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India Association of Minnesota
August 2024 Newsletter
51 Years Supporting the Indian Community
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To our Newsletter Readers: If you do not see our sponsor 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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IndiaFest 2024
Join us for IAM's biggest event of the year on August 17 2024!
Immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of India's rich culture and heritage at the beautiful State Capitol Grounds in St. Paul, MN.
Highlights of the Day
Flag Hoisting Ceremony: Commemorate India's Independence Day with a patriotic flag hoisting.
Traditional Dance Performances: Experience the grace and energy of classical and folk dance forms.
Delicious Indian Food: Savor authentic flavors from diverse regions of India.
Cultural Activities: Participate in engaging activities that showcase the essence of Indian culture.I
Indian Bazaar: Explore a variety of stalls offering unique crafts, clothing, and more.
Grand Bollywood Night: Dance the night away to the best of Bollywood music and performances. and LOADS OF FUN
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Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day filled with fun, food, and festivities. This is an event you won't want to miss!
Date: August 17, 2024
Location: State Capitol Grounds, St. Paul, MN
Complimentary Rides on Metro Transit from 9:00 am - 11:00 pm on August 17, 2024.
Southwest Transit is offering $6.00 round trip rides from Eden Prairie.
Click here for Southwest schedule.
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IndiaFest Information Meeting
IAM invited regional partners to the IAM July Board meeting for an IndiaFest information session. The meeting included a presentation by representatives from the FBI, Jazba and the IAM Government Relation Committee. Thank you to all who attended.
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11th Annual IAM Golf Tournament
Join us for the IAM Golf Tournament!
Get ready to tee off at one of the most anticipated events of the year! The IAM Golf Tournament is set to be an unforgettable day of fun, competition, and community spirit.
Exciting golf competition • Prizes & giveaways
Networking • Delicious food & refreshments
Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Time: 1pm - 8pm CST
Location: Baker National Golf Course
2935 Parkview Dr, Hamel, MN 55340
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, this tournament is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, meet new people, and support a great cause. All proceeds go towards supporting the India Association of Minnesota’s programs and initiatives.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic event!
Gather your friends, form a team, and sign up today.
Registration & Payment Here
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Non-Violence Day October 5, 2024
Save the Date!
IAM will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of peace through non-violence to eradicate the ingrained systemic racial violence, injustice and inequality against minorities (women, Indigenous Americans, Blacks, immigrants, LGBTQ and all marginalized people). Mark your calendars.
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IAM Participating in the Community | |
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AA & NHPI Economic Summit
IAM was honored to represent the Asian Indian diaspora of MN at the White House Initiative Asian American, Native Hawaiin, and Pacific Islander Economic Summit (WHI AANHPI) held at Metro State University on July 2nd. IAM President, Meena Bharti, Government Relations Committee Co-Chairs Sanjay Terakanambi and Shruti Joshi, and Trustee Advisory Council Chair Sreeni Checka had the privilege to meet with President Biden's Advisory Commission on AANHPI. IAM shared the experiences of the Asian Indian community especially with regards to Green Card backlogs and Documented Dreamers aging out of their parent's dependency status while waiting for permanent residency, with members of the Advisory Commission. Sanjay Terakanambi, spoke on behalf of IAM at the Listening Session, shedding light on the pervasiveness of the immigration issue.
IAM continues its work on behalf of the Asian Indian community to raise our voices and represent our community at all levels of society and government. The summit provided an opportunity to have our concerns heard, make new connections, learn from other API communities where we can work as a collective and get a better sense for what is being done at the Federal level to address the community's needs. The economic summit was attended by over 300 people across all AANHPI communities. Topics included small business entrepreneurship, language and cultural preservation, immigration, racism and discriminations, data disaggregation, social and healthcare disparities amongst others.
IAM thanks the members of the President's Advisory Commission for convening here in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the access and the opportunity to connect with federal agencies, resources and personnel at the most grassroots level.
Among the esteemed coalition of Federal representatives present at the Summit were:
Ambassador Katherine Tai, US Trade Representative, Commision Co-Chair
Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services Secretary, Commission Co-Chair
Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AANHPI Senior Liaison, White House
Krystal Ka'ai, Executive Director , White House Initiative on AANHPI
Nani Coloretti, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget, White House
Kota Mizutani, Senior Advisor, Office of Public Engagement, White House
Sonal Shah, Chief Commissioner of President's Advisory Commission
and Commissioners KaYing Yang, Sarah Min, Luisa Blue and Ajay Bhaturia.
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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
On July 6, 2024, IAM Presiden Meena Bharti joined in the historic groundbreaking ceremony for the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Medina, MN.
The new mandir will serve as a place of worship and act as a center for cultural, social, educational, and community service events helping people connect and foster a sense of belonging.
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Eden Prairie PeopleFest
On Sunday, August 28, 2024 IAM participated in Eden Prairie's annual event, PeopleFest at Starling Park. In spite of the hot and very windy weather, proud Eden Prairie citizens turned out to celebrate their city. Lots of visitors stopped by the IAM table.
Eden Prairie has the largest concentration of Indian residents in the metro area. The attendees enjoyed cultural performances, a Human library and food trucks. EP Police and Fire Departments and many organizations had tables.
Representing IAM were IAM Board member Hetal Patel, Past Presidents, Shanti Shah, Stefan Peterson, Nash Shaikh as well as Honorary Board member Ram Gada, past board members Preeti & Anoop Mathur and Alice Northrup. Former board member Swapna Sengupta Halder and TAC chair Sreeni Checka supported the team.
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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).
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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 QR code.
Welcome to new IAM members
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Upcoming IAM Calendar of Events
Event/Date/Venue
- Cricket Tournament (Recommended new event), TBD
- Indiafest 2024 - August 17th, Minnesota State Capitol grounds
- IAM Picnic - September
- IAM Golf Tournament - September 8th
- NonViolence Day - Oct 5th
- Pink Garba Women's Health event - October TBD
- Dhanyawaad - December TBD
Watch for coming events in future newsletters, on Facebook and the IAM website www.iamn.org.
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Government Relations & Civic Engagement | |
- What is a primary election? A primary election determines which candidates will be on the ballot in the November general election. For example, five candidates from one political party might run for governor. Only one candidate can be on the ballot in November. The winner of the August primary election will represent their party on the November election ballot. There may be two kinds of offices on your primary ballot: partisan offices and nonpartisan offices.
- Minnesota allows any eligible voter to vote early by mail or in person without needing to provide a reason.
- Voters can register to vote on Election Day at their polling place with necessary proof of residence.
- Voters who are unable to leave their vehicle can request that an election judge bring a ballot to them in their car.
More information at:
https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/how-elections-work/primary-election/
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Historical Note
In 1923, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided to bar South Asians from becoming American citizens. After decades of campaigning and advocacy by the South Asian community, the right of citizenship for South Asians was restored. This brief video from South Asian American Digital Archives (SAADA) reminds us of what those before us... "have endured to get the rights we have now, how easily they can be taken away and how hard it is to win them back."
https://fb.watch/tlEbX990ap/
"The Luce-Celler Act of 1946, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, was a significant law that extended naturalization rights to South Asians and Filipinos, while also setting a quota of 100 immigrants per year from each country. This act reversed the 1923 Supreme Court case United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind, which revoked the citizenship of a South Asian immigrant because he was not considered white. The Bagais' case, in which Vaishno Das Bagai and his wife applied for citizenship in 1923 and were denied, became a symbol of the fight against injustice."
To read more Click Here
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Like Mother Like Daughter
IAM Associate Board member, Riya Bharti has been named President of the Asian American Student Union of Minnesota. Riya, a college junior, started with IAM as an intern. She is the daughter of IAM President Meena Bharti. IAM Congratulaties Riya on her new position and applaud her involvement in the student community.
The University of Minnesota's Asian American Union (ASU) was established during the Civil Rights Movement to serve as the voice of Asian Americans at the University. Its mission is to promote the understanding of the diverse Asian Pacific Islander Desi American cultures and provide a cultural experience to the University and its surrounding communities. To achieve this, ASU has a cultural center located at Coffman Memorial Union, where students can gather and socialize throughout the week. Additionally, ASU hosts numerous events and programs that attract over 6,000 students annually.
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Cultural Destinations Boutique
Minnesota State Fair
3 Things To Do at Cultural Destinations Boutique @State Fair Education Building
First - place your artistic mark on the "I Belong Here" mural.
Second - share a gift with someone special - art, fashion, souvenirs, jewelry, children books, coffee, tea, sauces from 30+ countries
Third - watch pop-up fashion show, listen to world music and other fun things going on
Featuring from the IAM network - Children books, Art, Gifts, Souvenirs.
Daily Calendar at https://www.culturaldestinations.org/statefair24
What to buy coming soon at - https://www.culturaldestinations.org/shop
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AshaUSA
Join the last Chai & Chat Conversation session of the series!
Via Zoom on Monday, August 26: 7 PM CST
Please register at: https://forms.gle/E5KHsrLqysTn3bHR6
Once you register we will send you a zoom link to join!
AshaUSA is excited to invite you to a discussion with a distinguished panel of South Asian community members. This event will focus on the crucial topic of mental health signs and symptoms within our communities. Among the esteemed panelists is Muzna Abbas, author of the thought-provoking book *Letters to my Brown Mother*.
This is a unique opportunity to learn from individuals with lived experiences and to share your own stories in a safe and supportive environment. As the final conversation in the series, you are encouraged to participate and contribute to this important dialogue.
Don’t miss out on this chance to connect, learn, and grow together.
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CHAI & CHAT: Empowering South Asians: Culturally Sensitive Approaches to Mental Wellness Conversation#3
What is it? The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Asha USA are hosting community conversations on mental wellness! This space is for/by and about South Asians to share what mental wellness means to us and learn about ways we can support well-being among ourselves and each other. This conversation will be a discussion of Signs & Symptoms with a panel of South Asian leaders.
When is it? Chai & Chat conversations will be held over Zoom on Monday, August 12, 2024 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
To participate, you must be of South Asian descent (including ancestry from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives, and Indo-Caribbean individuals from countries including Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago etc.)
If you have any questions, please contact Charu Aggarwal at chaichat@nami.org or ashausa2014@gmail.com
https://www.ashausa.org/
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NAMI Walks - Saturdy, September 28, 2024
Join the walk as a part of Team AshaUSA
https://www.namiwalks.org/participant/AshaUSA-Sayali-Amarapurkar
Where: Minnehaha Regional Park
4801 S. Minnehaha Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55417
Time: 11:00 am - Registration/Check-In & Resource Fair Begin:
Kids’ Tent, Tree of Hope, Food Trucks
12:30 pm - Opening Ceremony Begins
1:00 pm - Ribbon Cutting & Walk Begins
3:00 pm - Festivities come to a close for another year!
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Indian Music Society of Minnesota (IMSOM)
IMSOM presents an evening with Indradeep Ghosh and Gourisankar.
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Plymouth Playhouse Theater
2705 Annapolis Lane No, Plymouth, MN. 55441
Tickets: Click Here
https://www.imsom.org/
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Pangea World Theater
This August, Pangea World Theater is expanding our education programming to middle schoolers, offering three Summer Camps for 4th to 6th graders.
These camps are rooted in Pangea's belief in creating spaces where a multiplicity of experiences and cultures can enter a space and be creative together. Engaging in theater helps build confidence, community, team-building, and expressions of creativity!
All camps are also priced on a sliding scale to stay accessible to all families.
Pangea World Theater
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Experience the Magic of Bollywood!
RGK Dance Academy performers will showcase their skills at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. The RGK performance - "Pursuit of Happiness: Discover the Vibrant Heart of India," will take place at the Southern Theater.
Thursday, August 1 at 5:30 pm
Sunday, August 4 at 4 pm
Monday, August 5 at 8:30 pm
Saturday, August 10 at 10 pm
Sunday, August 11 at 7 pm
Support RGK and enjoy an enchanting evening that promises to leave you spellbound. This is a perfect outing for all ages, so gather your loved ones and be part of this magical experience!
Get Your Tickets Now! https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2024/pursuit-of-happiness
www.rgkdance.org
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South Asian Community-Centered Heart Health Celebration
We are a group of South Asian-American health students and professionals at the University of Minnesota, working under the guidance of Dr. Roli Dwivedi. Many of us have grown up within this community, and are invested in improving the health of our community. All community members (of all ages) are invited to attend!
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Time: 3:00 - 4:30pm
Venue: Ridgedale Library
12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
Robert H. Rohlf Room, 1st floor
The South Asian-Centered Heart Health project brought together University of Minnesota researchers and local South Asian professionals, cultural organizations, and community members over the past two years. We talked about and worked on how culturally tailored healthcare can help individuals and community members improve heart health when it comes to nutrition, movement, and mindfulness. Please join us for this community gathering where we will discuss our findings, share our co-created community cookbook, celebrate our partnerships, have small group discussions, and give away prizes!
Please RSVP here https://forms.gle/6qxYn2Rh5ZbXZeS86
More information Click Here
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Telegu Association of Minnesota (TEAM)
TEAM invites you to their Summer Picnic!!. It is a free event, open Come and enjoy food, games and much more!
Date: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Time: 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: Hyland Lake Park
10145 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
telugumn.org
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Vidya Gyan
Give Your Children the Gift of “Hindi Language Skills!”
Enroll your child (6+) in the Vidya Gyan summer camp offering (a) Recognition of Hindi
alphabets, (b) Proper pronunciation, and (c) Conversational practice to gain speaking fluency.
Register them for Practical Communication skills while visiting India, Strengthening cultural connections, and the less obvious but important Academic Advantage of choosing Hindi as a second language later.
An experienced teacher/mentor will lead this camp in a non-threatening environment where children can thrive. By the end of the camp, participants will have improved their soft skills and increased mastery of Hindi.
Sign up today to let your child embark on a rewarding linguistic journey.
https://vidya-gyan.org/events/ola/services/learn-hindi-summer-camp-1
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Small Community, Big Contributions, Boundless Horizons
"We are happy to share the first-ever data-driven report showcasing the contributions of the Indian diaspora in the US. Espousing the theme that resonates within the heart of the diaspora "Every town is my town, and all the people in the world are my kin", this report dives deep into the diaspora’s impact across five key dimensions—economic, scientific, social, cultural, and civic. Guided by a distinguished steering committee of industry leaders, academic scholars, and business executives, the report ensures comprehensive and insightful analysis. This report celebrates the remarkable achievements of Indian Americans, both in the US and their contributions to India. We hope this view will uplift the Indian diaspora to new heights and inspire and endear readers from around the world."
Explore the report and discover the extraordinary stories that connect us all
To read article click on https://www.indiaspora.org/bcg-impact-report
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Aarushi Bahadur is a rising high school senior. She is passionate about elevating South Asian youth voices. Aarushi recently started an online literary magazine called Crossroads for South Asian students, who tend to be underrepresented in the humanities. The magazine will publish issues quarterly and feature fiction, poetry, and essays.
Accepting submissions now.
Click on https://aarushijbahadur.wixsite.com/crossroadsmagazine
The magazine is on Instagram @crossroadslitmag and a like would be amazing!).
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Indian Independence Day
Celebrating 77 Years of Freedom!
On this special day, we honor the rich history, vibrant culture, and indomitable spirit of India. From the majestic Himalayas to the serene backwaters, from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the peaceful villages, every corner of India resonates with stories of courage, diversity, and unity.
Let's come together to remember the sacrifices made for our freedom and to celebrate the journey of our incredible nation. Wear your tricolor with pride, share your favorite memories of India, and let’s spread the love for our beautiful country!
Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind!
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Senior Citizen Day
Celebrating National Senior Citizens Day!
Wednesday, August 24, 2024, we honor and celebrate the wisdom, experience, and contributions of our senior citizens. They are the pillars of our communities, carrying a lifetime of stories, lessons, and love. Let’s take a moment to show our gratitude and appreciation for their invaluable presence in our lives.
Let’s make every day a celebration of our cherished elders.
Happy National Senior Citizens Day!
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Minnesota State Fair
August 22 - September 2, 2024
Get ready for the Great Minnesota Get-Together!
The Minnesota State Fair is back, bringing you 12 days of fun, food, and unforgettable experiences.
From thrilling rides and live music to mouth-watering treats and unique exhibits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Don’t miss out on the tradition that brings the whole state together!
Visit mnstatefair.org for more details.
See you at the fair!
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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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