At some point in our lives, we all benefit from the support and strength of our community. For me, one of those communities is the St. Louis Marathi Mandal (STLMM), a cultural non-profit that has been a pillar for Marathi-speaking individuals and families in the St. Louis area. As a long-time advocate of giving back, I felt it was time to “pay it forward” and use my skills to support an organization that gives so much to others.
Over the past few months, I embarked on a volunteer project that has been both challenging and rewarding, revamping the STLMM website. It may sound like just another web project, but to me, this was much more. This was an opportunity to breathe new life into the digital presence of a non-profit that I proudly serve as a Board Director, and in doing so, give back to the community that continues to nurture the cultural roots of Marathi people in St. Louis.
The Power of Giving Back and Paying It Forward.
In today’s world, we’re all pressed for time. But I’ve always believed that when you’re fortunate enough to have a skillset that can help others, it’s worth carving out that time. Volunteering isn’t just about what you give; it’s about what you get back in return. In this case, I got to reconnect with my roots in user experience design – something that’s been a part of my professional journey for years. For much of my career, I lived and breathed user experience (UX) design. From creating intuitive websites to apps that users could seamlessly navigate, it was my day-to-day reality. But like all journeys, mine evolved, and I found myself expanding into digital strategy, change management, and communications. While I embraced these new roles, my passion for UX always lingered in the background, waiting for the right moment to shine again. That moment came recently when I took on a freelance project for the St. Louis Marathi Mandal (STLMM).
Building a new website from scratch, doing the user research, web design, development, and launch all on my own, gave me immense satisfaction, knowing that my work would directly benefit this close-knit community.
The Heart of the Project
This wasn’t just about creating a functional website. It was about making life easier for STLMM members, enabling them to register for events, access resources, and stay connected to their culture with a few simple clicks. Digital transformation may seem like a buzzword, but at its core, it’s about improving how people engage with an organization.
For STLMM, this new site isn’t just a facelift – it’s a tool that will help streamline operations and increase member participation, making it easier for people to stay involved and support our shared mission of promoting Marathi culture.
As with any UX project, the launch is only the beginning. The real measure of success will be how our members interact with the new site, and I’m eager to hear their feedback – both good and constructive.
Progress is all about taking that first step.
The journey of paying it forward doesn’t end here. For me, this project served as a reminder that the skills we acquire over the years don’t just belong to us; they are tools we can use to uplift others, solve problems, and, in this case, give back to a community that has given me so much.
If you’ve ever thought about giving back to a community that matters to you – whether through your skills, time, or resources – I encourage you to take that step. It’s not about recognition or accolades; it’s about knowing that your contribution is helping to build something bigger than yourself.
If you want to see the final product, I invite you to check out the new STLMM website (https://www.stlmarathimandal.org/) and let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading – and here’s to finding ways to pay it forward in our own lives.
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