South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an environment in which all South Asians in America can participate fully in civic and political life, and have influence over policies that affect them. Approximately 2.7 million South Asians live in the United States, tracing their backgrounds to Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the diaspora, including Trinidad/Tobago, Guyana, and Africa. SAALT works to achieve our mission through a social justice framework that incorporates the strategies of policy analysis and advocacy, community education, local capacity-building, and leadership development. Each of these strategies are linked to specific programs which you will find more information about on this website.
News Releases (Archive)
- Release Date:12.01.08
December 1, 2008 - Members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost family and friends in the recent acts of violence in Mumbai, India that left an estimated 180 individuals dead and communities around the world in shock and grief.
We encourage individuals of all faiths and nationalities to unite in addressing the impact of incidents such as the tragedy in Mumbai and those occurring in other parts of the world with compassion and a commitment to non-violence, tolerance, and respect.
- Release Date:10.07.08
Over 2,000 volunteers around the country spent a Saturday in October giving back to their communities as part of SAALT's Be the Change national day of service. On October 4, 2008, volunteers, most of them students, contributed their time and energy to service activities in Atlanta, Boston, the Bay Area, New York City, and Washington D.C., as well in over 40 other cities and campuses.
- Release Date:10.08
Annual National Volunteer Day inspired by Mahatma Gandhi
WHAT: Hundreds of volunteers are coming together to perform community service in over 50 cities and campuses nationwide. Volunteers will participate in community service benefiting their local neighborhoods and non-profit organizations through their participation in Be the Change, an annual day of community service coordinated by South Asian American Leading Together (SAALT), a national non-profit organization.
- Release Date:06.16.08
The nation's first coalition of South Asian organizations will launch its national policy and action agenda and collaborative projects on June 24th, 2008 in New York City at 12:30PM EST. The National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) is comprised of 29 organizations that empower South Asian communities in 12 metropolitan areas around the United States through social service provision, community education, advocacy and organizing.
- Release Date:03.27.08
As a national organization that addresses issues affecting South Asians in the United States, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) stands in solidarity with the hundreds of Indian temporary workers from Mississippi who are traveling to Washington, DC this week to raise awareness about the injustices they have suffered.
- Release Date:10.09.07
On October 6, 2007, SAALT (South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow) hosted Be the Change, an annual national day of community service with participants from cities across the country, including Washington DC, New York, Boston, and the Bay Area. The event engaged individuals and community groups who believe in the values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders who have devoted their lives to public service and civic engagement.
- Release Date:09.07
SAALT has produced this community education document to dispel common myths about the impact of the immigration system on South Asians. This document also provides stories collected from press articles and through SAALT’s Documentation Project that illustrate the challenges and obstacles faced by South Asian workers, women, youth, and families.
- Release Date:08.21.07
Washington, DC – This week, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT), a national nonprofit organization, released a report that provides critical insights about the needs and opportunities faced by organizations serving, advocating for, and organizing South Asians. SAALT’s 30-page report, Building Community Strength, provides information gleaned from 31 South Asian organizations such as social service providers, women’s rights and youth-focused groups, and worker collectives who serve the most vulnerable members of the South Asian community.
- Release Date:05.23.07
Washington, DC - On May 22, 2007, SAALT Executive Director, Deepa Iyer, testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, which is conducting a series of hearings to explore the impact of comprehensive immigration reform. This particular hearing focused on perspectives of faith-based and immigrant communities on immigration reform.
- Release Date:03.19.07
Participants at SAALT Summit Emphasize the Importance of Articulating Progressive
Policy Priorities, Peer Learning Opportunities, and Building Coalitions
More than 150 individuals working with underserved South Asian community members
gathered in Washington D.C. between March 16th and 18th for a national convening of South
Asian community-based organizations, advocates and community members cosponsored by
South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) and the South Asian Law Students
Association at American University, Washington College of Law.