Swathi Lakshmi Nirmal

• Team member of a study evaluating the feasibility of telehealth neuropsychological assessments, including participant recruitment, database management, and protocol implementation.
• Receiving supervised training in administering standardized neuropsychological assessments, developing foundational clinical skills in test administration and observation.
• Created a study protocol for a retrospective chart review using EMR, examining central nervous system (CNS) pathology in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
• Extract and manage clinical and demographic data from electronic medical records (EMRs), ensuring strict adherence to ethical standards and institutional guidelines.

• Provide empathetic, evidence-based support to individuals considering or undergoing benzodiazepine withdrawal, often navigating complex emotional and physical health concerns
• Deliver clear, trauma-informed information on benzodiazepines, analgesics, anxiety disorders, and depression to clients and healthcare professionals
• Screen clients for suitability in counseling programs, demonstrating sensitivity to mental health needs and referral processes

Yein Udaan is a community centre offering holistic education and support for low-income families. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the organisation launched relief initiatives to meet urgent material needs.

• Conducted informal needs assessments in underserved neighbourhoods to identify families facing food insecurity and psychosocial stress.
• Determined the quantity and frequency of relief packages and coordinated with volunteers & donors to ensure culturally sensitive, respectful delivery of support.

Vasippu supports first-generation students from low-income communities through targeted educational interventions aimed at reducing systemic inequities.

• Set up a community learning center for Teach for India students, facilitating after-school academic support, and extracurricular development.
• Mentored new teachers by providing training, classroom resources, and support in the delivery of the curriculum.
• Fundraised and managed infrastructure upgrades for multiple classrooms in an under-resourced government school, improving learning conditions for students.

Teach for India is a nonprofit working to end educational inequity. Fellows commit two years to teaching in under-resourced schools and building long-term capacity in low-income communities.

• Served as a class teacher to 32 fourth-grade students in a high-need public school, providing instruction in English, Math, Science, and Social Science.
• Designed and implemented supplemental curriculum focused on language acquisition and socio-emotional learning, supporting holistic student development.
• Conducted regular home and community visits to strengthen family-school partnerships and promote student well-being.
• Developed culturally responsive teaching materials to address learning gaps and empower first-generation learners.

UNITE HERE is a union of hospitality workers organizing for dignity, economic justice, and improved working conditions across North America.

• Identified, recruited, and trained worker-leaders through one-on-one relational organizing, fostering empowerment and collective action.
• Supported workers in forming and sustaining committees to advocate for their rights in the workplace.
• Led training sessions on organizing strategies and facilitated ongoing leadership development.
• Helped coordinate large-scale direct actions, including picket lines and civil disobedience events.
• Represented union members in contract negotiations and grievance procedures, providing advocacy and conflict resolution support.
• Conducted regular union committee meetings to build solidarity and maintain campaign momentum.

Vancouver Status of Women is a long-standing organisation advocating for the full social, political, and economic participation of women in Canadian society.

• Planned and coordinated community-based programs for marginalized women, including therapeutic writing and art-based support groups.
• Provided information and emotional support over the phone to women experiencing domestic violence and other urgent needs.
• Recruited, trained, and supported a team of volunteers, fostering a trauma-informed and inclusive environment.
• Maintained collaborative relationships with partner organizations in the social justice and anti-violence sectors.