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India Association of Minnesota
January 2025 Newsletter
52 Years Supporting the Asian 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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A Message from 2025 President Srividya Vaidyanathan
I am both honored and humbled to have been elected to lead the India Association of Minnesota (IAM) in 2025. My journey with IAM began as a volunteer in 2015, continued with joining the board in 2017, and now, I have the privilege of stepping into this leadership role. Over the years, I have forged meaningful connections, and my experience with IAM has been incredibly fulfilling.
IAM is a 100% volunteer-run organization, supported by a dedicated and passionate board committed to serving our community. With a legacy of service now spanning 52 years, the 2025 board is excited to continue collaborating with our partner organizations across Minnesota. Together, we aim to strengthen our relationships and maximize the value we bring to the community. Additionally, we are focused on expanding our connections with youth organizations, ensuring their voices are heard and their representation amplified within our community.
We will continue to advance our mission of Culture, Charity, and Connections through our programs and events that benefit the community. This includes the upcoming Urban Expedition, the popular Consular Camp, and several webinars tailored to the needs of seniors and women. Building on the success of IndiaFest 2024, led by Meena Bharti, we are excited to showcase the rich cultural diversity of India to Minnesotans and our neighboring states. In 2025, we plan to strengthen the new connections we made in 2024, transforming them into lasting partnerships for future generations.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are always open to hearing your thoughts on how we can better engage with you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via our website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), or LinkedIn.
Finally, I invite you to join me in welcoming an extraordinary group of individuals who are dedicated to supporting IAM’s mission through 2025 and beyond.
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India Association of Minnesota 2025 Team
Officers
President Srividya Vaidyanathan, Vice President Mangala Acharya,
General Secretary Sunitha Pillai, Treasurer Uma Venkat
Board of Directors
Meena Bharti (2024) - Analabha Dutta - Anurag Saurabh - Fazel Haris
Nithya Balakrishnan Mathad - Sanjay Terakanambi - Shruti Joshi
Associate Board Members
Aditi Velankar - Dwija Vyas - Kiran Bandi (2021) - Madhulika Gaur
Manjula Raman - Muniesh Khandelwal - Rashmi Jindani - Reena Raichur
Reshma Kolhapure - Shivangi Pandey - Suryaprakash Ganesan
Suyash Jain (2022) - Swaminathan Begur
Nominations Committee
Sreeni Checka (2020) - Shanti Shah (1992)
Sreekanth Kamojjala (2017) - Venkat Seemakurty
Bylaws Committee
Niru Misra (1994) - Suyash Jain (2022) - Raj Menon (2009)
Ram Gada - Sreeni Checka (2020)
Honorary Board Members
Dr. S K Dash - Ram Gada - Dr. Bruce Corrie
Trustee Advisory Council - Administration
Pradeep Sukhani - Alice Northrup
Number following name denotes a past IAM president for that year.
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Recognition of Service to IAM
IAM sincerely thanks the following departing team members for their service and contributions to India Association of Minnesota and the community. Many have served over the years in various positions in IAM.
2024 Board Members Hina Kapoor, Ramla Hasanali, Ram Rajagopalan, Manoj Voona, Hasmukh Patel, Vipasha Verma and Sandeep Methi.
2024 Associate Board Members Riya Bharti, Hetal Patel, Nidhi Methi, Nikhil Nagaraj and Shonit Jain.
2024 TAC Member & 2023 President Tanwi Prigge
2024 Honorary Board Member Hitesh Patel
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IAM Internship Program 2025
India Association of Minnesota is now accepting applications for participation in the 2025 Internship program. Interns work in all aspects of the organization while learning about the history of IAM and its core pillars of Culture, Charity & Connections. Applications for 2025 must be submitted by January 15, 2025
For more information and to apply Click Here
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Upcoming IAM Events - Mark Your Calendars | |
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Urban Expedition - Sundays at Landmark - India
IAM is partnering with the Landmark Center in St. Paul on January 12, 2025 to highlight the Indian culture. Free event from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.
Indian Film Festival in partnership with Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) and Minneapolis St Paul Film Society. Join IAM April 7-13, 2025 and enjoy Indian films.
Watch for more information on the IAM website and social media.
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Dhanyawad
On Sunday, December 8, 2024, IAM held its final event for the year at the Minnetonka Community Center. It is always our pleasure to thank and celebrate all of you who have made the year a success at the annual Dhanyawad celebration. Your support, sponsorship and volunteering are an integral factor in making for a successful year.
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Arrivals were greeted at the registration desk by intern Aanura Venkat and Alice Northrup. Once inside, comraderie ensued as everyone mingled and enjoyed catching up. During the social hour appetizers and beverages were enjoyed. A delicious Indian dinner catered by Indian Bazaar was served.
MN Aprasas Dance Team performed a beautiful dance which was enjoyed by the audience. Santosh Sharma and his incredible group of local talent from Sur Aur Taal team entertained through the event.
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Outgoing President Meena Bharti spoke to the guest about all that IAM accomplished during 2024 and thanked everyone for their support and hard work. she also recognized the team for their work throughout the year. President-elect Srividya Vaidyanathan addressed the guests.
Ten past presidents and family members attended Dhanyawad to show their continuing support and participation in all things IAM.
The IAM team, Board members, Associate Board members, TAC, Honorary Board members, Administration and Interns, were publicly thanked for their hard work, contributions and time to support the many programs that IAM produced and participated in during 2024. IAM 2024 President Meena Bharti was thanked for her dedication in leading the organization. Job Well Done Meena!
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IAM Participating in the Community | |
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Turkish Festival of Minnesota
IAM was honored to be invited to the first ever Turkish Festival of Minnesota hosted by the Turkish American Association of Minnesota on December 1, 2024 at Canterbury Expo Center, Shakopee.
The event was a vibrant celebration of Turkish culture showcasing its many dance forms, music, foods and art. The event featured traditional Turkish coffee workshops, marble art, henna painting and a sampling of pre-wedding traditions. Attendees of all ages gathered to partake in Turkish culture and hospitality. Live performances of dances and music kept audiences engaged. The evening concluded with a live performance by Rafet El Roman, a pop icon from Turkey.
IAM was represented at the event by Srividya Vaidyanathan, Shruti Joshi and Fazel Harris, in the spirit of fostering connection through our shared cultures and traditions.
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Hmong New Year
United Hmong Family and the Council for Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM) hosted the 44th Annual Minnesota Hmong New Year celebration at the St. Paul RiverCentre from November 30th through December 1st, 2024.
Mangala Acharya, Shruti Joshi and Sanjay Terakanambi from India Association of Minnesota represented the South Asian leadership at the event. IAM continues to build community ties with other API communities across Minnesota and seek collaborative opportunities to serve our shared missions.
The Hmong New Year celebration is a cultural holiday practiced for many generations to remember the year’s successes and accomplishments and embrace the incoming of a new year. Hmong families across the globe take this time to be with friends, family, and their community. The official program included remarks by Brigadier General Manke, Dr. Macarre Traynham (Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Equity and Engagement, Dept. of Education) and leaders of the Thai, Lao, Cambodian and Vietnamese communities. The festival showcased Hmong singing, dance competitions, and pageantry. Invited guests participated in a traditional game of ball-toss.
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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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SAARI
South Asians Against Racial Injustice
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Martin Luther King Day
January 20, 2025
"Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States."
"Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.
In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000."
To read more Click Here
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AshaUSA in collaboration with IAM
The Remember Project
Community Conversations around Brain Health
The Remember Project delivers two-hour events that include a short play performed by professional actors who bring to life real issues connected to the care, diagnosis, and experience of dementia and how relationships can be tested in unexpected ways. Following the performance, audience members take part in a facilitated conversation about the themes, metaphors, and impact of memory loss depicted in the plays.
AshaUSA is thrilled to bring Brain Health Matters: Taking care of yourself and your loved ones!
A series of 2 community conversations this spring. One on February 2nd and another on March 2nd 2025.
This is a free, family friendly event and kids above 6 years of age are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Flyers attached.
Please RSVP at this link to attend one or both events.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsF156Gowl4Jum_aTYOXO6QEduZBYhM95oFI4ux8VJOqKInA/viewform?usp=sharing
Come and watch "The Fortune Cookies" Fortune Cookies trailer
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Venue: Grandparents Conference Room
Minneapolis American Indian Community Center
1530 East Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Come and watch "In the Garden" In the Garden trailer
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 6.30 pm
Venue: Grandparents Conference Room
Minneapolis American Indian Community Center
1530 East Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
www.AshaUSA.org
Celebrating 10 years of Health & Harmony in the South Asian Community
ashausa2014@gmail.com www.desistoriesashausa.com Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@ashausa4484
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Cultural Destinations
Cultural Destinations (Dr. Bruce Corrie) is bringing to the East Metro an opportunity to enjoy world music, beginning with Bollywood Music at the Urban Growler Brewery in Saint Paul. We are creating space for people to enjoy and dance to music from various parts of the world. Brought to you in partnership with Urban Growler and Indus Music (Fazel Haris) and others.
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Crossroads Literary Magazine
This is a vitual magazine for Asian students ages 14 - 20 years to showcase their writing. Click on the QRcode for more information.
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Ragamala Dance Company
Ragamala in New York City
Children of Dharma draws on one of the most enduring epics in South Asian culture, The Mahabharata. This ancient yet timeless text is a meditation on dilemma, action and consequence, and speaks to crises over the ages, from environmental devastation and oppression to unjust wars.
Monday, January 6, 2025
New York Public Library
Artist talk
New York, NY
Wednesday, January 8 - Sunday, January 12, 2025
The Joyce Theater
New York, NY
Tickets
Ragamala Dance Company
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Theater MU
Theater Mu, a premier Asian American performing arts organization in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This coming spring, we are producing the world premiere of "Fifty Boxes of Earth" at Park Square Theater by playwright Ankita Raturi, with choreography by Ananya Chatterjea.
For tickets https://www.theatermu.org/fifty-boxes#gsc.tab=0
Q just moved to the neighborhood, but instead of a bed, they brought fifty boxes of earth for the community garden. When Q starts cultivating fantastical, improbable plants, one man's distrust grows even as his young daughter reaches out in friendship.
This show contains themes of migration, belonging, loss and growth, family and community, and the tensions between fear and joy. The play combines dialogue with dance and puppetry, a multidisciplinary approach borne out of South Asian performance tradition. This story connects with anyone who has felt the effects of migration, colonization, and the heavy costs of leaving a home and putting down new roots.
Tickets for the show are Pay As You Are, starting at $10. Don't miss this opportunity!
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New Year's 2025
The start of a New Year is always a time of anticipation regarding the posssibilies and potential for the next twelve months. The IAM team is looking forward to doing impactful work, seeing you at our many events and strenghthening our relationships with our partners and the greater Asian & Minnesota communities.
India Association of Minnesota wishes each and every one of you a
Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2025.
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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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