Vasuda Sharma
Northwest Asia Weekly
Zenovia Harris and author Vasudha Sharma (photo courtesy of Vasudha Sharma)
Two Seattle-based women-focused nonprofits have joined forces to advocate for women and girls locally and globally in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Sukarya and Earth Voices organized Celebrate Women on March 8, which works to spread awareness against gender bias.
Held at the Renton Chamber of Commerce, the event aims to highlight the contribution of women and their thought, innovation and leadership in the modern economy. This is a hybrid event so participants can join from all over the world.
Planet Voices founder and bestselling author Vasudha Sharma hosted the event.
“This pandemic keeps girls and women out of school and work. They face increasing poverty and violence. They do the vast majority of the world’s unpaid but essential care work. Now is our time to do our best to Time to change the script,” Sharma said.
Sukarya USA President Huda Giddens emphasized the importance of women’s rights, especially in developing countries. In 1972, she founded the Giddens School in Seattle to advocate for early education. Meera Satpathy, founder of Sukarya, said in a video message that Sukarya is an empowerment initiative to raise global awareness for women of color.
Sharma profiles Satpathy’s journey as a nonprofit founder and changemaker in her book, Why She Must Lead: Bridging the Gap Between Opportunity and Women of Color.
Due to the tremendous work done to educate and empower teenage girls in India’s urban slums during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sukarya became a partner NGO of the Coalition for Girls Opportunity, a program under the Obama Foundation, Aims to educate girls all over the world.
Shree Saini, current Miss World USA and Sukarya Global Ambassador, delivered a speech via video. Her mother, Ekta Saini, also joined. The elder Saini has been recognized for her philanthropy.
Mac Scotty McGregor, co-founder and executive director of Positive Masculinity, a nonprofit dedicated to removing harmful cultural norms of masculinity and creating a healthier model of positive masculinity for all, in his opening remarks highlighted male-advocated importance.
Northwest Asia Weekly publisher Assunta Ng moderated a panel discussion titled “Gender Equity Today, A Sustainable Tomorrow: Uplifting Women of Color at the Grassroots.”
Panelists were Emily Carmichael, Executive Director of Emerge Washington; Zenovia Harris, CEO of Kent Chamber of Commerce; Uparika Sharma, Founder of Bellevue Azalea Dentistry; and Sumathi Chakravarthy, Managing Director of InfiSum Modelling.
Associate Professor Amita Vyas was the guest of honor at the event. She is director of maternal and child health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
Vyas highlights the importance of women’s equality and innovative ways of acting that are making our world a better place.
Sital Kalantry, an expert in comparative law, business and human rights, feminist legal theory and contract law, delivered a keynote speech. She teaches at Seattle University School of Law.
Kalantry highlights the need for a world free from prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination.
Thanks to the event volunteers Shridula, Franchesca Vargas, Manoj Gouda and Daisy Ray.
At the end of the event, Sukarya USA Secretary Debadutta Dash said that together we can create equality for women.
Vasudha can reach info@nwasianweekly.com.
