Founded by two Sylheti women Sanjana Khan and Ayesha Akhtar in 2018, Laal is a nonprofit organization based in the Bronx that provides resources for Bengali women to live healthy, engaged, and joyful lives.
In this interview, Sanjana Khan, co-founder and executive director of Laal, shares her journey from the inspiration behind Laal, the challenges encountered in establishing a nonprofit, and her vision for empowering the Bangladeshi community. She reflects on her personal experiences and the broader mission of Laal, providing valuable lessons on leadership, community engagement, and the power of grassroots organizing. Her insights offer a unique perspective on the intersections between individual identity, social justice, and nonprofit work within the South Asian diaspora.
— Start of Interview —
Kashfia : Thank you so much for doing this interview. I will get right into it : when did you first start realizing that you were capable of pursuing this path, and when did you sense that it was your true calling? To elaborate, some of us grow up with strong self-concepts, perhaps inspired by role models like our parents who work in fields we admire. Others have to discover this understanding on their own. So, my question is: when did you first see the ‘glimmers’ of Laal in your journey? And how long after did you realize it wasn’t just something you were doing, but part of your larger purpose?
Sanjana : That’s such a great question. I was definitely inspired by my dad. He was an organizer when I was young, so I come from a legacy of organizers, to be honest. My Dada used to house freedom fighters, and my dad, here in New York, in the Bronx, organized the first Bangla school on the New York City budget so my little sister went to kindergarten learning Bangla along with English – so that foundation was always kind of there.
Growing up in New York, though, I think I always wanted to be a finance bro deep down cause I loved the money but I actually went to Evergreen State College for my undergrad. At Evergreen, we studied colonialism and learned about indigenous people. I was learning about Palestine almost 17 years ago. Growing up in NYC in a very Jewish, very Zionist community, then at 18 going and living with people who exposed me to completely different ideas and experiences, it really shifted my perspective. For my thesis, I went to Bangladesh and lived in 17 villages and I think it was during this work that I just knew I was going to start a nonprofit.
Kashfia : That is truly amazing! Thank you for sharing. In the beginning, were you ever worried that the financial resources might run out? If not, what other limitations did you encounter in your thinking as you started this journey?
Sanjana : I think for me, finances come with a lot of privilege. I was able to understand money at a very young age. My parents were undocumented but still were able to build wealth, and I think I was always very mesmerized by that. My mom actually pushed me into going into real estate in my early 20s, really pressuring me to not rent, stay home, and save money. Later, I became a cooperative developer. So, I think real estate and business development at a very young age quickly helped me grasp what finances are in the US.
Then, I became a development fellow and worked in the nonprofit sector for a lot of organizations. I was very good at pitching and getting money. I also watched my mom, who was excellent at getting money, so having those influences really shaped me.
With Laal, I set a very clear boundary for myself. I started in 2018, and I told myself that if by 2019 I didn’t make a certain amount, I wouldn’t continue. I always knew it would never be self-sacrifice, like it is with a lot of people in nonprofits. So it was not only about having the funds, but by a certain time, I had to make sure the goal was: if I can’t pay all of my employees, then this doesn’t work.
Kashfia: Yes! That’s another thing I noticed about Laal—it’s the only South Asian organization I know of that does not have volunteers. Everyone is paid well above average.
Sanjana: Yes—I don’t believe in volunteerism. I don’t believe in white saviorism because that’s just hierarchy all over again and that’s wild.
Kashfia: Many people have different definitions of success, especially when it comes to work in social justice. How do you personally define success, both for Laal and for yourself? Is it tied to measurable outcomes, or is it more about the relationships and changes you see in the community?
Sanjana: I think I’m constantly figuring out what that is in my own personal life—that’s just a constant. I wanna be very happy and content wherever I am in my life, and I think for Laal, we’re really doing some very different work. I always grew up in a space where, like, professional vs. personal—there’s a very big line in Western society. But whenever I worked in Bangladesh, I never felt that.
In America, I was really confused. I had my college friends, I had my high school friends, I had my yoga friends, friends I went to parties with— it was very segregated, who I hung out with and when. But in Bangladesh, every time I would go, it’s like the people you work with are the people’s weddings you’re going to, it’s the people you’re celebrating with. It was never like they were something else.
It really boggles my mind in so many ways — what does it mean to be a community? And I think in America, we really don’t know what that definition is. People love throwing it around, but it’s like : can you be yourself in all different ways with these people? We can’t be ourselves with our families; we can only really do that with friends, like really close friends. Even with your partners, I don’t think you’re really able to do that. So, for me, the success is in everyone at Laal, including our members, being able to really discover and play around with our differences. Can we test it out at Laal? Can we honestly be that person in front of the people we work with? Can we be that vulnerable? And I think that will slowly shift what movement building is.
Kashfia – That’s something I definitely noticed and lived through – I don’t know why it’s like that –
Sanjana – Well, it’s because Western culture is very individualized, right? That’s how they are so successful. That’s why there is no free healthcare, that’s why you see so much rape and assault. Like, our president is a rapist. And when you’re so segregated, you can never be united—and that’s very systematically and purposefully done. The fact that Bangladesh had a revolution in July just shows how deeply connected a country is, compared to America, where I don’t think we’ll be seeing one for at least 25 years.
— End of Interview —
Contact Laal:
Website: www.laalnyc.org
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @laalnyc
Interview conducted by Kashfia Mahmud
About the interviewer: Kashfia Mahmud is a gender scholar currently pursuing a PhD in Women and Gender Studies. She majored in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, with minors in Asian American Studies, Africana Studies, and Puerto Rican Studies. Her work focuses on the intersections of diaspora, culture, gender, and marginalized communities, with a deep commitment to advocating for justice for all.
Email: [email protected]
