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Manavi Staff And Board Of Directors
Our Staff
Maneesha Kelkar has
been the Executive Director of Manavi since 2004, before which
she served as a volunteer and Board member. Maneesha graduated
with a Master's degree in Economic Development from American
University, Washington, DC Maneesha's professional experience
spans a variety of work. She has consulted for the World Bank,
taught Economics and held management positions at various
corporations, besides working for non profit organizations.
Maneesha currently serves on the Prevention and Public Education
Committee of the NJ Governor's Council against Sexual Violence,
the Public Policy Committee of the New Jersey Immigration
Policy Network (NJIPN) and the NJ Advisory Committee for SAALT
(South Asian Americans Leading Together). Maneesha represents
Manavi on the Faculty of the Advocacy Learning Center, an
ongoing nationwide training project conducted in partnership
with Praxis International. In 2008, Maneesha was named a Fellow
of the Women's Policy Institute at the Women's Fund of New
Jersey, to conduct collaborative work in Reproductive Justice.
Since 2010, she has been serving on the NJ Commission for
New Americans, established to integrate the immigrant population
in NJ.
Razia Meer has been the Transitional
Home Coordinator at Manavi since 2003 and additionally, the
Director of Direct Services since 2007. She has been actively
involved in advocating for the rights of South Asian immigrants,
both in the UK and the US since 1972. Razia's varied experiences
in serving the South Asian Diaspora include participating
in a research study at the Greater Glasgow Health Board that
focused on South Asian immigrant women suffering from bone
deficiencies due to neglect and abuse. As a Liaison between
the courts, police department and South Asian prison inmates
in Glasgow, she educated inmates about the law and their rights.
At Save the Children Fund (Scotland), Razia managed a community-based
center for disadvantaged families. She has also presented
a South Asian music show for the BBC in Scotland. In the US,
Razia taught preschool children for nine years and has been
involved in community organizing to end violence against women.
Razia gains her Manavi energy with the help of the hearty
meals her husband makes each day.
Sasi Vishnu, the Administrative
Coordinator, has a bachelor's degree from India and administrative
skills training from NJ. Sasi worked as a volunteer for Manavi
from 1999 to 2002. She started working at Manavi as a part-time
administrative and bookkeeping coordinator in August 2002
and became full-time in 2004. An excellent cook, Sasi is always
experimenting with new and innovative takes on South Indian
classics. (The Manavi staff is more than happy to be her taste
testers!)
Saswati Sarkar is the Technical Assistance
and Training Manager at Manavi. Saswati joined Manavi in 2007
and draws upon two graduate degrees, a former role as community
activist, and over 6 years of advocacy, systems change, and
national and local anti-oppression training experience to
develop Manavi's Technical Assistance program. Over the years,
she has been involved in myriad projects in India and in the
United States to raise awareness about various issues including
violence against women, women's reproductive health and rights
and sex selection. Saswati's interests in women's health and
rights advocacy developed during her fieldwork in rural West
Bengal, which informed her Master thesis on the stigmatization
of women's reproductive health. Her passion for women's rights
advocacy crystallized further through her work with UNICEF
on their Maternal Mortality Reduction Advocacy Project - an
awareness initiative to sensitize state officials, helping
agencies and local population about maternal mortality in
rural West Bengal (India). Saswati received her Master's in
Philosophy from Jadavpur University (India) and M.S in Gender
and Women's Studies from Minnesota State University.
Mary Asha Lata joined Manavi as
an Ashiana Advocate in August 2010. She previously held the
Counseling Coordinator position at Manavi. She graduated with
a Masters in Sociology from India and has been working since
1998 in social development sectors in various capacities and
environments. She has worked in the urban slums of New Delhi,
and supported a number of highly successful USAID funded health
and relief projects through World Vision, a humanitarian organization
serving the poor in nearly 100 countries. Some of her most
exciting and adventurous working experiences were in Cambodia
while serving on the final evaluation team for a USAID Child
Survival Program and in Kabul, Afghanistan for an OFDA funded
shelter and rehabilitation project. She has also worked as
a Consultant for the Environment and Health Project in Delhi
to study and document the maternal and child health scenario
for five districts in the then newly formed state of Jharkand,
India. Mary had completed two years of her PhD thesis on Women’s
empowerment and Government Policies when, marriage brought
her to New Jersey in 2005.
Debjani Roy joined Manavi in February
2009 and is the Program Manager. Prior to this, she worked
in women's rights and equality in London for several women's
organizations including The National Alliance of Women's Organizations,
Widow's Rights International, Ashiana Network and Women and
Girls Network. Her diverse experience includes program management,
direct service provision, communications, research, and policy
advocacy. She has worked on issues such as forced marriage,
'honor' based violence, sexual trafficking, widow's rights
and domestic violence. She has also edited books in the fields
of Gender and Cultural Studies for the politically progressive
publishing house, Pluto Press. Debjani's interest and passion
for women's rights and equality began as an undergraduate
at New York University where she earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Marketing from the Stern School of Business , with
a minor in Gender Studies from the College of Arts and Science.
She received her Master's of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies
from the University of London, Goldsmiths College and holds
a Certificate in Understanding Women's Human Rights from The
London School of Economics.
Manisha Shah
joined Manavi in January 2011. She is the Jersey City advocate
for a new project started in partnership between Manavi and
Christ Hospital. Prior to working with Manavi, Manisha interned
with organizations like Sakhi for South Asian Women and Sanctuary
for Families in New York, where she was involved in direct
services as well as developing projects related to economic
empowerment and workforce development. She started her career
in India as a research associate with Centre for Science and
Environment and later with the Public Affairs Centre. While
researching maternity wards in hospitals around Bangalore,
Manisha became especially interested in gender equality. Manisha
has a Master's degree in social work from Tata Institute of
Social Sciences, Mumbai and specializes in urban community
development. She also has a New York social work license.
Harshika Jhaveri
joined Manavi in February 2010 as the Counseling Coordinator.
Her role involves conducting support groups, volunteer orientations,
and providing peer-supportive counseling to women affected
by domestic violence. Before joining Manavi, Harshika
completed her Masters of Arts in Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson
University and interned at the Morris County Sexual Assault
Center (MCSAC). Harshika was a representative for MCSAC
at the Jersey Battered Women Services (JBWS) committee for
police procedures for domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Harshika also served as the adolescent counselor for young
mothers facing hardship at the Center for Great Expectations
and as the intern counselor at the Morristown Memorial Hospital
in the Emergency unit. In India, Harshika worked with
those affected by the Tsunami of 2004 and as an HIV/AIDS counselor
for Rotary club of north-west Mumbai. With her experience
Harshika seeks to make a difference in the field of social
justice.
Syeda N. Sheikh joined
Manavi in June of 2011 as the Legal Coordinate/Advocate, where
she conducts legal clinics, expands the attorney/pro bono
network, and works on Project Zamin. Before coming to Manavi,
Syeda worked as a case manager at the Arab-American Family
Support Center in Brooklyn, New York providing counseling,
case management, translation, and advocacy. Through this position,
she received extensive training in working with the Administration
for Children's Services and victims of child abuse and neglect
as well as victims of domestic violence. Additionally, Syeda
has interned with the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations
and has studied abroad in Dubai where she participated in
different independent projects focused on immigrant rights.
Her passion for women's rights has grown over the years from
working in the feild with immigrant populations and through
her role as a community advocate. Syeda completed her undergradatue
degree from Seton Hall University in International Relations
and Diplomacy with a minor in political science and Arabic.
Vineeta Kapahi
joined Manavi as the Outreach Coordinator/ Adovacte in June
2011. Prior to this, Vineeta gained experience in immigrant
and women's advocacy through working with Raksha, Inc., Manos
Unidas, and Culture Connect, Inc. Vineeta's professional experience
includes research, direct service provision, and program management.
She completed her undergraduate studies at Bard College at
Simon's Rock and Rice University, where she earned a B.A.
in Sociology. At Manavi, Vineeta works to raise awareness
about violence and abuse in the South Asian community by coordinating
outreach events, liaising with the media, and advocating for
women experiencing violence.
Our Board of Directors
Asma
Warsi Chaudry
is a solo practitioner in Edison, New Jersey, whose primary
practice areas include immigration law, wills and estate planning
and counseling small businesses. Within immigration law, Ms.
Chaudry concentrates on cases dealing with the Violence against
Women Act, family-based petitions, consular processing, adjustment
of status, citizenship, relief from removal and immigration
appeals. Ms. Chaudry was formerly the Executive Director of
the Boaz Community Corporation, an immigration legal resource
center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Ms. Chaudry began her
legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Appeals
Bureau with the Office of the District Attorney, Bronx County.
Ms. Chaudry is licensed to practice in New Jersey, New York
and the Third Circuit. Ms. Chaudry's publications include
co-authoring the chapter entitled "India and Pakistan on the
Brink: Considerations for Truth, Reconciliation and Forgiveness,"
in Anie Kalayjian and Ray Paloutzian, Forgiveness and Reconciliation:
Psychological Pathways to Conflict Transformation and Peace
Building, published by Springer. Ms. Chaudry received her
B.A. from Rutgers University in History & Mid-East Studies,
an M.A. from New York University in Near-Eastern Studies,
and a J.D. from Rutgers University, School of Law, Newark.
Bhavini
Doshi joined
the Manavi Board in July 2009. She has served on the board
and volunteered with several community non-profit organizations,
including most recently the Network of Indian Professionals,
Lend-A-Hand-India and NJISACF. She received her B.A. from
Rutgers University and while there was an undergraduate scholar
at the Institute for Women's Leadership. At IWL, her focus
was on women's economic empowerment and micro-finance, and
she helped create and manage a micro-lending organization
at the university. She received her J.D. from Boston College
and while there served as the co-president of the South Asian
Student Law Student Association. She spent a law semester
in practice at the United Nations ICTY in The Hague, where
she dedicated her research to the historical framework around
gender violence and the prosecution of war-time violence against
women. She currently practices law in the area of public finance
and civil litigation at the firm DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick and
Cole, LLP in Teaneck, NJ.
Vinita
Jethwani joined
Manavi's board in 2009, and currently serves as Board chairperson.
She works as a Research Manager at the Guttmacher Institute,
a New York-based nonprofit organization that advances sexual
and reproductive health research and policy in the United
States and worldwide. Vinita has a B.A. in History from Douglass
College, Rutgers University and a Masters in Public Affairs
from the Hubert Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota.
For the past 14 years, Vinita has been devoted to issues of
violence against women. She has managed multi-million dollar
grants from the US Department of Justice to work with law
enforcement executives to improve systematic responses to
domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking
crimes. She also assisted in a CDC (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention) evaluation of domestic violence and sexual
assault programs, and currently serves as a consultant to
the SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together). Throughout
this time, Vinita has been particularly active with Manavi,
assisting with evaluations, organizational development, and
fundraising activities.
Nihar Sharma
joined Manavi as an Ashiana volunteer in 2003 and a board
member in 2010. She has been working as a Systems Analyst
with Merrill Lynch since 1998. As an Ashiana volunteer she
helps residents with their grocery shopping, provides transportation
for errands and outings, and helps women adjust to Ashiana
as their new home. Nihar also volunteers for the American
Red Cross of Central New Jersey. As a board member, Nihar
hopes to communicate the needs of the Ashiana residents and
the challenges they face in order to stand on their feet and
support themselves both financially and emotionally.
Ayesha
Zafar joined
the Manavi Board in June, 2010 and has been involved in Manavi's
annual community dinner for the past five years. She is a
Certified Public Accountant (New York) and a Chartered Accountant
(UK). She has worked in senior corporate finance roles at
Bristol Myers Squibb, Pepsico, and Colgate Palmolive Company.
She was also senior audit manager in the New York city office
of KPMG Peat Marwick. Ayesha has a B.S. in Accounting from
Excelsior college of The University of the State of New York
in Albany.
Former
Manavi Staff
| Lakshmi Anantnarayan |
Vartika Mathur |
| Pankti Bhatt |
Sapna Mehra |
| Sherry Blair |
Vibhuti Mehra |
| Trishala Deb |
Rita Mehta |
| Aditi Desai |
Soniya Munshi |
| Bhairavi Desai |
Ami S. Patel |
| Jessica Dias |
Heta Patel |
| Soma Dixit |
Sandhya Puranic |
| Kavitha Dulai |
Nadia Qurashi |
| Anuradha Gurnani |
Qudsia Raja |
| Sonia Huq |
Lakshmi Rajagopal |
| Smita Nadia Hussain |
Roksana Rehman |
| Aisha Ijaz |
Shampa Roychawdhuri |
| Alka Kamath |
Urjasi Rudra |
| Smitha Katragadda |
Shanti Wesley |
| Minu Mathew |
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Former Manavi Board
| Arati Chaudhry |
Jyothi Pamidimukkala |
| Dipty Jain |
Sheetal Patel |
| Maneesha Kelkar |
Madhavi Prakash |
| Shankar Krishnan |
Surekha Vaidya |
| Shefali Mehta |
Sujata Warrier |
| Pavitra Menon |
Maya Yajnik |
| Hima Mukhija |
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