Maitri's prevention and awareness initiative, where we will talk to field experts and community members (both adults and youth) on various topics related to domestic/intimate partner violence, and how social norms and power dynamics foster gender inequity and abuse in relationships. We hope to share insights and resources that will help move the needle on the prevention of violence in our society, while also helping those that are directly impacted by it. Help us create a safe society! Music:…
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How do harmful cultural norms, traditions, and deeply rooted beliefs impact intimate partner relationships—and what can we do to change them? To help us unpack this important topic, our host, Nandini Raywas joined by two distinguished members of the Pakistani community: Ahsan Qazi and Maria Ahmad. Ahsan Qazi is a writer, researcher, entrepreneur, and sociologist with a deep interest in…
Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities.In our Fifth presentation of Policy Matters, we will be addressing the intersections of gun violence and domestic abuse, a policy priority for Maitri. Zakia Afrin leads the policy…
In this insightful episode, Simi Markar, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, joins our host, Nandini Ray, to explore the realities of couples counseling and partner relationships. What exactly is couples counseling, and when should couples consider seeking support? What are the early warningsigns of a toxic or unhealthy relationship? How do family interference, cultural expectations, and…
In this powerful episode, Jagbir Kaur Kang joins our host Nandini Ray to share a story of extraordinary strength and resilience. Facing domestic violence, uncertainty of the future, and self-doubt, she refused to give up and transformed her pain into a journey of growth and renewal.From surviving to thriving, Jagbir now uses her voice to uplift others. In her book Blooming Through the Cracks, she…
Chains and Strength: Women in Bengali Literature In this podcast episode, Zakia Afrin and Nandini Ray of Maitri come together for a heartfelt conversation on the portrayal of women in Bengali literature. Drawing from their favorite short stories, novels, and poems from both Bangladesh and India, they explore how women characters have endured inequality and oppression while also embodying courage,…
Policy Advocacy: Part 4: What every domestic violence survivor & advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence. In our fourth Policy Matters presentation, we interview Adam Dodge, founder of EndTAB.org, about what every survivor and advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence. This episode was curated by the Maitri Policy Advocacy Program and facilitated by Smitha Chandrasekhar, a…
South Asian Men in the Gender Justice Movement: Did you know that in 2023, over 51,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or family members? (UN Women) Violence against women is often seen as a “women’s issue”, but it’s not! Since most acts of gender-based violence are committed by men, men must also be part of the solution. In this episode of the Maitri Podcast , we…
In this Maitri podcast episode, Chanchal Garg opens up about the spiritual and sexual abuse that shook her identity and forced her to confront a life shaped by duty and sacrifice. She courageously shares her journey of personal transformation—unearthing hidden truths that have been buried under cultural obligations, spiritual trauma, and the silence often expected of women.This moving conversation…
As a new school year begins, thousands of students arrive on campus full of excitement and possibility. But alongside that hope lies a difficult truth: sexual assault remains a seriousissue on college campuses nationwide. In this episode, we sit down with Smitha Chandrasekhar, Alex Fu, and Shreya Vishwanath to discuss why awareness matters, how students can support one another, and the steps…
With Menaka Iyengar Cooke – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recipient. From surviving domestic violence in a foreign land with no family support…to becoming an award-winning social justice activist, author, and HR leader. In this powerful episode of the Maitri Podcast , Menaka Iyengar Cooke shares her extraordinary journey of post-traumatic growth . Her story is a reminder that while the…
This episode focuses on the cultural conflicts between South Asian parents and their children. Whether it’s clashing over career choices, dating, emotional expression, or even mental health itself, these tensions often leave deep emotional marks, sometimes even lead to abuse and violence. We’ll explore how intergenerational cultural conflicts affect our mental health, and what healing can look…
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re bringing you a powerful conversation that reminds us: our mental health is just as important as our physical health.In this episode, we shine a light on the often-unspoken emotional toll of unrealistic familial expectations, especially within in-law relationships. From subtle put-downs to emotional manipulation and controlling behaviors, these dynamics can…
Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities.In our third presentation of Policy Matters, we interview Casey Swegman of Tahirih Justice Center on the prevalence of child marriages in the US and learn about the upcoming…
Join us for a powerful episode of the Maitri Podcast featuring Anisha Durve—survivor, author, and motivational speaker—who is dedicated to raising awareness against gender-based violence. In this compelling discussion, we uncover the red flags of abusive relationships, explore the critical role communities play in either enabling or preventing partner abuse, and highlight the resilience and…
Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities. In your Second Episode, we revisit the need for funding Domestic violence services in CA. Earlier in January of this year, Governor Newsom announced the budget for the upcoming…
Domestic abuse isn’t just physical—it can also shatter a person’s financial stability. Financial abuse often goes unnoticed, yet it deeply impacts victims by limiting access to money, sabotaging financial independence, and creating lasting economic dependency. It’s a hidden form of control that can affect anyone, regardless of income or background. In this episode, we dive into this critical yet…
Welcome to Policy Matters: A quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that are at the heart of shaping the way prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domesticviolence within our communities. In our first presentation, we look at the medical mandate of reporting domestic violence that has been in the minds ofsurvivors and advocates alike for a…
In this podcast, Nazeehah Khan, a sexual assault survivor, activist, and the founder of Restraining Orders Without Borders had an in-depth conversation with our host Nandini Ray. Nazeehah shared her ordeal, hopes, and how she transformed her pain into power. Listen to the episode here: Nazeehah Khan is the Founder of Restraining Orders Without Borders (ROWB), a national legislative campaign…
Statistics suggest that marital rape happens in 10-14% of all California marriages. However, the silence surrounding marital rape leaves many victims unaware that they can seek help. In this episode of “Between Friends” Zakia Afrin and Indira Chakravorty discuss Indira’s Article on Marital rape as a tool for domestic violence in the recently published “Khadr Dhare Ghor”/ an edited book of essays…
Join Maitri volunteers Davinder Kaur Atwal and Arvinder Dhalla as they engage in a profound conversation that challenges widely-held perceptions about domestic violence. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking the stigma surrounding domestic violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a community culture that does not tolerate abuse. Don't miss this enlightening and…
Presenting a special episode of the Maitri podcast in Punjabi! Join Maitri volunteers Davinder Kaur Atwal and Arvinder Dhalla as they engage in a profound conversation that challenges widely-held perceptions about domestic violence. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking the stigma surrounding domestic violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a community culture that…
Commemorating Women’s History Month! Tune in to our latest podcast episode where four SouthAsian women come together to discuss misogynistic behaviors and attitudes that we women face every day. From overtly offensive behaviors to subtle, normalizedattitudes, we delve into the spectrum of experiences women face daily. Join us in identifying and confronting misogynistic attitudes and behaviors.…
Are South Asian youth comfortable sharing their dating experiences with their parents? Do they receive enough guidance and support from their families in understanding the concept of healthy partner relationships? To discuss these questions we invited 3 South Asian youth community members. Hajra Usman, Sid Barathi, and Nidhi Satyagal joined us to shed light on the unique challenges South Asian…
Female genital cutting/ mutilation has been recognized as a human rights violation by the World Health Organization. This topic is highly controversial due to its roots in cultural and religious practices so we should have multiple conversations to have community awareness around it. To discuss how we can end this oppressive practice and bring positive social change, we invited Mariya Taher, the…
Mariam Azimi, a survivor with her courage and resilience not only paved her future with safety and dignity, but also gave support, guidance, and emotional confidence to many survivors that they needed after suffering from domestic violence. Mariam has been working relentlessly to break the stigma of divorce. In this Maitri podcast episode, Mariam shares her journey and hope. Mariam Azimi is the…
We invited Yasmin Azad, the author of Stay, Daughter on our podcast to talk about her experience and reflection on the dilemmas that Muslim women faced and are facing in balancing the rules of orthodox Islam with the freedom and innovations of the modern world. Fahria Khan, our Donor Engagement Manage had an in-depth conversation with the author. Please listen to the episode here! Yasmin Azad grew…
In this episode, Flavia Agnes joined us to share her journey from a survivor to a trailblazer. Flavia Agnes is a women’s rights advocate, legal scholar, and one of the central figures of the women’s movement in India. Her own experience with domestic violence inspired her to become a women's rights lawyer. As co-founder of MAJLIS, a legal and cultural resource center in Mumbai, India, her primary…
In this episode we discussed inter-generational cultural conflicts that many South Asian parents and teens face. Three South Asian teens, Tara Sardana, Alina Shah and Kaushal Namuduri shared their thoughts on how this cultural conflict can be damaging for individual, family and community well-being. If you are a parent or a teen, then you must listen to this episode to learn what can be done to…
Did you know that between 2000 and 2018, an astonishing 23,588 children were married in California alone? This sparks the question as to why it continues and who opposes the reform initiatives. In 2023, SB404 was introduced by lawmakers to prohibit marriages before the age of 18; however, it was changed to only make it a misdemeanor to arrange non-legally recognized child marriages without…
Marital rape has been a crime in all 50 States in the US since 1993. The current California criminal code makes no distinction between rape by a stranger and an intimate partner or spouse. The non-consensual sexual relations within a marriage are subject to the same penalty and consequences resulting in registration in the sex offenders’ list among others. As an agency primarily serving immigrant…
While men have always played an important role in shaping public policies and community awareness in many areas, domestic violence prevention often remains ignored within this group. How do we engage South Asian men in the movement? Maitri's long time advocate Zakia Afrin sits down with S Suresh, a past member of Maitri leadership and outgoing Board member in the Statewide organization CPEDV to…
Immigration status based on marital relationships often creates barriers for a victim and survivor of domestic violence to address the abuse. Yet there are rights and resources available for individuals in those situations and many opportunities to advocate for policies focused on immigration reform. In this episode, we hear about Maitri's immigration assistance program observing its 12 years in…
A shift is taking place in our community as the stigma that has always surrounded mental health is beginning to fade. RCoz is providing a platform in normalizing our conversations around mental health. Many community members are sharing their stories openly to let others know that it is necessary to take care of our emotional wellbeing. Listen to this podcast to know why people are talking about…
In this podcast South Asian youth are talking about different stress factors that impact their mental health, how they need support from their families, community and system to take care of their emotional well being and community's role in breaking the stigma associated with help seeking. After listening please take this short quiz to help improve our podcast! https://shorturl.at/mzQ03 Resources:…
Listen to this powerful narrative from Shamita Das Dasgupta about the South Asian Gender Justice Movement. In the seventies and eighties, South Asian women across the nation started addressing feminism that was different from white feminism where issues faced by immigrant women were raised. This momentum led to the growth of the South Asian gender justice movement which impacted South Asian…
This month, the Maitri podcast was able to bring on four UCLA students to discuss what a healthy partner relationship means to Gen- Z. What does a healthy relationship look like for young college students? What do they expect from their partners? All of this and more is discussed during this months episode of Between Friends. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of…
Maitri joined South Asian SOAR in a remembrance campaign to honor and remember 10 beautiful souls who we lost to disturbing acts of gender-based violence in 2022. And we are dedicating our first episode of the new year to show our grief and frustration toward these senseless acts of gender based violence. Representatives from South Asian SOAR joined us in the discussion. This episode is our effort…
Sharing a powerful story of a survivor. She suffered violence and abuse inflicted by someone she loved and trusted. Her life has been a continuous struggle during and after the abuse yet she didn’t give up. She turned her pain into purpose and started a new journey to find her peace. #SurvivorSpeaks, #MaitriPodcast, #EndDV This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa…
South Asian youth are doing their part in breaking the stigma associated with mental health. In this episode students are discussing some common issues that can affect emotional wellbeing of community youth, how generational and cultural gaps can impact their mental health and what can be done to uphold the message that our mental health is too precious to risk. To find resources and information…
PurpLE Health Foundation, a non-profit transforming healthcare for survivors of gender-based violence through comprehensive healthcare, research, and economic opportunity. A wonderful initiative from health care professionals in treating women who have endured intimate partner violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Dr. Anita Ravi, the CEO and co-founder of this nonprofit shared her…
Archaic expectations in a marriage, playing to reasoning fallacies like "appeal to tradition," enforcing strict gender roles, these and some other similar narratives can be used as justification for perpetrating domestic abuse. These abusive tactics can be particularly hard to prove as they border on emotional abuse and can be damaging to a victim's psyche. In this podcast, we are joined by long…
The stigma of divorce in South Asian communities is real. Divorce is viewed as a failure for women. In this episode, we're joined by Neha Gill form Apna Ghar ( www.apnaghar.org/ ) and Kavita Mehra from Sakhi for South Asian Women ( www.sakhi.org/ ) to discuss the impact of divorce, its stigma within the South Asian community and community’s role in destigmatizing divorce. We all can play a key…
Reproductive coercion can be used as a control mechanism against survivors of domestic violence. In this episode advocates from Maitri, Daya Houston and Rakhsha Inc. are sharing their experiences working with survivors facing reproductive coercion, how the recent Supreme Court decision on overturning Roe v Wade can add more problems for these survivors and organizational strategies to educate…
A Maitri podcast with Rennu Dhillon, an entrepreneur, educator, motivational speaker and author. Rennu suffered domestic violence yet she didn’t give up, with her courage, dignity and hard work she has rebuilt her life. Listen to Rennu’s unbelievable life journey. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI @ maitribayarea : Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn This project was made possible by…
In this episode Dr. Preet Kaur Sabharwal and Dr. Sheetal Siledar-Lee discussed the stigma associated with mental health in South Asian communities. Also, they talked about what can harm the emotional well being of South Asian youth and elderly populations and what they can do about it. #maitri #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness
Victims of child marriage face severe lifelong damaging consequences including physical, sexual and economic abuse; denial of education; and a loss of freedom to make their own futures. In this episode Sasha K Taylor, a former FBI analyst and an advocate to end child marriage is sharing her own experience of being a victim of child marriage and discussing community role in preventing this…
In today’s world abusive partners are increasingly using digital platforms to threaten, control and abuse their victims. How to be safe online? What are the red flags one should be aware of to know that their devices are bugged? Where to report tech abuse? To discuss these important questions, we invited an internationally recognized digital safety expert, Adam dodge. Listen to this podcast and…
Our host sat with Rachna Khare, Executive Director of Daya, a Houston based nonprofit to discuss the unique challenges that both Maitri and Daya see their clients face. Also, how we see a huge need and scope for community engagement in preventing gender based violence. Listen to this interesting discussion and a client testimony from Daya. This project was made possible by funding provided by the…
Our guests are commemorating Women’s History Month by sharing their thoughts on women’s status in today’s world from their personal lens and how to identify and break obstacles to gender equity. Listen to this thought provoking discussion. Maitri helpline: (1-888-8MAITRI) | Free & Confidential | Mon – Fri (9 am to 3 pm PST) This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa…
A conversation in Bangla with Indira Chakravorty and Zakia Afrin about the past, present and future of domestic violence prevention work. Both the speakers are social activists, authors and veteran advocates to end domestic violence. In this episode they have shared their experiences working with domestic violence survivors, unique challenges immigrant survivors face and what can be done to…
