New Trier student’s nonprofit uses art to empower sexual-assault survivors

When Anya Ramaswamy, now a senior at New Trier High School, was in eighth grade, she began to formulate the idea for TealTie.

The nonprofit’s mission is to empower young survivors of sexual assault and abuse through art, creativity, and community-building and advocacy initiatives.

Ramaswamy was stirred into action when her friends began to confide in her about their experiences in abusive relationships. The realization that this was happening to her eighth-grade peers, she said, came as a shock and motivated her to seek change.

“I [thought], it’s pretty bad I had no idea people my age went through this, and I think it’s super important that I find a way to spread some awareness about it so that people aren’t completely caught off guard,” she said of one of the motivating factors behind her work. “When they hear these stories from their friends, they’ll know exactly what to do.”

By the time she got to New Trier, TealTie became a reality, with Ramaswamy focused on making its mission to fruition.

Her approach? Fostering the power and vibrancy of art to raise awareness for a difficult and dark subject, she said.

Members of the public can submit their art and designs, such as empowering slogans and images combatting sexual assault, to the nonprofit’s website. Next, Ramaswamy shares the designs via a monthly poll on TealTie’s Instagram page, allowing the organization’s followers to vote on the winner.

She then orders T-shirts and stickers, for example, with the winning design. Not only do people then get to purchase and sport the designs, raising awareness in the process, but also the profits go to WINGS, an organization supporting those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and abusive relationships.

“In short, we want to be able to empower young sexual assault survivors through art and creativity, which then kind of fosters more community along with spreading awareness in general,” Ramaswamy explained.

And community has been key.

TealTie sponsored a fashion show for WINGS where sexual assault survivors walked the runway, shared their stories, and, as Ramaswamy put it, “showcased their pride and dignity” in a beautiful, empowering event.

Ramaswamy and team, which includes her sister and three of their friends, have also collaborated with NalandaWay, a nonprofit in India that through art works to empower children and young adults in underserved communities.

Some of the young adults who participate in NalandaWay’s programs submitted their artwork and designs to TealTie.

“I have so much to say about NalandaWay because I grew up with so much, and to be able to see people who barely have anything submitting probably the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen was so amazing and goes along with the whole aspect of not only do I want to be able to donate to these centers, but I want to be able to build a community out of it,” Ramaswamy said of the cross-organizational and community-wide collaboration that is key to TealTie’s efforts.

Although it hasn’t always been easy juggling school and running a nonprofit, Ramaswamy wouldn’t have it any other way.

“At first, it was overwhelming,” she shared. “But when I actually remembered, this is what I’m doing it for, it kind of went from [adding] more [to] my plate to this is just second nature for me.”

She plans to take this balance that she has struck between academics and her passions with her to college, where she hopes to pursue something in the realm of business and marketing.

TealTie, too, still forms part of her future goals. She plans to continue her advocacy work in college.

“If anything, I prioritized this so much more than small busywork stuff because this was so much bigger than myself,” she said of the organization and the importance of its mission. “This was ultimately there to benefit people who have been horrified to speak up when they were totally entitled to.”

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