Aarp purpose prize winner sayu bhojwani

THE MOMENT THAT SPARKED MY PASSION By 2008, I had already worked on immigration issues a long time, including serving as New York City’s first Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs. When I

started NAL, I was tired of not seeing people like us making decisions about people like us. Until a country’s leaders reflect the experiences of people like me, change is a long way off. To

create better policy for our communities, we had to run for office ourselves. ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Often, when someone has an idea about what they want to change,

they envision something that doesn’t exist — so first you have to persuade others that there _is_ a problem to fix. And you can’t give up just because other people don’t see what you see.

Making your idea a reality is much easier if you can meet people where they are and guide them on the journey to where you are. THE STRUGGLES THAT SHAPED MY LIFE I’m the child of refugees,

products of British colonial rule, who were displaced when India split, and ended up in Central America. I grew up in a family that felt a great deal of insecurity about their place in the

world. They worked for financial stability but politically they didn’t feel they belonged in Belize. They didn’t encourage me to be involved — they saw engagement as a necessary evil, not a

way to be empowered. In addition, for a long time I was one of the few Indian kids in my school, so there was also a sense of outsiderness that has deeply informed who I am. My work is

focused on leveling the playing field as I felt it wasn’t for me — as a female, Asian immigrant and as a person of color. WHY MY APPROACH IS UNIQUE When I created NAL, there was no national

organization that focused on tapping into one of the country’s most robust natural resources for innovation and leadership — our newest Americans. I felt it was time for immigrants and

communities of color to be the candidates and not just the voters. We encourage trainees to use their skills as teachers, activists, mothers, engineers, lawyers, social workers, business

leaders to be inspiring candidates and effective lawmakers. My first book,_ People Like Us: The New Wave of Candidates Knocking at Democracy’s Door,_ will be published in October — it’s full

of stories about diverse local and state politicians from around the country. Arizona State Representative Athena Salman is a great example. Athena grew up in Phoenix, in a Palestinian,

Latino and European immigrant family. When her mother took her to Washington, D.C., for the 2004 March for Women’s Lives, Athena saw the power of people’s voices. That experience shaped her

as a community organizer and union shop steward. In 2015, Athena completed NAL training, and in 2016, as a first-time candidate, she was elected to the Arizona State House.