In February this year, we gathered 250+ people from 75 organizations across 20+ states for our 3rd Annual National Summit: Together We Dream, Together We Build. This was our biggest National Summit yet, with over 20 sessions on topics spanning the legal system, cultural modes of healing, disability justice, and policy advocacy.

This year’s summit took place at a pivotal moment: 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the first South Asian anti-violence organization, Manavi. We honored four decades of this movement while simultaneously holding the heaviness of this moment—its urgency, its grief, and its possibilities. Our summit called us to move beyond crisis response and ask: What bold solutions can we dream and build when we’re not only reacting to crisis?

Our brilliant keynote speakers left us with profound wisdom on how to do just that:

“Spend 10% of your time fixing what’s wrong, and 90% building the future.” – Taij Kumarie Moteelall, artist, activist, and entrepreneur
Let’s ask, “Who has been harmed? What do they need?” instead of the legal system which asks, “What law was broken? Who broke it?” – sujatha baliga, survivor and restorative justice expert
“Caring in a culture that wants to harden our souls is the ultimate form of resistance.” – Yashica Dutt, journalist, author, and anti-caste expert

One of our attendees captured the heart of the summit best:

“Each session inspired me to embrace collaboration; it became clear that meaningful change arises not from individual efforts but through the strength of our collective voices. I left not just with knowledge, but with a renewed passion and a profound sense of purpose.” – 2025 SOAR National Summit Attendee

Explore all the session recordings from our summit here, and follow along on social media for more recaps this month!

As much as the summit filled us with hope, we can’t ignore the reality of what lies ahead—the escalating threats to both survivors and the organizations that serve them. SOAR’s responsibility and role, as a convener of 45+ grassroots organizations, feels clearer than ever. And we’ve already moved into action: hosting leadership forums, engaging in national policy coalitions, sharing critical information in our Rapid Response Hub, and—our boldest move yet—launching a fund to directly support grassroots organizations.

To learn more about our response and fund, schedule a time to connect 1:1 here, email me, or read more below!

Thank you for standing with us, and for believing in SOAR and survivors. Your solidarity fuels our work, especially in moments like this.

*Our 2025 National Summit Attendees with our Day 2 Keynote Speaker, sujatha baliga.*

New Fund to Support Grassroots Organizations: Murmurations Movement Fund

The recent funding cuts have been devastating. In a survey of our member organizations, 95% report severe losses or reductions in funding. Without these organizations, critical services—and lives—are at risk.

SOAR is responding by launching the Murmurations Movement Fund—the first-ever fund dedicated to redistributing money directly to South Asian anti-violence organizations. We aim to raise $50,000 by May and redistribute 100% of the funds. Here’s a brief on the fund, including Founding Member opportunities.

How You Can Support:

Contribute today: Donate here & stand with survivors.

Learn more: Read the brief here, including Founding Member opportunities.

Spread the word: Pass this email along to your network!

Murmurations are groups of birds that move in coordination to protect the collective.

MAKE A GIFT TODAY