Meera Seshadri
Global Health Equity Specialist at Freely in Hope- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Franci van Rhyn
I have had the privilege of working with and being trained by Meera as a Consent Advocate and Relationship Educator (CARE) at Harvard College. Meera made our 12 week training interesting, educational and engaging, not to mention empowering. I found myself truly looking forward to our weekly training sessions, as well as the readings we had to do before each session. The passion that Meera instilled in all of the CAREs during the 40 hours of training continue to motivate us 2 years on and will stay with me for the rest of my life. What I find most admirable about Meera is her ability to approach difficult situations with empathy and creativity. This was especially noticeable when we led workshops for all the incoming Harvard College freshmen. The CAREs would often receive difficult questions from the freshmen during the workshops, to which there was seemingly no answer, but Meera was always able to come up with an ingenious answer, that was both informative and impactful. Her creativity was not only visible in difficult situations, but also in the events and curriculums that she put together for Harvard College. Meera is more than just a mentor. She is a role model and I will always be indebted to her for changing the way I navigate my interpersonal relationships and the work we do as CAREs.
Soha Bayoumi, PhD
I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Meera during her last year at Harvard. Meera has struck me with her poise and equanimity and her ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders . Meera's energy and passion for the work she does, supporting victims of sexual and gender-based violence, is exemplary. Her ability to combine victim advocacy with community outreach initiatives and designing educational programing is inspiring. Although I'm sad to see Meera go, I'm confident that she will make a difference wherever she goes in the lives of not only the individuals she supports through her advocacy, but also her work partners and colleagues and her larger community.
Franci van Rhyn
I have had the privilege of working with and being trained by Meera as a Consent Advocate and Relationship Educator (CARE) at Harvard College. Meera made our 12 week training interesting, educational and engaging, not to mention empowering. I found myself truly looking forward to our weekly training sessions, as well as the readings we had to do before each session. The passion that Meera instilled in all of the CAREs during the 40 hours of training continue to motivate us 2 years on and will stay with me for the rest of my life. What I find most admirable about Meera is her ability to approach difficult situations with empathy and creativity. This was especially noticeable when we led workshops for all the incoming Harvard College freshmen. The CAREs would often receive difficult questions from the freshmen during the workshops, to which there was seemingly no answer, but Meera was always able to come up with an ingenious answer, that was both informative and impactful. Her creativity was not only visible in difficult situations, but also in the events and curriculums that she put together for Harvard College. Meera is more than just a mentor. She is a role model and I will always be indebted to her for changing the way I navigate my interpersonal relationships and the work we do as CAREs.
Soha Bayoumi, PhD
I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Meera during her last year at Harvard. Meera has struck me with her poise and equanimity and her ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders . Meera's energy and passion for the work she does, supporting victims of sexual and gender-based violence, is exemplary. Her ability to combine victim advocacy with community outreach initiatives and designing educational programing is inspiring. Although I'm sad to see Meera go, I'm confident that she will make a difference wherever she goes in the lives of not only the individuals she supports through her advocacy, but also her work partners and colleagues and her larger community.
Franci van Rhyn
I have had the privilege of working with and being trained by Meera as a Consent Advocate and Relationship Educator (CARE) at Harvard College. Meera made our 12 week training interesting, educational and engaging, not to mention empowering. I found myself truly looking forward to our weekly training sessions, as well as the readings we had to do before each session. The passion that Meera instilled in all of the CAREs during the 40 hours of training continue to motivate us 2 years on and will stay with me for the rest of my life. What I find most admirable about Meera is her ability to approach difficult situations with empathy and creativity. This was especially noticeable when we led workshops for all the incoming Harvard College freshmen. The CAREs would often receive difficult questions from the freshmen during the workshops, to which there was seemingly no answer, but Meera was always able to come up with an ingenious answer, that was both informative and impactful. Her creativity was not only visible in difficult situations, but also in the events and curriculums that she put together for Harvard College. Meera is more than just a mentor. She is a role model and I will always be indebted to her for changing the way I navigate my interpersonal relationships and the work we do as CAREs.
Soha Bayoumi, PhD
I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Meera during her last year at Harvard. Meera has struck me with her poise and equanimity and her ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders . Meera's energy and passion for the work she does, supporting victims of sexual and gender-based violence, is exemplary. Her ability to combine victim advocacy with community outreach initiatives and designing educational programing is inspiring. Although I'm sad to see Meera go, I'm confident that she will make a difference wherever she goes in the lives of not only the individuals she supports through her advocacy, but also her work partners and colleagues and her larger community.
Franci van Rhyn
I have had the privilege of working with and being trained by Meera as a Consent Advocate and Relationship Educator (CARE) at Harvard College. Meera made our 12 week training interesting, educational and engaging, not to mention empowering. I found myself truly looking forward to our weekly training sessions, as well as the readings we had to do before each session. The passion that Meera instilled in all of the CAREs during the 40 hours of training continue to motivate us 2 years on and will stay with me for the rest of my life. What I find most admirable about Meera is her ability to approach difficult situations with empathy and creativity. This was especially noticeable when we led workshops for all the incoming Harvard College freshmen. The CAREs would often receive difficult questions from the freshmen during the workshops, to which there was seemingly no answer, but Meera was always able to come up with an ingenious answer, that was both informative and impactful. Her creativity was not only visible in difficult situations, but also in the events and curriculums that she put together for Harvard College. Meera is more than just a mentor. She is a role model and I will always be indebted to her for changing the way I navigate my interpersonal relationships and the work we do as CAREs.
Soha Bayoumi, PhD
I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Meera during her last year at Harvard. Meera has struck me with her poise and equanimity and her ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders . Meera's energy and passion for the work she does, supporting victims of sexual and gender-based violence, is exemplary. Her ability to combine victim advocacy with community outreach initiatives and designing educational programing is inspiring. Although I'm sad to see Meera go, I'm confident that she will make a difference wherever she goes in the lives of not only the individuals she supports through her advocacy, but also her work partners and colleagues and her larger community.
Credentials
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Healthy Masculinity Action Project (HMAP) Ambassador
Men Can Stop RapeJan, 2014- Nov, 2024 -
Name It, Face It, End It: Sexual Violence in Schools - Presenter
Relation-ShiftSep, 2016- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Freely in Hope
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Global Health Equity Specialist
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Sep 2021 - Present
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Soteria Solutions
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United States
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Professional Training and Coaching
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1 - 100 Employee
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Prevention Strategy Lead
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Jul 2021 - Present
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Lead Trainer
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Jan 2018 - Present
- Facilitate regional train-the-trainer workshops across the United States and Canada for the Bringing in the Bystander College In-Person and Virtual Prevention program. - Develop and facilitate curricula to build campus and community capacity for engaging in comprehensive gender-based violence prevention and education strategy.
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Research Designer
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Jul 2021 - Present
Start by Talking, LLC Cambridge Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative (DGBVPI) Survey - Conduct ethnographic research using an anti-oppression framework with survivors of color who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence to explore and evaluate the gaps between current and desired user experience of Cambridge City advocacy, health, legal, and city resources. - Identify the cultural, institutional, and systemic constructs that limit access to, and utilization of, comprehensive resources, and demonstrate the impact of said barriers across the social ecology. - Translate findings into equity-centered design solutions and prioritized recommendations that center the lived experience of survivors of color and promote autonomy, healing, and liberation. Show less
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The Swan Center For Advocacy and Research
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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Health Communications Consultant
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May 2020 - Present
• Design and customize a four-part “Anti-Oppression Advocacy” training for use in training public health professionals, preventionists, and advocates working specifically to “validate narratives, orchestrate holistic healing, and eradicate violence against and within Black communities.” • Assist in ongoing anti-oppression advocacy projects including formative research, data analysis, survey design, focus group facilitation, and curriculum development. • Design and customize a four-part “Anti-Oppression Advocacy” training for use in training public health professionals, preventionists, and advocates working specifically to “validate narratives, orchestrate holistic healing, and eradicate violence against and within Black communities.” • Assist in ongoing anti-oppression advocacy projects including formative research, data analysis, survey design, focus group facilitation, and curriculum development.
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No Limit Generation
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Advisor: Child Protection
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Oct 2018 - Present
Develop evidence-based and trauma-informed resources that help caregivers create safe, nurturing, and protective environments for children experiencing trauma as a result of sexual abuse and violence. Empower caregivers with the tools and skills necessary to safeguard children against sexual harassment/abuse, human trafficking, and the instabilities of their new living environments. Develop capacity of caregivers to positively impact and guide childrens' sexual health and development, helping them to flourish while healing. Show less
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Boston Bollywood LLC
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Greater Boston Area
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Choreographer
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Feb 2016 - Present
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Advisory Council: Gender-based Violence Subject Matter Expert
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Dec 2017 - Present
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LiveSafe
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United States
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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1 - 100 Employee
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Advisory Council: Subject Matter Expert
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Jul 2014 - Jul 2021
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YLabs
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Rwanda
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Technology, Information and Media
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1 - 100 Employee
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Research Assistant
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Nov 2017 - Nov 2017
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Harvard University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Associate Director, Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response
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Aug 2014 - Oct 2017
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Education Specialist for Harvard College, Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
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Aug 2014 - May 2015
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Georgetown University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Health Communications Specialist/Staff Advisor to the Sexual Assault Peer Educators
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Aug 2013 - Aug 2014
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Emory University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Advocate for The Respect Program
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Jan 2013 - Aug 2013
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Choreographer and Instructor
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Nov 2012 - Jul 2013
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Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs
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United States
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Strategic Management Services
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300 - 400 Employee
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Research Assistant
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Apr 2011 - Jun 2012
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Mona Khan Company
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United States
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Entertainment Providers
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1 - 100 Employee
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Choreographer, Company Dancer
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Aug 2006 - Dec 2010
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The World Bank
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United States
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International Trade and Development
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700 & Above Employee
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Consultant - Nicaragua Health Sector Reform Project
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Mar 2010 - May 2010
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EarthSync
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Chennai Area, India
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Dancer and Choreographer, 'Kartick & Gotam' Business Class Refugees
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2009 - 2010
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Villgro
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India
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Research Fellow (funded by The Rockefeller Foundation)
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Feb 2009 - Dec 2009
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Flowers Heritage Foundation
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Oakland, CA
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Project Assistant, HIV/AIDS
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Feb 2007 - Aug 2008
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Janaagraha
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India
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Civic and Social Organizations
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100 - 200 Employee
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Intern
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2004 - 2004
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Education
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2010 - 2012
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Graduate Certificate, Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Adolescent Health and Development -
2010 - 2012
The Johns Hopkins University
Masters in Health Science, Health Education and Health Communication -
2002 - 2006
The George Washington University
Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, International Development, Dance, Performance Art
Community
