“In the South, things are pretty Black and White, and then there was me the only brown person,” Ahuja said, adding that there wasn’t much of an Asian community in Georgia but that she did identify with the civil rights struggles of African-Americans. “In college, I began to understand I was a person of color,” she explained.
Inspired by Black history, Ahuja eventually gravitated to learning more about the U.S. AAPI population. It was a natural transition for Ahuja, who formed bonds with Asian American women across the country, unpacking stereotypes and advocating for reproductive justice.
Recalling stories she has heard while spending time among Asian Americans, Ahuja said she wants to eliminate the isolation many members of the AAPI community feel as immigrants—an experience she understands personally.
“There is a lot of work to be done in the AAPI community,” she said, adding that her priorities revolve around immigration, civil liberties, health, and education. “I feel a deep responsibility to breaking down the barriers in those communities and opening opportunities for them to thrive.”
