Founded by Sylheti women Sanjana Khan and Ayesha Akhtar in 2018, Laal is a nonprofit in the Bronx providing resources for Bengali women to live healthy, engaged, and joyful lives. In this interview, Sanjana reflects on her journey to co-founding Laal, her challenges in establishing a nonprofit, and her vision for empowering the Bangladeshi community. Her insights touch on leadership, community engagement, and the power of grassroots organizing within the South Asian diaspora.
Kashfia: Thank you for doing this interview, Sanjana! When did you first realize you could pursue this path, and when did you know it was your true calling?
Sanjana: I was inspired by my dad, who was an organizer. Growing up in NYC, I desired finance but later shifted after studying colonialism and indigenous issues in college. My thesis took me to Bangladesh, and that’s when I knew I wanted to start a nonprofit.
Kashfia: Were you ever worried about finances when starting Laal?
Sanjana: I was fortunate to understand money from a young age. My parents, though undocumented, built wealth, and I learned a lot from them. I also worked in nonprofit development, which helped me learn how to secure funding. From the start, I set boundaries—if I couldn’t pay employees, it wouldn’t work.
Kashfia: Laal is unique in that everyone is paid well above average. Can you explain your approach to volunteerism?
Sanjana: I don’t believe in volunteerism. It’s tied to power imbalances, which I don’t subscribe to. Our team deserves to be paid for their work.
Kashfia: Many define success differently, especially in social justice work. How do you define success for Laal and for yourself?
Sanjana: Success is about being truly ourselves in the community. It’s not about professional versus personal—it’s about discovering and embracing differences, being vulnerable, and building authentic relationships. That’s the kind of success we’re striving for at Laal.
Kashfia: That’s powerful. Why do you think the Western culture struggles with authentic community building?
Sanjana: Western culture is very individualistic. It creates divisions and hierarchies, which is why systemic issues persist. In contrast, countries like Bangladesh show the strength of deep, collective connection, lacking in the U.S.
Contact Laal:
Website: www.laalnyc.org
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @laalnyc
Interview by Kashfia Mahmud
About the interviewer: Kashfia Mahmud is a gender scholar pursuing a PhD in Women and Gender Studies, focusing on diaspora, culture, gender, and marginalized communities.
Email: [email protected]
