My Impact and Outreach
Impact & Outreach
Sharing is caring, a phrase which is deeply embedded in to the roots of our family’s values.
When I was 5, I had an opportunity to travel to India with my dad, where I saw a visually impaired person who was struggling with the slightest of tasks which we take for granted. I asked my mom – “How I can I help?” and have not stopped till now.
At 5 years old, I also had the honor to sponsor a young child, named Mohan under my parent’s supervision providing him access to the right for education which he was not so fortunate to have.
With the values instilled in me, I grew up with a passion to help others. My strengths in STEM combined with my exposure in community outreach, allowed me to become a recognized inventor by coming up with solutions to overcome challenges which we take for granted, like when I designed the Vision Assist, to help visually impaired or to help sustain the ecosystem which we are equally responsible for its care by designing Project Regrow.
Over the years I have had an opportunity and exposure to become one of the 3 Student Advisors to the CT Invention Convention (CIC) Board of Directors. As part of the board, I:
- Co-founded and co-led the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee on the Board of Directors to provide equal access and representation to all students in the program especially in underserved communities.
- Developed a curriculum for non-traditional students to participate in the Invention Convention program when not in a classroom
- Ran a fundraiser that raised over $9,000 for providing students with prizes, experiences, scholarships, and support resources
- Provided advice and support to the Board of Directors at the CT Invention Convention
- Mentored students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
My work to bring equity and inclusion didn’t stop at the CIC, I am the founder and president of the Rams Against Racism club at Cheshire High School, where,
- As founder, I planned, coordinated, and facilitated school and town-wide events and projects to raise awareness and educate to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
- I also worked with faculty and staff to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in school
- I created, developed, and cultivated a partnership between the Diversity and Inclusion Department at the LEGO Group of North America and Cheshire High School.
Through my years at the high school, I had the privilege to serve our community with over 750+ volunteer hours with organizations such as Vista IT Solutions, the CT Invention Convention Board of Directors, the Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire, the High School Democrats of America, the CT Democrats (Chris Murphy, Fight Back CT, Jahana Hayes, and local representatives), CT Food Bank, DoSomething.org, and Cheshire Public Library and engaging in civil services.
A desire to create change and passion for social justice in our community and the country, I have had a chance to be an been a active part of the community. Since I was 11, I,
- Participated in door to door knocking, phone banks, text banks, and community outreach for Democrats running for office, including Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, Senator Chris Murphy, and State Representative Liz Linehan.
- As a core team member of Liz’s campaign, had a chance to share the vision about environmental justice, voting rights, or education policy.
- Testified for and passed a bill in the CT State Senate to mandate AAPI History classes in K-12 education in 2022, making Connecticut the first state to require these classes
- Lobbied with multiple senators for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2021
- Lobbied and phone banked in partnership with Generation Ratify to promote reproductive rights.
- As a student board member for the Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire, I had a chance to establish a Web and Social media presence for the Coalition, promote sustainability and clean energy use in the community through various community wide events, facilitated town-wide events and presentations to the Cheshire Environmental Commission of the Town Council.
- I have been an active member and officer of the Student Senate at Cheshire High School where I led school-wide events and fundraisers and raised thousands of dollars of funds and established website and social media presence.
- As the Cheshire Youth Advisory Board’s Secretary, I coordinated events and executed projects for the town of Cheshire Youth Services and spearheaded outreach programs to local schools.
- As a Cheshire Youth Literacy mentor, I had an opportunity to extend the love of books I have to other children.
- As a part of Cheshire High School Link Crew leadership team, I led new student orientation and mentored younger students and facilitated discussions, team-building events, and academic meetings.
