Meet our new fellows: Aysha, Navya, and Joti

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It’s with great pleasure that I introduce you to the third class of reporting fellows at Central Desi. This year, we are welcoming our first ever video reporting fellow as well, Joti Rekhi. Along with Aysha Qamar and Navya Asopa, this incredibly accomplished team is committed to telling engaging stories about the Desi community in New Jersey.

Over the next six months, they will be writing about a variety of topics, including immigration, social justice, politics, art, and what it means to be a community. You’ll see their great work in this weekly newsletter as well as on Instagram. Be sure to follow along. If you have any story ideas or leads, send us a note.

Aysha Qamar, journalist and multimedia storyteller

Aysha Qamar is a journalist and multimedia storyteller currently covering culture, community, and global affairs through digital and on-camera reporting. With experience at outlets including Brown Girl Magazine, Muslim.co, The Messenger, and Daily Kos, she brings a nuanced, people-centered approach to every story. Aysha holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science and a master’s in international law and global policy. Her work highlights underrepresented voices, South Asian identity, and the intersections of art and advocacy.

Why did you apply for this fellowship?

I’m applying for this fellowship because I’m deeply committed to telling stories within the South Asian diaspora, especially those stories that go beyond cultural celebration to explore identity, migration, and the social and political realities shaping our communities.

Central Desi’s mission to amplify the voices of New Jersey’s South Asian community aligns closely with my own goals as a journalist. I want to contribute to reporting that bridges communities and brings depth, empathy, and accountability to local coverage. This fellowship offers a space to do that with mentorship, collaboration, and a platform rooted in community journalism. I’m excited about the opportunity to develop my storytelling skills while helping shape how our diaspora is represented.

Navya Asopa, freelance journalist with BBC News India

Navya Asopa is a freelance journalist with BBC News India based in New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on labor, immigration, and India-U.S. relations. She recently graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in investigative journalism.

Why did you apply for this fellowship?

When I moved from New Delhi to New York for my master's at Columbia Journalism School, I had this dream: to learn the tools of investigating, analyzing data, and storytelling, and eventually find my way back home to highlight stories of oppression, resilience, division, and community of India and her people.

After graduating, I was fortunate enough to join BBC News India and India Abroad as a freelancer in New Jersey, and I am happy I stayed. Living in Jersey City means the world is just one walk away. Each street has its own language, ethnicity, cuisine, song, and opinion — i.e., every journalist's wildest dream come true.

I have had the opportunity to report on the South Asian community's artists, political groups, as well as professionals who faced the repercussions of the Trump administration in New Jersey and New York.

I want to keep doing this fulfilling work. And reporting in the Garden State will push me to chase more stories that deserve a home.

Joti Rekhi, Emmy-nominated founder of Harjan Productions

Joti Kaur Rekhi is a bilingual Emmy-nominated journalist and the founder of Harjan Productions. Joti has been trusted to tell some of the most important local, national, and international stories of the past decade-plus. Some of her most memorable assignments relate to the areas of identity, social justice, mental health, and public policy. She created Harjan to uplift narratives that unite, inspire, and redefine what it truly means to be seen. If she isn’t behind a microphone reporting, you can find her singing keertan. She’s excited to give voice to Desis in her home state through this fellowship.

Why did you apply for this fellowship?

As a news reporter with over 10 years of experience working with local and international outlets, I am witnessing a significant shift in media consumption, now more pronounced than ever. Viewership at traditional outlets is declining as the demographic ages out of a product that has become stale.

As I report at local stations here in New Jersey, I’ve challenged myself to create social content beyond explainer videos and traditional news packages that air on linear TV. I’ve seen engagement and awareness about local issues increase when I speak directly to my audience in this way.

I’m looking for opportunities to grow as a social-first storyteller in this evolving media landscape. This fellowship allows me to hone those skills and create content that is meaningful and truly representative of the growing Desi population in New Jersey. While I’ve been reporting in a freelance capacity for traditional outlets, I’ve also established my own production company to create content with brands and organizations about stories that I often can't tell for traditional news outlets. Some of this social content includes collaborations with The Sikh Coalition, SALDEF, and AAPI NJ.

Ambreen Ali is the founding editor of Central Desi and a longtime journalist.

Upcoming events this week (Dec. 10 - Dec. 16)

Now through December 21 - Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Series
Various locations
The Holiday Bazaar is a popular annual event split between Asbury Park and Long Branch. Inspired by Germany’s Christmas Markets, it showcases handcrafted goods and gifts by local and regional makers and small businesses. There is live entertainment, food, workshops, kids activities, and more. Learn all about it here.

December 13 - MESA Mehfil Night
10:30 PM - 3 AM
Fushimi Times Square
311 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Get ready for a night of Desi and Arab beats as you prepare to welcome the new year with rhythm and soul. This event is hosted by The Eva Collective, The Haza Party, and Brown Girl Magazine. For dress code and tickets, visit this link.

December 14 - Haza Winter Souk
2-6 PM
Cafe Erzulie
894 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Take care of all your winter shopping by supporting small and local SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) businesses. Enjoy live beats, henna, and chai as you shop. Get your tickets here.

December 16 - Winter Drive
6:30 PM - 10 PM
Barzakh Cafe
147 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Join us for a cozy night of community building at our Toy & Winter Clothing Drive! We’ll be collecting winter necessities for our newly-arrived Afghan neighbors (yes, toys are necessities for all kids 🧸!), and wrapping presents and sorting clothes together, all while drinking hot tea and listening to live Afghan music. IMPORTANT: if you can’t make it to the event, you are more than welcome to drop off items anytime at Barzakh from now until the 16th! See this post for more details.

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