AASRA And IAFPE Hold Free Immigration Clinic
Domestic Violence and the Important Role of the Support Group
Panel seeks to bring pain of incest survivors to light
AASRA And Asha-MIT Hold A Powerful Discussion On The Topic Of Incest
Incest's even more dangerous when swept under rug
AASRA's Well Being Initiative At Lowell
One On One Immigration Clinic Attracts Impressive Numbers
AASRA to Host Women's Health Series
Featured Organization - AASRA Strides Ahead

Press Archives

AASRA And IAFPE Hold Free Immigration Clinic
by Nirmala Garimella

AASRA and IAFPE, two local non- profit groups organized jointly for the second consecutive year, a One on One Free Immigration clinic for the benefit of the Indian American community in New England. Four local immigration lawyers, Prashant Desai, Clark Siddiqui, Peter Allen and Amita Vasudeva volunteered their services. People had the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to immigration, ranging from status of H1 Visas, Health Care, citizenship, green card and changes in the new laws and how it will affect certain visas. More than 30 people registered for the event and many turned up on that day to avail this opportunity. Each attendee was given 15 to 20 minutes with the lawyer and the atmosphere was informal and flexible.

Archana Singhal, AASRA’s Board member said that this clinic was so popular last year the two groups decided to team up again and provide this valuable service to the community. She was also appreciative of the fact that the attorneys had offered to give their time and expertise graciously.

Participants came for some preliminary advice and got a great response. Rahim Ali, who had a question on immigration for himself and his sister, was very appreciative of the advice given to him. Many shared the view that when you went to an immigration attorney for a 20 min interview, you are charged anywhere from $100 to $150. This is expensive when one seeks advice on general questions. But the free clinic was exactly what the community needed.

The organizations also circulated a feedback form and many thought that it was a wonderful opportunity. They also hoped that such clinics would be held in different locations so that lot of people would benefit. Some responses were

It is a great service offered to the community. I feel more people should be aware of the immigration clinic. I don’t see many people taking advantage of the services being offered.

It was very helpful and this clinic was excellent for us. I got satisfactory answer to my question.

I would like more programs like this. I was very satisfied.

Volunteers Anu Subramanian, Nalini Goyal, Vanita Shastri were there on the occasion. Ravi Sakhuja, President of IAFPE thanked the attorneys and presented a letter of appreciation.

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AASRA 2005 CLIENT SERVICES

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE SUPPORT GROUP
By Mithlesh Garg, Ph. D.

(The author conducts a weekly Domestic Violence Support Group for AASRA. Dr. Garg is a subject matter expert. She has a Ph. D. in Psychology, and is a D.F.P. (Designated Forensic Psychologist), licensed in Psychology and Health Service Provider in MA. She has held positions as a senior psychologist and Director of Psychology at various adult inpatient facilities of DPH and DMH of MA, and has 32 years of experience in clinical, research, teaching, and supervising staff and interns).

Domestic violence is defined as behaviors that are implemented or used as threats of physical, emotional, psychological, financial, verbal and/or sexual abuse with intent of installing fear, intimidating and controlling the other person. Stalking is another form of abuse against women which today, is recognized as a criminal offense. The definition of domestic violence may need to be extended from only the individual abuser, to the family members and the community. Both men and women can be abused, however the vast majority of women are the victims of domestic violence. Research has shown that 54% of women in the U.S. have experienced abuse in a relationship in their lifetime.

The dynamics of abusive relationships and interactions between abuser and victim involve the cycle of violence. It consists of three stages: the tension building stage (tension increases over time). The second stage is acute battering stage (tension erupts resulting violence and abuse), and the third stage is the honeymoon stage (abuser may promise not to abuse again). He gets his way, to control what he wants, and this cycle of violence continues over time with more frequency, and severity. The abuser continues to exhibit different behaviors to maintain control and exert power over the victim.

Domestic violence leaves long-term psychological and physical effects on the victim. Victims may be confused, anxious, depressed, frightened, feeling guilty and angry, shame, and may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms. The safety and treatment of the victim and their children are essential. There are several domestic violence intervention programs in Massachusetts. REACH (Refuge-Education-Advocacy-Change) offers a wide range of services to victims of domestic violence including support group. AASRA (Asian- American Support and Resource Agency), of which I (Mithlesh Garg) am a member of the Executive Board, is expanding their community resources by becoming a co-leader of the support group of domestic violence (since September, 2004) offered by REACH.

The group uses feminist therapy approach in which the empowerment of the victim is the primary focus. Group assures the victim that she is not alone and there are many women like her in the same situation. Various issues are addressed in the group i.e. kind of the abuse, available choices, lethality of the violence, etc. Support group of domestic violence offers safe environment where the victims step back and see all forces in their lives. They share experiences and make connections between their experiences. Each victim’s experience is different and unique. Victims can be empowered by regaining their independence, reconnecting with support and resources that my have been cut off due to domestic violence.

The role of the Facilitator of the Domestic Violence Support group is to help victims to discuss the dynamics of violence, and to see how the relationship is/was based on power and control. Victims also explore their personal barriers to leave the abusive relationships. Facilitator provides the group members empathy in a non-blaming, non-judgmental atmosphere, and support to express their pain, hurt, shame guilt, disappointments, anger and other emotions. The victims discuss their fears-- the fear of losing children, fear of physical harm, fear of negative impact on children, fear of failure: family, friend, community, feeling helpless, lack of financial resources, negative responses from community, police, courts, etc., and finally the fear of the abuser doing something to get back at them. More often than not, for the victim the anxieties mount-- it is too much to make it on one’s own, do not want anyone to know about the violence, or just too tired to do anything. Victims also discuss their choices and facilitators allow the victims to make their own decisions.

In the group, various available services and resources are discussed, including safety plan, emergency housing for her and her children, counseling, legal information, court system (District Court, Family or Probate Court), role of the District Attorney’s office, role of the police, DSS services, childcare, child assessment, economic advocacy etc.

New victims, who are still in the relationship or are in the process of separation or are divorced, can join the group (that is ongoing) at any stage. The old members of the group continue to share their experience with other women of abuse in intimate relationships. They may simultaneously continue to participate in one of the community- based programs such as individual support and advocacy, court advocacy, or/ and the children’s program and continue to assess their safety and children’s safety.

Duration of the group attendance depend upon the progress towards an individual goals. The group is conducted for 1: 30 minutes weekly with long-term duration.

All information is strictly confidential according to the confidentiality laws.

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Panel seeks to bring pain of incest survivors to light

AASRA aims to educate public on issue that many hesitate to discuss

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AASRA And Asha-MIT Hold A Powerful Discussion On The Topic Of Incest
by Nirmala Garimella

‘Incest’ a forbidden word in many South Asian Communities that is often spoken in whispers or on the sly found a powerful and loud voice at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when two local non profits AASRA and Asha-MIT jointly hosted a documentary and a panel discussion on the subject on November 6^th, 2004.

Tilted ‘Incest: Out of the shadows and into the light’ the afternoon started with the screening of the documentary by Grace Poore “The children we sacrifice” that depicted incest survivors and their poignant and moving stories. Poore, herself a victim of this abuse produced the video to advocate for an end to violence against women and girls. The documentary has been released in India, Sri Lanka, the US and Canada with the help of community workshops.

Archana Vahalia, Board Member AASRA introduced the panelists and commented that her chief purpose for initiating this event was to create awareness, “Someone has to start, somewhere” she said, “and I hope that each one of you here will be a beacon of hope”.

Anjali Bhatia of Asha MIT said that Asha has direct access to a lot of projects in India and always believed that a holistic approach to education can lead to success “As such it is important to address such issues for a child’s overall well being” she said. “It helps to know what we can do to protect a child from such instances” she said.

Panelists offered their interpretation of the documentary and ways to combat this through their respective expertise. Attorney William E. Fallon, Career Prosecutor and former Chief of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office energized the audience with citing some cases that were handled by him of sexual abuse and called the problem complex.

 “Molestation is an intimate kind of violation” he said, “If your child comes home and says that ….. is abusing her, your head tells it happened, but the heart tells us never be involved”. He said that abuse can happen in any community and not necessarily the South Asian community and that the movie can be shown to a larger audience than intended.

Neha Lall, a clinical Teaching Fellow and Supervising Attorney in the North Eastern University School of Law Domestic violence Clinic agreed that it is indeed complex. “Family and home sometimes can be a far more dangerous place” she said “Mothers are protectors of children but if there are no resources than cutting off family relationships can be murky”. She also said that although legal help can be sought, it can punish the abuser but cannot heal the victim.

Romana Mohiuddin, who spent 8 years teaching in inner cities, said that children can sometimes display symptoms at school that can point to distress at home. She said that the extended family and the cultural implication where members rely on one other can sometimes lead to a misguided notion about trust, faith and support.

Christine Walsh, editor of New England News, said such documentaries will help bring attention to the issue and the media can play a major role in highlighting such causes. She said her stint in working with the community for more than 2 ½ years has introduced her to this concept of respect for elders that can be taken advantage off by some people. She cited the example of a grandmother in the film sending her reluctant grandchild to the abuser who happens to be her uncle and unknowingly being a participant in the abuse.

Dr Sukanya Ray, Psychology faculty member at Suffolk University and a clinical Psychology fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance appreciated the groups for addressing the issue and said victims of abuse feel a sense of confusion and guilt at various levels. Many South Asians families are very conscious of their ‘Status” in Society and this often have led to the denial of such abuse. According to her, ‘Empowerment and support” would go a long way to heal these victims rather than just the legal way.

Summing up the discussion, the pointers that emerged were as follows:

• Early intervention is important
• Getting the word out as much as possible through media, Community workshops etc
• Telling is Liberating
• Victim is not alone. Shame and Guilt should not be the issue.
• Educating our children by talking about such things in a normal course of conversation is important
• Difference between good and bad touching can be explained
• Provide legal, counseling and other resources to the victim and the family

Although participants were few, there emerged a powerful and emotional discussion. Evidently the topic was distressing and disturbing enough to generate such a response.

The two organizations must be commended for tackling such a difficult and sensitive topic that often gets ignored and unacknowledged in the community

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Incest's even more dangerous when swept under rug
By Archana Vahalia

The recent case of alleged incest in Clinton, Mass., has brought to the surface an issue which needs to be revisited and addressed. In the case, a mother accused her husband of raping their 2-year-old daughter. The mother then allegedly tried to take her own life and that of the child.

Incest is a hidden reality that is not talked about. The time has come for this topic to receive increased attention and awareness for the sake of our children and the broader society.

When the Clinton case was reported, Anu Bandopadhay, president of the Asian American Support and Resource Agency, said she suspects that incest exists in the community - as it does in any ethnic group - but is not talked about. AASRA has never received a report of incest, which leads Bandopadhay to believe this mother may not have known help was available.

"She has not seen anything to believe that she would get support or guidance on this issue," Bandopadhay said ["Girl, 2, in foster care, parents in prison," May 1].

It is a common scenario that on weekends, at birthday parties or any special event, the whole family gets busy with visits by close family members or friends. Sometimes, these occasions turn into nightmares. The "favorite" uncle wants to play with the "favorite" niece or nephew, and that play leads to sexual misconduct, including incest, rape and molestation. These experiences haunt and destroy innocent children and those around them for life.

Many children cannot gather the courage to speak up and complain about their molesters to others in the family. In cases where children are comfortable talking about sexual misconduct, parents don't know how to support them because they feel helpless, uncertain what to do in such situations. Sometimes, when the parents want to confront the perpetrators and take action, society and the immediate family members want them to remain silent because of possible shame to the child and the family.

It is important to understand that, in most cases, incestuous sexual abuse is not just an indiscretion, but is planned and calculated. It is done by taking advantage of a victim's trust, even though claims are made that it was not intended to hurt the child. It involves abuse of power and trust, and is a complete violation of a relationship based on affection and friendship.

This kind of abuse is mostly done by a trusted relative, a household member, or even a family friend. The perpetrator may be a visitor to the home, private tutor, priest, family physician or household worker.

It traumatizes the child, leaving long-lasting effects. The victims feel angry at the perpetrator, but most often do not confront them. According to various studies, the most often cited long-lasting effects of sexual abuse are: lack of self-confidence, inability to express feelings, inability to trust people, feeling angry at the world, avoiding sex or compulsively seeking it out, chronic aches and pains, and use of drugs and alcohol.

The sexual abuse is compounded when people do not believe the victim, trivialize the abuse, or blame the victim. Silencing the victim isolates and prolongs the effects of abuse. Victims of incestuous sexual abuse range from 10-month-old babies to 16-year-olds. This kind of crime can happen anywhere, including public places and the comfort of the victim's home.

"The Children We Sacrifice: A Resource Book," edited by Grace Poor of Shakti Productions, shares the alarming statistics of several studies:

* In a survey of 350 school girls in New Delhi, the Sakshi Violence Intervention Center found that 63 percent had experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a male family member, whether a father, grandfather or family friend. The study was released in 1997.

* A study done in 1994-95 by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Bombay found that almost 40 percent of the 150 girls interviewed had experienced such a violation by a family member before age 10.

* Recovery and Healing from Incest, a Delhi-based center for female survivors of incest, studied 1,000 English-speaking middle- and upper-class women living in Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Goa. They found that 76 percent of respondents had been sexually abused as children, and 71 percent abused by relatives or someone they knew and trusted. While 48 percent had been abused by one person, 52 percent were abused by two or more. Most victims were living in nuclear families, a majority of the victims' mothers were housewives, and 40 percent said their mothers worked outside the home. Only 2 percent had been to a therapist or counselor. The main reasons given for not telling anyone about the abuse were: wanting to forget it happened (23 percent); fear of what people would think of them (14 percent); self-blame for the abuse (11 percent) and not having anyone to trust (11 percent).

* A study of high school students in Bangalore by the nonprofit group Samvada showed that where families placed a greater emphasis on virginity and equated it with purity, virtue and family honor, the victims felt a greater sense of shame, self-contempt and anger, and were compelled to keep quiet about the abuse.

Statistics show this kind of abuse happens in any society and is not limited by geographical or cultural boundaries. They also show a need for more awareness of the ills of such crime, and for added resources for victims and their families.

For prevention of incest, the Asian American Support and Resource Agency can guide you to resources on how and what to talk to children about. In the event that they are experiencing such violations, the agency can help you take proper actions. The agency has a walk-in center at 54 Cummings Park in Woburn, Mass., with various medical, legal and counseling resources available for children and their families.



Archana Vahalia is a board member of the Asian American Support and Resource Agency. She may be reached at archanav@aasranewengland.com. To contact the agency, call (866) 922-2772 or visit www.aasranewengland.org. Statistics are reproduced by permission of Grace Poore, who produces and uses videos to advocate for an end to violence against women and girls. To learn more about her work, visit www.shaktiproductions.net.

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AASRA's Well Being Initiative At Lowell
Nirmala Garimella

How do you modify your Indian diet if you have high blood pressure? What if you have Type 2 Diabetes? How do you tackle the excess weight in your body? What makes a healthy diet? Is there a thing like cancer prevention? These were some of the questions that were answered by a distinguished and impressive panel of speakers, Dr Rekha Sunder, Swati Elavia and Dr Purnima Sangal at Lowell recently.

The event titled ‘Take charge of your Personal Health’ was an initiative launched by AASRA, the women’s support group as part of its series on Women’s Well Being Initiative designed to meet health related needs.

Kamal Misra, AASRA Board member spoke on the activities of the group. Emphasizing that the group’s main thrust has always been on trust and reliability, she said that it provides assistance and help in rebuilding strength and resources to those in need. “ The AASRA center in Woburn is a 24 hour line for support and assistance. People who seek help are assured the highest degree of confidentiality because we understand the sensitivity of the situation and family dynamics” , she said. The group also holds seminars, panel discussions, workshops, life skill mentoring, conversational English and help in resumes for job interview.

Dr Rekha Sunder, Family Health Center, Billerica, Dr Purnima Sangal, A Women’s Place, Chelmsford and Swati Elavia, Dietician, Somerville were the Speakers for the afternoon. While Dr Sundar touched upon taking charge of your Personal health through diet, exercise and regular check ups, Dr Sangal spoke on reducing therisk of cancer especially on Breast Cancer precautions and care. She urged everybody to see a PCP, a Gynecologist and test for a mammogram without fail. Swati Elavia, Dietician said many women always neglected their bodies and the first step to is to take care of themselves. She gave some very interesting figures and facts on the Indian Diet. Her informative talk included reading the nutrition label on foods and noted that the Indian Diet has undergone changes since coming into this country.

Some pointers that collectively emerged during the talk were:

• BMI or Body mass Index to classify Overweight and Obesity.
• The more complex foods you eat, the more calories you need to burn.
• Make an appointment with your doctor today
• Take care of yourself first.
• Moderation is the key word – Do not eat if you are not hungry.
• The longer we live here in this country,we need to watch our eating habits.
• Eat slowly and chew your food.
• Eat small meals at regular intervals.
• Listen to your body and do what works best or you.

The three speakers, also distributed valuable information on these issues. Kumkum Dilwali,AASRA volunteer introduced the speakers of the day while Archana Singhal, Dr Sukanya Ray, Anu Bandopadhya, Jean Patel and other members of AASRA greeted the guests. Saroj Patel of Patidar Samaj was present with some guests from Lowell.

The next AASRA Women's Well-being Initiative is planned for September 18 in Cambridge.For more information go to http://www.aasranewengland.com

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One On One Immigration Clinic Attracts Impressive Numbers
Nirmala Garimella

A steady stream of visitors walked into the Burlington Library an entire afternoon on Sunday June 13th with one purpose – to partake in the One on One Immigration clinic organized by IAFPE and AASRA, two local organizations that jointly hosted this clinic. Three local immigration lawyers, Prashant Desai, Amita Vasudeva and Trupti Patel were present , first hand to offer free advice and answer questions on a voluntary basis. For the first time, people had the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to immigration, and there were plenty, ranging from status of H1 Visas, Health Care, citizenship, green card and changes in the new laws and how it will affect certain visas. Then there were others who walked in casually and were pleasantly surprised at the opportunity. Each attendee was given 15 to 20 minutes each with the lawyer and the atmosphere was informal and flexible.

IAFPE President, Vanita Shastri, said that the effort was initiated because clinics like these have been held by various other communities like the Irish and proved very successful. “Historically IAFPE has always taken on an awareness and educate campaign for causes such as this, but this is useful too for the community”. Archana Singhal, AASRA’s Board member said, “AASRA has been focusing on conducting a series of educational seminars in three areas, Health, Immigration and Social issues. When this came by, it seemed a perfect opportunity. There is always a synergy when organizations come together and this worked out very well” Both of them were also appreciative of the fact that the attorneys’ had offered to give their time and expertise graciously.

Participants, Sagar and Namrata who came all the way from Weymouth seemed satisfied. “We came for some preliminary advice and we got a great response. Dinaker, who had come with questions pertaining to his friends found the lawyers knowledgeable. “When you go to an immigration attorney for a 20 min interview, you are charged anywhere from $100 to $150. To ask advice on general questions, this is expensive” But today's clinic was wonderful. This is exactly what the community needs” he said . Jagdeep Mehta, who came to ask a question on his H1 status, seemed perturbed by the fact that immigration frauds in this country are denying many conscientious immigrants a fair livelihood. He also had an immigration question on his H1 Visa Status

The organizations also circulated a feedback form and many thought that it was a wonderful opportunity. They also hoped that such clinics would be held in different locations so that lot of people would benefit.

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AASRA to Host Women's Health Series

By INDIA New England Staff
Published: Monday, March 15, 2004
WOBURN, Mass. - The Asian American Support and Resource Agency is launching a "Women's Well-being Initiative" to address the complete welfare of South Asian women by promoting an interdisciplinary, community-focused program of research, education and action.

The goal of this initiative is to enhance "well-being" awareness and implement tactics to address the diversity of the South Asian woman's experiences.

Many are recent immigrants who are struggling to adapt to the American mainstream. As such, they are unaware of, and reluctant to seek help from service agencies because of language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and an uncertainty about their rights.

Other women have been successful with their careers, but are now coping with personal and family issues, health concerns, second-generation cultural conflicts, as well as managing aging parents who have limited health care access.

As part of the initiative, AASRA is hosting a free, three-part education seminar series on women's well-being.

The first seminar, "Take Charge of Your Personal Health," will tackle the latest health-related issues affecting South Asian women. Dr. Purnima Sangal and dietician Sangeeta Pradhan will offer preventative steps for South Asian women against endometriosis, menopause and osteoporosis; and nutritional tips to improve your heart health, fight type-2 diabetes and take care of obesity.

Attendees will have the chance to freely ask personal health questions in a safe setting.

The seminar will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, at the 400 West Cummings Park, Room 1400, First Floor, Woburn. For information visit www.aasranewengland.com.

In other news, AASRA has elected a new executive board for 2004. They are: Anu Bandopadhay, president; Jean Ambika Patel, secretary; Kamal Misra, treasurer; and Archana Singhal, Archana Vahalia, Mithilesh Garg, Sukanya Ray and Kumkum Dilwali, members.

Among other activities, the group hosts the AASRA Center, a walk-in facility for women of South Asian origin seeking support and resources in the areas of health, family law and immigration, and personal and domestic crisis.

The center, at 54 Cummings Park, Suite 316, Woburn, is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and by appointment. Women can contact the group confidentially at (866) 92-AASRA or aasra@aasranewengland.com.

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Featured Organization - AASRA Strides Ahead
Chitra Parayath

Gita (Not her real name) a professional, married woman in her late forties who has been in the US for over 15 years had been a victim of spousal abuse for many of those years. Despite her earning a respectable income, her financial situation was precarious as her spouse controlled the household funds. The social stigma and the cultural taboos against exposing her marital situation combined to render the woman helpless. When her plight was truly desperate, friends called in AASRA. AASRA assisted Gita with counseling and support, and provided legal resources so that she could understand her options. Once she understood her rights and the recourse available to her under the law she was able to seek resolution. Gita is making personal lifestyle changes, and looking forward to a life free of physical and mental violation.

What is AASRA

AASRA, the Asian American Support and Resource Agency, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve as a support network and a resource for the welfare of women and the families of the South Asian community in the New England area.
AASRA provides opportunities for women to come together, network and share ideas. The organization is women-centric but not women-exclusive. It works to develop solutions within a supportive framework that values the individual, and is deeply sensitive to the unique needs of women of all ages. AASRA came into being in 2001, when its founding members sat together and shared their volunteering experiences. The discussions sparked the recognition that immigrant South Asian women have unique social and cultural challenges and opportunities. When there is no stress, all is well. When things go wrong, these women experience extreme isolation. They are apprehensive about investigating and making changes as they often do not have community support, and are unable to navigate mainstream advocacy agencies. So, the AASRA founders merged their skills and expertise gained from their diverse backgrounds to develop an organization to educate, and empower women in New England on self-sufficiency and personal autonomy.

Aim and Mission

Recognizing the premise that the well-being of women is critical to society, AASRA's initiatives support women in need-- to resolve their personal situations, deliver outreach education to increase self-awareness and engender self-esteem, and encourage social change for the empowerment of South Asian women. The status of women is an essential factor in the social and economic advancement of society. Equal rights and equal opportunity for women are widely recognized as important not only for women, but also for the health and well being of society as a whole. AASRA provides women with information, resources, and support that will enable them to enrich their lives and achieve their potential as full members of the community.

Immediate Goals and Achievements

Building on the experiences of the past 3 years, AASRA 2004 is now poised and ready to enter a new stage in its endeavor to deliver efficient and effective support and resources for women, in accordance with its mission. More than ever before, the infrastructure of the organization is in "active-mode"—well-positioned and focused to deliver on the 2004 Strategic goals.

Said Anu Bandopadhay, President, AASRA, "We are doing our homework to provide best-in-class service to our constituency enabled by careful planning and resource optimization. Since we have limited resources, every AASRA initiative needs to be well-reviewed, and well-implemented to ensure highest return on volunteer investment.”
“We have a very strong Executive & Advisory Board. Six of the eight Executive Board members are trained experts at Crisis Management, in addition to their diverse business, clinical, and professional strengths. As President, I personally am taking my AASRA commitment as seriously as my professional work.”
“Each Advisory Board Member is a subject-matter stalwart – financial, legal, technology, and medical power-leaders who have the ability to influence AASRA direction very positively. The newest addition to the team is Melli Annamalai, Director of ASHA.”

AASRA CENTER

Ever since the AASRA Center in Woburn, MA became operational, clients in need of assistance have utilized the facility and the AASRA hotline. The center is open every Saturday from 10-1pm, and by appointment. “We have spread the word and due to our strong presence on the web, people specifically for "Asian Support/Resources" have located us and are leveraging AASRA to bring cultural competency to their advocacy services. With the funding available, we would like to keep the AASRA Center active for longer hours.” Bandopadhay said.

Said Archana Singhal of AASRA, “Walk-ins at the Center are quite common. The AASRA Center is a comforting and supportive walk-in facility where a woman can, in an unthreatening atmosphere express her concerns and expect unconditional support and resource services in various areas like Family Health, Family Law & Immigration and Personal & Domestic Crisis. We strive to motivate, educate and train South Asian women with a view to empower them to play a positive and equitable role in society. We help to enable and develop their confidence, self-esteem and participation in decision-making in their households and outside it. Many of the women who come to AASRA experience social and cultural isolation, language and communication problems and a lack of knowledge of their basic rights. Apart from helping them make informed choices that result in the betterment of their situations, we offer sustained and totally confidential support to our clients.”

AASRA 2004

AASRA 2004 is launching the ‘AASRA Women's Well-being Initiative' to address the complete welfare of South Asian women by promoting an interdisciplinary, community-focused program of research, education, and action.

The goal of this initiative is to enhance “well-being” awareness, and implement tactics to address the diversity of South Asian women's issues. Many are recent immigrants who are struggling to adapt to the American mainstream. As such, they are unaware of, and reluctant to seek help from services agencies due to language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and uncertainty about their rights. Other women have been successful with their careers, but are now coping with personal and family issues, health concerns, second-generation cultural conflicts, as well as managing aging parents who have limited access to healthcare.

AASRA-2004 is launching the Women's Well-Being Initiative

The key element is a Free, 3-Part Education Seminar Series on Women's Well-Being. The first seminar “Take Charge of Your Personal Health” is on March 20, 2004 (at 400 West Cummings Park, Room #1400 First floor, Woburn, MA) and will feature speakers: Dr. Purnima Sangal MD, FACOG (of a Woman's Place), and Sangeeta Pradhan RD, a Registered, Licensed Dietitian with several years of experience in a clinical setting.

The second key element is the Women's Well-Being Community Outreach Project. This activity delivers free info-clinics on carefully selected topics under the umbrella of “Women's Well-Being” with adaptation for regional outreach delivery. To complement this initiative, ASRA 2004 is launching a customized skill development, and self-paced mentoring program for women at the AASRA Center. Sessions are scheduled by appointment, conducted by AASRA Resources, and address basic requirements for Conversational English, PC literacy, Resume-writing/Interviewing, Driving, Job/Small Business development. Please contact AASRA for Session sign-up, which is in the first week of every Month.

.Fund Raising, Membership and Administration

The AASRA Board is committed to developing its fiscal Strength-- ensuring that the organization is leveraging many sources of funding to keep it viable and growing over the long term. AASRA conducts fundraising events to extend its reach and spread awareness about its mission, charter and services. AASRA has developed close working relationships with mainstream agencies as well as other organizations dealing with similar ethnic groups

.AASRA invites involvement of all like-minded individuals and will conduct membership drives to attract a diverse and dynamic representation of society.

.Find out more and join the AASRA team today at http://www.aasranewengland.com/