2 minute read
Shaila Kokil ..............................................................................Ashley Ziomek
Shaila Kokil
BY ASHLEY ZIOMEK
Special education teacher and volunteer Shaila Kokil Photo by Elliot Cramer
Shaila Kokil infuses everything she does with enthusiasm and heart. As a teacher and volunteer, she is constantly seeking ways to bridge cultural, generational, and linguistic gaps, and give back to her community.
Kokil is a special education teacher with Empower Children’s Academy, a program that offers classes for preschoolers with disabilities and helps prepare them for subsequent schooling through integrated learning experiences. Her passion for helping children is clear. “I work for the kids,” she says. “When I see a family or child achieving their goals, I really like that part of my job.” When not working with Empower, North Tonawanda resident Kokil volunteers her time to the Hindu Cultural Society (HCS) of Western New York, an organization that provides cultural, social, and educational activities and opportunities consistent with Hindu practice. With the help of HCS, Kokil created a youth summer camp designed to cultivate friendships, foster community teamwork, and allow teenagers to step into leadership roles as counselors.
Backed by HCS, Kokil has also organized and implemented art, sports, language, and educational programs and hosted events such as sports tournaments, magic shows, intergenerational art classes, and aquarium visits. With the help of the American Red Cross, she offered a community-wide CPR/First Aid class.
Kokil’s work is proof that people can achieve amazing things with an optimistic outlook and the right team behind them. For Kokil, that’s not only Empower and HCS, but her supportive family, including her daughter, son-in-law, two granddaughters, and husband, Pandurang. Kokil emphasizes the importance of letting one’s team know they’re appreciated; she points out, “Gratitude is the best attitude.”
Investment in youth engagement and commitment to community diversity are pillars of Kokil’s work. “When you give back to the community, and you have other people willing to help you—that’s what inspires me,” she says. Many are likely inspired by Kokil herself, and her belief that age shouldn’t hold anyone back.
“It’s really amazing that people can do special things in their sixties and beyond,” Kokil says. “Stay strong, be positive.” FY
Buffalo 60 Strong is sponsored by Buffalo Medical Group, in conjunction with the launch of Senior Care Advantage ONE.
Ashley Ziomek is a freelance writer living in Western New York.
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