Announcing the departure of our co-founder and executive director, Luna Ranjit

Dear Friends and Allies of Adhikaar,

Today, we are writing to share the news that this fall, Luna Ranjit will be transitioning from her position as the Executive Director of Adhikaar.

For 11 years, Luna has demonstrated visionary leadership as she built an organization that put the Nepali-speaking community on the map in the United States, and created a platform for Nepali-speaking immigrants and workers to become leaders in the social justice movement.

Under Luna’s leadership, a small volunteer-run organization that started with a $500 donation has become a vibrant organization with over $850,000 budget and 11 committed staff operating out of our Community Center in Woodside, Queens. We are proud that Adhikaar has become a leader on issues related to low-wage workers, particularly new immigrant communities.

Luna with the representatives of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, during the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland in 2011. A year after the passage of the New York State Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, Adhikaar was part of the U.S. delegation negotiating rights for domestic workers worldwide.

Adhikaar has won amazing policy victories, assisted thousands of new immigrant families to meet their pressing needs, and more importantly, created hundreds of new leaders committed to social justice.Luna began with a dream that she nurtured to life with her dedication, diligence and the courage of her convictions. Her vision, initiative and leadership have helped guide Adhikaar from one success to another. She inspires with her words and by her actions, and more importantly, by living her ideals. While we are saddened that Luna will no longer be our fearless and tireless leader, she will forever be a part of Adhikaar, as much as Adhikaar will forever be a part of her.

Since last year, Adhikaar’s board and staff have been working together, with the help of organizational development experts and key stakeholders, to create a plan and timeline to guide a healthy and effective transition process. We envision a two-step transition, with an interim Executive Director starting in early October and the next Executive Director starting in early 2017.

Luna alongside allies from the New York Healthy Nail Salons coalition with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo after the he signed the bill creating the trainee license and wage bond to protect nail salon workers.

The organization is in a moment of growth as social justice movements swell, in the face of some of the most challenging times of our lives, and we feel proud, excited and ready to hand over the helm of Adhikaar to new leadership. We are grateful to all of you for being by our side and stepping up to help us ensure the organization’s success. Now we need your help to assist us in finding our next bold, visionary leader! Please share this announcement with your networks: bit.ly/adhikaarEDsearch.

We want to send Luna off with a party fitting of her vibrant legacy. As a part of the Adhikaar community, and as chair of the board, I would like to extend an invitation to our celebratory event on September 28th honoring Luna’s leadership and vision, and encourage you to make a contribution to our Fund for the Future campaign. All proceeds from the Fund for the Future campaign will go towards strengthening our leadership development work to build a pipeline of social justice leaders who have been inspired by Luna and wish to follow in her footsteps.

In solidarity,

Urvashi Kaul
Board Chair
Adhikaar

Luna alongside allies from the New York Healthy Nail Salons coalition with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo after the he signed the bill creating the trainee license and wage bond to protect nail salon workers.

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