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Local Initiatives: Washington DC Area
We hope this serves as a useful resource to South Asians living in the DC area. On this web page, you can learn facts about our community in the DC Area which includes Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., find information on projects that SAALT is working on, locate links and contact information for various local DC area organizations that serve the South Asian community and find out about upcoming local events.
Ways to get involved locally
When: 7:00- 8:30PM, Monday, April 25th
Where: OCA National Office, 1322 18th St. NW Washington, DC 20036 (near Dupont Circle Metro)
Did you know that language access is protected as a civil right? This entitles community members to have access to many social and public services irrespective of their English proficiency. But what does that really mean for the South Asian community?
Come celebrate Language Access Awareness Month and the 7th anniversary of the DC Language Access Act at our April SAALT Circle! We will explore issues of language access and how language access impacts how South Asian Americans engage with and function in society. We will also be discussing how language access interacts with other issues, like voting rights and healthcare access. Our experts will include Nadia Firozvi, Domestic Policy Coordinator of the American Arab Institute, and Sapna Pandya, Director of Many Languages One Voice and the DC Language Access Coalition.
Light refreshments will be served!
RSVP to Swathi Bonda at sbonda@gmail.com or Anisha Shetty at anishashetty20@gmail.com. Check out the Facebook event for the meeting here.
We look forward to seeing you at this evening of dialogue and community building!
About the DC South Asian community
The Washington D.C area is home to the 5th largest South Asian population in the country. According to the 2005 U.S. Census, there are over 107,000 South Asian immigrants in the area.
Quick Facts on the South Asian community in the DC Area:
About SAALT’s work in the DC area
SAALT engages in both national and local level work in the Washington, DC area. Locally, SAALT holds events that promote dialogue and community education. We have held several community events, including a naturalization legal clinic, book readings by South Asian authors, and Town Hall forums.
About the New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland (NACPM)
The New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland is focused on citizenship promotion and immigrant integration work, with an emphasis on supporting eligible Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) through the citizenship process and in receiving some of the benefits of citizenship, including better employment opportunities and higher salaries, opportunities for involvement in political economic, and social institutions, access increased education opportunities, and ability to petition for family members by becoming U.S. citizens. The project is coordinated by CASA de Maryland as part of the Maryland New Americans Partnership.
Contact Rachna Puthottu at rachna@saalt.org for more information on the NACPM.
Montgomery County Resources Brochure
As part of the Maryland Community Empowerment Project, SAALT and the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) has released a new guide to government resources for South Asians in Montgomery County. The brochure answers basic questions that community members may have about resources available to community members in the county, including:
The guide is available in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Bangla. For more information, please contact Rachna Puthottu at rachna@saalt.org.
Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) Patient Navigator Program
Provides trained medical interpretation and a multi-lingual health information helpline. Contact 301.760.4993.
ASHA for Women
Dedicated to providing culturally specific, multi-lingual support and referral services to women of South Asian descent. Contact coordinator@ashaforwomen.org or 888.417.2742 (helpline) or 202.207.1248 (office).
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
Advances the legal and civil rights of Asian Americans through direct services, education, advocacy and legal service referrals. Contact hotline@apalrc.org or 202.293.3572.
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP)
Aims to end domestic violence in the Asian/Pacific Islander communities.
Contact info@dvrp.org or 202.464.4477.
Counselors Helping Asian/Indians (CHAI), Inc.
Provides education, advocacy, counseling and referral services to the South Asian community about mental health issues. Contact raziakosi@chaicounselors.org or 410.461.1634.
Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help (FAITH Social Services)
Provides humanitarian aid to needy individuals and families living in Northern Virginia. Contact info@faithus.org or (571) 323-2198.
Khush DC
Provides a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) South Asians. Contact president@khushdc.org or 202.518.2265.
Muslimat Al-Nisaa
Responds to the healthcare, educational and housing needs of the homeless women in the Muslim community. Contact muslimat-alnisaa@yahoo.com or 410.466.8686.
Virginia Muslim Public Action Committee (VMPAC)
Educates and engages the Muslim community to participate in the political process of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Contact info@vmpac.org or 703.881.9111.
South Asian Adult Daycare Center
Provides free in-house nursing and health services, transportation, vegetarian meals, and activities for South Asian seniors (65+) who live in MD. Contact 240.994.4607 or saadcmd@gmail.com.
Help us add to this page! Contact us at info@saalt.org.
Ways to get involved locally
Language Access and the South Asian Community
When: 7:00- 8:30PM, Monday, April 25th
Where: OCA National Office, 1322 18th St. NW Washington, DC 20036 (near Dupont Circle Metro)
Did you know that language access is protected as a civil right? This entitles community members to have access to many social and public services irrespective of their English proficiency. But what does that really mean for the South Asian community?
Come celebrate Language Access Awareness Month and the 7th anniversary of the DC Language Access Act at our April SAALT Circle! We will explore issues of language access and how language access impacts how South Asian Americans engage with and function in society. We will also be discussing how language access interacts with other issues, like voting rights and healthcare access. Our experts will include Nadia Firozvi, Domestic Policy Coordinator of the American Arab Institute, and Sapna Pandya, Director of Many Languages One Voice and the DC Language Access Coalition.
Light refreshments will be served!
RSVP to Swathi Bonda at sbonda@gmail.com or Anisha Shetty at anishashetty20@gmail.com. Check out the Facebook event for the meeting here.
We look forward to seeing you at this evening of dialogue and community building!
- For information about volunteering with SAALT in the DC Metropolitan area, please contact Rachna Puthottu at rachna@saalt.org.
About the DC South Asian community
The Washington D.C area is home to the 5th largest South Asian population in the country. According to the 2005 U.S. Census, there are over 107,000 South Asian immigrants in the area.
Quick Facts on the South Asian community in the DC Area:
- In Washington D.C., the Indian community was the largest Asian ethnic group in 2006
- In Virginia, a high concentration of South Asians reside in Arlington and Fairfax counties. In fact, census data reveal that the Bangladeshi community grew over 300% between 1990 and 2000 in Fairfax County, VA.
- In Maryland, a high concentration of South Asians reside in Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore counties
About SAALT’s work in the DC area
SAALT engages in both national and local level work in the Washington, DC area. Locally, SAALT holds events that promote dialogue and community education. We have held several community events, including a naturalization legal clinic, book readings by South Asian authors, and Town Hall forums.
About the New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland (NACPM)
The New Americans Citizenship Project of Maryland is focused on citizenship promotion and immigrant integration work, with an emphasis on supporting eligible Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) through the citizenship process and in receiving some of the benefits of citizenship, including better employment opportunities and higher salaries, opportunities for involvement in political economic, and social institutions, access increased education opportunities, and ability to petition for family members by becoming U.S. citizens. The project is coordinated by CASA de Maryland as part of the Maryland New Americans Partnership.
Contact Rachna Puthottu at rachna@saalt.org for more information on the NACPM.
Montgomery County Resources Brochure
As part of the Maryland Community Empowerment Project, SAALT and the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) has released a new guide to government resources for South Asians in Montgomery County. The brochure answers basic questions that community members may have about resources available to community members in the county, including:
- accessing affordable health care
- applying for unemployment insurance, food stamps, and other government assistance programs
- tenant rights information
- foreclosure assistance resources
The guide is available in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Bangla. For more information, please contact Rachna Puthottu at rachna@saalt.org.
Free Citizenship
Preparation Classes
The Baltimore City Community College and Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees are offering free citizenship preparation classes in Montgomery County and Baltimore, MD. For class schedule and more information, click here. For more information on how to become a U.S. citizen, see SAALT’s naturalization guide for the South Asian community.
Local organizations that work with the South Asian communityAsian American Health Initiative (AAHI) Patient Navigator Program
Provides trained medical interpretation and a multi-lingual health information helpline. Contact 301.760.4993.
ASHA for Women
Dedicated to providing culturally specific, multi-lingual support and referral services to women of South Asian descent. Contact coordinator@ashaforwomen.org or 888.417.2742 (helpline) or 202.207.1248 (office).
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
Advances the legal and civil rights of Asian Americans through direct services, education, advocacy and legal service referrals. Contact hotline@apalrc.org or 202.293.3572.
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP)
Aims to end domestic violence in the Asian/Pacific Islander communities.
Contact info@dvrp.org or 202.464.4477.
Counselors Helping Asian/Indians (CHAI), Inc.
Provides education, advocacy, counseling and referral services to the South Asian community about mental health issues. Contact raziakosi@chaicounselors.org or 410.461.1634.
Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help (FAITH Social Services)
Provides humanitarian aid to needy individuals and families living in Northern Virginia. Contact info@faithus.org or (571) 323-2198.
Khush DC
Provides a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) South Asians. Contact president@khushdc.org or 202.518.2265.
Muslimat Al-Nisaa
Responds to the healthcare, educational and housing needs of the homeless women in the Muslim community. Contact muslimat-alnisaa@yahoo.com or 410.466.8686.
Virginia Muslim Public Action Committee (VMPAC)
Educates and engages the Muslim community to participate in the political process of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Contact info@vmpac.org or 703.881.9111.
South Asian Adult Daycare Center
Provides free in-house nursing and health services, transportation, vegetarian meals, and activities for South Asian seniors (65+) who live in MD. Contact 240.994.4607 or saadcmd@gmail.com.
Help us add to this page! Contact us at info@saalt.org.
