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These immigrant seniors are coming together to combat loneliness – LAist

May 13, 2025 by Saleena Dhakal

Read this article here about South Asian Network’s Desi Ekta Senior Center!

BACK TO OUR PEOPLE BACK TO BLOG BACK TO OUR STORIES

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South Asian Network

southasiannetwork

Geared towards serving, supporting, uplifting, and educating Southern California's South Asian community

Our communities deserve to feel safe and informed.

Our communities deserve to feel safe and informed. Join us this Wednesday, June 18th for a virtual forum to learn your rights when dealing with law enforcement or ICE, plus travel tips during this time.

Translations available in multiple South Asian languages.

Zoom | 6–7:30PM
Register at the link or scan the QR code!

#KnowYourRights #SouthAsianSolidarity #ImmigrantJustice #SANCommunity #southasiannetwork #san #nonprofits #community #safety

Our communities deserve to feel safe and informed.

Our communities deserve to feel safe and informed. Join us this Wednesday, June 18th for a virtual forum to learn your rights when dealing with law enforcement or ICE, plus travel tips during this time.

Translations available in multiple South Asian languages.

Zoom | 6–7:30PM
Register at the link or scan the QR code!

#KnowYourRights #SouthAsianSolidarity #ImmigrantJustice #SANCommunity #southasiannetwork #san #nonprofits #community #safety

As we prepare for this South Asian wellness forum,

As we prepare for this South Asian wellness forum, our hearts are grounded in community care and collective healing.

In a time when LA is holding so much, we’re reminded why spaces like these matter, to gather, to listen, to nourish, and to rise together.

This event is our offering, a space to reconnect with heritage, reflect with compassion, and root ourselves in resilience. Join us June 28 for a day of workshops, art, and powerful community.

RSVP: Link in bio

#RootsAndResilience #southasiannetwork #southasiannonprofit #nonprofit #southasianvoices #HealingThroughHeritage #CommunityCare #SouthAsianWellness #MutualHealing #WellnessInAction #CypressCA #SANetwork

This father’s day, we’re honoring immigrant fa

This father’s day, we’re honoring immigrant fathers, celebrating their successes and wins, yet simultaneously, we’re holding deep in our hearts the fathers and families that have been inhumanely torn apart by an unjust system. So much of what we stand for, so much of what our fathers have taught us, has been about justice, equity, and community. We’re wishing everyone warmth, strength, and love in these challenging times, and drawing hope and inspiration from the fathers that came before us, that worked tirelessly, to build a life of stability. We’re fighting for fathers, for mothers, for families to be united, to be safe, and demanding justice for those affected by state sanctioned violence.

We’re coming together this Friday, June 13 at 2:

We’re coming together this Friday, June 13 at 2:15 PM for a powerful Day of Solidarity at the Islamic Society of Orange County.

Join faith and community leaders as we reflect, connect, and stand in unity with our immigrant and undocumented neighbors. ✊🏽❤️

Your presence matters. Let’s show up for each other.

#southasian #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #DayOfSolidarity #CommunityPower #ImmigrantJustice #FaithInAction

Navigating Job Portals: Online Workshop 💼 Look

Navigating Job Portals: Online Workshop 💼

Looking for a job? Learn how to search smarter, set alerts, and stand out to employers!

Join us for this free virtual session to get ready for the Job Fair on June 26, 2025!

Date: June 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Click the link in our bio
Passcode: 812522

📲 Scan the QR code to join instantly!
📩 Questions? Email saninfo@southasiannetwork.org or call 562-724-0681

#JobPrep #SouthAsianNetwork #CareerReady #JobInterviewTips #CommunitySupport #LAJobs #SouthAsianVoices #JobFair2025 #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerWorkshop #southasiannetwork #san #southasiannonprofit #nonprofits

This is what showing up for community looks and so

This is what showing up for community looks and sounds like, messy, moving, real. No trending audio, just heart and hustle. A day in the life at SAN, unfiltered!

Today, SAN alongside our powerful partner orgs @cairgla, @advancingjusticesocal, @caimmigrant, @instabaji, @blmgrassroots, @napafasa showed up and fought back against the travel ban enacted by the Trump administration. We then joined voices at Grand Park LA, standing in solidarity to demand justice and freedom for David Huerta. This is what community resistance looks like.

#ResistTheBan #southasiannetwork #san #nonprofit #southasiannonprofit #CommunityPower #SolidarityInAction #SanctuaryForAll

Instagram post 18043566716632422

Instagram post 18043566716632422

Instagram post 17921622041980551

Instagram post 17921622041980551

Travel Ban Protest! Protesting the Travel Ban and

Travel Ban Protest!

Protesting the Travel Ban and demanding justice for immigrant communities.

📍 Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B)

#ProtectImmigrants #laxprotest #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #southasiannonprofit #san #cairla

🛑 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 🛑 In times like these, s

🛑 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS 🛑

In times like these, safety starts with knowledge. Our Community Safety Cards are available in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, and Bengali, created to support and protect our South Asian communities.

💡 Download yours today at southasiannetwork.org/cce-resources
or hit the link in our bio

#KnowYourRights #SouthAsianNetwork #CommunitySafety #ImmigrantRights #CCE

Join us at LAX on Monday, June 9 to protest the Tr

Join us at LAX on Monday, June 9 to protest the Travel Ban and demand justice for immigrant communities.

📍 Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B)

🕘 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

#ProtectImmigrants #laxprotest #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #southasiannonprofit #san #cairla

Eid Mubarak from all of us at SAN! 🌙✨ May thi

Eid Mubarak from all of us at SAN! 🌙✨
May this day of Eid al-Adha fill your homes with light, your hearts with love, and your communities with strength.

#EidAlAdha #CommunityLove #SANCelebrates #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #southasiannonprofit

(3/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora Th

(3/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora

Throughout this journey, South Asian Network (SAN) has been like extended family. My mother has been connected to SAN for over 25 years, and she introduced me to the community right when I arrived. I remember going with her and my brother to the Artesia office, how warmly everyone welcomed us. Years later, when the LA office opened, I began helping out there too. SAN has always been there, guiding us quietly through the hardest and most hopeful moments.

And now, with SAN’s support, I’m taking a leap I never dreamed of. I’m starting my own restaurant. It still feels surreal. I didn’t know where to begin, but the SAN team walked with me through every step, from permits to business plans, from encouragement to belief. This restaurant will be my love letter to the community, a place where food brings people together and young immigrants can feel seen, supported, and hopeful.

I want to build something lasting. I want to help others the way I was helped. I want people to eat food made with care and know they are welcome.

If I could speak to the little girl I used to be, the one dancing to movie songs, unsure of what life would bring, I’d tell her: Don’t be afraid to try. Put love into what you do, and it will take you places.

I hope people continue to support me, and I hope this new chapter becomes a bridge between who I was and who I’m becoming. In every dish I serve, there will be a little bit of Delhi, a little bit of LA, and a whole lot of heart. I hope I can give back to this community that has given me so much. More than anything, I hope I always carry the sweetness of home, both old and new, with me in everything I do. (3/3)

#southasiannetwork #nonprofit #storytelling #SouthAsianVoices #DesiDiaspora #UnityInDiversity #CulturalRoots #DesiCollective #OurDesiStory #SharedHeritage #southasiannetwork #buildingbridges #echoesofthediaspora

(2/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora Th

(2/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora

The early days were hard. I didn’t speak English, didn’t know how to get around, and didn’t even know how to cook. I felt like that little girl again, unsure, quiet, watching the world carefully. But once again, my mother was there to guide me. She taught me how to cook, one dish at a time, how to make dal, roll soft rotis, and temper spices just right. Cooking became our shared language, our bond, our way of surviving and creating joy in a new world. Slowly, I learned. One meal at a time, one conversation at a time.

Eventually, I got a job at Indian Oven, a restaurant owned by a kind Punjabi brother who helped me learn the ropes. I had never worked in a kitchen like that before, but I took to it with heart. Over time, I learned to cook almost every Indian dish, from biryani to curries to street snacks, and that kitchen became my classroom. Over time, I became known for my cooking. Biryani is still my favorite dish to eat, and now, one of the dishes I make best. Today, cooking is not just something I do, it’s a part of who I am.

For the past 15 years, I’ve built a life here in LA, working multiple jobs, navigating loneliness, and slowly finding my voice. My family back in India, my father and sister, have never stopped encouraging me. I haven’t seen them in all these years, and that longing lives in my heart every day. We speak on the phone often, but it’s not the same as being together. There’s a special kind of quiet longing in being between two homes, one you came from and one you’ve built.

Through it all, my mother has been my rock. She’s my inspiration. We live together, work side by side, and support one another. Life here is busy, sometimes we barely get time to sit down together, but there’s a deep bond that holds us close…(2/3)

#southasiannetwork #nonprofit #storytelling #SouthAsianVoices #DesiDiaspora #UnityInDiversity #CulturalRoots #DesiCollective #OurDesiStory #SharedHeritage #southasiannetwork #buildingbridges #echoesofthediaspora

(1/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora My

(1/3) Building Bridges: Echoes of the Diaspora

My name is Vinita Das, and my journey begins in Delhi, where the air smells of spices, the streets are always buzzing, and childhood felt both simple and full of responsibility.

I was a quiet, shy child who loved watching Bollywood films, especially Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and playing football and cricket in the narrow lanes with neighborhood kids. I still remember the joy of dancing in front of the TV, mimicking every move with a smile. But even as a little girl, I carried a quiet sense of duty. When my older sister got married young, I, still in school, felt the shift. As the middle child, I began helping more around the house, caring for my younger brother, and growing up a little faster than I expected.

After finishing 10th standard at a Hindi-medium school, I knew I had to start working. I joined a placement office, and from there, life moved steadily, until one day in 2010, everything changed. My mother, who had already moved to the United States, called me to join her. At first, I didn’t know if the move was permanent or just a visit. I had never even imagined what America might look like. But I followed her call and arrived in Los Angeles with a suitcase and no real expectations, just trust…(1/3)

#southasiannetwork #nonprofit #storytelling #SouthAsianVoices #DesiDiaspora #UnityInDiversity #CulturalRoots #DesiCollective #OurDesiStory #SharedHeritage #southasiannetwork #buildingbridges #echoesofthediaspora

✨ Get Interview Ready! ✨ Join us for an inter

✨ Get Interview Ready! ✨

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to help YOU shine in your next job interview! Whether you’re just starting your job search or looking to polish your skills, this is your chance to practice, prepare, and stand out. 💼🌟

📅 June 3, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 154 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

🎯 Perfect prep before our big Job Fair on June 26, don’t miss it!

📞 Questions? Call 562-724-0681
📧 Email: saninfo@southasiannetwork.org

#JobPrep #SouthAsianNetwork #CareerReady #JobInterviewTips #CommunitySupport #LAJobs #SouthAsianVoices #JobFair2025 #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerWorkshop #southasiannetwork #san #southasiannonprofit #nonprofits

🌿✨🪷Roots and Resilience: Healing Through H

🌿✨🪷Roots and Resilience: Healing Through Heritage ✨🌿🪷

Join us for a heartwarming evening of connection, healing, and culture at our South Asian Wellness Forum! 🧘🏽‍♀️🎨🌸

🗓️ Saturday, June 28, 2025
🕓 4–8 PM
📍 Cypress Community Center, CA

Experience the power of our shared roots with workshops, panel talks, and arts-based healing, all grounded in the beauty of South Asian traditions. Let’s come together to nourish our minds, bodies, and spirits. 💚

📲 RSVP today! (link in bio or scan the QR!)
📞 Contact: 562-403-0488
📧 saninfo@southasiannetwork.org

#RootsAndResilience #SouthAsianWellness #HealingThroughHeritage #CommunityHealing #SouthAsianCulture #WellnessEvent #MentalHealthMatters #southasiannonprofit #nonprofitorganization #nonprofits #mentalhealth #emotionalandmentalhealth

☀️ FREE summer food for kids is here! 🍎 Ca

☀️ FREE summer food for kids is here! 🍎

California families can get $120 per child with SUN Bucks and enjoy free meals all summer with SUN Meals 🍽️

💳 SUN Bucks = $40/month for groceries in June, July & August = $120 in total
No matter when your card arrives, you’ll get the full $120 per child!

🍽️ SUN Meals = Free, healthy meals for all kids and teens 18 & under — just show up, no sign-up or ID needed!
📍 Find meal locations near you: CAMeals.org

Let’s keep every kid full & fueled this summer🩵

#SUNBucks #SUNMeals #FreeSummerMeals #CaliforniaKidsEat #FoodSupport #Summer2025 #southasiannetwork #southasiannonprofit #nonprofits #nonprofit

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who jo

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who joined us for the SAN Soirée last Thursday night!

What a beautiful, joy-filled evening it was, one full of warmth, laughter, and the incredible power of community.

Together, we celebrated our shared work, uplifted the stories and efforts that so often go unseen, and honored the people who make this movement what it is.

Every conversation, every smile, and every shared moment deepened our connection to one another and to this vision we’re building, side by side.

Thanks to your presence and support, we ended the night feeling more inspired and energized than ever before.

From the bottom of our hearts: thank you for being part of this journey.

Captured by: @flyingbeardphotography
Branding by: @ragni_agarwal_
Thoughtfully curated by: @aminoacidd @chana_masala_91

#35thSoirée #SouthAsianNetwork #CommunityCelebration #SoiréeRecap
#Celebrating35Years #LegacyAndCulture
#NonprofitImpact #SouthAsianExcellence
#UnityInDiversity #southasiannonprofit

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18173 Pioneer Blvd., Suite “I”, Artesia, CA 90701
Phone: 562-403-0488 • E-mail: saninfo@southasiannetwork.org
Office Hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

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