Nimish Bhatt Is the 2013 Recipient of Dr. Jian Dong Award
Drs. Ki-Hyun & Sunny Chun hosted Opera "celebrities'" Sun Yu, Yunah Lee, Julius Ahn, and Maestro James Meena (Principal Conductor of Opera Carolina) with a festive dinner at the Asian Library. Although the event highlighted music and food, a special recognition for a deserving member of the Asian community, who embodies what it means to give back to the community through selfless acts, was awarded to long time Asian Chamber member, Mr. Nimish Bhatt.
The award carries a special significance in that it is called the "Dr. Jian Dong Award;" after the man who is a well-noted, outstanding, and admired longtime member the greater Charlotte community. In the presence of Dr. Dong, surrounded by his family and friends, the award was introduced by Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun, and presented by well-known community leader, Mr. Bert Rodriguez, Past President of FACC, 2011.
Bhatt is known as a humble person with a great sense of responsibility for everything he does. His contagious enthusiasm empowers people to great achievements. His energy vibrates peace, while his efforts are dedicated to serve the community. Bhatt is a great leader and achiever, and well respected and admired by many; as his contributions to education, health and economic development will definitely enhance our society.
Bhatt was born in Africa and spent his childhood surrounded by African culture. His parents were Asian Indian educators and were serving as missionaries, before the family returned to India as refugees in the early days of the Ugandan dictator Edi-Amin Dada. It was in India that Bhatt obtained a degree in Civil Engineering. IBM recruited Bhatt and brought him to Charlotte where he immersed himself and became very active in the international community. Of note: Bhatt is also Six Sigma Green Belt certified.
Bhatt currently serves on the Board of Directors at: CAACC; UVCEF; and UISAC (Civic & Social Organization) in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work with Carolinas Healthcare System has allowed him to introduce seminars on faith based, integrated, and alternative health care for the Asian/African/American communities.
From 1999 to present, he has managed & coordinated projects such as: community free clinics; refugee resettlement; educational and job training projects for beginners; partnering in 2012 with the Government and NGOs on rehabilitation, and projects to control drug abuse, and to be more active for public safety and health. As a key founding member of a team led by Dr. Amit Shah and Mr. Patrick Chang, CAHPA (Carolinas Asian Health-care Professional Association) was started to address these issues.
Bhatt joined the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) in 1999 at the invitation from founder Dr. Chun. Since that time he has been an active member of the Board of Directors, currently holding the position of Vice President. Nimish serves on the Business Advisory Committee of Charlotte city as a representative of the CAACC and the Asian business community.
Among his accomplishments and service to the community are: founding the Universal Vedic Cultural and Education Foundation, an organization for educational and cultural development of the International community; founding the Carolina International School to provide quality education with an emphasis on exchange of International cultures; serving on the Cultural Competence advisory board for Mecklenburg County mental health, which focuses on bringing new and diverse approaches to the mental health arenas; representing the Asian community in public and governmental areas such as the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, Charlotte Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Social Services, including organizing free health clinics for the international community; initiating and founding CAHA on behalf of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Golden step to the history of Asian Heritage, the dedication on May 19th, 2007 of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the county court house, a joint effort by Miss Rina Shah, Mayor of Bhavnagar, India, and Mecklenburg county commissioner Mrs. Jennifer Roberts. On three different occasions Bhatt has been invited to the White House during the terms of President Bush and President Obama to take part in a multi-culture and religious forum. As a community leader he promoted Asian culture at the First World Parade and Festival 2012, in Charlotte.
Bhatt's skills and expertise include: social media, organizational skills, customer service, event management, mentoring, policy and planning. All of them were proved when Grameen Bank opened doors in Charlotte; he was on the team that received Dr. Muhammad Yunas from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Currently the Grameen Charlotte branch is located in MICC, a wood-floored former classroom in the "new" International House building on Central Avenue. Bhatt was so happy to spread the news that he invited everyone he knew to the Inauguration of Midwood International Cultural Center - MICC. This same facility will serve as home to many organizations dear to his heart: UISAC; CAHPA the Universal Institute for Successful Aging of Carolinas (located in Room 208), which focuses on holistic human health by applying alternative techniques in keeping the mind, body and soul healthy (http://uisac.weebly.com/); it also provides special support for immigrant/refugee populations to learn the best easy way to "resettlement" in the United States in order to be successful citizens, yet still preserving their traditional values and cultural roots. With so many projects on the horizon, it is expected that Bhatt will have a year full of work; however, let's hope that it will also be a time to meditate and enjoy his accomplishments.
Bhatt is known as a humble person with a great sense of responsibility for everything he does. His contagious enthusiasm empowers people to great achievements. His energy vibrates peace, while his efforts are dedicated to serve the community. Bhatt is a great leader and achiever, and well respected and admired by many; as his contributions to education, health and economic development will definitely enhance our society.
Bhatt was born in Africa and spent his childhood surrounded by African culture. His parents were Asian Indian educators and were serving as missionaries, before the family returned to India as refugees in the early days of the Ugandan dictator Edi-Amin Dada. It was in India that Bhatt obtained a degree in Civil Engineering. IBM recruited Bhatt and brought him to Charlotte where he immersed himself and became very active in the international community. Of note: Bhatt is also Six Sigma Green Belt certified.
Bhatt currently serves on the Board of Directors at: CAACC; UVCEF; and UISAC (Civic & Social Organization) in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work with Carolinas Healthcare System has allowed him to introduce seminars on faith based, integrated, and alternative health care for the Asian/African/American communities.
From 1999 to present, he has managed & coordinated projects such as: community free clinics; refugee resettlement; educational and job training projects for beginners; partnering in 2012 with the Government and NGOs on rehabilitation, and projects to control drug abuse, and to be more active for public safety and health. As a key founding member of a team led by Dr. Amit Shah and Mr. Patrick Chang, CAHPA (Carolinas Asian Health-care Professional Association) was started to address these issues.
Bhatt joined the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) in 1999 at the invitation from founder Dr. Chun. Since that time he has been an active member of the Board of Directors, currently holding the position of Vice President. Nimish serves on the Business Advisory Committee of Charlotte city as a representative of the CAACC and the Asian business community.
Among his accomplishments and service to the community are: founding the Universal Vedic Cultural and Education Foundation, an organization for educational and cultural development of the International community; founding the Carolina International School to provide quality education with an emphasis on exchange of International cultures; serving on the Cultural Competence advisory board for Mecklenburg County mental health, which focuses on bringing new and diverse approaches to the mental health arenas; representing the Asian community in public and governmental areas such as the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, Charlotte Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Social Services, including organizing free health clinics for the international community; initiating and founding CAHA on behalf of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Golden step to the history of Asian Heritage, the dedication on May 19th, 2007 of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the county court house, a joint effort by Miss Rina Shah, Mayor of Bhavnagar, India, and Mecklenburg county commissioner Mrs. Jennifer Roberts. On three different occasions Bhatt has been invited to the White House during the terms of President Bush and President Obama to take part in a multi-culture and religious forum. As a community leader he promoted Asian culture at the First World Parade and Festival 2012, in Charlotte.
Bhatt's skills and expertise include: social media, organizational skills, customer service, event management, mentoring, policy and planning. All of them were proved when Grameen Bank opened doors in Charlotte; he was on the team that received Dr. Muhammad Yunas from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Currently the Grameen Charlotte branch is located in MICC, a wood-floored former classroom in the "new" International House building on Central Avenue. Bhatt was so happy to spread the news that he invited everyone he knew to the Inauguration of Midwood International Cultural Center - MICC. This same facility will serve as home to many organizations dear to his heart: UISAC; CAHPA the Universal Institute for Successful Aging of Carolinas (located in Room 208), which focuses on holistic human health by applying alternative techniques in keeping the mind, body and soul healthy (http://uisac.weebly.com/); it also provides special support for immigrant/refugee populations to learn the best easy way to "resettlement" in the United States in order to be successful citizens, yet still preserving their traditional values and cultural roots. With so many projects on the horizon, it is expected that Bhatt will have a year full of work; however, let's hope that it will also be a time to meditate and enjoy his accomplishments.