Raksha, Inc

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Globally, an estimated 27.6 million people are subjected to human trafficking. (Source: US Dept of State). Today, we wear blue to raise awareness of #HumanTrafficking. Join @DHSBlueCampaign in the fight against this crime: https://lnkd.in/ggx3VCe. 🔹🔹Send us your blue pictures to share in our stories! ✅ Access helpful resources at https://rb.gy/afi8nj & check out our pinned posts on Instagram for more information. #Partner2Prevent #EndTrafficking #WearBlueDay

Our 2024 Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam held on December 6th was a powerful celebration of resilience, community, and empowerment, marking 26 years of Raksha’s impactful work. The evening featured inspiring stories, vibrant performances, and heartfelt recognition of unsung heroes. We are so grateful to our keynote speaker Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist, who captivated the audience with stories of healing and empowerment, beautifully echoing our theme of the night! A special thank you to TV Asia (Asia Star Broadcasting Inc) for creating & broadcasting this wonderful compilation of our event & the Ismaili Council for the Southeastern United States for capturing and sharing the lovely photos from the night! ✨ Check out all the photos & highlights from the 2024 Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam: https://lnkd.in/g8PVXjMZ ✨

Happy New Year! Reflecting on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the work and impact we were able to achieve thanks to our incredible volunteers, generous donors, and dedicated supporters. As we step into 2025, we remain committed to working alongside our community to amplify love, justice, and equality, creating a future where hope prevails and every voice is heard and valued. Here’s to another year of growth and impact! ✊🏾✊🏽✊🏿✊🏼

🕯️✨ Wishing everyone who celebrates a joyous Kwanzaa! May this week of reflection, unity, and celebration bring light, love, and purpose to your life. Habari Gani! 🖤❤️💚

✨🕎 Wishing all who celebrate, a Happy Hanukkah! Chag Sameach to you and your loved ones!

🎄✨ Wishing all who celebrate a Merry Christmas! May your holiday season be filled with joy, love, and warmth as you gather with family and friends. 🎁🎅

☃️ Holiday Notice from Raksha ☃️ Our office will be closed from Tuesday Dec 24 to Wednesday Jan 1. Our phone line will be periodically checked for voicemail and/or potential emergency calls on December 26, December 27, and December 30. 🆘 If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. If you are experiencing violence or assault, please call--- 📞 GA Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-334-2836 📞 GA Network for Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800- 656-4673 📞 GA Human Trafficking Hotline: (866) 363-4842 📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 If you are experiencing an crisis or need mental health support, please call--- 📞 GA Crisis and Access Line: 1-800-715-4225 ☎️ If you need immediate assistance, please call us at 404-876-0670, Monday- Friday 9am-5pm. If you reach our voice mail, please leave a message and let us know if it is safe to call you back.

The Seeds of Change Award honors individuals who help Raksha’s work flourish in extraordinary ways. This award was created in recognition of Rita Patel, Raksha’s first therapist, who played a pivotal role in expanding our counseling program. Rita’s dedication has planted seeds of healing and growth for both survivors and staff, and she continues to mentor and inspire new therapists and advocates. This year, we are proud to recognize Alyssa Cobbs (she/her/hers). With over 20 years of nonprofit experience, Alyssa has a remarkable ability to manage complex projects, lead diverse teams, and drive meaningful initiatives. In her current role as Senior Project Manager at EdAssist by Bright Horizons, she oversees key client projects. Alyssa’s exceptional leadership and project management skills were pivotal in bringing Ek Shaam to life this year, ensuring its outstanding success! Alyssa, we are so grateful for you, thank you for your dedication, expertise, and invaluable contributions to our mission!

The Himmat Award was established to honor the courage of survivors, partners, and community members who advocate for healing, empowerment, and justice. This year’s award goes to Chetan Patel, a 28-year veteran of the hospitality industry and a key leader at Buckhead America, where he oversees property operations, planning, budgeting, and development. Chetan has been an invaluable resource for Raksha, providing hotel accommodations whenever needed. When he couldn’t offer rooms at his own property, he personally covered the cost elsewhere. Beyond this, he has consistently connected Raksha to additional resources, exemplifying unwavering support and generosity. Chetan, we thank you for your tireless dedication and the impactful difference you make in our community.

The Ramesh and Vijaya Bakshi Community Change Award recognizes individuals or organizations for their dedication, passion, and energy in creating meaningful community change. Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam would not exist without the visionary efforts of Ramesh and Vijaya Bakshi. This year, we awarded Kimberly-Clark and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Atlanta. NAAAP Atlanta partners with corporations and members like Kimberly-Clark to organize impactful community service projects each year. Over the past two years, they have chosen to support Raksha through diaper and back-to-school drives. These efforts were so successful that Raksha’s rooms were filled with donations, allowing us to share resources with partner organizations. This year, when a survivor proposed a solidarity walk in honor of her 25th anniversary of her journey out of an abusive relationship, NAAAP Atlanta and Kimberly-Clark collaborated to combine her vision with the back-to-school drive. Together, they helped Raksha host its first-ever solidarity walk, now planned as an annual event! Additionally, we are grateful for the financial support provided by both NAAAP Atlanta and Kimberly-Clark Professional which has been instrumental in furthering Raksha’s mission. While these companies have been incredible allies, the success of these initiatives is a testament to the leadership of individuals like Crystal Mance and Dana Morgan from Kimberly-Clark and Athena Giles and Michelle Lee from NAAAP Atlanta. We also want to acknowledge Ben Rushlow for his behind-the-scenes work in moving supplies and supporting community service events. We deeply appreciate the collective efforts that have made these achievements possible. Thank you for helping us create lasting community impact!