Bellevue is a city full of diverse cultures and populations where a sizable portion of its citizens are a part of the Indian-American community. With the diffusion of Indian cuisine, businesses, and art in the Eastside, the influence of the Indian-American community is undeniable.

 

Cultural events and support programs by the Indian American Community Services (IACS), the longest standing Indian community-based organization in the Pacific Northwest, help promote this idea of belonging. With the growing Indian population in Bellevue specifically, IACS provides significant help to new immigrants in the area to adjust as the organization emulates the feeling of home. For the Bellevue youth, IACS helps them connect to their roots and heritage in an ever-changing globalizing and culture-mixing world. In a nation where assimilation is the norm, many children of immigrants turn to similar cultural clubs and communities for reconnection.

 

Shaan Saraiya is a junior at Bellevue High School and president of the lACS Youth Board. He has been on board for three years, but his role as president entails leading a group of 32 other board members to host service projects and as a bridge between adult advisor and the youth community.

 

"IACS Youth Board provides a great platform for high school students to develop strong practical skills while simultaneously giving back to the local community. It's also a really fantastic opportunity for students to connect back to their cultures in a continually globalized world," said Shaan.

 

As mentioned, the youth board focuses on service projects and hosting events. One of the biggest projects Shaan works on is Camp Bharat, an annual five-day overnight camp with around 220 attendees. This year, Camp Bharat was hosted at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, Washington and included activities like a Garba Dance, workshops, and bonding opportunities. Throughout the camp, Shaan "helped manage logistics, design, workshops, and coordinate volunteers for the event."

 

Beyond Camp Bharat, Shaan has organized volunteering, blanket drives, and carnivals alongside his Youth Board team. Volunteering includes assisting those in senior homes and helping elderly people with certain tasks. Evidently, a common theme of IACS is its emphasis on community service. Similarly, the blanket drives help to create blankets for those in need, specifically the homeless and less fortunate population in King County through the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. These service events not only benefit the surrounding community, but also the youth a part of the organization as they are introduced to community service and the importance of a helping hand, a concept difficult to grasp as a teenager. 

 

Some larger events include the carnival and Garba Dance. Garba is a dance in Hindu and/or Indian cultures where get-togethers are common due to its dance being incredibly popular among the younger Indian-American generation. It originates from folk culture and spiritual roots and is performed in a circle. Similarly, the carnival was held in the summer, this year in Lake Sammamish State Park, and had a variety of games, food vendors, and sports. These events provide a space for high schoolers and middle schoolers in Bellevue to interact and bond over a shared culture and experiences. 

 

IACS’s impact on Shaan and his board members, along with the general Indian-American population in the Bellevue School District does not go unnoticed. With Instagram Reels promoting Youth Board events and each member reposting promotions for every event and project, IACS has also brought together youth outside the Indian-American community. The funny skits and announcements are hard to miss and the members coming from an assortment of schools like Bellevue High School and Interlake High School shows IACS is welcoming of everyone.

 

To join IACS Youth Board, Shaan urges everyone interested to “fill out an application in the fall” as it is Shaan’s last year on board after several years attending the organization. “The application includes short essay questions and an interview,” Shaan adds. IACS also has more opportunities for high school students like their Youth Advocacy and Youth Council. 

 

Check out the IACS website for more information on the three programs and their applications: https://iacswa.org/