Selected as a Youth Leader, I was invited to give a presentation about Bake To Delight, Inc., a non-profit organization I founded to advocate for accessibility of mental health resources as well as environmental sustainability, including our disciplined approach and accomplishments.

On July 30, Bake To Delight had the wonderful pleasure to partner with the Mental Health Association of NJ (MHANJ) again in commemorating the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Mental Health Month with its Annual BIPOC Messages of Hope and Celebration. The event unfolded with great momentum in cool and breezy winds with families and communities gathered on the meadow of Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center. The featured Project Broken delivered an empowering performance where the spirit of mental health awareness epitomizes in the language of dance portraying the struggle, pain, courage, hope, and connection.

Bake to Delight is so proud to be a part of the 8 youth leaders worldwide selected to attend the 2023 United Nations World Oceans Day in New York City.

At the day of the event, I was so thrilled to meeting with cool people such as H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Warren Hoburg, NASA Astronaut; Jason Momoa, Actor and UN Environment Programme Advocate for Life Below Water; Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates and Co-Founder of OceanX; and many more.

Bake To Delight had a wonderful day at the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s 16 th Annual Walk for Wellness in partnership with the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery for behavioral health.

The Walk was a great success, with over 300 attendees participating in a wonderful morning, focused on mental health awareness and exercise.

Together, we raised over $45,000! The proceeds will support efforts to increase access to behavioral health services for those in need.

In 2023, the Moon Festival (aka Mid-Autumn Festival) falls on September 29. Are you interested in learning a bit about where the festival comes from and are you ready for the delectable mooncakes?

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in some parts of Asia every year on the fifth of lunar May. It falls on June 22 in 2023. Originated in China, it dates to the ancient Warring States Period more than 2,200 years ago. The festival honors the life and accomplishments of Qu Yuan, a revered Chinese poet and highly influential politician. Qu is considered the “Father of the Chinese Romantic Poetry”. His patriotism and contributions to poetry made him a national hero.

I’ve always loved celebrating Holi at school. In the morning, we eagerly follow the teachers' instructions and arrive in old T-shirts, ready to embrace the colorful chaos that awaits. As I step out of my front door, a sense of liberation washes over me, knowing that by the day's end, my clothing will bear the kaleidoscope of vibrant stains, effectively masking any traces of food, snacks, or marker mishaps.

My fondest recollections of the Lantern Festival are the mesmerizing sight of red lanterns aglow against the night sky, and the delight of Yuan Xiao rice balls, especially those with luscious black sesame fillings.

The Lantern Festival brings a luminous closure to the Lunar New Year celebration and celebrates the end of winter. The holiday falls on the 15th day of the lunar new year and features the first full moon of the year. It originates as far back as the Han dynasty (206BC – 220AD) in China, where the lighting tradition started from over 2,000 years ago when the lanterns were in the emperor’s palace to worship the God of Heaven. Today, this splendid celebration transcends borders, being joyously observed in various Asian nations, all united in their reverence for unity, harmony, and prosperity.

At 15, she got shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding the bus home from school in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. She went into a coma after the shooting and underwent numerous complex surgeries including one where part of her skull was removed to alleviate the brain swelling. Instead of giving in to fear, she emerged with unwavering determination to continue spearheading educational equality for Pakistani girls.

Her name is Marlala Yousafzai. Born in a modest setting in northwestern Pakistan, she had a life that seemed ordinary at first glance. She received education primarily from her father who is an educational activist, spoke three languages, and once saw herself grow up to become a doctor. However, her trajectory took a tremendous diversion. At the age of 11, she developed a strong interest in politics, particularly advocating for the educational rights of girls.

Across the world, there are many promising leaders who break the ground and bring transformative changes to society, even if it costs them their lives. I'm putting together this mini blog series to remember several world leaders who made a real impact on society. They were all about standing up for their countries and people and striving for the building of fair and just societies.

Many holidays celebrated worldwide hold a profound significance, whether they honor family values, arrival of seasons, or grand historical events. However, what may surprise you is the multitude of festivities that pay homage to the elemental forces of light, fire, water, and colors. In this mini-series of blogs, I invite you to delve into these rich and diverse traditions from across the globe.

My introduction to Sadeh came from my Iranian friend Mahmoud during a summer mathematics camp. I’ve since become captivated by the holiday’s rich history and cultural significance.

With its roots tracing back to the era of the Achaemenid Empire (550-330BC), Sadeh is celebrated 50 days and 50 nights before Nowruz (Persian New Year, typically occurring around March 21st). The very name "Sadeh" in Farsi denotes the number one hundred. As one of the oldest-known traditions in ancient Persia, Sadeh stands as a grand festivity that honors fire, a symbol of warmth, vitality, and a weapon wielded against darkness, frost, and Ahriman (the devil). The festival underscores the enduring importance of light, fire, and hope in our lives.