Seva—a Sanskrit word meaning selfless service without expectation of reward—has guided Jayashree “Jay” Kommareddi for nearly 50 years in Genesee County. Since moving to Michigan from Delhi, India, she has dedicated herself to the community as an organizer, advocate, and volunteer. Seva is visible in how Kommareddi gives, how she shows up, and how she remains deeply connected to her Indian roots.
Alongside her husband Prasad, Kommareddi established the Kommareddi Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint to support causes close to their heart.
“I feel like we can collectively make a difference,” Kommareddi says. “We need somebody to take the ball and run with it, and I was given the opportunity to do so.”
That sense of responsibility—rooted in service and shaped by culture—continues to guide her.
A Foundation of Activism
Born in 1954 in Andhra Pradesh, India, Kommareddi grew up in Chennai just a few years after the country gained independence. She attended English-language schools run by British missionaries and was surrounded by a mix of cultures and ideas.
One of Kommareddi’s most powerful influences came from home. Her father, a freedom fighter, spent two years in prison for his role in the nonviolent resistance movement.
“I was inspired by learning through my family and education,” Kommareddi says.
That mindset followed her into higher education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English from Delhi University and a master’s in sociology from the Delhi School of Economics.
In 1975, while still in college, she witnessed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspend civil liberties during the Emergency—a controversial period when opposition voices were silenced.
“For almost a year and a half, no one had any personal rights or liberties,” she recalls. “Some of my classmates went undercover to protest... Seeing poverty and discrimination around me had a significant influence on how I look at things.”
Finding a Home in Flint
In 1977, Kommareddi married Prasad, who had accepted a residency at Hurley Medical Center. They moved to Flint—a city they knew little about but soon made their home.
“It was like, ‘Where is this place called Flint?’” she laughs. “So, we got a dusty Encyclopedia Britannica at the library—there was no internet—and read about Flint, which had the highest per capita income in those days.”
The couple found community among other immigrants and locals alike.
“The community has been very good to us in the sense that they’ve been welcoming,” Kommareddi said. “I never felt that I didn’t belong here.”
Her husband started a practice, where Kommareddi worked until retiring in 2020. But her impact extended far beyond the office, when she dove into volunteering and advocacy in 1990.
Health Advocacy
While working at the medical practice, Kommareddi found ways to connect more deeply with the wider community. She became active in healthcare-focused organizations like the Genesee County Medical Society Alliance and the Michigan State Medical Society Alliance.
Her involvement in healthcare causes was personal.
“My dad died when I was eight years old because of a lack of healthcare,” Kommareddi explains. “He had a heart attack, and there was nothing that could be done. Healthcare was my first foray into activism.”
Kommareddi learned about the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic and its work in Flint through its founder, Dr. Marigowda Nagaraju. The clinic serves thousands of residents who do not have health insurance each year.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Nagaraju, Kommareddi realized she didn’t need to be a physician or nurse to make a meaningful impact. She volunteered as a member of the clinic’s board for 15 years. When she noticed early on the clinic’s need for funding, Kommareddi led the first fundraising effort for the organization’s Healing Hands Run/Walk, a joint project of the Nurses Association and the Genesee County Medical Society Alliance.
The group raised $75,000 for the clinic then—far surpassing their original goal of $20,000. The run/walk is now celebrating its 30th year.
“I learned how generous people in Genesee County are,” Kommareddi said. “I also learned that you don’t get anything without asking for it—whether it’s money from activism or political activity. You find that if there is one person who is interested in helping, there are others who will be interested, too.”
A Statewide Voice
Kommareddi’s leadership didn't stop at healthcare access. In 2005, she was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Asian Pacific American Advisory Council to the Governor, later becoming vice-chair.
She was also appointed to the Michigan Women’s Commission, where she chaired the Human Trafficking Committee. Locally, she co-founded the Genesee County Human Trafficking Task Force to combat the issue at home.
She has served on the Michigan Indo-American Democratic Caucus, the Mott Children’s Health Center Board, and the University of Michigan-Flint’s American Democracy Project. For six years, she was a member of the State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
By 2018, she stepped away from formal board service to give younger leaders space to grow—but she never stopped giving.
Sharing Culture, Supporting Community
Much of the giving from the Kommareddi Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint centers around various causes in the community. Recently, the fund has supported the arts, Indian culture, and the Flint Cultural Center. It’s a reflection of the family’s passions—and a way to give back to the community that welcomed them.
“We came here to be part of this community,” Kommareddi says. “I don’t even think of it as being charitable or giving... I just love what I’m doing.”
After surviving pancreatic cancer in 2019, her commitment only deepened. She focused her energy on the things that brought her joy—books, art, and sharing her heritage.
She and her husband Prasad have fond memories of visiting the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library with their daughters, Madhuri and Mallika, and continue to support it today. Both of them value spending time with their 11-month-old grandson, Kavi, who is the light of their lives.
Kommareddi’s love of art also led her family to fund a South Asian lecture series at the Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School and to contribute antique Indian jewelry to the museum’s Splendors of South Asia exhibit.
The initiative elevated South Asian art in Flint and helped introduce new audiences to everything the city has to offer.
“I appointed myself ambassador of the Cultural Center,” she laughs. “The exhibit brought in so many people who had never been to Flint. Guests came from out of state, and I’d take them around Flint for the day. They were blown away.”
She’s now working with the Sloan Museum of Discovery on an Indian immigration history project—documenting why families like hers came to the U.S. and made places like Flint their home.
Still Showing Up
Through it all, Kommareddi continues to live by seva, because service is simply how she’s always moved through the world.
For the last 48 years after settling in Flint, Kommareddi has left her mark—as an advocate, a volunteer, and a neighbor who never stopped showing up.
“I think it’s important for folks to know that we’ve benefitted from the community, and we want the community to benefit, too. We do this by giving back,” Kommareddi said. “This is home for us now.”
