaters from across the U.S. while enjoying the sunny weather!

Upcoming IAM 2023 Calendar of Events

Event/Date/Venue

• Indiafest, Aug 12, 2023, Minnesota State Capitol Grounds
• Golf Tournament, August 26, 2023, Baker National
• NonViolence Day, Oct 1, 2023, TBD
• Pink Garba, a breast cancer awareness event, Oct 28, 2023, TBD
• Dhanyawaad, TBD

Watch for coming events in future newsletters, on Facebook and the IAM website www.iamn.org.

Seeds to Harvest

Litter League & City of Lakes Summer Games

India Association of Minnesota has partnered with Seeds To Harvest (STH) since the spring of 2020. We picked up litter at Lake Hiawatha in south Minneapolis and demonstrated cricket during the 2022 Summer games among other activities.

IAM encourages everyone to get involved in the vibrant North Minneapolis community. A couple of hours with Coach Mike Tate and the Bulldogs improving the environment is a great way to serve the Twin Cities community.

Seeds to Harvest and partners kicks off its 3rd Annual Community Summer Games on Saturday July 15 through August 6, 2023 for youth across the Twin Cities.

On Saturday, August 29, 2023 come to North Commons Park after Litter League Service and see the Children's Forest. Then watch demonstrations of Pickleball, Tennis and maybe Cricket.

The purpose of the Summer Games is to use sports and service to the neighborhood; to support healing and joy for children and community.

IAM invites the community to join us at North Commons Park for the closing celebrations on August 6, 2023.

Pride Celebration Update

Due to inclement weather, the Pride event at Maple Grove on June 25th was postponed. It's been rescheduled!

Join in the Maple Grove PRIDE & Color Celebration!

Date: July 20, 2023

Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Where: Maple Grove Central Park

12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN

AWUM from the Heart 2023

A gathering to raise funds

to support women and families!

Asian Women United of Minnesota warmly invites you to their annual fundraiser, AWUM from the Heart.

Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Where: The Women's Club of Minneapolis

410 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN. 55403

Dine with us outdoors on the rooftop overlooking the Minneapolis skyline! (weather permitting)

• Friendly company
• Delicious appetizers
• Cash bar
• Artistic presentation
• Buffet dinner

Tickets: $30 per Adult | $15 per Child (5-12 years)

For more information and tickets Click Here

Indian Cultural Association of Minnesota (ICAM)

ICAM is delighted to announce the highly anticipated UTSAV: Festival of Colors event to be held on Saturday, July 29th, 2023. Join at the Peace Plaza, located in Downtown Rochester, from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm for an unforgettable experience.

Participate in the 5K run/walk! Register here  before July 24, 2023, and prepare to immerse yourself in a vibrant environment. Lace-up your shoes and be ready to embrace the vibrant atmosphere! The race will commence at the Soldier’s Field Shelter located between YMCA and Soldiers Field Golf Club.

For more information on this spectacular event contact@icamn.org.

Note: ICAM members will receive a discount on the 5K run/walk registration. An email containing the discount details will be sent to all members separately. To take advantage of this offer and enjoy other benefits, please visit https://icamn.org/membership to become an ICAM member today!

JET & VT SEVA Minneapolis

Kids and young adults are invited to participate in the Equality Competitions in the categories of Art, Speech, Essay, Poem and Chess.

Date: July 8-9, 2023

Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Where: 15600 Old Rockford Rd, Plymouth, MN 55446

For more information and to Sign Up, Click on the QRcode in flyer or link below.

 https://tinyurl.com/EqualityVTSMN

Katha Dance Theatre

KDT Founder and Artistic Director Rita Mustaphi is excited to announce the world premiere of a solo project, MASK. This short dance film explores the literal and metaphorical masks we all wear, artistically and otherwise. Using a mixture of dance and narrative, MASK attempts to comment upon the social and cultural barriers exposed by the pandemic and offer ways to enact acceptance and social change. The film will be available to view on Vimeo starting June 30.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Katha Dance Theatre

Ragamala Dance Company

30th Anniversary Celebration

Date: Saturday, July 22. 2023

For more information & tickets Click Here

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Ragamala Dance Company training center.

Date: Starting in September 2023

For more information & registration Click Here

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For job opening Click Here

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https://www.ragamaladance.org/

SEWA-AIFW

Watch for more information!

https://www.sewa-aifw.org/

Vidya Gyan - The Art of Extemp



Want your son/daughter to succeed! Let them acquire the important skill of effective public speaking. Vidya Gyan volunteer Scholars - Tvisha Talwar and Pranika Kumar are offering a camp, “The Art of Extemp” to grades 3-8 students from August 6-13. Do not miss this incredible opportunity and let your son/daughter excel. Seats are limited. Please register early at the link: https://vidya-gyan.org/events.

While your child learns or enhances his/her speaking skill, you are helping Vidya Gyan's mission, "Every Child Matters," in India's rural government schools.

Vidya Gyan is pleased and proud to support more than 200 students in a dozen rural schools in an initiative called “Super 20.” It is aimed at accelerated learning and the holistic development of students in grades 3-6. Vidya Gyan provided a smart classroom TV and a printer to these schools and gave the needed books, stationery, and other material to every child in the Super 20. The camps like ‘The Art of Extemp’ by Vidya Gyan volunteers in Minnesota are supporting the "Super 20" initiative.

https://vidya-gyan.org/

Miscellaneous

Happy Independence Day

Happy 4th of July! Let us celebrate the diversity of American culture. This is the day to honor all the accomplishments we have achieved as a nation.

India Association of Minnesota wishes everyone a Happy Independence Day, as you gather with your friends and family to celebrated.