When I started ESAL in 2017, I was figuring out how to stay connected to public service after leaving Washington. I sent out an initial email seeking others who wanted to work together to be more effective in their local engagement. By continuing to reach out and show up, that initial small group of volunteers built the organization we know today. ESAL now leads workshops, administers virtual courses, and hosts local events and convenings. We also tell the stories of the impacts we can make when we engage alongside our neighbors and community members. I couldn’t have imagined that within 10 years this interest would turn into a national nonprofit reaching people with backgrounds in STEM in every state.
Throughout this entire journey my parents, Gayatri and Surendra, have been present and full of support. From the kitchen table ESAL in 2017 to the volunteer-driven organization and the ESAL we are building today, they have been trusted advisors, passionate about ESAL’s mission of increasing local civic engagement by people with STEM backgrounds. This year they have institutionalized this support through a generous, unrestricted gift of $100,000 for general operating support. This will dramatically impact ESAL’s ability to support our mission, and carries special meaning for me as it speaks both to my parents' commitment to helping scientists and engineers make a difference in their communities and to their confidence in what we are building.
In announcing their gift, my parents told ESAL "we've watched Arti and a small group of volunteers generate local and national impacts by harnessing their care for their communities. Arti has shared with our own networks what she learned through ESAL, including the opportunities ESAL has created to support scientists and engineers choosing to act locally. We know that kind of impact requires passion and investment, and we are honored to support ESAL on these next steps of its journey."
As we mark 10 years, that's the milestone I want to celebrate most: the thousands of people in STEM who continue to prioritize civic life. They are donors, volunteers, workshop participants, staff, state and community leaders, and partners.
Stay tuned as we share more about how we will celebrate 10 years of what we have built together.
