State Senator Dhingra Recognized For Efforts To End Domestic Violence

India-West Staff Reporter

BELLEVUE, WA – Life Wire has presented Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) with the Norm Maleng Award for her work to end domestic violence.

“I am so honored to receive the 2023 Norm Maleng Award,” said Dhingra, chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. “I started working on behalf of survivors of gender-based violence while I was in college and have continued to advocate for victims my entire life.  It is especially special to me to get an award named after Norm Maleng to continue this legacy of working to end sexual and domestic violence, since I was hired by him to be a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in 2000,” she said.

Dhingra has served as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for two decades. She cofounded Chaya, an organization that assists South Asian survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

“There is still much work to do, but together we are making tremendous progress.”

LifeWire, a Bellevue nonprofit that provides legal advocacy, emergency shelter, housing, and other services for survivors of domestic violence, presents the Norm Maleng award each year to a community member who champions the work of ending domestic violence.

“LifeWire is inspired by your work sponsoring and passing legislation that addresses a wide range of issues, including curbing domestic violence and sexual assault,” Theresa Anderson, president of the LifeWire Board of Directors, wrote to Dhingra. “In addition to cofounding Chaya, you have helped pass numerous bills that serve victims and families that have experienced abuse. And notably, your work this year to fill the federal funding gap facing domestic violence advocates and to increase the rights of domestic violence survivors has had a profound impact on our organization and the communities we serve.”