News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know South Asian Leaders Meet In DC For Impact Summit, Gala And Hill Day, Award Achievers T he South Asian Impact Foundation hosted its an- nual Summit & Gala and its inaugural South Asian Hill Day on National Citizenship and Constitution Day, September 16 and 17, 2025, inWashington, D.C. The two-day meetings brought 500 South Asian American leaders from refugee organizers to healthcare experts, CEOs, artists, students, and elected officials, a press release from the organization said. Highlights of the events included: South Asian Hill Day, where more than 150 partici- pants held more than 50 direct meetings with Members of Congress and staff to promote urgent priorities around immigrant rights and community safety amidst rising hate and discrimination. The Summit, which saw two days of plenaries, grass- roots trainings, and wellness sessions anchored by the theme Desis Persist: Our Stories, Our Strength, spotlight- ing the resilience and leadership of South Asian Ameri- cans across generations. The Gala, which was emceed by comedian Abby Go- vindan, celebrated excellence in South Asian leadership and honored this year’s awardees. Among the high-profile invitees and members who ad- dressed the gathering were several Members of Congress: U.S. Senators Andy Kim, Cory Booker, MarkWarner, Alex Padilla; U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Raja Krish- namoorthi, Shri Thanedar, and Suhas Subramanyam; From the refugee and immigrant community, leaders such as Dr. Badar Khan Suri and Robin Gurung of Asian Refugees United; Leading healthcare experts, such as Maryland Secretary of Health Dr. Meena Seshamani and Dr. Vin Gupta; Advocates and activists like Mini Timma- raju, President of Reproductive Freedom for All. On Hill Day, the partner organizations present in- cluded AAPI Equity Alliance, AAPI Victory Power Fund, Asian Refugees United, Chalo Vote, Desi Rainbow, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), the North American Associa- tion of Indian Students, the Roundglass India Center at Seattle University, SAATH, Sadhana: Coalition of Progres- sive Hindus, SAIVA, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, the South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO), the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI), South Asian Americans for Change, the South Asian Bar Association of DC, South Asian SOAR, South Asians for America, Stop AAPI Hate, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), the Raj Mehta Day of Good, the Sikh Coalition, and They See Blue. Those recognized with various awards at the Gala were: • The Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris Award- presented by Indrani Goradia – honored Kavita Mehra, Execu- tive Director of Sakhi, for courage, determination, and commitment to allyship and the cause of civil rights. • The Dalip Singh Saund Award- presented by Mont- gomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija – rec- ognized Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi for outstanding public service and dedication to civic engagement. • The Champion of Civic Engagement Award – pre- sented by Rep. Ami Bera and NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri – recognized Raghu Devaguptapu for his decades of service promoting civic engagement within the South Asian American community and advancing representation in public service. According to the South Asian Impact Foundation, South Asian Americans are the second-largest immigrant community in the U.S. and one of the fastest-growing electorates. “In this moment, we showed the power of the South Asian diaspora: standing together inWashington, D.C., guided by our values and determined to act. We were not silent. We built community, forged new connections, and reminded ourselves of our collective strength,” Chintan Patel, executive director of South Asian Impact Founda- tion, is quoted saying in the press release. “Attendees left feeling inspired, united, and ready to carry this energy back to their communities across the country,” Patel added. Community News India Times (September 27, 2025 - October 3, 2025) October 3, 2025 9 By a StaffWriter Candidate For Congress Dr. Tina Shah Criticizes Opponent For Endorsing New Vaccine Pronouncements From White House I ntensive care physician Dr. Tina Shah, specialist in pulmonary and critical care, who is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th District, joined the group 314 Action, as well as Hawaii Gov- ernor Dr. Josh Green, and other medical leaders at a virtual press conference last week to express alarm about Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Ken- nedy Jr.’s vaccine agenda. Dr. Shah said her opponent, incumbent Republican Tom Kean Jr. was “enabling the chaos”, a press release from her cam- paign (drtinashahforcongress.com) said. “Congressman Tom Kean Jr. just voted to gut Medicaid, even though one in five New Jerseyans rely on it. I can’t tell you how many times, as a doctor working in a hospital, I’ve enrolled patients in Medic- aid,” said Dr. Shah. “Without Medicaid, their medical care would have completely bankrupted them, or they would have not been able to access care at all.” RFK Jr.’s actions, she contended, have put all Americans at risk. Shah criticized the firing of CDC leaders who refused to alter the vaccine schedules, and for taking actions based on ideology rather than science. Shah accused the current administra- tion of “straight negligence” for under- mining the trust in vaccines and science. “America is in critical condition. Vac- cines are a crowning jewel in the history of modern medicine,” said Dr. Shah. A triple board-certified physician, Dr. Shah has served both the public and private sectors. She served under three presidential administrations, developing innovative strategies to expand access to healthcare to veterans and leading the first federal plan to combat the burnout that drove doctors and nurses out of the field. In New Jersey, she successfully fought for legislation that stopped insurance companies from denying care, the press release said. She has also led efforts to cut red tape for doctors and nurses, freeing them to focus on patients and outcomes instead of paperwork. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:Screenshotfromvideo PHOTO:TriVision Studios PHOTO:Courtesy ImpactSummit/Rep.Krishnamoorthi Dr. Tina Shah, candidate for the US Congress from NJ’s 7th District, on a virtual call to discuss current vaccine policies. U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar, and Suhas Subramanyam speak during a panel moderated by Simi Shah at the Impact Summit: Desis Persist hosted by the South Asian Impact Foundation on September 17, 2025 at the Washington Marriott Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, being recognized with the Dalip Singh Saund Award- pre- sented by Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija at the South Asian Impact Foundation two- day Summit September 16 and 17.