Listen to Her: Non-Profit Maitri Raises Over $600,000 at Annual Gala to Support Victims of Domestic Violence
- The event was headlined by actress Nandita Das whose short film about rise in incidents of domestic violence during the pandemic, was screened.
Maitri, a San Fransisco Bay Area-based anti-domestic violence organization celebrated 33 years of empowering South Asian survivors of domestic violence with a gala titled “Where The Mind is Without Fear” on March 2 at the Crowne Plaza in Palo Alto, California.
Actress Nandita Das headlined the gala. Before her fireside chat with Maitri’s past president-Mukta Sharangpani, Das’s short film titled “Listen to Her” was screened. Das’s directorial venture dealt with the rise in incidents of domestic violence during the pandemic.
“I felt the need to tell this story. While human experiences and emotions are universal, stories resonate with people differently. It’s not just a story of the importance of speaking up but creating space for listening,” Das said.
She went on to add that if more of us took the time to listen, more of us will be encouraged to share our experiences and issues like domestic violence will not be kept under wraps. “Domestic violence is not just physical violence but also includes psychological and emotional violence and is a cross class issue that manifests in so many ways that all manifestations cannot be pinpointed, and the various issues become difficult to combat,” said Das. She elucidated the need for early education of children towards healthy relationships and to reduce societal gender discrimination.
Creatively choreographed dance routines by Ishami Dance Company provided the entertainment for the evening.
“Change has happened in the perception of our community members towards the need for organizations that support victims of domestic violence, but there is a long way to go.”
According to long-time Maitri supporter Noreen Raza, “it elevates everyone when you can help alleviate the burdens of others.” The former Maitri Board member and a retired attorney who practiced family law continued: “Things are not always as they seem. I am a woman and since most of the victims of domestic violence are women-I am my sister’s keeper.”
She has seen the perception of the non-profit change from one that ruined homes and perceived domestic bliss of South Asians homes to an integral, necessary part of the community providing essential services to not only victims of domestic violence but also proactive outreach programs to educate community members towards healthy relationship markers and policy initiatives working with mainstream organizations in the domestic violence space.
Since 1991, Maitri has helped thousands of survivors via an array of services that include a helpline, legal advocacy, transitional housing, outreach and prevention, policy advocacy, volunteer engagement and economic empowerment services.
Changes in Perception
“Change has happened in the perception of our community members towards the need for organizations that support victims of domestic violence, but there is a long way to go,” opined Jaya, a Maitri staffer, managing the client services program for the non-profit. “The need is for a wider understanding of domestic violence as not only physical violence but emotional, economic and sexual violence. The community did not face the issues of teen violence or gun violence earlier, but these issues have become new intersections too,” she said candidly.
Speaking about the various services that Maitri provides, Tejasvi Dodda, another Maitri staffer, says that many just call the helpline to be heard and do not want to take any action. “They just want their story heard. It’s the resilience and the courage of the survivors that amazes me.It is very important for us to teach our children about healthy relationships to help break the cycle of abuse in relationships.” adds Tejasvi.
(Top photo by Cynthia Pillay and Santhosh Karnewar)
Shalini Kathuria Narang is a freelance journalist and a software professional. She is also a poet and her poems have been published in several anthologies including “Starry Nights: Poetry of Diaspora in Silicon Valley” and “Pixie Dust and All Things Magical.” She is a monthly contributor to Masticadores USA and has been published by Spillwords Press and San Antonio Press. She is originally from New Delhi and currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband and daughters.