Indian-American Shaleen Sheth of Lynnfield, MA is among the six honorees chosen to be honored by the Massachusetts AAPI Commission at its inaugural award ceremony for AAPI Unsung Heroes during the 15th Annual Unity Gala on May 6, 2023.
The Massachusetts Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission, known as AAPI, is the only permanent statewide body dedicated to advocating for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Unsung Hero Awards will be given to Connie Wong, Deputy Commissioner for Labor Relations, Boston Fire Department; Shaleen Sheth, Youth Activist; Master Nam and Sarah, Business people; Shaina Lu, Artist; Rev Dr. Ko Ko Lay, a pastor of Burmese Christian Church; and Maria Isabela Campos, Youth Activist.
“The AAPI Commission has created an AAPI Unsung Heroes Award, which will be presented annually to an individual or group who has worked tirelessly to support and uplift all communities but has not received the recognition they deserve,” said AAPI Commission Executive Director Yasmin Padamsee Forbes. “It is critical for us to recognize people who the community knows is the person who has assisted them in times of need, doing important and impactful work year after year.”
The Massachusetts AAPI Commission will be at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. The event will feature keynote speakers, to be announced at a later time. One of the highlights of the Unity Dinner is the granting of awards to community leaders and organizations.
Shaleen Sheth is a socially conscious young professional based in Boston who has been actively involved in community service since 12. She graduated with honors from Babson College, majoring in business and finance. She co-founded Women Who Win, a non-profit organization that amplifies women’s voices worldwide through story-telling, skill-sharing, mentorship, and networking. As a Co-CEO, she scaled the organization to over 20k members in 80 countries, with support from institutions such as Bank of America, Linkedin, and Akshaya Patra USA. She is an Advisory Council Member for Saheli Boston, supporting South Asian domestic violence survivors, and was appointed to the Young Professionals Leadership Council for Akshaya Patra in 2022. Shaleen received a citation from the Massachusetts State Government for her leadership in women’s empowerment. Her mission is to use media and technology to uplift the voices of women and minorities globally.
