A local organization established during the pandemic is tackling gender-based violence in South Asian communities.

South Asian SOAR stands for Survivors, Organizations and Allies Rising.

According to South Asian SOAR, 48% of South Asians in America experience some form of gender-based violence.

Co-founder and Executive Director of South Asian SOAR, Amrita Doshi, says she was 15 when she experienced sexual assault within her dance community.

She says she struggled to find resources and to even speak about what happened.

"I started to organize these art and storytelling shows about gender justice and gender-based violence," Doshi says.

She says South Asian SOAR's goal is to center the voices of survivors with storytelling, other methods and through their leadership.

They hope to drive policy change and develop prevention models.