[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING SUNAYANA DUMALA FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA 
        DURING ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Sunayana Dumala is an Indian immigrant who 
moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue her master's degree, 
hopeful about building a new future and achieving the American Dream.
  While working as a data integration engineer in Olathe, Kansas, her 
life was tragically altered on February 22, 2017, when her husband, 
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, was murdered in a hate crime that shocked the 
Nation. In the face of unimaginable loss, Sunayana chose to rise with 
purpose. She emerged as a leading advocate for immigrants, founding the 
Forever Welcome Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting 
immigrant and refugee communities through advocacy, education, and 
programs that foster unity and bridge diverse communities.
  Through Forever Welcome, Sunayana leads dialogue workshops that 
create space for understanding and connection between immigrants and 
non-immigrants, and runs a family support program that provides 
emergency assistance to refugee and low-income immigrant families.
  Her advocacy has extended to national platforms. She has worked with 
Immigration Voice to advance policy solutions for high-skilled 
immigrants and participated in campaigns like Spread AAPI Love by Stop 
AAPI Hate.
  She has also been featured in national documentaries, including PBS's 
``Healing Hate'' and ABC's ``Divided States: Olathe,'' which highlight 
her journey and the broader fight against hate. Sunayana's work has 
earned her honors, including the Heart Award by Med Ad News, the Peace 
Award from the Crescent Peace Society, and the Humanitarian Award from 
the Olathe Human Relations Commission.
  Apart from focusing on her foundation, since relocating to Lake Nona, 
Florida, in 2022, Ms. Dumala has been actively involved with Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders Coming Together (ACT), a nonprofit 
organization dedicated to civic engagement and community empowerment. 
Through her work with ACT, she is helping increase civic engagement and 
voter awareness across Central Florida.
  Sunayana's story is especially remarkable considering that when 
tragedy struck, she had no immediate family in America, was not born 
here and was still learning the nuances of American culture. In the 
face of devastating loss, she had a choice: to turn away from the 
country that had become her home, or to stay and fight against hate.
  Her journey is a testament to resilience, compassion, and a deep 
commitment to building a country where everyone has a place to belong.

                          ____________________