WHAT WE DO
Three pillars. One purpose.
The Consortium’s work spans civic engagement, interfaith dialogue, and youth development three interconnected areas where coordinated action by Hindu organizations can make the greatest difference.
01
Civic engagement
From identity to impact
Hindu Americans are among the most educated, professionally accomplished, and economically productive communities in the United States. Yet civic participation voting, advocacy, community organizing, and public leadership has historically lagged behind those achievements.
The Consortium’s civic engagement work is designed to close that gap. We create programs that help Hindu Americans understand how political and civic systems work, why their participation matters, and how to translate their values and interests into effective public action.
Our flagship program, From Identity to Impact, is a multi-day summer institute for high school and college-age participants that combines political education, case studies in community organizing, and leadership development rooted in dharmic values.
- Summer Civic Institute — Annual residential program for young Hindu Americans on civic leadership and political participation
- Political education workshops — Sessions on how local, state, and federal systems work and how communities can engage them
- Case study curriculum — Comparative analysis of how minority communities have organized for political power in America
02
Interfaith dialogue
Building bridges across faiths
Hinduism’s foundational principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the world is one family is not merely a philosophical ideal. For the Consortium, it is an active program. We believe that Hindu Americans have a distinctive contribution to make in building the interfaith relationships that American pluralism requires.
Our interfaith work goes beyond ceremonial exchanges. We create genuine, sustained relationships between Hindu organizations and other faith communities relationships built on shared values, honest conversation, and mutual respect that deepens over time.
Our 2024 Festivals of Light program at Olam Tikvah synagogue bringing together Hindu and Jewish communities around Diwali and Chanukah is a model for the kind of dialogue we pursue: rooted in shared spiritual themes, grounded in real community relationships, and designed to continue beyond a single event.
- Festivals of Light — Annual Hindu-Jewish dialogue event exploring shared traditions around Diwali and Chanukah
- Temple open days — Welcoming interfaith partners and the broader public to Hindu sacred spaces for education and dialogue
- Reciprocal visits — Hindu community members visiting partner faith communities to learn and deepen relationships
03
Youth development
Investing in the next generation
The most important investment the Consortium can make is in young Hindu Americans the generation that will determine whether this community’s values, traditions, and civic potential are carried forward with strength and clarity.
Our youth programs are built around two interlocking goals: helping young Hindu Americans develop a grounded, confident sense of their own identity and tradition; and equipping them with the practical skills and knowledge to lead in civic, professional, and community life.
We partner with organizations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America to deliver summer camps and leadership programs that combine dharmic education with modern leadership development so participants leave with both deeper roots and stronger wings.
- VHP Youth Summer Camp — Multi-day residential program combining dharmic education with civic and leadership skills
- Youth civic track — Dedicated programming within the Summer Civic Institute for high school students
- Mentorship connections — Connecting young participants with Hindu American professionals and civic leaders
Our approach
How the Consortium works
We are a convener, not a competitor. Everything we do is designed to amplify what Hindu organizations are already doing not to replace it.
Coordinate, don't duplicate
We identify where Hindu organizations' efforts can be aligned and amplified. We never seek to duplicate what member organizations are already doing well.
Preserve independence
Every organization we work with retains full autonomy over its own programs and governance. The Consortium is a platform, not a hierarchy.
Build for the long term
We invest in relationships, not transactions. Our interfaith, civic, and youth programs are designed to deepen over time not to produce one-off events.