Hi folks!

Welcome to the first edition of the AASRA E-news!
Since our inception in 2001, we have made great strides. We owe it all to your support! We wish to thank you, and we invite you to get involved with our many exciting 2004 initiatives. We continue to strive ahead in our mission to support and serve any South Asian woman in need, in our Greater Boston community. We want you on our team!

Last year, we launched the very effective AASRA Center which continues to serve many women. The AASRA Center is a comforting and supportive walk-in facility for women of South-Asian origin seeking support and resource services in the areas of :

•  Women and Family Health
•  Family Law & Immigration
•  Personal & Domestic Crisis

The AASRA Center is located at 54 Cummings Park, Suite 316 , Woburn, and is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. , and by appointment. You can also contact us confidentially at aasra@aasranewengland.com , or on our 24 hour, Toll Free Hot-line at 1-866-92AASRA.

February Dateline —

•  AASRA Board - AASRA 2004 was kicked off with a very productive Board dinner-meeting on Feb 11. The AASRA Executive Board welcomed the stellar Advisory Board, who have expressed their firm commitment to support AASRA's vision, and drive the implementation of the 2004 Strategic Focus Areas. This joint effort, well supported by the services of the AASRA Partner Resources Directory will serve as the ideal launch-pad for all AASRA initiatives in 2004 and beyond.

Back row standing: Archana Vahalia – Executive Member, Puneet Kakkar – Advisory Board, Archana Singhal - Executive Member, Anu Bandopadhay – AASRA President, Mithilesh Garg - Executive Member, Jean Patel - AASRA Secretary.

Front Row seated: Kamal Misra - Executive Member, Dr. Pushpa Agarwal - Advisory Board, Chitra Staley - Advisory Board, Harish Dang - Advisory Board, Sabita Singh - Formerly of Advisory Board.

Not included in picture: Dr. Smita Patel, Dr. Radha Jalan, and Shri Nagarajan of the AASRA Advisory Board, Sukanya Ray and Kumkum Dilwali, AASRA Executive Members.

•  The AASRA Women's Well-being Initiative – 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 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 services agencies due to 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 healthcare access .

As part of the AASRA Women’s Well-Being Initiative, we are launching a Free, 3-Part Education Seminar Series on Women’s Well-Being

The first seminar:

“Take Charge of Your Personal Health”

• Learn Preventative Steps for protection for S. Asian Women against
• Endometriosis, Menopause, Osteoporosis
• Learn about nutritional tips to improve your Heart Health, Type 2 Diabetes and to take care of Obesity in Women
• Get answers to Personal Health questions from experts

Speakers: Purnima Sangal MD FACOG
Sangeeta Pradhan RD , Clinical Dietitian

Why Wait, Join us... Hear what are the latest health related issues affecting South Asian Woman and freely ask questions in a safe setting.

On Saturday March 20, 2004 1-4 P.M.
AT: 400 West Cummings Park, Room #1400 First floor, Woburn, MA

•  AASRA Mentoring Initiative – AASRA 2004 launches a customized skill development, and self-paced learning/training program for women at the AASRA Center . Sessions are scheduled by appointment, conducted by AASRA Resources, and addresses basic requirements for Conversational English, PC skills, Resume-writing/Interviewing, Driving, Job/Small Business development. Please contact AASRA for Session sign-up which is in the first week of every Month.

So, mark your calendars for AASRA Info-events. Kindly spread the word to any women who might be seeking support and services resources. Join the AASRA team efforts.

Visit the AASRA website today: http://www.aasranewengland.com/

Become an AASRA volunteer/member: http://www.aasranewengland.com/membership.html