Indo-American Community Federation

Indo-American Community Federation, (IACF-USA)
2024-03-29 17:30 - 22:00 UTC
Board of Directors:
Jeevan Zutshi, Dr. Ramesh Konda, Mr. Amit Goel, Mr. Shashi Sharma, Dr. Subhash Garg, Dr. Naresh Sharma, Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Mr. Rahul Zutshi, Mr. Sujoy Sarkar, Dr. Deepak Sachdev
IACF-USA was once again recognized and honored by the California State Senate in May, 2023 for promoting understanding and harmony amongst diverse communities for decades!
Friday, March 29, 2024 (5:30 PM to 10:00 PM)
30th Anniversary and Unity Dinner
Unity through Diversity: Breathing Life into Education
India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA.
Master of Ceremonies: Kathy Stahl Kimberlin
Honored Chief Guest: Ambassador of Peace Acharya Dr. Lokesh (visiting from India)
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Program:
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Social Hour
6:30 PM – 6:40 PM: National Anthem by Tanya Gupta
6:40 PM – 6:50 PM: 30 years of IACF-USA- presented by Dr. Subhash
Garg, IACF Director
6:50 PM – 7:00 PM: Brief presentation on Yoga by Shyla Zutshi
7:00 PM – 7:05 PM: IACF supports Sudha Society– YouTube message
7:05 PM – 8:00 PM: Panel Discussion
“Breathing Life into Education” Co-Convened by Art of Living
Introduction by Shyla Zutshi
Moderator: Anjali Shaykher Zutshi, National Security/ Intelligence Lawyer/Chief of Staff, National Nuclear Security Administration
Panelists:
Eileen McDonald, Alameda Board of Education Trustee
Vivek Prasad, Fremont School Board Member
Dr. Nilima Sabharwal, Founder, Home of Hope
Bill Herman, Founder and International Director, SKY Schools and Senior Faculty, Art of Living
Kasturi Basu, Principal at Lyndale Elementary School, Alum Rock Union School District.
8:00 PM – 8:05 PM: Honored Guest Speaker Alam Khydeeja
Executive Director, California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (APIA)
California is proud to be home to over six million Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA), the fastest growing ethnic population in the state.
The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) was established in 2002 and is charged with elevating the political, economic, and social issues of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA), in the state.
The Commission advises the Governor and the Legislature on how to best respond to views, needs, and concerns of the state’s diverse and complex APIA communities. Additionally, the commission provides assistance to policymakers, state agencies, departments, and commissions to develop appropriate responses and programs that meet the needs of APIA communities, including focus on cultural language sensitivity, and hate incident and hate crime prevention measures.
8:05 PM – 8:45 PM: Dinner
8:15 PM – 8:20 PM: Hispanic Cultural Program – ballet Folklorico
8:20 PM – 8:30 PM: Presentation by Art of Living Foundation
8:30 PM – 8:40 PM: Indian dances by the Students of Aero Dance Academy by Ranjani Manda, Artistic Director
8:45 PM – 8:55 PM: Honored Chief Guest speaker Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni
(Introduction by Ajay Sehgal, IACF-USA India Liaison)
H.H. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji, Founder President “Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti” is a versatile thinker, writer, poet, and social reformer has been continuously making efforts for National character building, development of human values, and establishment of non-violence, peace, and cooperation in society for the last 39 years. He has, To, give practical shape to these values he founded “Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti” and thus made his field of activities spread throughout the world. With the establishment of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, he started a strong movement against social evils like the abortion of female children, drug addiction, Environmental Pollution, etc.
H.H. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni is the recipient of many awards: including ‘The National Communal Harmony Award 2010’ by the Government of India ‘Ambassador of Peace’ at London Parliament. He has been honored by the United Peace Federation with the ‘Ambassador of Peace Award’ in 2014 at the United Nations Centre for his remarkable contributions towards World Peace & Communal Harmony. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni has been honored with the Bharat Gaurav Award at U.N. Headquarters, U.S.A.
8:55 PM – 9:05 PM: Keynote Speaker Hon. Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California’s 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County. He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022.
Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and also serves as a member on the Housing & Community Development, Local Government, and Natural Resources committees. He is Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and works to ensure that key legislative priorities are successfully passed on civil rights, criminal justice, economic and worker justice, environmental justice, and housing justice, Previously, he served as Chair to the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.
9:05 PM – 9:15 PM: Address by Jeevan Zutshi, IACF Founder United we Stand – Community builders
Living the dream For All People ……Hon. Teresa Cox, Fremont City Councilmember
Introductions
Community Organizations:
Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA)
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, San Jose, CA, USA
Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)
Satish Chandra, A4H and Chief Advisory Committee for Santa Clara Police Department
South Asian Behavioral health and training foundation (Dr. Harmesh Kumar)
Home of Hope, Inc. (Dr. Nilima Sabharwal)
IbadatKhana Foundation (Tasawar Jalali)
Public Officials:
Congressman Ro Khanna represented by Tom Pyke
Attorney General of California represented by Tong Thao
State Senator (CA-15), Dave Cortese
Assemblymember (CA-25), Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Evan Low, District 26
Assemblymember (CA-24), Alex Lee
Mayor, City of Milpitas, Carmen Montano
Mayor, City of Newark, Michael K. Hannon
Newark Former Mayor Al Nagy
Fremont City Mayor Lily Mei
Mayor, City of Santa Clara, Lisa Gillmor
Councilmembers, City of Fremont, Dr. Raj Salwan, Teresa Keng, Teresa Cox
Alameda County Supervisor (CA-1), David Haubert
Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam
Santa Clara County Supervisor (District 2) – Cindy Chavez
Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee (Area 2) Tara Sreekrishnan
San Jose Councilmember Arjun Batra
Patrick Ahrens, Governing body member of Foothill DeAnza Community College District
BART Director Liz Ames
9:15 PM – 9:25 PM: IACF Board Recognition including the Registration and Hospitality Committee
By Dr. Naresh Sharma, Member, Board of Directors
Closing Remarks by Amit Goel, President
9:25 PM – 11:30 PM: DJ Kish/Sing and Dance
Media Partners

Indica News
New India Abroad
India West
Radio Zindagi
FIJI Sun-USA
Sakshi TV / Ruchika Sharma
TV9
TV Asia

Thanks to all the Event Sponsors
Grand Sponsors:
Alameda County Supervisor Dave Haubert
Deepak Ganju, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
V.I P Table Sponsors:
Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Kishore Pallapothu, Entrepreneur
Dr. Raj Salwan, Fremont City Councilmember
Vin Kruttiventi, Congressional candidate
Pannu Dental Group
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Psychologist
Ashok Bhat, Hotelier
Droisys, Inc., A Software Solutions Company
Ajay Sehgal, IACF- India Liaison
Gaurav Patwardhan, Community Leader
Deepak Sachdev dental offices
Videography & Photography Directed by Sujoy Sarkar
Event Decorations by CC DECORS (Krishna Priya)
