Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: Cole Hall, 2950 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
Contact us: [email protected]
On December 8th, Rcoz hosted its third Chalo Baatein Karen™ (“Let’s just talk”) event at Cole Hall in Fremont. It was so heartening seeing so many attendees. We had such an overwhelming response that we had to limit participation to maintain the intimate and supportive atmosphere we envisioned for the event.
The event kicked off with samosas, cookies and chai so everyone could eat and mingle. Rcoz founder Roopali Rajvanshy introduced our resident psychiatrist Dr Seema Sehgal and she started the session by educating the participants on South Asian family dynamics of collectivism which can sometimes damage the sense of individuality that many have. She emphasized the importance of having boundaries and respecting individual feelings.
“The event was exceptionally well-organized, with a topic highly relevant to the South Asian community. The speakers were both knowledgeable and engaging, making the discussions insightful and thought-provoking. I truly enjoyed the experience and eagerly anticipate the next event.” – Punam Nagpal
This was followed by a lively Q & A where the participants asked some personal issues they had with their families and how to navigate them. Women opened up about the struggles in mother-daughter relationships, men talked about the silence around communication with their parents—it was honest, raw, and exactly what Chalo Baatein Karen is meant to be: a space to break the silence, start conversations, and figure out how to help ourselves or seek help sooner. Dr. Seema Sehgal addressed each query with such calm expertise that the hour flew by, leaving attendees deeply engaged and craving more time to delve into the many important topics raised. The session’s intensity and impact sparked a strong desire for future discussions.
“Would love to have a forum to continue these discussions” – Mr Jain
This free event is a step toward building awareness and acceptance for better mental health in the South Asian community. Those wishing to support Rcoz, please know that every donation will have a direct impact on our programs and initiatives. To donate, [click here]
If you have attended our events, we would like to hear from you. Please scan the QR code to fill in the survey.
