Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #16: Board Member Ravinder Lal

DeAnna Pursai • June 8, 2026

Ravinder has done *so much* to Move the Mountain for College of Adaptive Arts :)

Ravinder Lal has been an active board member at CAA for many  years, but has been an integral part of CAA since the beginning. 


Along with his business partners, Ravinder owns five UPS stores in the greater South Bay and says that part of their mission statement is to help those that help others. 


“I met DeAnna and was blown away by what she and Pam were trying to accomplish,” said Ravinder. “They were really trying to reach a segment of the population that had been overlooked and my first thought was how can I help.”


Since that time, Ravinder has donated printing and signage for the school, as well as sponsoring various CAA events. 


Ravinder knew the struggles of disability firsthand, with his daughter experiencing a mild case of cerebral palsy and having to wear leg braces as a young child. After years of physical therapy, she has overcome much of her physical disability, but Ravinder said he never forgot the feeling of just wanting to help his child live a good life. 


Along with his seat on the CAA board, Ravinder also is a board member of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and says it has been a great way to meet other businesspeople who want to make a difference in the community.


“The people I have met at CAA are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and it’s truly such an honor to work with them,” said Ravinder. 


When he isn’t working and volunteering, Ravinder enjoys spending time with his family. He loves classic American muscle cars and is a die-hard 49ers fan.

 

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #15: Student Jonathan N.

By DeAnna Pursai • June 1, 2026
Jonathan strives to be an NFL Cheerleader one day.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find: CAA Story #14: Student Samuel H.

By DeAnna Pursai • May 25, 2026
When Samuel Hinojosa first discovered his passion for videography and the performing arts, a passion he says is in his genes because he has family who are also in the arts, participating in theater productions and expressing himself through dance became a part of his daily routine. But when he turned 22, he suddenly aged out of the programs he had come to love, leaving a gap in both his routine and his creative outlet. That’s when a chance meeting completely changed his life. Samuel was in an Angels on Stage production when he just so happened to meet DeAnna Pursai and Dr. Pamela Lindsay in the audience. Realizing he was about to age out of Angels on Stage, they encouraged him to explore the opportunities available to him at CAA. Their guidance led him to finding a new beginning. At CAA, Samuel quickly found a place where he could continue to grow creatively. He enrolled in videography, acting, and dance classes, reconnecting him with his passion for performing. After taking many performing arts classes, Samuel started exploring what other classes CAA had to offer. He has joined the CAA Go Green Climate Action Class, where he did a phenomenal presentation on UNESCO and how climate change is impacting his native roots community in Mexico. Now in his second semester at CAA, Samuel has expanded his interests beyond just the stage and production lens. He’s developed an interest in bodybuilding and nutrition, exploring what those classes can teach him and how he can use that new confidence to improve his life. CAA’s supportive environment has allowed Samuel to continue exploring his passions, while also discovering new ones. It doesn’t matter if he is behind the camera, performing, or focusing on his health and fitness goals, CAA is constantly pushing Samuel to try new things and grow. For Samuel, CAA is not just a place for him to take classes, it is a community where he can express himself, try new things, and keep moving forward. — Written by Nina Pal Volunteer

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #13: Professor Anthony Nguyen

By DeAnna Pursai • May 18, 2026
CAA's Director of the School of Communications

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