FIA–New England Celebrates International Women’s Day at Boston’s Iconic Prudential Center, Launches Tree-Planting Initiative to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary

Photo credit Pramod Kumar

The Foundation of Indian-Americans – New England (FIA–NE) hosted an inspiring celebration of International Women’s Day at the top of Boston’s iconic Prudential Center, bringing together accomplished women leaders from across healthcare, entrepreneurship, wellness, arts, and community service.

The event was hosted and moderated by Jyoti Singh, Director of FIA–New England, who led a thoughtful roundtable discussion with women leaders representing diverse professional and community backgrounds. Through carefully curated questions, Singh guided the conversation toward powerful reflections on leadership, resilience, mentorship, and the importance of uplifting the next generation of women leaders.

Shruti Purushottam, Deputy Consul General of India in Boston, attended the celebration as the Chief Guest and joined community leaders in recognizing the significant contributions of women who continue to shape and strengthen communities across the New England region.

The event also marked the launch of FIA–New England’s new environmental initiative, “Plant a Plant – Give to Gain.” As part of the program, the organization pledged to plant 250 fruit-bearing trees over the coming months in honor of 250 years of American freedom, highlighting the connection between community service and environmental stewardship.

The initiative symbolizes the nurturing role women often play in both families and communities while encouraging collective action toward sustainability.

Meaningful Dialogue on Women’s Leadership

A central highlight of the program was the Women’s Empowerment Roundtable Discussion, where participants shared personal journeys and insights on navigating professional challenges, balancing leadership with service, and building supportive networks for women.

The discussion created an open and engaging environment where participants reflected on the evolving role of women in leadership and the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and representation. Singh’s moderation encouraged participants to share deeply personal stories of perseverance and purpose, resulting in a powerful exchange of ideas and experiences

Honoring Women Leaders

During the celebration, FIA–New England recognized a distinguished group of women for their outstanding contributions to community service, entrepreneurship, healthcare, wellness, arts, and social impact. The honorees included:

• Kathy McDonald – Special Education Child Outreach Director
  
  

• Vicky Brogden – Community Service Leader
  
  

• Vandana Pitke – Health and Ayurveda Practitioner
  
  

• Susanne Dillon – Co-founder, Rhode Island Holistic Healing Association
  

• Kadian A. James – Psychotherapist and Health Advocate
  
  

• Gahna Adaval – Volunteer Service in Adult Care
  
  

• Lana Israel – Nutrition and Exercise Expert
  
  

• Manju Kaushal – Longtime Business Owner
  
  

• Sujata Patil – Business Entrepreneur and Community Leader
  
  

• Sudha Sarin – Entrepreneur
  
  

• Kameswari Kavsari – Community Service Advocate
  
  

• Lakshmi Tulasi Nallam – Entrepreneur
  
  

• Priya Bagade – Model and Actress
  
  

• Deepa Agrawal – Community Service
  
  

• Tanu Phoenix – Community Leader
  
  

• Aditi Soni – Community Service Advocate

• Guzel Bikynova ( Fitness & HealthCare)
  

Each honoree was recognized for her dedication and impact in uplifting communities and inspiring others through leadership and service.

Celebrating Women’s Impact

The celebration concluded with networking and community engagement, leaving attendees inspired by the stories shared and the collective commitment to empowering women and strengthening communities.

Through initiatives such as this International Women’s Day gathering, FIA–New England continues to advance its mission of promoting leadership, service, cultural unity, and community empowerment across the New England region.

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