Community Conversation
with Farooq Mitha
NEHA DEWAN
Neha has long been active in both local and national politics. Most recently, she founded and served as the National Director for South Asians for Biden, an organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and mobilizing the South Asian community to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In 2016, Neha served as the National Co-Chair for South Asians for Hillary and was appointed by Hillary Clinton to the National AAPI Leadership Council.
Previously, in 2015, Neha was appointed as a guest of honor by the Consulate General of India in New York City where she was selected to speak about gender equality for International Women's Day. During the 2012 presidential campaign, Neha chaired the New York Chapter of South Asians for Obama and also served on the steering committee for Lawyers for Obama in New York. For several years, Neha served as an Officer of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council, an organization affiliated with the National Lawyers Council of the Democratic National Committee and comprised of Democratic lawyers and voting rights activists. Similarly, for many years, Neha served as an advisory board member of New Leaders Council, a national organization focused on training and supporting progressive political entrepreneurs. She has also been active in her local community board and political clubs. Neha served as the President of the South Asian Bar Association of New York in 2012, and now sits on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Mobilizing the South Asian Community & Building Political Power
STATE TEAMS
Since our launch in May 2021, SAFA has established chapters in 18 states, with state directors leading robust teams on the ground to increase the political engagement of the diverse South Asian communities in each state. Our goal for 2023 is to expand to 25 states. If you are interested in joining an existing SAFA chapter in your state or interested in starting a chapter in a state where SAFA does not currently have a chapter, please email politicaladvocacy@saforamerica.org
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ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
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COUNCILMEMBER PRIYA BHAT-PATEL
Advisor
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JAYANT SINGH
Youth Lead
IOWA
SURESH BASNET
State Director
MISSOURI
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MAHENDRA BAKSHI
Data Chair
SAMAY SAHU
Youth Lead
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
SHIVANI PARIKH
Youth Lead
Legal & Governance Committee
SOPHIA RAMCHARITAR
Youth Lead
Political Engagement & Advocacy Committee
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ASIA SHEIKH
Outreach Chair
DIPENDRA LAMICCHANE
Nepali American Liaison
AABIA SAEED
Youth Lead
VISHAL GHADIA
Indian American Liaison
OHIO
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AJMERI HOQUE
State Director
KAUSHILA KHANAL KARMACHARYA
Bhutanese American Liaison
WASHINGTON, DC
VIRAJ AYAR
State Director
