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After meeting AWM President Steve Penners and women from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, Kolhatkar joined the AWM Board of Directors. Since then she has worked tirelessly with AWM to raise awareness of the abuses suffered by many women and children in Afghanistan. AWM works closely with RAWA to support long-term health, educational and awareness raising initiatives for Afghan women and girls. As vice-president of AWM, Kolhatkar works with Steve Penners in the role of organizational spokesperson. She also works on the AWM newsletter, co-ordinates local volunteers, organizes events and networks with local activists and other organizations. Kolhatkar and husband Jim Ingalls are also involved in various social and political movements including the Fair Trade/Anti-World Trade Organization movement, the occupation of East Timor, petitioning for a new trial for political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal, the bombing of Iraq and Yugoslavia and much more. Having lived abroad and visited India often, Kolhatkar says she is driven by the reality of how many people are forced to live their lives. She has empowered herself through questioning and striving to understanding the nature of power, from global economics to gender politics. "I often remind myself of how privileged I am to have an education, a great husband, a job with decent pay, a house I love, two cats and a car," she said. "It's easy to ask the question 'what did I do to deserve these privileges?' -- nothing really, I was just born lucky." A scientist by education, Kolhatkar has a Master of Science in astronomy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Arts in astronomy from the University of Texas. Kolhatkar and her husband love music and poetry and can often be found
performing -- Jim on guitar and Kolhatkar singing, in the cafés of Pasadena,
California. |
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