Growing up as a mixed- race, trans person in the South, I knew I was different from my (mostly white) neighbors, but I didn’t always have the language for it.  When 9/11 happened, I felt called to activism, joining anti-war protests, getting involved in electoral politics for the first time, and seeing myself as part of a broader South Asian community that needed a political voice.  I entered the organizing world during the 2008 recession, and seeing the overwhelming need of the immigrant communities around issues of housing and economic justice, I became a tenant organizer.  After years of organizing in movement organizations that struggled with sustainability, I found myself drawn to the internal care and support work that I now practice as a consultant.”

Anjan Chaudhry (he/they) is a consultant who supports social justice organizations in building healthy teams and work environments.  Informed by their background as a community organizer and movement facilitator, Anjan uses participatory, people-centered approaches to facilitate organizational change around challenges including strategy, structure, organizational culture, and team dynamics.

Before working as a consultant, Anjan worked for 15 years as a community organizer and capacity builder in the Asian American and LGBTQ community.  Most recently, Anjan worked at the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) where they provided training, coaching, and facilitated peer network building for AA & NHPI led local organizations.  They are a co-author of the #OurNeigborhoods toolkit, a multilingual resource for AA & NHPI led organizations leading anti-gentrification campaigns. As a tenant organizer at organizations including CAAAV and Chhaya CDC in New York City, Anjan helped build leadership of immigrant renters, supporting tenant associations to improve material conditions in their buildings and fight for tenant protections at the city and state level.  Anjan led local campaigns including supporting NYC public housing residents to fight for language access, campaigning for an equitable rezoning of Manhattan’s Chinatown, and for the city-wide legalization of safe basement apartments.  In addition to work in Asian communities, Anjan has also supported LGBTQ organizations, including working as a faith and rural organizer to win a historic same sex marriage campaign in the state of Minnesota and serving as a board member of the National Queer Asian Pacific American Alliance (NQAPIA).

Anjan has a BA in Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies and Politics from Oberlin College and a MS in Organization Development from American University. They are a member of the Chesapeake Bay Organization Development Network  and a recipient of the AU MSOD’s Segal- Seashore Award for OD practitioners committed to social change.  When not consulting, Anjan enjoys playing bass drum in their local queer marching band, D.C.’s Different Drummers.