History and Objectives
The Marathi association of Minnesota (Non-Profit Organization under section 501(c)(3) was established with a view to build a community of Marathi people in a foreign land & help the new expatriates settle down easily. Now that many of our community members have 2 or 3 generations here, we also aim to maintain & increase the awareness of Marathi festivals & cultures in our community by hosting multiple events during the year.
Our Mission
To preserve and foster literary activities of the Marathi speaking community by
- Establishing the Marathi community support system to provide educational assistance to youths and adults interested in Marathi language and literature and to provide necessary avenues to participate and support other educational organizations and efforts.
- Organizing cultural activities specific to Marathi culture.
~375
Members
~65
Children enrolled Marathi Shala since inception
~175
Events conducted since inception
~150
Families Served
MAM Committee : 2022-24
President
अमिता पेणकर (Amita Penkar)
नमस्कार, मी अमिता पेणकर. मुळची मुंबईची. गेली १६ वर्षे मिनीयापोलीस मध्ये ईडन प्रेअरी येथे माझे पती समीर, मुलगा मानस
(Sophomore at Eden Prairie High School) आणी Sky आमचा Golden Retriever यांचेसह आमचे वास्तव्य आहे. MAM
Committee वर हि माझी दुसरी टर्म आहे. पहिल्या टर्म मध्ये मी Cultural Secretary होते आणी ह्या Committee मध्ये मी
अध्यक्ष (President) आहे. त्यामुळे मंडळाच्या कामाचा खूप जवळून परिचय झाला. माझ्या मुलानेही अनेक वर्षे मंडळाचे सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमात भाग घेतला व एन्जॉय केले. I have also participated and volunteered in various Mandal events and plays in the last 15 years. My hope is that with the help of the amazing team we have on the MAM committee, I will be able to bring in fresh ideas to the Mandal while still keeping our Marathi traditions alive. Especially, in today’s digital age, I would love to bridge the gap for our younger generation by fostering Marathi culture and getting them more involved through volunteering and networking activities in the Mandal.
आपण सर्वजण आमच्या समितीला जास्तीत जास्त सहभागी होऊन सहकार्य कराल अशी माझी खात्री आहे.
Namaskar, I am Vishakha Kokate currently reside in Carver MN and have lived in Minnesota for 8 years. I have been enjoying MAM Community events for past 4 years. I grew up in the beautiful city of kolhapur with diverse and rich culture and traditions. Growing up I celebrated all festivals with my family and friends. My Husband and my 2 boys enjoy being part of the cultural events that MAM organizes. I look forward to be part of this association and help organize events that will bring happiness and joy within the community.
Vice President
विशाखा कोकाटे (Vishakha Kokate)
Communication and Marketing
प्रविणा पाठक (Pravina Pathak)
मी प्रविणा कुलकर्णी – पाठक. माझे पती अमित आणि माझ्या दोन सुकन्या शौर्या आणि आर्या यांच्या सोबत गेले तीन वर्षे मिनिआपोलीस मध्ये वास्तव्यास आहे . मी मूळची विद्येचे माहेरघर – पुणे येथील असून स्वतः साहित्याची आवड असणारी आहे. गेले दोन वर्षे मी मराठी मंडळाचे मासिक “हितगुज” ची धुरा सांभाळली होती. आणि त्यातूनच प्रेरणा घेऊन मंडळाच्या कार्यकारिणी मध्ये सहभागी झाले आहे. मला आणि माझ्या कुटुंबास संस्कृती आणि सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम यात विशेष रस आहे. मराठी भाषा आणि आपली संस्कृतीचा वारसा पुढे नेण्यासाठी हा मंच मला खूपच उपयुक्त वाटला. या प्रवासात तुमची साथ नक्कीच असेल अशी आशा करते.
Mahesh is an IT executive with vast experience in management and technology. He is in Minnesota from last 6 years. He is active member and contributed as volunteer in many social activities.
Communications Secretary
महेश चिमणपुरे (Mahesh Chimanpure)
Cultural Secretary
मिथुन जाधव (Mithun Jadhav)
I am Mithun Jadhav, a proud Mumbaikar, living in Minnesota with my wife Anupama and daughter Saanvi for 12 years. I was born and brought up in a city called Thane, close to Mumbai in India, in a big community complex where all the festivals were celebrated together as a family. I always missed celebrating our festivals, like the way I celebrated back in India until I started attending Marathi Association of Minnesota(MAM) events 3 years back. I always enjoyed volunteering and organizing events for MAM. Today, I feel fortunate & greatful to have this opportunity to be on the MAM committee to serve our Marathi Community in Minnesota and help celebrate & enjoy our cultural festivals with all our Minnesota families.
I look forward to working with everyone in our community, and together keeping our culture alive and growing for our future generation to come!
केतन कुलकर्णी ( Ketan Kulkarni )
Cultural Secretary
अश्विनी भोसले (Ashwini Bhosale)
मी अश्विनी भोसले, मी साईं बाबांच्या पदस्पर्शाने पावन झालेल्या भूमीची.अशा ह्या साईबाबा आणि शिवाजी महाराज्यांच्या पुण्यभूमीत जन्म व आजोबा थोर स्वातंत्र्य सेनानी त्यामुळे निस्पृहपणे समाजकार्याचा वारसा आपोआपच मिळालेला आहे.
गेली अनेक वर्षे मराठी मंडळात सहभाग आहे,सध्या 2022-2024 च्या कमिटी मध्ये कल्चरल सेक्रेटरी म्हणून काम करत आहे.
I am Naina Shirodkar and have lived in the twin cities for twelve years now. I am excited to take on the role of Treasurer for Marathi Association of Minnesota and give back in a small way to the community. It is a great way to let our kids see the importance of keeping our culture alive in a foreign land and help them aspire to do the same.
Treasurer
नैना शिरोडकर (Naina Shirodkar)
संचालक: मराठी शाळा
मृदुला वडके (Mrudula Wadake )
नमस्कार ! माझं नाव मृदुला भरत वडके. मी गेली १७ वर्ष माझे मिस्टर आणी माझ्या दोन मुलींसह मीनेसोटा मध्ये स्थित आहे. साधारण गेली १२-१३ वर्ष आम्ही सगळेच मराठी मंडळांशी कोणत्या न कोणत्या रुपात जोडलेलो आहोत. ह्या वरषी मी मराठी मंडळांची education secretary म्हणून जबाबदारी स्वीकारली आहे. आपण आणी आपली पुढची पिढी आपल्या मायभुमीशी आणी मराठी भाषेशी जोडलेली राहावो, हाच माझा प्रामाणिक प्रयत्न आहे आणी तुमचे सर्वांचे आशीर्वाद आणी सहकार्य आमच्या बरोबर आहेच ! धन्यवाद
MAM Staggering Committee 2023-2025
Communications Secretary
स्नेहल मुळे -कुलकर्णी (Snehal Mule -Kulkarni)
Snehal Mule has joined the current team as a Communications and Website Secretary (Term ending in 2025). Snehal has been a member of the Marathi Association of Minnesota since 2015. She lives in Plymouth with her husband Nitin Mule and her kids Ved and Vaani. Snehal and her husband Nitin are very active in the MAM community. Snehal has helped with editing the Hitguj magazine in the past years. Snehal has also actively volunteered at MAM events.
Pramila Mane Jadhav has joined the current team as Cultural Secretary (Term ending in 2025). Pramila has been a member of Marathi Association of Minnesota since 2023. She is currently working as an editor of the Hitguj magazine. She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband Yogesh Jadhav and son Pratyush.
She is an IT professional who worked in India and Europe and is a fitness enthusiast. She has coordinated and anchored a variety of cultural programs while attending other Indian Associations while abroad.
She was also involved in volunteering activities in Pune (India) and in Budapest(Hungary) during Operation Ganga held by the Government of India to get Indian medical students back in the country during the Ukraine & Russia war.
Cultural Secretary
प्रमिला जाधव (Pramila Jadhav)
Board of Directors
मिलिंद सोहोनी (Milind Sohoni)
Term ending in 2028
Milind has resided in Plymouth for 28 years, had a long career in R&D and owned a small business for over a decade. He currently serves as a Chair on the Board of Education for the Wayzata School Board. He also serves on the Board of the Minnesota School Boards Association as Director District 4 and serves on the city of Plymouth’s Charter Commission. He has two adult children working to help marginalized children in the education field.
Term ending in 2026
Abhijit is a MAM member for the last 25 years and has served as the Treasurer on the MAM Committee in 2000. A CPA by profession, Abhijit has been MAM’s tax advisor for many years. He was also the President for the Minnesota Gymkhana Cricket Club for 18 years.
अभिजित पोतदार (Abhijit Potdar)
मयुरा झवेरी (Mayura Javeri)
Term ending in 2024
Mayura is originally from Thane, Maharashtra and has made Maple Grove, Minnesota her home for the last 19 years with her husband Ninad and daughters Riya (20) and Nikita (15). She is a member of MAM from 2010 and has volunteered and organized various MAM events. She has served on the MAM Committee as a Vice President from 2017-2019 which provides her firsthand knowledge and experience on the MAM Committee. She is a project manager by profession with a prominent MN based retail company. Her goal for joining MAM Board of Directors is to continue the MAM ideology and be the sounding board for current committee.