SOUTH ASIA: Indo-American Community Services Host First South Asian Women's Conference

The Indo-American Community Services organization hosted the South Asian Women's Conference at the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, 1401 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL on April 17th, 2011. The conference was extremely beneficial to all who attended as the conference was filled with great discussions, workshops, speeches, personal stories.

The Conference started with Sreenivas Katragadda, the Secretary of the Indo-American Community introducing the organization and the plans for the day. The Indo-American Community Services organization may not ring any bells, but that is because the organization just started up last year! With the success they've embarked on, that may be slightly difficult to believe. With many goals they hope to achieve they set a main goal for this event: to introduce creative strategies to achieve success.

He was then followed by K. Sujata, CEO and President of the Chicago Forum for women. She led the discussion for Successful Careers against the Norms. She started with an inspirational video which preceded her personal story from an experience she shared with her loving father. She then talked about her experience of being an only girl in her college engineering class. She then worked in a cement factory where she was in charge of Iso-9000. She executed the bringing of the Iso-9000 project in record time. Not only did this break the norms of working day society-this exceeded the norms by far. K. Sujata also worked for Apna Ghar (which translates into “our home”), a non-profit organization helping women who have been victims of domestic violence. She stated it was one of the most rewarding times of her life as she met amazing people such as actors who helped out the community and she met amazingly strong women who had been domestically abused. K. Sujata then transferred to another non-profit organization. K. Sujata worked there for eighteen months as she stated she was not very successful in this new organization. Yet she did not regret this at all. She stated we all must take a risk and we must be prepared to either succeed or fail. She thanks her family for helping her become who she is today. The work she has participated in has led her to the value that all women deserve just as much of a chance as men do. She then read a Hindu poem to finish her speech. She then went through a Q & A with those at the conference. K. Sujata stated on stage before starting her speech that she doesn't find herself very inspirational. The audience found many reasons to argue that she was extremely inspirational.

Rohini Dey, Founder & Owner of the critically acclaimed Vermilion Restaurant chain then rose to the stage to lead the discussion for Entrepreneurship. The Vermillion Restaurant chain shows strength in women as the entire staff is all women. Rohini was extremely straightforward as she stated out a story in which she randomly went to a bank and was in awe of the bank which led her to ask for a job immediately. She was then told to get a PhD in economics. She didn't waste time and went for that PhD in economics and successfully achieved it. Her dream was to feed the world. She currently owns a restaurant chain that feeds all who pay. As she stated there is a bit of contrast, but she is alright with it. She believes that dreams and goals change with time. She believes that life throws curveballs at people all the time. We must be prepared for those curveballs; we must have perseverance. I must state, as she spoke I couldn't help but wonder whether or not the Vermilion Restaurant was serving the conference. Ironically, she does not cook.

Therese Kienast then took the stage to lead the Radical Leadership Workshop. She stated that she is not very inspirational, though she is a Master Certified Coach. As contradicting as that may seem, the people who attended this event found her to be very inspirational. Therese Kienast used her coaching skills to help us confront our Trickster thoughts. Our Trickster thoughts are thoughts that are meant to fool us into believing we are not as good as we truly are, or in other sense-negative thoughts. Who is the Trickster exactly? The Trickster is that voice in your head that always tries dragging you down and not allowing you to achieve your full potential. Therese Kienast helped silence the many Tricksters who occupied the room.

Dr. Surinder Nand then introduced the next Panel discussion. Three speakers took part in this panel discussion. Kulsum Akbar, MD, MS at Rush University Medical Center started the Health and Well-being panel discussion, and Priya Panapoola, foot surgeon finished it. This discussion was very informative of many health problems South Asian women face and how to avoid these problems. Missing this panel discussion is missing out of ways to take care of your health and well-being.

Two separate panel discussions were then held after the Health and Well-Being discussion. One being the Arts and Culture Panel Discussion, while the other was Financial Security and Planning. Each discussion was very informative and beneficial to whoever attended.

The Arts and Culture panelist including Hema Rajagopalan, founder and artists director of Natya Dance Theatre, Libby Chiu, Chief of staff, Illinois Art Council, and Swami Narayanananda, from Chicago Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, discussed on maintaining ethnic identity and in remaining impactful in American society. And a panel discussion on ‘Financial Security and Planning' was presented by Sanjay Wagle, Partner at Strategic Wealth Group.

Evening cocktail reception and dinner was followed by a cultural program and an award function. The cultural program featured dance from various classical Indian dance schools of Chicago. ‘Jaya Janaki Ramana'- a devotional composition in praise of Lord Rama – by Natya Dance Theatre, performed by Amrutha Rajesh, Rathna Kalluri, Amuktha Samudrala and Parvathi Achari. ‘Shivoham,' a dance form praising lord Shiva was performed by Meghana Murali. Durga Stuthi, an invocation item wasperformed by Grumeet Marhas, and Medha Bhargaw of Anila Sinha Foundation and Tarana, a pure dance sequence with intricate technique and rhythmic movement was performed by Grumeet Marhas, Medha Bhargaw, Deepa Devasena, Alekya Eyunni, and Elizabeth Nellamattathil.

Vandana Jhingan, TV ASIA Midwest Bureau received the Community Service Award of Excellence for her contribution and support to South-Asian community, Dr. Surinder Nand MD, former president of Apnna Ghar received Community Service Award for providing valuable services to the community in Chicago and particularly for providing shelter to domestic violence victim and Nazneen Begum from Desi Talk Chicago honored with Community Service Award. Earlier, Vinita Gulabani, Beauty and Fashion Consultant, speaking at the event eloquently praised the IACS members for hosting an event that pays tribute to women's love, her strength, her resilience, her confidence and her endurance.

Sreenivas Katragadda, IACS founder welcomed the guests and keynote speakers. He praised women who have excelled in their personal and professional life and balanced family and professionally life equally.

Speaking to the audience Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman and keynote speaker asked everyone to value life experience and encouraged women to understand their real potential. She also raised critical issues such as violence, and discrimination.

Mukta D. Tomar, Consul General of India spoke on rich Indian culture and heritage. She referred India as a land of various traditions, philosophies and religions and said these disparities as provided secular outlook to India and Indian women. She also spoke on 6 ethos of Hindu Dharma and asked everyone to implement the principle of Bhagwat Geeta.

Other such inspiring presentation was presented by Arunima Bhargava, Chief of Educational Opportunities Section, US Dept of Justice, she asked women to lead an independent life and said, “They are capable of great achievements and it is time to recognize their potential. They are highly skillful and knowledgeable. But they should prove their adeptness instead of limiting their proficiency to their families alone.” Referring 1993 Amendment Act of India, which empowers women with 1/3 panchayat raj seats, she said “This act is great boon to Indian women who are striving and struggling for their basic rights.” Quoting Mother-Teresa she asked everyone to do small things with great love and concluded thanking her mother for supporting her and for inculcating values of love and sacrifice in her.

Some of the notable guests who attended include Mrs. Nagamani Chitturi and Dr. Ratnam Chitturi founder of North South Foundation; Drs. Geetha and Umapathi Cattamanchi founders of Sia Samsthan; Dr. Sinha funder of Anila Sinha foundation; Sundar Dittakavi Telugu Association of Grater Chicago; Mr. Blake P. Sercye formar Political Director of Mayer Elect Rahm Emanuel; Dr. Venkata Majetti President of Loment, Inc.; Mr. Raja Krishnamoorthi President at Sivananthan Laboratories; Mrs. Neena Ostojic and Mr. John Ostojic Manager of Air India Midwest; Mahesh Mohnalkar Director-Development at Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority; Akbar Lalani Assistant Vice President at United Central Bank; Mrs. and Mr. Raj Surti Vice President of Alcatel-Lucent Naperville; Rajeeva Satyavada Vice President at State Bank of India; Nancy Shepherdson 8th District Democratic State Central Committeewoman and Corinne Pierog Principal at Sustainable Leadership Solutionsand Prem Sharma founder of Apna Ghar; Mrs. Ranjana Bhargava founder of Apga Ghar; Mr. Vijay Bhargava and Kesha Parikh president of NetIP Chicago;

Organizing Committee: Reema Kapur, Marina Isac, Gayatri Kalluri, Vena Chitturi, Srilaya Kudaravalli, James Papachen, Anil Mehta, Mr and Mrs. Sood, Anita Benerji, Veena Gupta, Sainath Reddivari Treasurer and founder of IACS.

The event culminated with dinner reception presented by India Harvest restaurant