Between Friends: Conversations with Maitri

Sexual violence & abuse in an intimate partner relationship is not an isolated incident and it often occurs alongside other forms of abusive behaviors. Listen to this in-depth discussion on how we must change harmful social and cultural conditions that allow sexual violence and abuse in partner relationships. Today’s guest: Sarah Khan, the Director of Programs at the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn _____________ This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention.  www.sccendviolence.org

As a new school year begins, thousands of students arrive on campus full of excitement and possibility. But alongside that hope lies a difficult truth: sexual assault remains a seriousissue on college campuses nationwide.In this episode, we sit down with Smitha Chandrasekhar, Alex Fu, and Shreya Vishwanath to discuss why awareness matters, how students can support one another, and the steps needed to build safer communities on campus.Tune in for an honest, urgent, and empowering conversation.

Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities.In our third presentation of Policy Matters, we interview Casey Swegman of Tahirih Justice Center on the prevalence of child marriages in the US and learn about the upcoming federal proposal to address child marriages nationally.Casey Carter Swegman is a national expert on serving immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. As the Director of Public Policy at the Tahirih Justice Center she oversees Tahirih’s state and federal policy advocacy focused on improving protections for immigrant survivors while simultaneously seeking long-term, systemic change. She engages in extensive domestic and international training and outreach and serves as a liaison to local agencies and service providers working to strengthen the capacity of their local community to respond to the needs of immigrant survivors. Before her role as Director of Public Policy, Casey spent over 10 years in direct service with immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, including at Tahirih on the Forced Marriage Initiative and before that with the International Rescue Committee, where she led a program for refugees arriving with special needs.This episode was curated by the Maitri Policy Advocacy Program and facilitated by Smitha Chandrasekhar. Smitha is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in Biology. She is currently on the pre-med track and intends to focus on a career in women’s reproductive health and oncology. Smitha has been volunteering with Maitri for almost a year and is deeply invested in promoting the rights of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to their own bodies and autonomy.Resources shared in this PodcastChild Marriage Prevention Act of 2024https://www.tahirih.org/news/child-ma...Discussion with Fraidy Reiss, Child Marriage Survivor and founder of Unchained At last   • S5-E1: Unchained At Last: California ...  Asia Child marriage initiative: Summary of the research in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal https://www.icrw.org/wp-content/uploa...Child Marriage in the UShttps://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/up...UNICEF working to end child marriages in the UShttps://www.unicefusa.org/how-help/ad...California Senate Bill 404 on Child Marriage ban https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB404/id... California Coalition to End Child Marriage https://cacoalitiontoendchildmarriage... It is time to end child marriages in the US https://www.cfr.org/blog/its-time-end.

Join us for a powerful episode of the Maitri Podcast featuring Anisha Durve—survivor, author, and motivational speaker—who is dedicated to raising awareness against gender-based violence. In this compelling discussion, we uncover the red flags of abusive relationships, explore the critical role communities play in either enabling or preventing partner abuse, and highlight the resilience and healing that survivors can achieve. This conversation is a beacon of hope, proving that post-traumatic growth is possible.The Power to Break Free Foundation: www.Power2BreakFree.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@powertobreakfreeBook: https://a.co/d/iLcP73R

Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities. In your Second Episode, we revisit the need for funding Domestic violence services in CA. Earlier in January of this year, Governor Newsom announced the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and it failed to take into account what advocates have been asking for: increased funding for domestic violence services. We reverberate the response released by the VOCA Advocacy Alliance of CA and seek your support in reaching out to the Legislatures. This episode is created by Maitri Policy Advocacy and voiced by Smitha Chandrasekhar, Smitha Chandrasekhar is a senior at the University of Washington majoring in Biology. She is currently on the pre-med track and intends to focus on a career in women’s reproductive health and oncology. Smitha has been volunteering with Maitri for almost a year and is deeply invested in promoting the rights of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to their own bodies and autonomy.   Resources in the Episode California VOCA Funding Advocacy https://www.cpedv.org/voca-funding-advocacy California VOCA Alliance https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bHy24HKsyVC0Sth0fM666Y188_xDVwqZ/edit UN Secretary-General's statement on domestic violence during COVID-19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJgVTeZrWLk&ab_channel=UnitedNationsinIndia Maitri VOCA Advocacy in VALOR US Platform in 2022 https://www.facebook.com/reel/2310663309127820

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical—it can also shatter a person’s financial stability. Financial abuse often goes unnoticed, yet it deeply impacts victims by limiting access to money, sabotaging financial independence, and creating lasting economic dependency. It’s a hidden form of control that can affect anyone, regardless of income or background. In this episode, we dive into this critical yet under-discussed issue. Tejeswi Dodda, Maitri’s Self-Sufficiency Coordinator, engages in an insightful conversation with Ariadne Horstman, a certified financial planner. Together, they share essential financial knowledge and practical tools to empower you to protect yourself and others from the devastating effects of financial abuse. Tune in to this important discussion and learn how to reclaim financial independence and resilience. ----------------------------------- ARIADNE HORSTMAN, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Appreciate Finance was founded in 2015 to help individuals and families realize personal goals and dreams through comprehensive financial planning and investment management. Its founder, Ariadne Horstman, has practiced as a CFP® since 2008, advising numerous families and individuals on their financial situations. Prior to that, she worked in the tech industry in Silicon Valley. She is a Registered Life Planner® with the Kinder Institute. Financial Life Planning is based on the premise that advisors must first discover clients’ most essential goals before formulating a financial plan. In this way, a client’s finances fully support those objectives as the client begins to move toward realizing them.

In this podcast, Nazeehah Khan, a sexual assault survivor, activist, and the founder of Restraining Orders Without Borders had an in-depth conversation with our host Nandini Ray. Nazeehah shared her ordeal, hopes, and how she transformed her pain into power. Listen to the episode here: Nazeehah Khan is the Founder of Restraining Orders Without Borders (ROWB), a national legislative campaign expanding restraining order jurisdiction for nonresident survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. ROWB has passed laws in Hawaii, and Oregon, and is pending the passage of SB 554 in California. Nazeehah holds a Masters in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. She was born and raised in Hawaii and is of Indo-Fijian heritage. Nazeehah’s story and activism have been published in different media outlets including Forbes, KITV_abc, RISE, the Star-Advertiser. Learn more about ROWB here: https://www.rowbnational.com/ Learn more about Maitri here: www.maitri.org Listen to the Maitri Podcast and share with your networks.

Presenting a special episode of the Maitri podcast in Punjabi! Join Maitri volunteers Davinder Kaur Atwal and Arvinder Dhalla as they engage in a profound conversation that challenges widely-held perceptions about domestic violence. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking the stigma surrounding domestic violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a community culture that does not tolerate abuse. Don't miss this enlightening and empowering conversation! Gain valuable insights and prepare yourself for informed discussions on this crucial issue so that together, we can end domestic violence in our community This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org Host: Nandini Ray Conversation: Davinder Kaur Atwal and Arvinder Dhalla

Commemorating Women’s History Month! Tune in to our latest podcast episode where four South Asian women come together to discuss misogynistic behaviors and attitudes that we women face every day. From overtly offensive behaviors to subtle, normalized attitudes, we delve into the spectrum of experiences women face daily. Join us in identifying and confronting misogynistic attitudes and behaviors. Together, let’s explore strategies for dismantling this toxic culture and envision a future where equality thrives. Host: Nandini Ray, Sr. Manager Outreach, Prevention, and Policy Advocacy, Maitri Guests: Aarushi Kumar, Rika Alavi, Kashmira Patel (Maitri Volunteers)   This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] Please share your feedback here: https://forms.gle/Req1NfTSAYfUnYfD7

Are South Asian youth comfortable sharing their dating experiences with their parents? Do they receive enough guidance and support from their families in understanding the concept of healthy partner relationships? To discuss these questions we invited 3 South Asian youth community members. Hajra Usman, Sid Barathi, and Nidhi Satyagal joined us to shed light on the unique challenges South Asian youth face when navigating conversations about dating and relationships with their families. They also shared their recommendations on how both South Asian youth and adults can facilitate an environment of safe and open communication to have conversations on healthy partner relationships. Please listen to this insightful discussion and share this episode with your network. Feel free to share your recommendations with us at maitri@maitri.org. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] Our host: Nandini Ray has been involved in the gender justice movement since 2011. As the Sr. Manager of the Outreach & Prevention Program at Maitri, she leads community engagement and education efforts at Maitri, represents Maitri at community talks, panels, and in media, and provides culturally responsive training for DV advocates and service providers. Nandini curates, designs and hosts Maitri’s reputed Podcast series, “Between Friends” and leads social media outreach efforts. Hajra Usman is a clinical researcher assistant and a long-time Maitri volunteer. Sid Barathi is a recent graduate from UCSB. He currently works at a research lab and a clinic as a medical assistant. Nidhi Satyagal is the Prevention Program Associate at Maitri. She recently graduated from UCSB with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in History.

Female genital cutting/ mutilation has been recognized as a human rights violation by the World Health Organization. This topic is highly controversial due to its roots in cultural and religious practices so we should have multiple conversations to have community awareness around it. To discuss how we can end this oppressive practice and bring positive social change, we invited Mariya Taher, the co-founder and U.S. Executive Director of Sahiyo. Listen to this episode here! Visit: https://sahiyo.org/ This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org #EndDV, #maitripodcast, #maitriwww.maitri.org

Mariam Azimi, a survivor with her courage and resilience not only paved her future with safety and dignity, but also gave support, guidance, and emotional confidence to many survivors that they needed after suffering from domestic violence. Mariam has been working relentlessly to break the stigma of divorce. In this Maitri podcast episode, Mariam shares her journey and hope. Mariam Azimi is the founder of Care2Elevate.space and established CircleofsiSTARhood (https://www.facebook.com/circleofsiSTARhood/about_details.)

We invited Yasmin Azad, the author of Stay, Daughter on our podcast to talk about her experience and reflection on the dilemmas that Muslim women faced and are facing in balancing the rules of orthodox Islam with the freedom and innovations of the modern world. Fahria Khan, our Donor Engagement Manage had an in-depth conversation with the author. Please listen to the episode here! Yasmin Azad grew up in Sri Lanka and was among the first group of girls in her Muslim community to go away from home to pursue a university degree. After obtaining a B.A. in English, she married and moved to the United States where she raised her three children and worked as a mental health counselor. Her writing has been published in Navasilu, Solstice Literary Magazine, and The Massachusetts Review, and her memoir is Stay, Daughter: A Memoir of Muslim Girlhood. Read more about Stay Daughter: https://staydaughter.com/ Fahria Khan is the Donor Engagement Manager at Maitri. She is a community leader who has spent the last 20 years serving the community through various non-profit organizations, programs, and initiatives.  #EndDV, #maitripodcast, #maitri, # YasminAzad, #MuslimGirlhood, #girls www.maitri.org This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org]  

In this episode, Flavia Agnes joined us to share her journey from a survivor to a trailblazer. Flavia Agnes is a women’s rights advocate, legal scholar, and one of the central figures of the women’s movement in India. Her own experience with domestic violence inspired her to become a women's rights lawyer. As co-founder of MAJLIS, a legal and cultural resource center in Mumbai, India, her primary engagement has been to provide quality legal services to women and children. **About Flavia Agnes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavia_Agnes **About Majlis: https://majlislaw.com/about/ Learn about Maitri: www.maitri.org This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention: https://desj.sccgov.org/ogbvp  

In this episode we discussed inter-generational cultural conflicts that many South Asian parents and teens face. Three South Asian teens, Tara Sardana, Alina Shah and Kaushal Namuduri shared their thoughts on how this cultural conflict can be damaging for individual, family and community well-being. If you are a parent or a teen, then you must listen to this episode to learn what can be done to reduce and end intergenerational cultural conflict. Please share this episode with your network. Feel free to share your recommendations with us at maitri@maitri.org. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org]

Immigration status based on marital relationships often creates barriers for a victim and survivor of domestic violence to address the abuse. Yet there are rights and resources available for individuals in those situations and many opportunities to advocate for policies focused on immigration reform. In this episode, we hear about Maitri's immigration assistance program observing its 12 years in existence and important lessons learnt throughout the process. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] #MaitriBayArea #ImmigrationProgram #Survivors #AssistanceProgram

Listen to this powerful narrative from Shamita Das Dasgupta about the South Asian Gender Justice Movement. In the seventies and eighties, South Asian women across the nation started addressing feminism that was different from white feminism where issues faced by immigrant women were raised. This momentum led to the growth of the South Asian gender justice movement which impacted South Asian survivors, advocates, communities, and the larger society. Please listen to this episode to learn about the early stage of the movement building, where we are now and where we need to go. After listening, please take this short quiz on our Podcast: https://shorturl.at/beEPY Thank you for listening! This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] #EndDV, #MaitriPodcast #Maitri #TDVAM www.maitri.org

This month, the Maitri podcast was able to bring on four UCLA students to discuss what a healthy partner relationship means to Gen- Z. What does a healthy relationship look like for young college students? What do they expect from their partners? All of this and more is discussed during this months episode of Between Friends.  This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] #EndDV, #MaitriPodcast #Maitri #TDVAM  www.maitri.org

Maitri joined South Asian SOAR in a remembrance campaign to honor and remember 10 beautiful souls who we lost to disturbing acts of gender-based violence in 2022. And we are dedicating our first episode of the new year to show our grief and frustration toward these senseless acts of gender based violence. Representatives from South Asian SOAR  joined us in the discussion. This episode is our effort to keep our community members engaged as we continue to discuss on how we can prevent gender based violence and bring awareness to the South Asian communities affected by it. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org] #EndDV, #maitripodcast, #maitri, www.maitri.org

Sharing a powerful story of a survivor. She suffered violence and abuse inflicted by someone she loved and trusted. Her life has been a continuous struggle during and after the abuse yet she didn’t give up. She turned her pain into purpose and started a new journey to find her peace. #SurvivorSpeaks, #MaitriPodcast, #EndDV This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention. [www.sccendviolence.org]