YJA Convention 2016 07 Los Angeles CA

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

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SPEAKERS
Nehal Bhansali Nehal worked as an Occupational Therapist until 2000, specializing in stroke rehab. After taking a break to raise her 2 kids, she got certified as a Yoga Therapist in 2010. Since then, she has used her background to start her business, Pranayoga Therapy, to provide holistic treatment for physical, mental and emotional conditions through yoga therapy. Nehal started the Jain Pathshala in Austin, TX in 2004 and is currently teaching the middle and high school students. She is also leading the religious planning committee of the Austin Jain Community Center that is currently under construction.
Niharika Sethi Niharika currently resides in Toronto, Canada but was born in New Delhi, India. She has completed her education from York University in Social Sciences. Niharika believes in personal growth and raising your consciousness to lead a better life. She wishes to inspire and motivate other youth to walk this path, through activities such as yoga and meditation. She is a part of the "World Spiritual Awareness Forum' which is a platform created by like-minded individuals to spread the message of 'Seva', and balancing a modern life filled with traditional values.
Nilesh Dagli Nilesh Dagli is a certified public accountant working for an accounting firm in the Chicago area. He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, where he majored in Economics. Nilesh attended pathshala in Detroit for 14 years, where he learned the foundational principles of Jainism and worked toward incorporating those in his daily life.
Nirav Shah Nirav Shah is an aerospace engineer, focusing on satellite design. Born in New York and raised on Long Island, he completed his PhD from MIT in 2012 and lives near Los Angeles, CA. With an ongoing interest in interfaith dialog, Nirav was a fellow of the Addir Interfaith Program at MIT that serves to bridge faith groups on campus. Nirav has presented at several YJA, YJP and JAINA conferences as well as local temple events in Boston and Chicago.
Nitin Shah Dr. Nitin Shah is Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Loma Linda University and Chief of Surgical ICU at Long Beach VAHS. He is Chair of the JAINA Wellness Committee and has been organizing free Community Health Fairs throughout SoCal and the US for the last 24 years. Dr. Shah is Past President of Jain Center of Southern California (CSC) and Anekant Community Center, a non-religious, not for profit organization that was founded by JCSC members to carry out various humanitarian activities. Dr. Shah also organizes International Medical/Surgical missions throughout the world.
Pankti Gala Pankti is a rising third year at Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is originally from the Philadelphia area and adores the City of Brotherly Love. This is her first year on YJA Executive Board and her third convention. Some of her hobbies include teaching, volunteering, and cooking. This year, Pankti serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator on Executive Board and a Souvenirs Committee Co-Lead on Convention Committee.
Parag Mehta Parag Mehta is a communications specialist who has worked in politics and community organizing for 16 years. He serves as Chief of Staff for U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. He previously directed communications for a civil rights agency at the U.S. Department of Labor and served as a public liaison on President Obama's Transition Team. As a Presidential Management Fellow, he worked as a speechwriter for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.
Paras Doshi A USC MBA, Paras has been spent the majority of his career with the City of Los Angeles. He has managed technology projects for the Los Angeles Police Department, issued billions of dollars of debt at the City Administrative Office and saved millions of dollars making ground transportation systems at Los Angeles International Airport more efficient.
2016 YJA CONVENTION LOS ANGELES, CA