South Asians in US meet to discuss recession

Badly hit by the global recession, the immigrant South Asian community came together to network and discuss a wide range of issues affecting them.

More than 200 delegates representing as many as 33 organisations from 17 American states gathered in Washington over the weekend for the 2009 South Asian Summit.

Co-sponsored by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) of American University Washington College of Law, participants of the three day event beginning April 24 discussed a wide range of issues affecting the community at a time when the country is hit by economic recession.

"The 2009 National South Asian Summit created a space for organisations, community members and activists to reconnect with each other and strengthen networks and strategies that will enable us to continue our work to support social change movements," said Deepa Iyer, executive director SAALT.

The Summit also facilitated four South Asians with Changemaker Awards; Muhammed Malik from Florida; Asm Rahman from Michigan; Sonia Sarkar from Baltimore; and Rishi Singh from New York City.

The immigrant community has been badly hit by this, participants of the meet felt.

"Making the connections between our organisations in person and acknowledging that 'my struggle is yours' has been inspirational," said Sarah Rizvi of Chaya, a member of the NCSO located in Seattle.