When Neha Kothari, 27, moved from Mumbai, India, to the San Francisco Bay Area two years ago to join her husband, she was excited to begin a new chapter of her life in a place with natural beauty, a bustling nightlife, all genres of restaurants, new people and a one-of-a-kind social ambiance.
But shortly after arriving, Neha found herself feeling disconnected and lonely. “In India, I was used to always having people around. I could call friends or neighbors and drop by for tea at any hour,” Neha recalls. “When I got here, I didn’t have a job or a community. I used to watch TV for seven hours a day. When my husband got home after a long day at work wanting to relax, I would sit and talk non-stop, because I had no other human contact.”
Determined to find a place in her new homeland, Neha began inquiring about places to get involved, and a friend directed her to the India Community Center in Milpitas. Neha immediately visited the ICC website, and found not only a host of activities to get involved with, but also a perfect job opening as the marketing manager.
It was a huge change from the corporate IT world she had been a part of in India. Now, after being with ICC for more than two years Neha can’t imagine being anywhere else. “Every morning, I wake up feeling confident about what I do. When I talk about ICC to anyone both from mainstream and Indian society, I feel 100 percent positive about it,” Neha says with a glowing smile. “(Since working here and watching different generations interact), I feel it’s extremely important for the generation after mine to stay in touch with (their heritage) language. It’s important for everyone to stay connected.”
In addition to her role as marketing manager, Neha still gets to put her computer skills to use. “Each week I teach the seniors how to use computers. When I sit with them, I feel like I am giving back. They are really sweet!” she gushes. “I think about my own parents reaching that age. If they were at home they’d only be able to watch TV or go for a walk. Here, the seniors knit, play pool…they have discussion groups and potlucks; they have a life of their own.”
When the end of Neha’s workday approaches, Neha rarely finds herself rushing out the door. Instead, she stays late and even comes back on weekends to tap into the programs and services. Neha is particularly fond of the fitness center, where she takes classes in Bollywood dance, aerobics, yoga and kickboxing. Neha highly recommends the Bollywood class to everyone. (However, if you do opt to try out a class, you’d better arrive early!) Whether it’s 9 am on Saturday, 11 am on Sunday or 7pm on Thursday, the Bollywood dancers mean business. The first-come, first-serve classes fill up to the 30-person capacity for nearly every class. Neha’s instructor Samitra Pradhan, 36, takes great pride in teaching the ICC’s most popular class.
“I’ve always been into fitness and dance. A lot of women feel good about themselves when they dance. The moves I teach are simple enough for everyone to catch on. It sets them up to look good,” Samitra says. “On top of that, there’s the community aspect. People get to meet on a regular basis, exchange success stories and form a community.”
Aside from dance classes and the opportunity to connect with community, there’s something for everyone at the ICC. Since the new state-of-the art, trendy Milipitas, Calif. India Community Center ICC opened its doors on July 1, the concept of community has become extra hip. After signing in, you can walk into the colorful, comfy lobby, grab a cup of chai or coffee and a snack and chill on a couch., You can also chat with the other visitors and members or even get some work done by tapping into the free wi-fi. Walk in a little further, and you’ll find a multi-purpose large hall with a built-in stage and an ambiance that makes it an ideal venue for a hip party, a fancy reception, or a partyfancy reception or party. If you’d like your picture taken, the charming 92-year- old volunteer photographer will be happy to take it for you. The center provides a refreshing intergenerational experience for everyone. Walk down the hall, and you’ll find children enjoying youth camp activities, and senior citizens discussing the current events or exchanging stories and tips with about on how to navigate the cultural changes in the U.S. as they enjoy a home-cooked or pot-lock-style lunch. Walk into the fitness center run and managed by Club-One and you’ll find 20 and 30- somethings along with a sprinkling of older and younger folks working out. Look a little further and you’ll even find a free -health clinic for those without insurance. It is a refreshing intergenerational experience.
Executive Director Chitra Vivek couldn’t be happier. She left the corporate world to join the ICC, thinking this would be the perfect opportunity to give back to the community.
“I’d like everyone to experience (the ICC) and belong. Our community never had this kind of a community-centric facility before. This is great for all ages,” Chitra says. “India is about family. Our culture itself is about family. That is a legacy we want our next generation to carry on.”
In looking ahead, Chitra has some ambitious goals for the India Community Center. She’d like to establish 20 satellite locations throughout California, making the services and programs accessible to even more people. Chitra also hopes to establish more young-adult and youth programs to keep Gen-Xers, Gen-Yers and subsequent generations continually engaged.
“The idea is to give people a holistic experience. My own children are 13 and 11. I want them to have a place other than temples to experience culture. We want to offer classes the second-generation are interested in, so they will want to belong,” Chitra says.
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By: Lifestyle Writer
