Livingston School Board Member Shares Inspiring Immigration Story

LIVINGSTON, NJ — When Vineeta Khanna and her family immigrated to the United States more than 20 years ago, it represented a bridge between two continents. Now, after earning a place on the Livingston Board of Education in last year’s general election, Khanna continues to inspire some serious community pride in her hometown.

Recently, advocacy group Livingston Justice offered a hearty thank-you to Khanna, who is helping to blaze a trail for people of South Asian heritage and women of color in the township.

Khanna began her three-year term on the school board in January. She emerged victorious over three other candidates, earning 4,401 votes.

• Read More: See Livingston 2020 Election Results: School Board, Council Winners

Khanna gave some more details about her personal background and how it has shaped her own pathway to the board. She wrote:

“My family and I immigrated to the United States in 1997, and to Livingston in 1999. I have always believed in ‘being a part of’ and ‘connecting with’ my surroundings, and thus have consistently served the Livingston community.

“My husband Sandeep works for a bank, and we have been married for over 27 years and have raised our two kids in Livingston. Transcending continents and adapting to life in the United States, we made sure that we inculcate the rich cultural tradition and value system of our heritage in our children. I’ve had an expansive global career alongside frequent community engagements. That has broadened my perspective and built empathy to connect with the diverse population of our town.

“Early on, I saw the need to educate ourselves about the diversity around us, and my creativity lent me the vision to independently conceptualize and execute the very first LPS Multicultural event in Harrison Elementary School, and the event has since spread to all of the schools in Livingston. This experience led to a formal PTA role as a VP and as a PT Council Multicultural Committee co-chair.

“Before being elected to the BOE, I also served the town as a member of the Zoning Board, Open Space Trust Committee, and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“Our world, its beauty, and its diversity fascinate me. I speak three languages, and have been exposed to numerous cultures via my work in the hospitality, airline and media industries. My global travels gave me exposure to multiple cultures, that helped me learn and appreciate diversity. I call myself a Global Citizen for my natural ability to understand and connect with people from different communities. I have also managed multi-million-dollar commercial real estate for over 16 years. In addition, as a talk show host of a very popular radio program for 16 years, I engaged listeners on social issues that led to my appearances on WNYC & WHYY-NPR.

“Motivated by my passion for public speaking and for personality development of my students, I founded Orator Academy, where I teach students to communicate with confidence and conviction. I am focused on coaching youth and adults, helping them find their ‘voice’ and thrive.

“My son, Vihan, is an Eagle Scout and has trained to be the next scoutmaster of his troop. His Eagle project was to build a 250 feet long path to connect Westgate Road to North Westgate Road, a path now used regularly by residents and students walking to Heritage Middle School. Inspired by hearing his mother on the radio, Vihan has developed interest in the media world and has single-handedly hosted the Visionaries Film Festival two years in a row, authored a book titled ‘What’s your plus?,’ and has a podcast titled ‘Art Of Entertainment.’ Both of my kids have led anti-bullying programs at Livingston High School.

“My daughter, Shivangi, collaborated with DoSomething.org to start an LHS chapter of their organization that remains strong now, nearly a decade later. She received the Presidential award for academic excellence, the Soroptimist award for her commitment to social issues, the Eisenhower award for leadership and community development skills. In addition, she was selected for the American Legion Auxiliary’s Girl State civic leadership program. After speaking on a platform of anti-human trafficking to an auditorium of over 400, she was elected by her peers to attend Girls Nation where she met President Obama.

“I strongly believe that understanding the importance of building and nurturing relationships is key to personal and professional success. I am a huge proponent of the need for effective communication skills to be able to listen and articulate; relational intelligence, to manage our relationships and build connections; social skills training for mindfulness and conflict resolution; and emotional resilience.

“I hope to continue to serve beyond my own, and to the best of my ability.”

• See related article: Democrat Plan Could Give 11M Immigrants A Path To US Citizenship
• See related article: 5 Reasons Why Immigrants Make New Jersey Better

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