Event Explores and Inspires Women to Leadership Roles

India-West Staff Reporter

ORANGE, CA – A ‘Women’s Leadership Summit,’ was held here on June 3. Organized by the Global Peace Foundation and United Nations Association of USA, Long Beach Chapter helmed by Dr. Manorama Gupta, the theme of the event was, ‘Be fearless, Influence, Innovate, and Inspire.’

Gupta began by recognizing community leaders of different backgrounds, including Councilwoman May Zendejas, Rima Nashashibi, Jennifer Loren Neilson, Jennet Kreitner, and Sherine Zaza. She spoke of how the organizations she leads were helping the community by providing meals and engaging in tasks like beach clean-ups.

Speakers Crystal Lynn Privett, Ike Khamasani, Giovanna Salas, and Steven Ross spoke of how their successes had come through empowering themselves and succeeding hard work. With their inspirational speeches, they invited listeners to plan, take calculated risks and and achieve success. A youth speaker, Jasmin Sivakumaran impressed the audience with her powerful speech titled “Why Empowering Teen Girls Matters.”

The cultural event included Kuchipudi and Shivnritya dance by students of Savitri Arts Academy, directed by Dr. Sinduri Jayasinghe; multicultural dance, choregraphed by Lalitha Raaj; Bollywood style Kathak dance by Ruchi Lamba and her students; Bollywood songs by Priya Kumar and a recital by sarod player Stephen Day accompanied by Dr. Sukrit Mukherjee on tabla.

The emcee for the event held at Tandoor restaurant was Michelle Mehta.