Community Conversation
with Farooq Mitha
NEHA DEWAN
Neha has long been active in both local and national politics. Most recently, she founded and served as the National Director for South Asians for Biden, an organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and mobilizing the South Asian community to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In 2016, Neha served as the National Co-Chair for South Asians for Hillary and was appointed by Hillary Clinton to the National AAPI Leadership Council.
Previously, in 2015, Neha was appointed as a guest of honor by the Consulate General of India in New York City where she was selected to speak about gender equality for International Women's Day. During the 2012 presidential campaign, Neha chaired the New York Chapter of South Asians for Obama and also served on the steering committee for Lawyers for Obama in New York. For several years, Neha served as an Officer of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council, an organization affiliated with the National Lawyers Council of the Democratic National Committee and comprised of Democratic lawyers and voting rights activists. Similarly, for many years, Neha served as an advisory board member of New Leaders Council, a national organization focused on training and supporting progressive political entrepreneurs. She has also been active in her local community board and political clubs. Neha served as the President of the South Asian Bar Association of New York in 2012, and now sits on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Mobilizing the South Asian Community & Building Political Power
SUSMITA SAHA
Susmita Saha became the Vice Chair of AAPI Colorado Democrats in 2019 and is an active advocate for the AAPI community. She also serves on the AAPI Executive Council for Senator Hickenlooper.
Susmita had the pleasure of being interviewed as the Vice Chair on Colorado's NPR station on the significance of the victory of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, where she expressed her excitement and pride of this momentous occasion which will timestamp history.
During the presidential campaign, Susmita wrote an editorial supporting less stringent immigration policy on work visas which was published in the Aurora Sentinel. In addition, Susmita was selected by the Biden campaign to serve as the Chair for Colorado AAPI for Biden. There, she worked closely with the national AAPI for Biden campaign manager to engage the Colorado AAPI community. She coordinated events with the Colorado Women for Biden Team, including bringing AAPI speakers to joint events.
Additionally, as an educator in 2013, she testified in the Ohio State Legislature to advocate for a bill she co-wrote concerning veteran students.