Who we are

ABOUT US

Namaste! Tashi Delek!  Welcome to the Adhikaar community! Since 2005, Adhikaar has been committed to improving the lives of the Nepali-speaking community and getting our voices heard in the social justice movement. We have assisted thousands of individuals and families; trained hundreds of new leaders; and successfully changed policies and created new laws at local, state, national, and international levels, including the New York State Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and the International Domestic Workers' Convention.

OUR MISSION

Adhikaar, meaning “rights” in Nepali, is a women-led community and workers’ center that provides direct services to the Nepali-speaking* community and organizes low-income workers and impacted community members to promote social justice and human rights. We create access to information, build community leadership, and grow collective power to win rights for our communities, and dignity and equity for all. 

* At Adhikaar, we define the Nepali-speaking community as descendants of Nepal, Bhutan, India, Burma, and Tibet that speak Nepali.

To achieve our mission:

  • We create a safe and loving community that is a maiti ghar or home for our members.
  • We hold ourselves accountable to our community including respecting the diversity of the Nepali-speaking communities.
  • We build solidarity to create inclusive communities and pursue equity and justice for all. 
  • We center women’s leadership while creating a gender inclusive environment.
  • We center the most impacted community members including those who are low-income workers and those with limited literacy.
  • We lead with integrity and respect as a foundation for our work as it embodies empathy, trust and love.
  • We recognize all who contribute to building Adhikaar.
  • In the face of adversity, we fight back, build power and grow leaders.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to build a powerful, diverse and intergenerational community that embraces our whole selves. We lift up and empower immigrants and workers through grassroots organizing and building political power so that all people can lead healthy and dignified lives.

Thank you for visiting our website, and thank you for your commitment to justice. Please visit us at our Community Center, Sunday to Thursday. In the meantime, join our online community and learn about our current work. "Like" our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter.

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What We Do

About Our Work

We balance the day-to-day needs of our community with long-term strategy and vision of systematic change. It is important to get this week’s paycheck on time, and equally important to work to create a pathway to citizenship for all immigrants. Our programs are guided by community needs and demands.  We listen to our members when they talk to us about their lives, from their health concerns to domestic violence. We respond to these needs through direct service, hands-on trainings and conferences, community organizing and base-building, advocacy and leadership development. In all of our work, we embrace a social justice vision bound in dignity and equity for all, with Nepali voices at the center. We actively prioritize leadership of marginalized groups, including women and youth, within the Nepali-speaking community.

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Get Involved

Donate

Adhikaar's work is made possible by generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law (tax-id: 20-3384725).
Please join us:

JOIN OUR TEAM

Join Adhikaar’s growing team. We have a fast-paced office with many programs going on at once. Adhikaar's dedicated interns and volunteers provide crucial support to our members, staff, and board.

SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES

Join Adhikaar’s email list for news and information about our work.

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    News

    How to Protect Millions of Workers Without a Union

    By adhikaaradmin | January 25, 2024

    New York Times: “How to Protect Millions of Workers Without a Union” By Jeff Seal, Nick Libbey and Chris Libbey

    NJ Legislature Passes Bill Of Rights For Domestic Workers

    By adhikaaradmin | January 25, 2024

    Asbury Park Press: “After the New Jersey legislature tossed around versions of the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights for two and a half years, the measure passed Monday, a victory that offers some […]

    Adhikaar’s Media Coverage (July – Dec, 2023)

    By adhikaaradmin | January 25, 2024

    Asbury Park Press, “Domestic workers can face abuse, terrible conditions. A bill aims to change that.” Radio Jornalera NJ, “NJ day of action by NJ Domestic Worker Coalition” Audio Files, “New Yorkers In […]