iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Community leaders, officials serving at Federal, State, County, and City will put their heads together at the 22nd annual Unity Dinner of Indo-American Community Federations (IACF-USA) to mull over ways and means to curb growing instances of gun violence and hate crimes.
Scheduled to be held on April 21, at India Community Center in Milpitas, the event will draw more than 25 public officials.
The idea of bringing Indo-Americans into the mainstream and supporting their assimilation was what led to the formation of IACF in 1994, however, unifying the community of diverse populations in the wake of 9/11 was the motivation that helped to establish Unity Dinner in January 2002. Since then, IACF has been actively promoting unity among diversity by hosting annual unity dinner meetings and others initiatives. This year’s event has the same or even more important with the recent US Presidential elections, possible changes in Government policies, and recent ‘hate’ kind of incidents in the community.
“We feel proud that our ancient culture and spiritual wisdom have something unique to offer, even today, to reinvigorate nonviolence in America. We need to put more effort to share our cultural strengths with the broader diverse population in this time of suspicion and fear that will take down the wall of ignorance that keeps distance between our cultures and our neighbors. India’s sages, thousands of years ago, referred to the whole world as one human family – Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam,” said Jeevan Zutshi, Chairman and Co-Founder of IACF.
“It is important for minorities to internalize and carry forward the unique traditions of this great country including the inalienable rights enshrined in the Constitution. The Unity Dinner is a celebration of these rights as extended to all Americans. Let us all pursue our life, liberty, and happiness together, and fight the threats to them together as well,” said Dr. Subhash Garg, Board of Directors of IACF.
Dr. Ramesh Konda, President of the IACF said, “We promote diversity and unity to set role models to the future generations in view of the world is becoming smaller and smaller in terms of reachability, communication, and appreciation and respect to different cultures.”
The program will start with a conference deliberating on issues facing children in schools, chaired by Fish Stark and moderated by Anjali Shaykher Zutshi.
Some of the keynote speakers at Unity Dinners in the past have been the First Lady of State of California, the Attorney General of California, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA 18), Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA 17), Joint Venture Silicon Valley President, Raj Jaswa, B.V.Jagadeesh, and M.R.Rangaswami of Indiaspora.
