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Manavi Staff
Maneesha Kelkar has been the
Director of Manavi since 2004. Before joining the organization
as its Director, Maneesha served as a volunteer and Board
member of Manavi. Prior to her current position, Maneesha
conducted an extensive post-9/11 Needs Assessment of Immigrant
Communities, at the International Institute of New Jersey.
Maneesha graduated with a Master's degree in Economic Development
from American University, Washington, D.C. In her fourteen
years of professional experience, she has taught Economics,
consulted for the World Bank, done non profit work and held
management positions at various corporations. Maneesha serves
on the Board of the NJCBW (NJ coalition for Battered Women),
the Prevention and Public Education Committee of the Governor's
Council on Sexual Violence, and the NJ Advisory Committee
for SAALT (South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow).
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, 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 working at Manavi
as the Technical Assistance Coordinator. After graduating
with a Masters degree from Jadavpur University in India, she
moved to Minnesota where she completed her Masters degree
in Womens Studies. Her Masters thesis explored the stigmatization
and silencing associated with womens reproductive health
issues. Saswatis interest in community based advocacy
and event management developed while interning with UNICEF
on the Maternal Mortality Reduction Advocacy Project. Her
interest grew while coordinating events for the Womens
Studies Department at Minnesota State University. An amateur
photographer and an absolute movie buff, Saswati enjoys traveling,
trying new cuisine, and reading.
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.
Heta Patel is currently working at
Manavi as the Legal Coordinator. She graduated in 2009 from
Rutgers University holding a Bachelors of Arts in Women's
and Gender Studies with a particular focus on human rights
and a minor in philosophy. During her time at Rutgers, she
became an active member of the women's rights and the human
rights community. She held various executive positions at
the Rutgers University Women's Center and organized the annual
event Take Back the Night. She was also a member of the Human
Rights House, an interactive living and learning community,
that took her to various parts of the world including Cambodia
and Ciudad Juarez. She has held internships at the Ministry
of Human Development in Belize and Human Rights Watch in New
York City. In her senior year at Rutgers, she completed an
honors thesis exploring the extremist Hindu right movement
and its implications for social/religious minorities.
Sonia
Huq joined Manavi as the Outreach Coordinator in August
2009. She
coordinates the outreach that Manavi does in the South Asian
and broader community and is also the media liaison.
Sonia graduated from the University of Florida
in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a minor
in Spanish.
The following year she joined the AmeriCorps*NCCC
for a year of service in which she traveled on a team to various
parts of the country. The service projects included
environmental work, mentorship of youth, tax preparation for
low-income families and post- Hurricane Katrina disaster -recovery
with Habitat for Humanity.
Her experience motivated her to join
the non-profit & public service sector; she interned
with Manavi on a project to create an Economic Empowerment
Toolkit and then subsequently joined as staff.
Sonia's passion for women's rights sparks from living
and hearing the daily experiences of women.
Kavitha Dulai joined Manavi as the Economic Employment Coordinator in February 2010. She will be involved in the development of a culture specific employment toolkit and instructional video as well as Manavi’s mobile employment clinics. Her undergraduate studies were in English literature and creative writing. Before joining Manavi, she worked in film production, education, and community outreach. As Coordinating Producer and Director of Research for documentary film projects, she focused on films involving social justice and women’s issues. She has also taught writing in school leadership and enrichment programs. Recently, she assisted a Staff Attorney specializing in social security benefits and disability rights issues at a non-profit legal services organization in New Jersey.
Harshika Jhaveri joined Manavi in February 2010 as the Counseling Coordinator. Her role will be to conduct support groups, volunteer orientations while also 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 looks forward to making a contribution in ending violence against women and standing for women's equality. 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.
Board of Directors
Asma
Warsi Chaudry
Bhavini
Doshi
Vinita
Jethwani
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