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India Association of Minnesota
March 2025 Newsletter
52 Years Supporting the Indian Community
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To our Newsletter Readers: If you do not see our sponsor's logos, you have not reached the end of the newsletter. Immediately below the last article on the left side, you will see "View entire message".
Please click on it.
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Connect India 2025
India Association of Minnesota's annual Connect India 2025 - a unique platform that brings together organizations working on Indian American causes around Minnesota and India will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025. This is a great opportunity to network, share your mission, vision, and activities and learn from other organizations. Your participation will strengthen and organize the more than 60,000 strong Minnesota Indian American community.
IAM is looking for nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award and Person of the Year Award. Please search within your organizations and the community for candidates.
Please watch your mail for this invitation only event and the nomination link.
Community members can also submit their nominees for the awards here.
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44th Annual Film Festival
India Association of Minnesota (IAM) is partnering with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) and the Minneapolis St. Paul Film Society (MSPFS) during this year's film festival. During the twelve day festival between April 2 - 13, 2025, several Asian Indian films will be shown. The venues will include Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), Main Theater, Edina Theater and Rochester, MN. Watch for more information.
MSPIFF annually presents over 200 new international and independent films to a broad community of movie lovers.
Watch for more information on Indian movies, show times, tickets and venues in the IAM April newsletter and https://mspfilm.org/
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Celebrating the Artist in Every Child
For over 20 years, the Flint Hills Family Festival has brought communities together through the power of the arts, welcoming over a million students, teachers, and families since its conception in 2001. Join us to kick off each summer with thrilling performances, student matinees, art-making activities, and more.
During the Festival, kid-friendly activities spark creativity, exciting outdoor performances are free to attend, and inspiring, low-cost indoor performances are fun for the whole family! Stop by at the IAM booth!
Saturday, May 31, 2025
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
https://ordway.org/festival/
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AshaUSA Presents: Brain Health Matters!
The Remember Project - Part 2
Hey Twin Cities and surrounding communities! You are invited to ~ Brain Health Matters: Caring for Yourself and Your Loved Ones - Together! In partnership with AshaUSA , this free event features a screening of the play "In the Garden" by Matthew Widman!!!
Arthur Monsetin's adult children have come together to decide a course of action for their beloved father who is struggling with Alzheimer's Disease. Long-ingrained familial tensions come to the surface as Peter, Karen, and Jamie wrestle with how best to treasure their father as they also come to terms with his limitations. Enjoy a sneak peek of this play in a trailer from our theatrical video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF64jsYTpf8
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Minneapolis American Indian Center
Doors Open / Chai: 4:00 pm
Play & Community Conversation: 4:15-6:45 pm
Special thanks to India Association of Minnesota for partnering with Asha USA to make this event possible.
Tickets are FREE and pre-registration is required. To learn more about this play and event, and to register: https://AshaUSA-Garden2025.eventbrite.com
Funding provided by a Minnesota Department of Health Healthy Brain Community Grant
#AgeFriendly #brainhealth #DementiaFriendlyCommunity #TheRememberProject #AshaUSA #IndiaAssociationofMinnesota #MDH
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The Remember project - Part one - Fortune Cookies
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, the first of the 2 part series of The Remember Project, brought forth in collaboration with AshaUSA and IAM, called "The Fortune Cookies" was an educational and thought provoking live theatre performance, followed by an engaging interactive session.
Several like-minded members of the community attended the session, organized at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. The post performance conversation among the attendees brought forth some serious situations, which most regular folks take for granted. It opened up our minds to being more receptive to not just those members of our community who are in the phase of memory loss owing to dementia, but also those who are their care givers and those who are fearful of getting there in the latter phase of their life.
The second part of this series, "In the Garden" on March 02nd, will be a build up on the first part. IAM highly encourages the community members to register for this event and show up to open their minds to the difficult conversations about memory loss.
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Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx - AAPI Night
ASPIRE, the Timberwolves and Lynx Asian Employee Resource Group, invites you to AAPI Night on Sunday, March 30 at 6:30 pm as the Timberwolves take on the Pistons!
This night is a celebration of Minnesota’s AAPI community, featuring special in-game moments with local AAPI talent, including a national anthem singer, DJ, halftime performance and an AAPI-themed coloring station for kids.
ASPIRE wants you to be part of this powerful night—let’s come together, represent our community and pack the arena for the biggest AAPI Night yet!
For tickets Click Here
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Government Relations & Civic Engagement | |
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Asian/Indian Concerns in Minnesota
India Association of Minnesota is aware of it's responsibility to represent and advocate for the Indian community in Minnesota. The Government Relations Committee actively interacts with Minnesota's politicians at all levels, representing the interests of all Indians living in the state.
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Edina Police Department Town Hall
Edina PD, in collaboration with Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), conducted a Mandir Townhall for the temple committees and community leaders. CoHNA presented their information about the educational sessions on Hindu traditions and practices they regularly conduct for the law enforcement across US and Canada.
The Edina PD conducted an educational session on safety practices that places of worship and the community in general can follow to stay safe in any active threat situations. They also informed the audience on what to do when they call/text 911 in order fpr the dispartcher to be able to send an officer to the site in a timely fashion.
In attendance from the law enforcement were Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn, Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, along with the members of CoHNA, IAM board members and Dr. Dash.
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Ananya Dance Theatre
Our Shawngrām Institute for Performance & Social Justice is our gathering place, where we practice (train) together, rehearse, lead workshops and community events, and teach weekly classes and our Summer Intensive.
Classes are operated on a pay-what-you-can basis. To register for classes Click Here
https://www.ananyadancetheatre.org/
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HSMN & RGK Dance Academy proudly present "Pursuit of Happiness"
Don’t miss this beautiful celebration of culture, art, and community! A mesmerizing Bollywood dance drama directed and choreographed by the talented Renu G. Kumar.
Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025
Start: 4:30 PM
Location: 10530 Temple Dr, Maple Grove, MN 55311
Tickets: Scan the QR code or Click Here
Celebrate 22 years of RGK Dance Academy and support HSMN's upcoming CAE Center!
Event Flow: 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Social Hour, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Dance Drama, 6:45 PM Onwards: Dinner
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LMT SEVA and Pro Dental
Proudly Presents in Association with Raj Bahl from Remax
Kumar Sanu & Sadhana Sargam Live in Concert
Date & Time: June 14th @ 7:00 pm
Venue: Minneapolis Convention Center
To buy tickets https://lmtseva.eventbrite.com or click on the QRcode in flyer.
For more details please reach out to Shashi Tiwari at 612-978-3040 or send an email to lmtseva@gmail.com
https://lmtseva.com/
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Marathi Association of Minnesota
Date: Sunday, March 16, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm
Venue: Eden Prairie High School
https://www.mnmarathi.org/
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Embodied Poetry : Movement Workshop
Embodied Poetry workshops intertwine performance, conversation, and dance education to provide participants with deep context for dancer/choreographer Ashwini Ramaswamy's Bharatanatyam lineage. Embodied Poetry begins with a performance excerpt based on a specific narrative/poetic verse. Following a discussion of the textual grounding, participants are led through introductory movement instruction, using the texts to further evoke the gestural and emotional intention of the choreography. The dance piece shown at the start of the workshop is then re-performed, allowing the participants a deeper appreciation upon second viewing. The workshop offers insights into the literature, poetry, mythology and sacred texts behind Ramaswamy's artmaking practice/Ragamala Dance Company's work.
March 12, 2025
Registration Click Here
https://www.ragamaladance.org/
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School of India for Language & Culture (SILC)
Date changed due to inclement weather
The SILC Mela invites all to join on March 1st for a day of festivities. Children will enjoy a variety of games, while adults can participate in friendly competitions, adorn themselves with henna, facepaint, explore the vibrant bazaar, and savor delicious delicacies. We encourage you to be a part of this wonderful community celebration."
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Location: Como Senior High School
740 Rose Ave West, Saint Paul, MN 55117
To RSVP Click Here
https://sites.google.com/silcmn.com/silcminnesota
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Twin Cities Tamil Association (TCTA)
Explore innovative projects from 100+ students across TCTA member and partner organization families. Gain insights and inspiration from the incredible creativity on display! Every student participant will receive a trophy to celebrate their efforts.
To register Click Here
https://tctamn.org/
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Celebrating Asian Culture through
Sophea Woolner is displaying her beautiful oil paintings that are inspired by her childhood memories—vibrant colors, spices, fabrics, and even gold leafing. It’s a unique blend of personal history and art!
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Ram Gada Visits S M Sehgal Foundation Intervention Areas
Mr. Ram Gada, supporter of S M Sehgal Foundation from Minnesota, USA, visited key intervention sites in Nuh, Haryana, from January 28 to 31, 2025, engaging with educators, community members, and foundation leaders. Mr. Gada toured Government Senior Secondary School, Ujjina, meeting with school staff. He visited the Citizen Information Support Center (CISC) and spoke with the toll-free service team. On January 29, he met senior S M Sehgal Foundation leaders to discuss ongoing projects. On January 31, he visited Khohar Check Dam in Nuh, engaging with Village Development Committee members and praising water conservation efforts.
He later toured community radio Connect FM 107.8, recording a program with Naugaon school students and staff. Mr. Ram Gada lauded the foundation’s impact on rural development and community empowerment. Mr. Ram Gada shared his journey from Gujarat, India, to Minnesota, reflecting on his life and experiences and how he transitioned from a mechanical engineer to a philanthropist dedicated to giving back to India. Through his efforts, he has mobilized his community to support meaningful causes and make a lasting impact.
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Vidya Gyan celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025!
The milestone year began with a special event in January, honoring and recognizing 40 teachers in Vidya Gyan network’s rural government schools in Saharanpur, U.P. Braving the cold, these educators attended the awards ceremony presided by the Chief Development Officer and graced by the District's Basic Shiksha Adhikari. Both officials expressed gratitude, commended the teachers' contributions, and encouraged them to continue their inspiring work.
With a decade of impact behind it, Vidya Gyan is ready for an exciting future ahead. In part, it is due to success in obtaining permanent registration under FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act). It adds to Vidya Gyan’s credibility with rigorous scrutiny by the Home Ministry. FCRA regulation allows monitoring of the foreign funds to NGOs, ensuring use of funds for intended purposes. Vidya Gyan is proud to be a nonprofit in Minnesota with a sister NGO, Vidya Gyan India, which operates independently, holds tax-exempt status in India, and is FCRA approved.
https://vidya-gyan.org/
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National Women's History Month
March 1 - 31, 2025
"Moving Forward Together!
Women Educating & Inspiring Generations".
In the USA, we celebrate women throughout the month of March. International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th. It is a time to recognize the contributions that women make and it includes the everyday nurturing and care of their families. Although we honor the many women who make spectacular contributions in science, industry and education, we also honor all women who contribute every day to making our lives better.
India Association of Minnesota wishes all the incredible, dedicated and accomplished women of the Minnesota Indian community a year of recognition
for all you do.
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HOLI
March 13 - 14, 2025
The festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.
India Association of Minnesota wishes each and every one of you a colorful HOLI!
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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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Submissions for the IAM Facebook page or future newsletters, please email us at marketing@iamn.org
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