gmhTODAY 29 gmhTODAY Jan March 2020 | Page 109

Recognizing Independence According to Chabra, “We also introduce our youth to community service opportunities with local nonprofits to gain a sense of how they can be involved and give back to society in meaningful ways. They love trying new things and influence each other to get involved.” Honoring Senior Citizens A number of years back, Chabra said the IASC board noticed the seniors in their community wanted to socialize more with one another more but weren’t sure where to begin. “We organized our first senior’s Chai potluck in 2015 and the seniors enjoyed it so much they decided to set up their own groups, getting together to sing hymns, go hiking, enjoy yoga, and host more potlucks. They’ve developed a program that’s both fun and informative, with sessions on everything from retirement planning to avoiding scams.” GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN Last August, IASC members and Morgan Hill city officials raised India’s flag for India’s Independence Day in a public ceremony at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center. Councilman Rene Spring helped initiate the flag-raising ceremony in 2013 and now it’s an annual event. As Chabra recalled, “Mayor Rich Constantine and City Councilmembers marked the occasion by speaking about diversity, fostering a spirit of inclusivity in town, and bringing a collaborative approach to community engagement.” Student Emcees (top photo) receiving certificates from Assemblyman Robert Rivas (l-r) Sanjay Singh, Neil Shah, Reet Padda, Rhea Bains, Riyani Patel, Robert Rivas, Sachin Swaminathan, Nihar Chabra, Priyam Patel, Roma Shah and Shrish Bulusu. WINTER 2020 gmhtoday.com 109