Empact is a South Asian and women-led, community and studio practice with roots in the Midwest. Our work focuses on the crossroads of the need for inner healing and the need for social change. We work to build community, uplift underrepresented voices, and co-design solutions for a more just, a more kind, a more empathetic future.

Our Story

  • 2014-2017

    Through formative experiences with documentary photography, local nonprofit support, and fieldwork in India and East Africa, Empact founder, Rubini Naidu, realized the power of storytelling in fostering empathy and in turn, creating change. The idea of Empact was born.

  • 2018-2019

    By way of a Fulbright grant in India, the first phase of Empact, called Krupa at the time, was piloted. Krupa explored how visual storytelling and social entrepreneurship could be used as decolonization methodologies for nonprofits in New Delhi.

  • 2020-2021

    During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Empact shifted to the US and a different approach to empathy and action. This second pilot, called Selfless, was a virtual volunteer matching service that brought together everyday people and organizations who want to do good.

  • 2023

    Empact, as the organization we know today, was brought to life. Holding true to the thread of empathy that’s stayed with us and using the learnings we’ve had over the years, we leaned into virtual community conversations, exploring how dialogue shapes change.

  • 2024

    Expanding from virtual conversations to include in-person events in Metro-Detroit and Chicago, Empact’s community gatherings continued to grow. Empact also opened a consulting practice specializing in community-centered design, facilitation, and storytelling.

Our Values

The following values guide all we do at Empact—the way we show up for ourselves and our community makes all the difference.

  • We lead with a well-reasoned and wise mind. Our thoughtfulness is anchored in research and humility.

    This looks like:

    • Understanding our role as connectors and learners

    • Honoring indigenous wisdom and learning from diverse sources

    • Engaging with community in a pragmatic and down-to-earth way

  • Empowering ourselves and others is critical. We lean into the unknown to determine the next course of action.

    This looks like:

    • Reflecting on our past to inform how we move forward

    • Exuding hopefulness in the small acts of possibility

    • Having a bias towards action, knowing mistakes are inevitable

  • Navigating systemic issues is complicated and often messy. We are brave enough to persist; our unconventional approaches are a strength.

    This looks like:

    • Storytelling with vulnerability and authenticity

    • Choosing bravery over perfectionism

    • Recognizing the capacity for change in both ourselves and the world

  • We extend compassion to ourselves and others. Our inner work enables us to do the outer work of fully participating in interpersonal connection and changemaking.

    This looks like:

    • Approaching conversations from a place of understanding

    • Being a deep listener

    • Giving ourselves and others grace and forgiveness

  • Our interconnectedness is a felt experience. We are collaborative and prioritize softness as a super power.

    This looks like:

    • Ensuring our spaces are safe and inclusive

    • Celebrating and protecting our gentle differences

    • Leading from a place of shared, collective responsibility for each other and our humanity