SAKHI for South Asian Women in NYC is looking for an Economic Empowerment coordinator on the anniversary of a day when they lost a very valued past memmber. See below for details.
-Sumita Sheth

Dear Sakhis:

Today is a difficult day for many reasons -- for New Yorkers, for a nation still in war, for South Asians/Muslim communities facing scrutiny and backlash post-9/11.

It is also a difficult day for us at Sakhi because we lost one of our own -- Swarna Chalasani -- in the 9/11 attacks. This morning I listened for Swarna's name on the radio during the remembrance. I not only heard Swarna's name but as I listened a desi woman offered in Urdu/Hindi the most beautiful comment about her husband who passed away in the attacks. She said something to this effect: that they had spent so many moments together and even after 9/11 each moment has been with him as well.

As we face this difficult day, and Swarna's loss, I hope to remind us of the tremendous power of service, women's empowerment, and community giving Swarna exemplified. Every day at Sakhi we strive to make our community stronger. Our staff, board, interns, volunteers, community supporters all dedicate a critical piece -- small or large -- of their lives to advancing women's dreams and safety and our community's power.

Those of us who knew Swarna know she dedicated significant time to the Economic Empowerment program. As a result, Sakhi launched the Swarna Chalasani Economic Empowerment Fund in her honor. Today we are looking for a visionary, skilled candidate to serve as an EE program coordinator to manage the Swarna Fund and so many of the activities Swarna committed herself to. I hope you will tell qualified candidates about this position: you can see details at

http://www.sakhi.org/about/opportunities.php

Furthermore, I hope that each of you will keep sharing your time and energies so that we can continue and expand Swarna's legacy of giving and compassion. Together we create change.

Finally, I wanted to share with you a posting from a Sakhi volunteer about Swarna. I hope this testimony will help guide us as we continue the very important mission of Sakhi. This weekend at the Richmond Hill mela we have a new opportunity to show the strength of working to build a just, equitable, empowered community -- one where we further peace, safety and the beauty of a community in harmony.

Warmly, Purvi