Against the backdrop of a  beautiful sunset day in a premier setting at the Harvard Club, Sorboni Banerjee, Anchor and reporter at 7 news was honored and awarded at Get Konnected’s “Women Who Rock” event. The event honored a group of local women and celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Get Konnected organization. Others who joined her were Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Haiti Fund co-founder Karen Keating Ansara, community advocate Helen Chin Schlichte, Color Magazine publisher Josefina Bonilla, Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Transportation Celia Blue, and Boston Globe Magazine assistant editor Veronica Chao. The party was hosted by the dynamic Colette Phillips — Get Konnected’s founder who runs  Boston’s first and only urban bi-monthly professional and business networking event. The event also featured a book signing by Bill Brett, Kerry Brett and Carol Beggy, the team behind BOSTON Inspirational Women.

Lokvani caught up with Sorboni Banerjee the day after to share her story:

On receiving the Award:  I came to know about it from the TV station where I work. It was quite exciting. I had first met Colette Phillips at an American India Foundation gala briefly. It is her organization 'Get Konnected' that instituted this award. There were around three hundred people at the event with diverse interests socializing and getting to know each other. Colette Phillips is doing some fabulous work in getting people connected. At one point, Phillips challenged everyone to get 5 business cards from across the room from people that they are meeting for the first time.  I am honored that I am part of this group of women who have accomplished so much in their area.

Early years: I grew up in Rhode Island. My parents were working at URI where they first met. Mom is from Maine and Dad is from Calcutta. My brother Dev Raj  and I grew up with cross cultural influences with a lot of American values and Indian summers spent in Calcutta, India. I can say that I can manage some Bengali but as to my grammar of course, the less said the better. We had some great times in India while growing up.

What attracted her to Journalism: My father and uncle were amazing storytellers. I remember when there was load shedding in Calcutta, we would gather around in the dark and hear some amazing stories of past and present. In a few years, I discovered I loved telling stories too to my cousins.

My inspiration to tell stories comes from meeting people and I enjoy it immensely. I remember when I was considering a career, my dad said that as long as I can make a good living with it and have a good life he was ok with it. I joined BU College of communication and majored in advertising. What resonated in going to Broadcasting was an event at BU called ‘ Great Debates’ where I came across the broadcasting platform  that had theater, arts, narration just  like a moving collage all rolled in one . I realized in that minute that this was what I wanted to do all my life.

A typical day at the studios: It depends on whether I am reporting or anchoring. The producers usually pick up the stories and we work on getting the research and working the phone for interviews etc. The challenge is getting the best story out in the most creative way in a short segment. The best elements of storytelling must be captured with all its detail and be engaging at the same time. It must also be a quick study since it has to be timely and newsworthy. So you need to keep with the news stories of the day. My husband Jarrod works for Fox News and we share news that also helps to keep in touch with all that is happening around you.

Some of the Best Stories: The deadly tornado in Springfield. I was there with my team covering over two days working till midnight. It was so random, severe and cruel weather. The William Bulger story was another fascinating cover.

I also do what is now called the Sorboni story at the station, funky, unusual and fun snippets of daily lives. I once covered a very strange but funny story: There was this one guy who was driving on the HOV lane with a mannequin on the passenger seat and somehow a cop grew suspicious and rounded up on him. I went to the police station and asked the cops if I could take a photo and they agreed (photo on right). It was hilarious.

Causes she supports: I am passionate about causes that have a clear mission and have a strong message. Once it appeals to me I am into it. I support an Animal shelter where I helped with their fundraising through social media and twitter and from $2000 there were able to raise 10,000.  The other organizations are American India Foundation and Akshaya Patra both of which support excellent causes. I am happy to lend my voice to these as that is the best way I can support them.

My husband supports an organization called Rain Catchers that is committed to providing clean drinking water to impoverished regions of Africa and, more recently, to other parts of the world like Kerala, West Bengal, Haiti, Uganda and Kenya.

Future plans: Writing a young adult novel – Work in progress. The teenage brain is very interesting and the formative years are ideal to fantasize.

|