Kavita Mehra

Kavita first joined Sakhi as an intern in 2002 while in her third year of college. After her experience, she hoped to come back to Sakhi, specifically to lead the organization, and in June 2017 was named its fifth executive director. During her tenure, Sakhi has seen its budget grow by 350% and has launched a trauma-informed mental health program, a transitional housing program, a food justice program, and a second office in Queens. Prior to joining Sakhi, Kavita was the interim chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, and held leadership positions at the GlamourGals Foundation, South Asian Youth Action, and Asian Women in Business. Kavita is a co-founder of South Asian SOAR, Advisory Board Member for the New Leaders Council’s New Jersey Chapter, and a Board Member for LadyDrinks. Kavita has blogged for Ms. Magazine, The Huffington Post, Brown Girl Magazine, and Act To Change and has been quoted in The New York Times, WNYC's The Takeaway With Tanzina Vega, The Lilly, CNBC and Money Watch. She has presented at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the Women’s Economic Forum in Delhi. Kavita completed her Bachelor of Arts from New York University with a double major in History and Gender & Sexuality Studies. She holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in South Asian Studies, from Columbia University, as well as a certificate in Business Excellence from The Columbia Business School. She can be reached at 212.714.9153 x1002.