Steps That Build Community: DC 5K Walk & Talk

Kannan Sundaramoorthy- Chapter Coordinator, Washington DC

Sewa DC Morning 5K Walk and Talk is a new initiative from the DC chapter. It was started late last year as a weekly event to promote health among volunteers and also to build participation for the Sewa DC Annual 5K Run. It also serves as an outreach program to introduce Sewa to new people.

The walk is organized and led by Om More, a former LEAD student. It continues rain or shine—indoors at a mall during the winter months and outdoors for the rest of the year. A WhatsApp group created for the event now has more than 50 members, with at least 10 to 15 participants joining every week.

From Idea to Impact: Engaging Seniors in Chicago

Nags Rajaram- Chapter Coordinator, Chicago

Chicago implemented a new initiative using a township grant to support seniors in the community. We have been running these Milans each month since January, featuring a combination of fun and educational activities. We kicked off in January with roughly 30 seniors, in the presence of the local State Representative, and used the opportunity to understand their preferences.

In February, we organized a seminar on Five Wishes and financial awareness, along with engaging the seniors in group singing. We used the March edition to focus on yoga and breathing exercises. Upcoming events include seed planting and mental health awareness presentations.

Overall, it has been a fulfilling experience, as reflected in the seniors’ feedback and their continued participation.

Where It All Began: A Chance Meeting, A Lasting Impact

Shweta Chakradeo- Chapter Coordinator,Pittsburgh

This is a story of how our Pittsburgh chapter started. It began in the midst of COVID, with 2 karyakartas who had never seen or met each other. They met at a gas station and started a chapter with a coat drive, using a manually made flyer. They collected
350+ coats and began a fantastic journey.