The India Association Youth Group had the wonderful opportunity of participating in a workshop on 'Diversity" which was moderated by an expert panel of educators Mr. Woullard Lett, Ms. Veronica Kamerman, Ms. Rose Palis and Mrs Vanita Shastri. They were all from different ethnic backgrounds and shared their wisdom with the IANH Youth. The three hour workshop ended with a Q and A session. The speakers began by talking about their first experiences as  immigrants. They all arrived in the US under different circumstances ranging from refugee to student. The kids were then encouraged to share at least one grievance with the group. The speakers engaged every single youth member present in the discussions. Some parents also joined the debate. Some of the kids went home and told their parents that they missed a "golden opportunity". They are better equipped to deal with whatever challenges lie ahead. Pratheek Kalyanapu the youth group president gave the vote of thanks at the end of the session.

We are extremely grateful to the speakers who despite busy schedules gladly agreed to do this for IANH.

Ms Kamerman is Assistant to the Dean of the School of Community Economic Development, SNHU.  She and her family escaped the communist regime in Hungary in 1956 when she was 10 years old and moved to the US. She is an alumnus of Hunter College in New York City and received her B.A. in history. She also attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City where her major was ballet.
A political economist and an artist, Mrs Vanita Shastri is co-founder of Meru Education Foundation, a non-profit organization, which brings unique learning programs based on arts and culture of India to audiences in North America. She has a Ph.D. from Cornell University where she worked on India’s Industrial Policy Liberalization. She also teaches at the School of Management at Boston University.

Rosemarie Palis was born and raised in the Philippines. After obtaining a Master's in Business Administration from SNHU she  currently serves as Student Services of the Coordinator School of Community Economic Development) at Southern NH University. She is also a teacher of Language and Culture in Iskwelahang Pilipino (Pilipino School), a non-profit organization that teaches and promotes Filipino cultural heritage, music, dance and arts and crafts to children from 3 to 18 years old in Bedford Center, Bedford, MA.
Woullard Lett is  SNHU's School of Community Economic Development Alumni Coordinator. He is also a Research Associate at the Applied Research Center, and adjunct lecturer in faith-based development at the National CED Master's Program., as well as a Ph.D. candidate at SNHU. He holds an M.S. from SNHU and a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University. Prior to this he worked as Director of the Community Recovery Project, Manager of Economic Development for Bethel New Life CDC and Environmental Program Associate for the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT).

This event was held at Nashua Public Library on the 19th of April.
The next meeting of the group is scheduled for June 1st at 4pm. Venue will be announced later.