TOI correspondent from USA: She is the quintessential daughter of an Indian immigrant Silicon Valley. But Tara Sreekrishnan as well as elected members of Santa Clara County board of education. And now as a Democratic Party candidate running for the California State Assembly to represent District 26, she highlighted the need to ensure that every child has access to high quality learning, in her campaign.
Like many Indian immigrants, his parents came to Santa Clara with limited resources and worked hard to build a life. “My parents started building a life here from scratch. They worked very hard—my mother was a local school librarian in the Cupertino Union School District and my father was an engineer—to build a stable life for me and my brother. But like many immigrant families, they encountered obstacles that makes accessing quality healthcare challenging, and finding affordable housing in Silicon Valley almost impossible,” Sreekrishnan told the Times of India in an interview.
“For most of the children, they have to go into debt just to cover the basic needs, reduce the resources to ensure that we have a roof and medical care when we need it. People see that I really understand their struggle and fight for the right of every family to opportunities, like myself,” he added.
The fact that she is running to be the first Asian American state assemblywoman in Silicon Valley, along with the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris energizes her. “Vice President Harris’ journey shows how diverse voices make politics stronger. It’s inspiring, and the momentum of his campaign proves voters want change. That energy certainly resonates with supporters who see strength in representation,” said Sreekrishnan, who is in election in the US election on November 5.
Although he has not yet seen Indian-Americans have a strong voice in politics in Silicon Valley, he feels it is growing. “Our society is rising and making strides in public service. I am here to amplify that voice so that it can be heard at every decision-making table,” said Sreekrishnan.
Public life is not new to him and he has served as legislative advisor at the city level, director of policy and outreach and chief of staff at the county level, and as legislative director, communications director, and deputy chief of staff, at the state level. level.
“I have taken on big fights that are important to families and have always stood up for powerful special interests, including during this campaign. I bring professional experience at the school district, city, county, and state levels. As state legislative director, I am fighting to protect children -our children from the fentanyl crisis, for more affordable housing, and increased access to health care for everyone,” said Sreekrishnan, who completed his master’s degree from the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. At the Santa Clara County school board, he has helped raise teacher pay and close the digital divide, and champion student well-being.
He is also the founder of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, a non-profit organization to push for environmental sustainability, climate restoration, and 100% renewable energy. “At the beginning of 2019, I founded our non-profit. It brought together high school and college students, created action teams in San Jose, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, etc.-even to San Mateo county. We have organized strikes, lobbying schools to ditch utensils plastic, distributed petitions, shared curriculum created by students, and held summits and workshops. Our San Jose climate strike brought thousands to City Hall, demanding change,” he said.
The message to encourage sustainable practices has been taken to the doorsteps of tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and Facebook, through the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action with grassroots youth leaders driving impactful change in the Bay Area.
Sreekrishnan survived cancer in her 20s and is now a fierce advocate for women’s reproductive health and rights. “I faced misdiagnosis and saw firsthand how our health system often fails to meet the needs of women. The experience remade me – I understand the importance of quality, accessible health, and I know that women can be the strongest advocates. I am committed to ensuring care that affordable and fair for all,” he said.
He is proud of his Indian heritage and his family gave him a strong foundation. “My family’s journey has led me to work hard, serve others, and fight for justice. I am honored to bring that perspective to my campaign and work for California,” he said.