Meet Aarav Ganshani: The Student Behind Our Lehigh Valley Community Resource Guide
Every so often, someone joins your team and leaves it better than they found it. This summer, that person was Aarav Ganshani.
Aarav joined Lehigh Valley Immigration Law LLC as a law clerk through Harvard's SPARK public service program, and on August 19 he wraps up his time with us before heading to Cambridge to begin his freshman year at Harvard College. Before he goes, we want to celebrate what he built — because it's going to keep helping Lehigh Valley families long after his last day.
What Aarav Built: A Free Community Resource Guide for the Lehigh Valley
Over the course of the summer, Aarav researched, vetted, and organized the Lehigh Valley Community Resource Guide — a free directory of more than 100 trusted local organizations, all in one place.
The guide covers six areas where families most often need help: emergency services, immigration assistance, education, health care, food and housing, and employment and job training. Every listing includes what the organization does, what it costs, what languages are spoken, and how to get in touch. The entire guide is available in both English and Spanish, with no login and no fee — just open it and find help.
Anyone who has ever tried to find reliable local services knows the hardest part isn't that help doesn't exist. It's knowing where to look. Aarav's guide solves that problem for our community.
Explore the Community Resource Guide
104 vetted Lehigh Valley organizations — emergency help, immigration services, health care, food, housing, and more. Free, in English and Spanish.
Browse the Guide →Meet Aarav
Aarav is a Lehigh Valley story through and through. Born and raised here, he graduated from Emmaus High School and this fall joins Harvard College's Class of 2030, where he plans to study Economics and Government. His passion for public service is already well established: he has interned for a congressional campaign, served as a U.S. Senate Page in Washington, and worked with organizations focused on civic engagement and public policy.
But this project was personal. Both of Aarav's parents immigrated to the United States before he was born, and he grew up seeing firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate unfamiliar systems — and how generous this community can be when people know where to turn.
In his own words:
"I hope it not only helps people find the services they need, but also reminds them that there are so many people and organizations in our community who genuinely want to help. This project has reminded me that meaningful change often begins right here in our own community."
A Word From Our Firm
"Aarav took a simple, powerful idea — that no family in the Lehigh Valley should have to guess where to turn for help — and turned it into something real. He worked with the care and judgment of someone far beyond his years, and the guide he built will serve families in our community for years to come. We couldn't be prouder, and Harvard is lucky to have him."
— Alex Short, Lehigh Valley Immigration Law LLC
Help the Guide Keep Growing
The Community Resource Guide is a living project. If you know a Lehigh Valley organization that belongs in it, you can suggest it directly from the resource guide page — and if the guide helps you or someone you know, share it. That's exactly what it's for.
Aarav — thank you for a remarkable summer. Good luck at Harvard. The door here is always open.
Lehigh Valley Immigration Law LLC serves immigrant families across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. If you or a loved one needs help with an immigration matter, call us at (484) 763-4984 or schedule a consultation.