26 minute read

Annual Report

Metropolitan Asian Family Service (MAFS) is a pioneer organization, who has changed the landscape of Social Services in serving diverse people of different cultures from all over the world. MAFS has been on the frontlines of humanity &empowering the community since 1992.

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We are a pioneer organization that has changed the landscape of Social Services in serving diverse people of different cultures from all over the world. MAFS has been on the frontlines of humanity empowering the community since 1992. MAFS has touched and improved thousands of lives to help navigate American Government Public Policies and Benefit Programs to receive benefits in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Access To Care, Citizenship, Immigration, Transportation, Kids Care, SSI Prescription Drugs (Medicare Part D), SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, LIHEAP, Direct Vendor Payment and Reconnection Assistance Cash Assistance Program, Percentage of Income Payment Plan, Furnace Assistance, Peoples Gas Share the warmth program, ComEd Residential Special hardship, Nutritional Congregate Meals Program, SAHELI Research Program, Adult Literacy Program, Memory Café, and many such Public Benefits programs.

When the pandemic started, In-Person Public Benefit Programs that assist clients with Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Energy assistance, Immigration/ Citizenship, etc. were suspended right away. However, modern technology such as Zoom, the dedication of our committed staff, and the willingness of our senior clients to adapt to newer ways have enabled us to continue our programs during the pandemic! Seniors were not deprived of any benefits and remained socially connected during the difficult times of isolation. Our public benefit staff continued to provide information, individual counseling/ case management to clients over the phone/emailed and filled out their applications online. This way clients continued to receive services while staying safe within the confines of their homes. MAFS’ Adult literacy classes for seniors were also being conducted online. MAFS is proud of its seniors who continue to display their zeal for learning despite the pandemic and all the negativity around!

MAFS gradually started in-person interaction by the end of June and is serving the clients strictly on an appointment basis. We continue to provide remote services to clients who are not yet comfortable venturing out. In addition to the regular public benefits, our committed staff is assisting clients to access emergency public benefits and social services that are available during the pandemic like filing for unemployment and stimulus checks. Our seniors are accustomed to gathering and having fresh and healthy meals prepared every day at our locations but during the COVID restrictions, they were homebound! We wanted to make sure that the seniors got the same nutritious and home-cooked meals, which include breakfast, lunch, and snacks, delivered to their homes as per their needs. We are happy and proud to say that we delivered close to 62,000 healthy home-cooked meals to our seniors during this lockdown period and are continuing to do so. Our staff has put their own lives in danger while fulfilling and continuing the services to the seniors. We have conducted more than 270,000 home visits and of course successfully and safely continuing to do so. But now – we are happy to re-open in person all locations following the normal way of life with few restrictions as per rule. As a Senior Care Provider, we have re-aligned to the new safety measures for our facilities as per IDOA, CDC, and IDPH Regulations. We have taken all safety measures for the seniors, staff, and drivers such as: bought sanitizing ‘Fogging’ machines to spray a mist of disinfectant on all surfaces of the facilities frequently. Retrofitted the bathrooms in all the locations with touchless toilets, faucets, soap dispensers, and dryers. We have made it mandatory for the Drivers and seniors to wear surgical masks. Drivers are directed to check the Senior’s temperature with an infrared thermometer and are required to disinfect the vehicles after every use. Seniors will always maintain a 6ft distance in the locations wearing a mask, washing their hands, and using hand sanitizers. Also, we have 2 medical-grade HEPA filters at each site.

I am also happy and proud to announce the opening of the state-of-the-art new location in Devon Avenue. Overcoming many barriers with this pandemic that clenched all nations worldwide we managed to keep our organization up and going. We could not afford to just close and neglect our seniors. In turn, what we began doing since day one was to keep in touch with our participants as well as continuing to provide healthy nutritious meals to them. Ethnic meals are prepared in our very own kitchens by the dedicated cook/ staff/drivers who pack and deliver to our participants daily.

Nutrition Program

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. Our staff and members strongly believe in this adage.

We serve hot, fresh, home-cooked meals that take into account the dietary requirements and traditions of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. We also help educate participants on choosing the right kind of foods that help prevent & manage diseases like diabetes and hypertension which are common in our culture. The smell of masala in the kitchen does not only entice one’s appetite, it also brings people together. Sharing a meal with a group can be the cure seniors need against feelings of social isolation. So, come join us for a meal and tell that joke you know!

Golden Diners & Congregate Meals

MAFS is in its 21st year of serving hot lunches to the senior citizen population. These lunches are nutritionally balanced but more importantly, they provide an opportunity for seniors to make friends and socialize to break free from isolation. These meals are freshly prepared by trained cooks under strict hygienic conditions. We provided 35,299 hot meals to the community this year from our Chicago (funded by the City of Chicago), Niles, and Schaumburg (funded by Age Options) facilities.

Due to the current pandemic, the meals are being delivered to the clients in their homes, as per their needs.

To enroll in the program contact 847-824-9414(Niles); 847-306-7423 (Schaumburg); 773-465-3105 (Chicago)

Surykant Patel, Niles

I was born on April 28th, 1946, and hail from a small village named “Gambhira” in Gujarat, India. I am living in the US for the last 30 years and have been visiting Metropolitan Asian Family Services for 13 years as a participant of the Congregate Meal Program which runs five days a week. Since I am strictly vegetarian, I really like the food options/variety I get there. It is very nutritious and healthy. I am very satisfied with both – the quantity and quality of food. This Meal Program is like a blessing for me and many more seniors who depend on it for their daily dose of nutrition. I do not have enough words to describe how useful the program is for us. Thank you so much MAFS for serving fresh hot meals every day!

Home Delivered Meals Program City of Naperville

Responding to the food insecurity created by the pandemic, this year MAFS has started the Home Delivered Meals Program for Naperville seniors. The program has come as a boon to many seniors who are frail and/or homebound because of illness, incapacitating disability, or are otherwise isolated. These problems have been further aggravated by the pandemic. The HDM program delivers freshly cooked healthy meals right at their doorstep for their convenience and ensures they stay healthy during these trying times. The benefit of this program goes beyond serving meals. It provides a well-being /safety check and is sometimes the only opportunity for faceto-face contact for seniors enrolled in the program. The annual target is to deliver 2600 meals and so far we have delivered 1,378 meals to needy seniors.

To enroll in the program contact 630-705-1208

Public Benefits

Have you ever wondered what benefits you qualify for? Many people do not know what is available to them. MAFS can help you understand and apply for benefits like:

MAFS is a pioneer in providing social services to lowincome and underserved populations. MAFS staff assists clients in accessing public benefits available to fit their individual needs. Our staff helps fill out applications for these services and escorts them to the appropriate public benefits offices such as the Department of Human Services or Social Security Administration, Immigration, and Naturalization to submit the application and serve as their interpreter. We also translate official forms in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Spanish and Bosnian languages to facilitate the process of applying for benefits. Our staff acts as liaisons between the client and public officials to help our community members get the help and support they require. This year we had the privilege of helping 3656 clients and 4936 cases in Cook, Suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will, and Lake County.

Title lll B T-CLIP - AgeOptions

TCLIP (Targeting to Culturally and Linguistically Isolated Older persons) is a special program designed to provide an effective referral to existing health, employment, housing, legal, consumer, transportation, and other services that are culturally and linguistically specific and appropriate to Limited English Proficient older adults; development and provision of new volunteer services; simulation and creation of additional remedies and programs to fill gaps and deficiencies in the existing ones. This program specifically serves seniors (60 years and older) residing in Suburban Cook County. Through this program MAFS assists clients with information and application for various Public Benefits including but not limited to – Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, Obamacare, Medicare Saving Program (MSP), Social Security (SSA); Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Benefits Access; Utilities Assistance (LIHEAP); Immigration Assistance, etc. Referrals to Nutrition Program, Community Care Program, and other health, legal, housing services, etc are also extensively made.

Services are given through culturally appropriate methods and settings including comprehensive translation and interpretation services. Under this program, we have served 900 unduplicated Suburban Cook clients, overachieving the annual targeted number of 750 clients. A total of 2176 units of service was provided.

For more information on the program, call 847-824-9414

Anna GershikChicago

I came to the MAFS office to get help with my utility bills. I discussed this with Mr. Kiran Patel and he helped me fill out the LIHEAP application. He also informed me of the other CEDA and MAFS programs. He was very nice, polite and helpful. The MAFS staff devoted a lot of time patiently to take me through the application process and answered all my questions and doubts. The program helped me pay my light and heat bills which eased my problems to a great extent.

Energy Assistance Program - CEDA

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help low-income families pay their heat and light bills. This program is offered multiple times throughout the year and brings hundreds of people from all nationalities to our Chicago and Niles offices. Many of them arrive before the office opens and wait in line for hours to benefit from this program. This service is funded by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA). MAFS’ staff help clients in processing their applications in order to receive funds. This year we have done 2,280 applications for eligible individuals/ families through this program. The economic value of the total customer benefit provided this year is $1,033,744 while the average benefit per customer is $562.73.

Please call 773-465-3015 to apply for the CEDA program.

SHIP - CLESE

MAFS is a Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) certified site. You can take advantage of our free statewide senior health insurance counseling service for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Our staff members, Shane Solanki, Tarinda McGee, Urvashi Bhatt, Eugenie Favre, Jaishree Nagaraj, and Radhika Subramanian are SHIP certified counselors. Seniors with any Medicare or Medicaid queries can contact them for appointments. This year we served 1,206 individuals.

For more information about this program, please call 773-465-3015 (Chicago); 847-824-9414 (Niles); 630-705-1208 (Naperville)

Kamlesh Shah Niles

My wife and I have a long association with MAFS. We discovered the organization way back in the ‘90s when we received some services for our mother. Since then, we have received many benefits through its Public Benefits Program like Medicaid, Medicare, ACA, and Social Security benefits to name a few. I have greatly recommended MAFS services to many friends, relatives, and well-wishers. Anytime I had any issues with health insurance I would simply walk into MAFS offices (pre- Covid) and one of the coordinators would help me out. The problem would be solved immediately. MAFS even accompanied me to the Social Security Office to help with the interview and filling applications. I am deeply indebted to this program and have become longstanding friends with MAFS!

DuPage Human Services Grant DuPage County

MAFS is funded under DuPage County Asian Human Service Program (HSGF) to support the underserved Asian immigrant community (residing in DuPage County) to provide basic needs (food, clothing, furniture, and medical) counseling/support treatment, case management, and client advocacy. The annual target number of clients was 100, but our social workers have served 300 clients. We provided 1142 fresh meals (lunch & snack) to 54 clients; ADS/Homecare and other referral services to 64 clients; Public Benefits Assistance to 182 clients. All these services were given from Naperville, Carol Stream, and Roselle Locations. Please call 630-705-1208 for more information.

Senior Medicare Patrol – CLESE

SMP empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. SMPs are grant-funded projects of the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). MAFS helps with this program by focusing on three key areas:

• Protecting beneficiaries from Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.

• Helping to detect Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse. Reporting Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse so further actions can be taken

Affordable Care Act Asian Health Coalition

Metropolitan Asian Family Services has collaborated with the Asian Health Coalition for assisting our community with the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare. It was the state-run outreach and education program offered to all legal residents of Illinois to enroll into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance. We have enrolled over 20 individuals into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance and reach out to over 1,000 people through outreaching at temples, mosques, churches, and Gurudwaras.

Immigration Assistance Program Niles Township

Since its establishment, MAFS has, and continues to provide a full range of Immigration/ Citizenship services to the community including but not limited to Naturalization/Citizenship; Green Card Renewals; Family Petitions; OCI applications; Passport Renewals, and other related applications. This year we have helped 339 individuals including seniors and handled 365 cases providing information, guidance, and immigration applications - the most common ones being N400 for Citizenship, I-130 for Family Petition, OCI Cards, and Passport Renewals.

Under This program, MAFS held 19 Immigration Open Houses from July-October 2020, every Wednesday from 10 am-1 pm at Niles, Chicago, Roselle, and Schaumburg locations on a rotational basis. These open houses were very successful in providing all immigration/citizenship-related services under one roof by our expert staff. Anyone could simply walk-in or call us to seek in-person assistance on a first come first serve basis, taking all safety precautions. Tents with colorful inviting décor were set up at every location to attract people. The open houses enabled MAFS to provide immigration assistance to hundreds of isolated immigrants in the Niles Township Area and neighboring suburbs who are otherwise hard to reach.

Please call 847-824-9414 to avail Immigration services.

Bharat Bhai Patel, Niles

I came to the US in 2015 with my wife and two kids on an F3 visa my father had petitioned for us. When we first landed in the US, language was the biggest barrier. I know minimal English and when the time came to apply for my citizenship, a colleague of mine recommended MAFS for Immigration Services. The process to apply for our citizenship was seamless as Mr. Solanki was very helpful, knowledgeable, and very adept with all the paperwork. Our citizenship was filed on September 4, 2020, and my wife and kids got the interview date in June 2021 followed by the Oath ceremony in July. I will be interviewing for my Citizenship in September and look forward to coming to MAFS to apply for our US Passports and the OCI cards as well. I am extremely satisfied with the quality of services MAFS provides and continue recommending them to all my acquaintances, friends, and relatives. On a scale of 5, I would give them a high 4.5!

Health Research

SAHELI is one of the first healthy Lifestyle Intervention Research Study for South Asians (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, and Bhutani) in America.

South Asian Healthy Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) & South Asian Active Together (SAATH): Northwestern University

Over the past sixteen years, MAFS has been working with the Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Namrata Kandula on a collaborative effort to engage the South Asian community to improve cardiovascular health. The research studies entail culturally tailored, research-proven interventions including SAHELI and SAATH which emphasize making important dietary changes, engaging an active lifestyle, reducing stress, and thus, reducing the risk factors such as high BP, cholesterol, and diabetes, and in turn preventing a heart attack or a stroke.

So far, MAFS and NU have conducted South Asian Healthy Heart Lifestyle Intervention, SAHELI with great success. Many participants have lost weight, have reduced their readings of High BP, cholesterol, triglycerides, and diabetes. This year MAFS enrolled 100 participants in SAHELI study and now the study team is recruiting for South Asians Active Together, SAATH participants.

SAATH is a Multilevel Physical Activity Intervention for South Asian Women and adolescent girls. The confluence of immigration, culture, and gender creates distinct barriers to physical activity which in turn leads to CVD risk. Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and MAFS together offer an 18-WEEK INTERVENTION for South Asian mothers with sedentary lifestyles and their daughter’s age ranging from 11 to 16 years, dyads are being recruited at MAFS. The goal of this research study is to improve physical activity and diet, thus ultimately prevent and reduce the CVD risk among the South Asian population. The study is conducted via a 2-arm randomized design, an 18-week intervention with Dyadic counseling, peer discussion groups, group exercise, and family walking groups, in comparison with a wait-list control which receives brief education on the benefits of physical activity and a healthy diet. Mothers’ point-of-care includes A1c as well as BMI, BP, and anthropometry, and daughters’ point-of-care includes BMI and BP with a maximum of 3 assessments during the year enrolled, with reimbursement of gift cards. This year MAFS enrolled 20 participants (10 mother-daughter dyads) in the SAATH study. As the pandemic continues, low contact and no contact protocols are being implemented in the research study. When screenings are conducted, finger sticks are administered in person for A1c and Lipid Panels. Weight and BP are measured either in person or remotely by shipping weighing scales and BP monitors to participants’ homes. Participants convey their weight and BP readings to their Health Educator via phone or zoom. Health Surveys, individual counseling sessions, group education sessions, and group exercise classes are being conducted remotely.

Shazia, Niles

As a South Asian, we have more chances to develop heart disease and diabetes. In the SAHELI program, I have learned how to manage my diabetes through exercise and simple eating habits. I have also learned how to cut down my sugar and fat from my diet and learned how to read important information from nutrition labels and serving sizes. Our health educator Ms. Himali advised us on how we can manage our diet through vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein items as well. Not only do I feel energetic throughout the whole day but also feel fresh, doing exercise and having small portions of food. I would like to thank SAHELI program team members for their best work towards making lives healthier.

Vinaben Patel, Chicago

The SAHELI program gives great heart health information, prescribes healthy dietary changes within the group, conducts physical activities to have a healthy lifestyle - all of this through a wonderful health educator, Himali! I enjoyed the class sessions very much. I looked forward to every class session just as many of us did. The implementation of the information in my daily life was easier for me as the health educator always motivated each member of our class in our class discussions, seamlessly. As a result, I achieved my goal and have improved on my cholesterol and triglycerides readings. Thanks a bunch, Himali & SAHELI.

Caregiver Research Study University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

MAFS has partnered with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign on a research study led by Minakshi Raj, Ph.D., MPH, and her Research Assistant Katherine Lim. The goal is to understand the role that family caregivers of older South Asian immigrants may have as “sociocultural navigators” with the health care system, including their experiences, challenges, and concerns. MAFS recruited participants for the study which involved semi-structured interviews with 35 family caregivers of older Asian immigrants from multiple ethnic communities.

The study yielded some key findings:

• First, caregivers described challenges related to the time and effort required for language translation in addition to concerns about accuracy.

• Second, caregivers described challenges associated with balancing clinical dietary recommendations—which are often based on a Western cuisine—with their relative’s dietary preferences. They also expressed difficulties with finding traditional foods in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

• Third, caregivers discussed their role in detecting and protecting against discrimination in healthcare settings, and especially, stemming from language differences. Our study points to a need for developing a healthcare system that is built for the diverse and multicultural communities it serves.

The study points to a need for developing a healthcare system that is built for the diverse and multicultural communities it serves. Training healthcare workers including physicians, nurses, social workers, and dietitians on the needs and preferences of diverse patients could support incremental changes within healthcare organizations that are ultimately more equitable. Policies to modify regulations (e.g., around hospital food menus) are needed to create inclusive organizations.

The researcher’s next steps will include:

• Developing a guidebook to help family caregivers navigate and translate dietary recommendations into traditional meals

• Study the potential for long-term care facilities to offer “inclusive meals” to promote inclusion and belonging

• Disseminate findings from this study in the form of peerreviewed publications, conference presentations, and op-ed articles to raise awareness of health disparities faced by older Asian immigrants and the challenges their family caregivers experience

• Develop a tool to help family caregivers participate in health care visits and clinical trials with their older relative

Break The Stigma Mental Health Campaign

MAFS started “Break The Stigma”- A Mental Health Campaign to enable seniors to break mental and societal barriers regarding mental health; develop the ability to acknowledge symptoms and seek professional help in overcoming issues like depression. The campaign has two phases:

• Awareness sessions: MAFS brought on board leading psychiatrists- Dr. Shastri Swaminathan, Dr. Viji Susarla, and Dr. Tapan Parikh to conduct talk sessions on mental health via zoom. There were 6 sessions in total- two each for Niles, Schaumburg, and Orland Park. These sessions not only increased their knowledge about mental health but also gave them practical tools and tips to cope with it effectively including resources for help. A total of 155 seniors benefited from these sessions.

• Mental health screening: MAFS collaborated with Dr. Viji Susarla to conduct a basic mental health screening for depression and anxiety amongst seniors. Out of the total 127 seniors who were screened, 36 seniors were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both. MAFS recommended resources to these seniors for further consultation and treatment. The program was successful in steering the lives of our seniors in a more positive direction during the pandemic.

This program is for Suburban Cook senior residents only. For further information contact 847-306-7606

DuPage Small Business Relief Grant

Another COVID related Grant is the DuPage Small Business Relief Grant to cover COVID related business expenses incurred in DuPage County for the period March 2020-June 2020. The grant reimbursed salaries of two MAFS staff working at Naperville and Carol Stream locations which proved to be a big financial support.

Purshottam Thakur, Schaumburg

I have been attending Memory Café since the time MAFS introduced the program. This program helps me in so many ways. I started doing things that I was unable to do before like playing a board game with my grandkids, learning karaoke singing, etc. The sessions help me dig into my old memories, refreshing them which gives me immense happiness. I realized that my happiness lasts not just for that session but for the whole week, waiting anxiously for the next class! During COVID-19, MAFS came with different ideas and started virtual classes on Zoom; giving care pack/ activity pack at home. The coordinators devoted more than two hours to the session and additionally called us every week for wellness checks just to ensure we are fine. I often share some activities, ideas learned in the sessions with my family members which has been very useful for them. The Memory Café sessions have helped me and my family come closer and strengthened our bond even more.

Education

At MAFS we believe in education. Education and knowledge help you better understand yourself and the world around you.

Adult Literacy - IL Secretary of State

Adult Literacy Program funded by the office of Secretary of State, Jesse White. Started in July 2018, this program is running very successfully at 3 locations. We have 50 senior students, who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL). We have 25 volunteer tutors who run this program smoothly. This year the adult learners received a total of 7800 tutoring hours! This program has undoubtedly helped seniors improve their English learning skills and simplified their daily lives by helping them manage their banking needs by reading, understanding, writing, and signing their forms. They can communicate on the telephone with ease! They are now able to communicate with their grandchildren effortlessly, who have been born and brought up in the US. They can count currency helping them shop and be independent. They understand and watch regular TV programs.

If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please feel free to call us at 630-788-3557 for further information.

Memory Café – Age Options

MAFS “Memory Café” also known as the “Comfort Me Café” is currently in its 3rd year with 11 participants. Memory Café is a wonderful, welcoming place for individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairment. In this program, individuals participate in a variety of activities like memory games, crafts, music, painting, and motivational speeches with family members or caregivers. Memory Café is beneficial not only to those affected but to the caregivers as well. It is not to just “drop off” your loved one for a while, but also a way to enjoy activities with them as a break from the normal routine. They can simply enjoy the company of those with similar things in common. Activities are varied but tend to focus on the pictures that are apt to cause one to reminisce about times gone by and that connection to the past can be as comforting as well as medically beneficial.

Please benefit by registering for this program by calling, 847-306-7423 if your parents or your loved ones need help! We meet every fourth Wednesday of each month at 1421 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL.

Kamlaben Modi, Niles

I am 78 years old. My birthplace is India and I speak and write in Hindi and Gujarati. I came to the US with my son 12 years ago. I love America because I get to see people from different parts of the world and I am still able to practice my culture. In the beginning, I faced many challenges especially due to the language barrier as I couldn't speak English. I ended up feeling the generation gap which affected my communication with my grandchildren and fellow seniors in other social settings. I am happy and blessed to be learning English as a student of the MAFS Adult Literacy Program. My Tutor Mr. Bharat Soni teaches English in a very effective way using pictures, flashcards, and interesting books and magazines. The program helps me to utilize leisure time constructively and enables me to blend well with the American culture.

MAFS Hindi Academy

MAFS in furtherance of its commitment to education and empowerment efforts and to spread India’s Official Language, Hindi to everyone, launched our Hindi Academy. It is a natural progression of its already existing literacy programs which have been running for many years. MAFS Hindi Academy promotes and preserves the Hindi language at the grass-root level. The academy was inaugurated at MAFS 1421 S Roselle Road location on March 2nd, 2020 by Ms. Arushi Nishank who was the chief guest for the occasion. Arushi is a community activist from Uttarkand pioneering in Sparsh Ganga, Water Conservation, Climate Change Educator, and Green India for Girl Child promotion initiatives. The very first program of the academy – ‘Certification program in Hindi Proficiency (CHHP – 100)’ Virtual course for beginners was a 10-week session from Feb 6th - 10th April 2021. The maiden batch of the academy comprised of 10 enthusiastic students from Indian, Spanish, and East European communities, very eager to learn Hindi. The classes were taught by one of the very best in the field - Dr. Mithilesh Mishra, Director of Linguistics at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. Dr. Mishra designed the curriculum keeping in mind not just the Indian students but also students from non-Hindi-speaking communities. He emphasized imparting conversational Hindi skills along with the basics of Hindi script writing. Learning a new language could be very challenging but Mr. Mishra’s rich experience and professional techniques made the classes fun, interactive, and productive. It was delightful to hear Spanish and East European students speak Hindi with much enthusiasm and ease! Many of them are eagerly looking forward to future sessions.

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