Madhu Uppal, President Alliance of Indian Americans of Naperville Area (AIANA)

By: Ryan Tejero

 

New to the Asian American community here in Chicago is the organization of Indian Americans called the Alliance of Indian Americans of Naperville Area (AIANA). Barely a year old, AIANA is composed of Asian Americans who share the common goal of strengthening communities by uniting people of all ages, both children and adults. Its mission is building bridges and fostering community spirit by spearheading initiatives that bring communities together; exploring opportunities through career expositions; finding venues to express oneself through speech/debate, art, and games competitions; celebrating culture and diversity through cultural presentations; giving back to the community by finding volunteer opportunities and promoting health and wellness through health fairs.

AIANA will focus on connecting people to a wealth of community resources as unique needs arise. These resources include cultural entities, mental health support, business advice, career guidance and mentorship, educational resources, civic engagement, and volunteering opportunities.

To recruit more members, AIANA’s Vice President Shivam Viswanathan explained their efforts to organize various events to showcase the organization’s work and attract potential members. The group will also strengthen collaborative work with other organizations and participate in their events to expand its reach and attract new members. Current members will also be encouraged to refer others in the community to join AIANA.

On May 18, 2024, AIANA will launch its first community event, Asian Heritage Fest. It will be hosted at the Mall of India in Naperville. Many Asian American communities will showcase cultural presentation, food vending and country booths. Admission is free.

Currently heading, and its founding President is Madhu Uppal. She hails from the State of Uttar Pradesh where she spent the first 15 years of her life and then lived in New Delhi for another 7 years. Madhu received her BS degree in Home Economics and a master’s degree in foods and nutrition. Her previous employment includes working as a registered dietitian, a middle school science teacher and later science, math, and health curriculum director.

Madhu has been enjoying her retirement for 14 years now. Her passion is to give back to the community. Madhu migrated to the US in 1973. She has been married for 51 years and blessed with three beautiful daughters, two living in New York and one in Illinois. Her 4 grandchildren (ages 7 years to 13 years) get a lot of her attention when she is not busy with her commitments in the community.

As an outstanding community leader, Madhu serves on the board of several community organizations including a mental health agency, a senior housing agency and 4 other nonprofits with educational and cultural advocacy. She has also been involved in volunteer work for the past 50 years!

Her message to the community is, “I firmly believe that a community’s health depends upon people working together to build bridges of understanding especially with diverse communities. Cultural exchange plays a crucial role in creating strong communities where people get a chance to work together and see each other as friends. I encourage my community members to get involved in the larger community because it is our duty to serve this country that has given us so much.”

Two popular Filipino American organizations will represent the Philippines at the first Asian Heritage Fest in Naperville Tribu Ilonggo is the most popular and highly acclaimed cultural group in Chicago’s FilAm community. It is the original producer of Ilonggo’s world renowned Dinagyang Festival over the past 3 years. The group had organized shows and events that showcased the original Dinagyang tribal costumes. Chicago Nightingales is one of the largest organizations of Filipino American nurses in the Midwest. As a nonprofit organization, it has been active in raising funds for its scholarship and humanitarian projects. Chicago Nightingales also is an active partner of other FilAm organizations in promoting youth empowerment.