Conversations with Siona Bhattacharya

Today we’d like to introduce you to Siona Bhattacharya

Hi Siona, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Solute vs. solvent, dissolve vs. melt, soluble vs. insoluble – three concepts Caitlyn, a 14-year-old girl who had just moved to the United States with her family, struggled to understand. As I guided her through practice questions during my internship at the Tennessee Immigrant Rights and Refugee Coalition (TIRRC), I could see that she understood basic STEM concepts but was struggling to grasp the terminology in English. However, over the course of two months of working with Caitlyn, I noticed increased confidence and curiosity.

I continued working with TIRRC to create lesson plans, promote access to statewide modules, and offer tutoring services. Driven by the desire to help people and ensure everyone has equal opportunities, I am dedicated to making equitable change in my community and beyond.

Not only did my leadership skills grow from this experience, but my desire to help more students like Caitlyn blossomed. I soon co-founded my own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Learning Lighthouse (LL), aimed towards providing academic opportunities for underserved students to bridge the gap in education inequalities. Seeing my direct impact on Caitlyn, I was inspired to fundraise over 200 pounds of school supplies for students without adequate resources. LL also received a $2,500 grant from the Tennessee Arts and Commission to host our Pouches-of-Promise Event, where we hope to organize a visual and musical artist to lead free workshops.. We plan to continue offering free resources, workshops, and mentorship to allow students like Caitlyn to thrive.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey with Learning Lighthouse (LL) has been an exciting journey, despite the challenges along the way. One of the biggest challenges has been securing initial funding for LL’s vision. As a grassroots organization, LL has had to navigate through grant applications and community outreach to set the foundation for our event planning. Furthermore, balancing the responsibilities of running a non-profit organization while completing school activities has been challenging and required careful time management.

Another critical challenge has been promoting our reach and mission. With many organizations in the Nashville area, we have struggled to make our voice heard. However, social media has become a powerful tool to build an online presence in a crowded landscape of organizations.

Scaling our events and initiatives has also been a challenging journey. With limited resources as a new organization and a smaller team, outreach has required numerous cold emails, phone calls, and meetings. We leaned on organization collaboration and partnerships to amplify the impact of our initiatives.

While the journey has not been easy, each challenge has represented the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and adaptability.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Learning Lighthouse, our mission is to bridge educational disparities by providing underserved students with resources and opportunities to thrive academically and beyond. LL specializes in hosting free workshops, mentorship programs, and resources tailored to the unique needs of each student we serve. LL strives to create a holistic learning environment that nurtures exploration, innovation, and confidence in students.

What sets us apart from other organizations is our grassroots approach. We don’t just execute initiatives—we actively listen to the communities we serve, ensuring that every initiative addresses their specific challenges and aspirations.

One of our proudest achievements is the $2,500 grant from the Tennessee Arts and Commission. This grant has allowed us to start planning initiatives like Pouches of Promise, where we hope to provide students with school supplies and engaging visual arts and music workshops.

What I’m most proud of, however, is the ripple effect of our work. Beyond the workshops and events, we hope to inspire students to dream big, overcome barriers, and believe in their potential. At Learning Lighthouse, every student and community is seen, heard, and supported, and that’s what makes our work so meaningful.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
LL was founded after the COVID-19 crisis, so much of our perspective has been shaped by the ramifications of it. The most valuable lesson we learned was the importance for students to maintain meaningful connections through their community. During the pandemic, we saw many students facing stress, anxiety, and depression due to prolonged isolation. Therefore, we make it our goal to make students feel supported in the community they are in. This lesson from COVID-19 continues to guide our work, reinforcing our goal to build strong, supportive relationships in the communities we serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.learning-lighthouse.org/
• Instagram: learning.lighthouse