Page 27 - The Indian EYE 121622

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 16, 2022 | The Indian Eye 27

Middlesex County Center For Empowerment & Sneh

Arts Host A Community Outreach Event In For Sexual

Violence Awareness Supported By Manavi

OUR BUREAU tains that power imbalance. In many
instances, women are subjugated,
HIGLAND PARK, NJ
subordinated and subservient, within
he Middlesex County Center our communities, and our world view
for Empowerment, Sneh Arts encourages conformity to those tradi-
T& Manavi collaborated to host tional fixed gender-based roles creat-
a very special community outreach ing unhealthy expectations that often
event to increase awareness surround- lead to violence.”
ing sexual violence. The Middlesex Following the presentation, at-
County Center for Empowerment tendees were treated to soul stirring
(the Center) is the state designated classical music and dances by art-
sexual violence program for Middle- ists from the Indian Diaspora. The
sex County. They strive to support presentation was first followed by a
and empower survivors and signif- The Outreach event Organizing Team with the Artists Kathak recital by Noah Damer and
icant others affected by sexual vio- then followed by a soulful sitar and
lence, and to help eliminate all forms tabla recital by Abhik Mukherjee and
of sexual violence through community Shivalik Ghoshal. The program end-
awareness and education. Sneh Arts ed with a very special Bharatnatyam
is a cultural organization promoting dance recital by J. Maheshwari.
and presenting classical arts around Dignitaries from the communi-
the tri-state area that can have a pos- ty, as well as music and dance world,
itive impact in the society. Manavi is graced the occasion to learn more
non-profit organization based out of about the grassroots work being done
New Jersey. Founded in 1985, Manavi by the Center and Manavi, and also to
was the first organization in the Unit- enjoy the artistic presentation. Prom-
ed States to specifically address the inent community members present
unmet needs of South Asian women included Seema Jagtiani, Joyce Meh-
affected by violence. ta, Minesh Patel, Hemant Bhatt and
The perpetration of sexual vi- Dilip Bhatt and they congratulated
olence is preventable. However, it J. Maheshwari peforms Bharatnatyam Noah Damer performs Kathak the entire organizing team and art-
starts with awareness building and ists. They were thrilled to see people
that was the purpose of this event – to from the community so enthusiastic
bring this issue into community con- to learn more about the work being
sciousness and raise awareness about done by the Center and Manavi and
the services offered by the Center wanted to support their mission.
and Manavi to support survivors in Guests in attendance were appre-
the South Asian community. Sunny ciative of the informative afternoon
Thakkar of Sneh Arts continues to be and voiced their desire to see more such
dedicated to working with organiza- community outreach events to take
tions such as Manavi and the Center place discussing such important topics.
in organizing and curating outreach There were countless comments
events like this to help bring the com- of support and appreciation pouring
munity together in support of survi- Abhik Mujherjee on Sitar & Shivalik Ghoshal on Tabla in during and after the event, not only
vors and prevention of the violence. from the attendees but also from art-
Representatives from Mana- trated the impact survivorship has an early age through education. Jen- ists that were performing and those
vi, Shanti Shah & Amritha Sridhar, on individuals, relationships, com- nifer and Nahrin urged everyone in who were not able to attend. There
helped MC the event and spoke about munities, and society, and therefore the audience to support survivors, to were common themes resonating
Manavi’s services. Jennifer Kurdyla the importance of preventing people be advocates for change, and to break from everyone’s comments: they were
with the Middlesex County Center for from perpetrating on an individual, the silence around sexual violence thrilled to learn about the work done
Empowerment spoke about the Cen- relational, communal, and societal through conversations and education. by the Center and Manavi, and they
ter’s services, before speaking more level. Sexual violence prevention in- Nahrin Khan, outreach consul- wanted to know how they can be of
about the issue of sexual violence with volves changing the existing harmful tant for the Center, said, “When it help and get more involved.
Nahrin Khan. During this presenta- socio-cultural and gender norms that comes to the South Asian culture, it The event was supported by our
tion, Nahrin Khan shared a survivor’s support power imbalance and allow is important to recognize that there media partners: TV Asia, World
story to highlight how the experiences perpetrators to exercise control over is deep rooted patriarchy that is func- BBTV, Radio Zindagi, Divya Bhas-
of violence and abuse can impact an survivors. Sexual violence prevention tioning within the collectivist tradi- kar & The Indian EYE, Jus Punjabi,
individual at various points in their is also about understanding and re- tion. For instance, the traditional The South Asia Times, The Indian
lives, from childhood to relationships specting consent and boundaries, and patriarchal attitude towards women Panorama, Hum Hindustani, Parikh
to parenting. The presentation illus- these concepts are easier to instill at not only contributes to but also main- Worldwide Media and ITV Gold.

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