Blog

By Madhavi Kirti devi dasi 

Alachua Learning Academy (ALA), founded by members of the ISKCON Alachua community, has recently earned national and state honors recognizing its academic achievement and service to the community.

National and Statewide Recognition

U.S. News & World Report (October 2025) ranked ALA Elementary as the 15th best and ALA Middle School as the 17th best in Florida, out of over 2,300 schools. The honor was covered by the local Gainesville press.  These accolades highlight AL

California has become the third U.S. state to recognize Diwali — a major festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism — as an official state holiday. The measure, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows government employees a day off on the festival and comes amid efforts to better reflect the religious diversity of the state. Supporters say the change helps validate and celebrate communities that have long advocated for broader recognition of their faiths.

The decision was met with both praise and

GBC Annual General Meeting (passed on February 11, 2023)

[Category] – Administrative Order

Whereas the GBC body has encouraged the establishment of continental committees (GBC Resolution 404/2002. Regional and Continental Governing Bodies)

Whereas North America has been designated as a ’Region’ with 5 ’Zones’ encompassing the United States and Canada.

Whereas the North American GBC members and other leaders have been functioning as a continental governance group prior to the 2002 resolution but