Announcing our $100K grant renewal!

I’m excited to share that Central Desi has received a $100,000 renewal grant from the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium to continue the work we are doing to deliver quality local news and foster civic engagement in New Jersey’s South Asian community. We are proud to be one of the 16 news outlets receiving support from the Consortium as they invest $1.55 million in local news.

As you know, local news is such a vital resource for communities to be informed and engaged. In New Jersey, where the voices of South Asians have been too often marginalized, it’s more crucial than ever for a platform like Central Desi to exist and amplify our voices.

With our increased funding, we are doubling down on our investment in local news. Our new associate editor, Tehsin Pala, is already busy working the Desi beat and producing great coverage.

We’ll also be recruiting fellows again! Last year, our fellows produced incredible articles and personal essays that helped diversify our coverage. Stay tuned for an announcement next month on how to apply.

Finally, a quick housekeeping note: Our issues will now publish on Tuesday mornings to increase engagement and ensure you don’t miss the email if you’ve already stepped out for the day on Friday.

Our article about how Desis are reacting to Kamala Harris’s candidacy is a great example of the important work we are doing and why it matters. It published today on NJ Spotlight News, giving our community a greater voice by reaching a broader audience.

Please support our work as a paid member if you are able, and thank you for helping us spread the word about Central Desi! We look forward to another great year and welcome your feedback on how to improve.

Central Desi is free for readers, but it takes resources to produce. If you value this work, please support our efforts by becoming a member, inviting a friend to subscribe, or sharing our work on Instagram.

Got feedback? Fill out our survey and let us know how we can make this space work for you. Let's make this a place for all Desis regardless of background, class or creed. ❤️