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About Sakhi

Sakhi's Staff

Purvi Shah, Executive Director, joined Sakhi staff in February 2002. Purvi, who presents routinely on Sakhi's 19 years of work to build community awareness and change attitudes which perpetuate violence, has been a featured speaker at national women's conferences, government convenings, and policy panels. Purvi provides the oversight, management, and leadership in developing the strategic focus of Sakhi's programs and operations. This includes our direct services and support, community engagement and education activities, fundraising, and general operations. She began working with Sakhi in 1996 as an active volunteer in the Literacy Committee. Purvi earned her Masters in English from Rutgers University and her first book of poetry, Terrain Tracks (New Rivers Press 2006), won a Many Voices Project prize. Purvi also currently serves as a board member of the New York Women's Foundation. Purvi is fluent in Gujarati and Spanish. Purvi can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext.101 or purvi.shah@sakhi.org.

Direct Services Program Staff  

Sandeep Kaur Bathala, Direct Services Director, joined Sakhi staff in April 2006. She leads the Domestic Violence, Economic Empowerment, and Women’s Health Initiative programs. Sandeep also works closely with staff on volunteer training and coordination as well as policy advocacy. She brings to Sakhi a wealth of experience in program management and social issues through her work with Planned Parenthood, the Domestic Abuse Project, the Rape Care Program of the New Jersey Division on Women as well as with South Asian community organizations. Sandeep received an MSW (Administration, Planning and Policy Focus) and a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and Sociology from Rutgers University. She is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi. Sandeep can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext.104 or sandeep.bathala@sakhi.org.

Jyotswaroop Bawa, Economic Empowerment Coordinator, joined Sakhi in January 2007. Jyotswaroop assists survivors in their journeys to financial self-sufficiency: in addition to navigating public benefits, grants and job training referrals, she coordinates Sakhi’s financial literacy workshops, plans classes for skill development, and manages the Swarna Chalasani Economic Empowerment Fund. Jyotswaroop has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Conflict Resolution. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration, Public Non-Profit Management and Policy at New York University. Jyotswaroop is fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Jyotswaroop can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext. 105 or jyotswaroop.bawa@sakhi.org.

Kajori Chaudhuri, Domestic Violence Program Advocate, joined Sakhi in August 2007 after completing a summer internship. As a Domestic Violence Program Advocate, Kajori responds to requests for assistance from survivors of violence. Through integrated and ongoing support as well as services and resources provision, she enables survivors to make choices for their safety and well-being. Kajori has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College, Calcutta and a double Masters in Social Work, one from University of Delhi and the other from Hunter College School of Social Work, NY. Kajori currently serves as an elected member of the Nominations Committee of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)- NYC Chapter. She is fluent in Bengali and Hindi. Kajori can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext.103 or kajori.chaudhuri@sakhi.org.

Fatma Zahra, Domestic Violence Program Advocate, joined Sakhi staff in October 2004. As the Domestic Violence Program Advocate at Sakhi, Fatma manages many of Sakhi's requests for assistance from survivors of violence. She provides ongoing support, services, resources, translation services, within Sakhi's Domestic Violence program for both new callers and approximately 20 women on an ongoing basis. Fatma is also leading the development of Sakhi's Faith-based Initiative, which will first focus on three separate arenas: research and resource compilation of faith-based programs, leaders, and resources; a compilation of survivors’ beliefs and thoughts behind issues of faith; and cultivation of partnership and collaboration within different faith communities. Fatma has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Gender Studies with a minor in Writing. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work at New York University. Fatma is fluent in Bengali. Fatma can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext.108 or fatma.zahra@sakhi.org.  

Community Engagement and Support Staff  

Bix Gabriel, Media Production Associate, joined Sakhi staff in May 2003. In her part-time role, Bix draws upon her print and visual media expertise to create Sakhi’s own media, including our newsmagazines, films, and outreach and development materials. Bix is fluent in Hindi and Telugu.  

Mohammad Levesque-Alam, Communications Coordinator, joined Sakhi in March 2008. His role is to spearhead Sakhi’s efforts to educate, raise awareness, and create dialogue to help end domestic violence. Mohammad is responsible for media advocacy, production of Sakhi’s media, community engagement and strategic relationship-building. Mohammad has a background as a reporter in the Queens weekly press and, prior to that, worked at a suburban Massachusetts daily newspaper. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at Northeastern University in Boston, he co-founded and co-edited an online political journal for progressive youth. Mohammad holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and minors in Political Science and History. He has conversational fluency in Urdu. He can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext.100 or mohammad.alam@sakhi.org.

Shazia Muhammad, Operations Coordinator, joined Sakhi staff in July 2007. Shazia leads Sakhi’s day-to-day operations including our complex administrative, financial, program, technology, and human resources work. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science in 1997 from NYU and brings to us a significant background in the non-profit sector, especially in technology-related capacities.  This includes experience updating websites, supporting a help desk, and responding to inquiries. Shazia possesses conversational fluency in Punjabi and Urdu. She can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext. 110 or shazia.muhammad@sakhi.org.

Samia Shafi, Development Associate, joined Sakhi staff in November 2007 after completing a fall internship.  Samia is responsible for securing support for Sakhi’s programming and mission through foundation, corporate, government and individual donor relations and reporting.  She also assists with event coordination.  Samia, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in literature and cultural theory from NYU in 2006, brings to Sakhi experience working with non-profits in Srinagar, Kashmir and New York.  She can be reached at 212.714.9153 ext. 106 or samia.shafi@sakhi.org.