Who We Are

Jyoti Sinha

President/Founder/ Director of Programs

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Jyoti is the founder and president of the South Asian Workers’ Center-Boston. She directs SAWC's programs and research based on the needs of the varied neighborhoods we operate closely in. Being one of the Board members, she is involved in overall governance and designing the training modules and workshops within the immigrant’s community. Her focus on women and social and economic equity arises from an intersection of her own experiences and the lives of people she’s met through the South Asian community. She believes that the immigrant story can be a very shared and powerful experience.  

 

She is also a mother of two young children, who provide her with the strength and reason to do everything she does for the Center. She hopes that as they and their generation grow up, they will become the main beneficiaries and torchbearers of SAWC's mission to create a compassionate, connected, and communicative space for all--particularly--those who need it the most. 

Dr. Sinha teaches with the Sociology Department and the Honors College at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.  

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Laxmi Timilsina

General Secretary

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Laxmi has been a longtime member of SAWC. She is a Biomedical professional with leadership and excellent time management skills. She has a Masters in English from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and has secured certificate courses in PC and network support specialties from Bunker hill community college.

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Nilofer Yesmin/ Jackie

Treasurer

 

Nilofer immigrated to the US from Bangladesh in 2006 to start a new life, embracing a new country as her home. Belonging to a family that owns a restaurant in Dubai, she has had a keen interest in catering and engaging in a cooking cooperative. She is also responsible for outreach within the Bangladeshi community at the Rindge tower. Nelofer has an associate degree from Chittagong, and graduated from Quincy college with a biotechnology GMP certification. She is a mother of three beautiful daughters.

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Gaurang Garg

Accounts Manager

 

Gaurang's expertise lies in budgeting, finance detailing and overall management of accounts activities at SAWC. As well as everyday detailed book keeping, he is skilled at troubleshooting at the center.

 

Gaurang is a full time student in Finance at UMass Boston and volunteers at SAWC.

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Riaz Begum

Area Manager, Cambridge, MA

 

Mrs Riaz Begum, fondly known as “Aunty jee,” is a  certified nurse assistant from Pakistan who worked as an assistant matron in Multan government hospital. She went on to run her own clinic there, aiding as a midwife. Riaz aided immigrant Pakistani women to cater to their health in the United Kingdom and Libya as her husband relocated for job prospects. As an immigrant she faced many hurdles finding financial stability in new countries and believes that a worker center  can prove resourceful for anyone trying to establish themselves in a foreign land. Riaz is engaged in outreach programs and is our one stop shop for planning our events. As site manager, she coordinates all events and meetings within the Cambridge area. She leads the elderly people’s group and helps the Fresh pond apartment residents to access all available resources - specially following the global pandemic.

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Sangeeta Subba Rai

Area Manager / Coordinator, Everett, MA

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Sangeeta is originally from Nepal and also lived in India for some time. She is very enterprising and innovative, especially during family crisis. She has experience in various professions such as kindergarten teacher, beautician, and was in the pharmacy business in Nepal. She practiced Yoga and meditation for self-care. Now in Boston, she lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and their dog whom she sometimes babysits. She is an avid gardener and lead the Go Green project the center has been involved in.  Sangeeta coordinates different programs and activities from the Everett, Malden area, as well as and organizes people from Nepal. She has been with SAWC since the pandemic started and has been adding members to her team from the North shore.

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Rizvana Shaukat Fakir

Operations Coordinator

 

Rizvana brings to SAWC her wealth of experience in organizational efficiency and expertise in the minutiae of general operations, .  bringing together all our coordinators and teams. She specially focuses on the educational Programs at the center.

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Rizvana serves as the Head Teacher at Peabody Preschool, where she leads a team dedicated to fostering a nurturing and stimulating learning atmosphere for young children. 

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Lubna Dar

Auxiliary Aide

Lubna  is also known as the nightingale of our center as she sings on occasions to ease our mind, body, and soul. She is invaluable to the center, assisting us in a myriad of ways. A beautician by training, she is also  a mother of two beautiful children.

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