Donor Spotlight: Advocating for Self, Advocating for All

By Carlea Bauman

The core of Sambhali’s work is advocacy. A pair of recent donors has taken that notion to a higher level and illustrated how standing up for oneself can benefit countless lives.

In 2021, Usha Ravi, a tax attorney based in northern California, needed an attorney of her own because of a workplace discrimination issue she was facing. She was connected to Aaron Fischer, a civil rights attorney. At their first meeting, she knew right away he was the right lawyer for her. Their bond “was instant,” according to Usha. “Sometimes you wonder if you knew people in a past life.”

“He sounded so much like the lawyer I wanted,” she continues. “We both see law as the means of bringing change and justice.”

Interestingly, the thread that connected the two ran through Sambhali U.S. When Usha was initially searching for a lawyer, she reached out to her alma mater, Georgetown University, and contacted a professor there, asking him if he knew any civil rights attorneys in California. He did not, he said, but his wife, Shereen Arent, did. Shereen and Aaron had worked together when Shereen was running the Legal Advocacy division at the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Aaron, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager, serves as the chair of the Legal Advocacy Committee at the ADA. And thus, the dynamic duo of Usha and Aaron was created.

Aaron Fischer

Over 16 months, Usha and Aaron worked closely together, spending hours on video calls. Her case was resolved, but for Usha, the most rewarding aspect of it was that “it achieved a lot for me by showing me that I stood up for myself.”

As Usha’s case wrapped up, she wanted to donate to an organization in Aaron’s honor as way to say thank you and asked him about his work at the ADA. Aaron responded by saying, “’The person who brought us together, and the work her organization does, and all our work together is about equal rights and equal opportunity. So, if you’re thinking of donating something in the spirit of our collaboration, let’s both give to Sambhali U.S.’ It seemed like a nice way to close things out because we had grown close in our 16 months together.”

Usha, who was born in India, loved the idea. “The cause seemed like something that was near and dear to my heart.” After further research into the work of Sambhali and talking with Shereen about the organization, Usha thought, “I go to India every year, so why not make a trip to Rajasthan?” And so, she did.

In December 2023, Usha spent a day visiting many parts of Sambhali, including boarding homes, Empowerment Centers, and Primary Education Centers. “That was an eye-opening experience,” she says. “I spent a lot of time talking with the women. I got to find out about them and the happiness that Sambhali brought to them who don’t have too much in life and have been deprived of opportunities.

Usha Ravi visiting Sambhali

“All the women told me that they look upon the sewing class as a way to get out of the life that has been destined for them.” But skills and financial independence were only part of it, Usha realized. The women also told her about the importance of the friendships they formed with one another.

Because of Usha’s determination to advocate for herself, and Aaron’s commitment to advocating on behalf of others, Sambhali has grown.

“Usha really embodies the value that every person has the right to claim their space in the world, to achieve their greatest potential, to lead,” says Aaron. “So much of what we did was about her wanting to create opportunities for others and the next generation of women.” Thanks to them both, that work will continue.