Leadership Message
Dear ICA Family,
As we look toward the year ahead, I am reminded once again of what makes Indians for Collective Action so exceptional: a community of people who believe deeply in social change, who act with purpose, and who continue to show up for India's most promising grassroots leaders.
ICA has always stood at the intersection of compassion and action. Our founders built this organization with a simple but profound idea - that individuals, when connected across continents and driven by shared values, can uplift entire communities. Today, that vision continues to guide us as we support social entrepreneurs, incubate innovative ideas, and strengthen organizations working on the frontlines in India.
In the past year, our volunteers, donors, and partners have helped us expand our reach, deepen our impact, and bring new voices into the ICA ecosystem. We launched new collaborations, amplified successful field projects, and continued to mentor changemakers who are creating sustainable solutions in education, livelihoods, health, and environmental resilience.
But our work is far from done. The challenges we face - inequality, climate pressures, gender-based barriers, and opportunity gaps - require steady leadership and courageous innovation. ICA will continue to be a platform where passionate individuals come together to support bold ideas and the people who make them possible.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we will continue to nurture hope, build capacity, and create lasting impact for generations to come.
Vice President
Indians for Collective Action (ICA)
ICA Supported NGO Spotlight
Finding Roots, Cultivating Futures: The YOKE Society's Impact
The Youth of Kodaganallur Endeavour (YOKE) Society, founded in 2005 in Tamil Nadu, blossomed from a simple act of civic duty: freeing the perennial Tamirabarani river from invasive weeds. This initial effort in Kodaganallur village sparked a sustained commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship.
YOKE has since grown into a vital force for nurturing local talent. Recognizing the importance of early engagement, they initially focused on building awareness of natural resources among school children. This success quickly led to expanding their scope, offering comprehensive summer camps and supplementary classes for school and college students, impacting scores of youth.
Today, YOKE actively crafts an educated, employed, healthy, happy, and caring community. Their free coaching for competitive exams, including TNPSC and NEET, has yielded remarkable results-a dozen young people securing government jobs and seven students pursuing medical degrees.
Annually engaging over 1200 people, YOKE promotes unity through a popular January marathon. Furthermore, they enhance local government schools by supporting better sports infrastructure and installing smart classrooms. By supporting YOKE, you invest in the bright future of rural Tamil Nadu.
- You may support a child's participation in a summer camp workshop for $20.
- You may fund a smart classroom in a high school for $2,000.
For more information visit: yokesociety.org
Youth Highlight
Click the image above to open the PDF flyer
Announcing the 2026 International Student Trip to Hemalkasa
After the overwhelming success of the 2025 Youth LEAD international immersion to Hemalkasa, ICA is delighted to announce that we will be organizing the trip again in Summer 2026
Last year's participants had an extraordinary experience working alongside the Lok Biradari Prakalp team-learning firsthand about community service, problem-solving, leadership, empathy, and cultural understanding. The feedback from students and parents was heartwarming, with many calling it a life-changing experience.
Due to the high demand in 2025, we were unable to accommodate all interested students. Keeping this in mind, ICA has decided to open additional spots for the 2026 program so more young leaders can participate in this transformative journey.
Special Attraction for Pre-Med Students
Pre-med and aspiring healthcare students will have a unique opportunity to shadow doctors and gain first-hand exposure to hospital and clinical operations at Hemalkasa healthcare center-an invaluable experience for those considering a career in medicine.
- Travel Dates: June 28 - July 12, 2026
- Destination: Hemalkasa, Maharashtra, India
More Details & Application Information
We encourage families to explore the program early and consider this rare opportunity for students to broaden their worldview while making a meaningful impact.
Manju Mishra
ICA Youth LEAD Team
New Board Member joins ICA
Medha Jaishankar is an award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, and media consultant whose work bridges creative and technological innovation across global markets.
As President of Omnivations Inc. (parent of Virtual Sonics and Audio Futures), she leads initiatives uniting art, science, and software, including the launch of WalkMix Creator, a plugin that democratizes spatial audio production and is now integrated into Avid and Pro Tools.
Her producing credits span projects with Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto, Destry Allyn Spielberg, Michelle Dockery, and Giancarlo Esposito. In 2025, she joined A.R. Rahman's Secret Mountain as an advisor, supporting its mission to merge music, storytelling, and technology. She has previously collaborated with organizations including the BBC, Reliance, Mahindra, the Sundance Institute, MTV, Sony, and Safran.
Medha is active in the Aaroogya AI Foundation, the Asian World Film Festival, the Pacific Council, and mentorship programs such as Roadmap Writers, AZN AMERICANA, and #StartWith8Hollywood.
ICA Forum
Forum Highlights: Empowering Communities for Equity
On Sunday, November 30, 2025, Indians for Collective Action (ICA) hosted a successful in-person Forum at the India Community Center, bringing together members and change-makers for a compelling discussion.
The event's Guest of Honor was Yasmeen Fatimah, the dynamic founder of the Foundation for Equal Citizenship. Yasmeen delivered a deeply inspiring address, sharing her personal journey and the driving mission behind her organization. She detailed the tangible impact of their work in empowering marginalized communities across India.
Attendees gained valuable insights into strategies for achieving equity and inclusion, underscoring the vital role grassroots movements play in fostering social justice. The forum reinforced ICA's commitment to supporting organizations like the Foundation for Equal Citizenship, which are making a real difference in creating a more just and equitable society.
It was an engaging afternoon that strengthened the collective resolve to support impactful change.
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LEADERSHIP
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Indians for Collective Action (ICA) |
