The South Asian Impact Foundation hosted its annual Summit & Gala and its inaugural South Asian Hill Day on National Citizenship and Constitution Day, September 16 and 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The two-day meetings brought 500 South Asian American leaders from refugee organizers to healthcare experts, CEOs, artists, students, and elected officials, a press release from the organization said.
Highlights of the events included:
South Asian Hill Day, where more than 150 participants held more than 50 direct meetings with Members of Congress and staff to promote urgent priorities around immigrant rights and community safety amidst rising hate and discrimination.
The Summit, which saw two days of plenaries, grassroots trainings, and wellness sessions anchored by the theme Desis Persist: Our Stories, Our Strength, spotlighting the resilience and leadership of South Asian Americans across generations.
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The Gala, which was emceed by comedian Abby Govindan, celebrated excellence in South Asian leadership and honored this year’s awardees.
Among the high-profile invitees and members who addressed the gathering were several Members of Congress: U.S. Senators Andy Kim, Cory Booker, Mark Warner, Alex Padilla; U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar, and Suhas Subramanyam; From the refugee and immigrant community, leaders such as Dr. Badar Khan Suri and Robin Gurung of Asian Refugees United; Leading healthcare experts, such as Maryland Secretary of Health Dr. Meena Seshamani and Dr. Vin Gupta; Advocates and activists like Mini Timmaraju, President of Reproductive Freedom for All.
On Hill Day, the partner organizations present included AAPI Equity Alliance, AAPI Victory Power Fund, Asian Refugees United, Chalo Vote, Desi Rainbow, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), the North American Association of Indian Students, the Roundglass India Center at Seattle University, SAATH, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, SAIVA, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, the South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO), the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI), South Asian Americans for Change, the South Asian Bar Association of DC, South Asian SOAR, South Asians for America, Stop AAPI Hate, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), the Raj Mehta Day of Good, the Sikh Coalition, and They See Blue.
Those recognized with various awards at the Gala were:
- The Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris Award- presented by Indrani Goradia – honored Kavita Mehra, Executive Director of Sakhi, for courage, determination, and commitment to allyship and the cause of civil rights.
- The Dalip Singh Saund Award- presented by Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija – recognized Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi for outstanding public service and dedication to civic engagement.
- The Champion of Civic Engagement Award – presented by Rep. Ami Bera and NC Senator Jay Chaudhuri – recognized Raghu Devaguptapu for his decades of service promoting civic engagement within the South Asian American community and advancing representation in public service.
According to the South Asian Impact Foundation, South Asian Americans are the second-largest immigrant community in the U.S. and one of the fastest-growing electorates.
“In this moment, we showed the power of the South Asian diaspora: standing together in Washington, D.C., guided by our values and determined to act. We were not silent. We built community, forged new connections, and reminded ourselves of our collective strength,” Chintan Patel, executive director of South Asian Impact Foundation, is quoted saying in the press release. “Attendees left feeling inspired, united, and ready to carry this energy back to their communities across the country,” Patel added.