About Hari
Hari Vutukuru is a proud first-generation Indian-American who was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. His philosophy in life is to be purpose-driven, not title-driven. This belief was strongly influenced by his parents who emigrated from Hyderabad, India to the US and overcame extreme poverty. Seeing his parents achieve the American dream inspired him to dedicate his life to public service. He is extremely passionate about causes such as gun violence, poverty, and hunger.
He received his double Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, where he majored in both Political Science and Screen Arts & Cultures. He then went on to receive his Masters in Arts Politics from NYU, a program that perfectly fused his interests in public policy and the arts.
Hari began his work in marketing for Delphi Automotive Systems and as a field organizer for Obama for America before joining the Community Action Team of The Shanti Project at the University of Michigan. He then began his long-standing relationship with the US Army. He started out as a Private First Class in the Infantry division, then he moved up the ranks from Cadet to Second Lieutenant to eventually hold the title of First Lieutenant/Company Executive Officer for the Transportation Corps.
Never content to hold just one position, Hari Vutukuru maintained his military career while holding other jobs simultaneously. In January 2012, Hari became the student community organizer for Detroit Action Commonwealth (DAC), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization challenging and changing the root causes of poverty, homelessness, and injustice. He also held the title of Deputy Field Director for the Mary Kerwin’s State Representative campaign in 2014. He served on the President’s Committee of the Arts and the Humanities and joined Everytown for Gun Safety in 2016 to become their coordinator for Engagement Operations & Movement Building. In October 2017 he became the Manager of business operations and community relations for Success Academy Charter Schools.
Hari is the current Director of Operations for the Food Bank For New York City. He attends Rutgers University law school part-time while still being fully committed to his food bank role. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, Michigan sports, and all aspects of arts and culture. He is a huge film buff and is very active in the political community. He and his fiancée currently reside in New York City.
Hari’s Recent Blogs
The Best TV Shows of the 1990s
In today’s world, people have the luxury of watching pretty much whatever they want, as soon as they want, and as often as they want. They also have the ability to pause and rewind and re-watch specific moments frame-by-frame. In the 1990s, cable television had just been born and was starting to create competition for the Big Three Networks, giving people more flexibility in what they wanted to see. There are shows that began in the 1990s that either live on through syndication or are still in production.
The Best Movies of the 1990s
Every decade boasts iconic movies that have been ingrained into our memories and will continue to delight future generations for decades onward. Some, however, stand out and need to be recognized, whether it’s for the groundbreaking messages they conveyed, the way they introduced us to lifelong legends, or the looks they helped to inspire.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day in NYC
For those who love celebrating the Feast of Saint Valentine, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you are lucky enough to be in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, by all means, try to head over to New York City. Being so full of culture and diversity, it’s no surprise that The Big Apple is arguably one of the most romantic spots in the world to spend Valentine’s Day.
The Most Anticipated Movies of 2020
With today’s streaming services it should come as no surprise that some of the most anticipated films of 2020 are coming to us via small screens. Be that as it may, there are still some major blockbusters to look forward to.
New York City Restaurant Week 2020
New York City is home to some of the most diverse and exquisite foods in the world. Every year, the Big Apple runs the infamous NYC Restaurant Week. Among the five boroughs of New York City are over 360 restaurants that are participating in the discounted dining...
The Best Original Shows on Streaming Services
Streaming platforms have taken dominance over cable in recent years, providing viewers with more control over the shows that they want to watch. Moreover, these platforms allow consumers to stream their shows on a number of devices from smart TVs to mobile phones and...
Surviving a New York City Winter
Native New Yorkers know that once the holidays end, we still have months of winter ahead of us to face. New York City winters are unforgiving and seem like they last forever. If you are new to extreme winters or even just to the city, proper preparation is key to...
The Best Films of the Decade
As the year comes to a close, pop culture websites everywhere are publishing their lists of ‘Top fill-in-the-blanks of 2019.’ These lists rank movies, video games, music artists, restaurants, and more that had the biggest impact in the past year. If you can name it,...
The Best Art Museums to Visit in NYC
New York City is renowned for showcasing art of all statues. From the theatrical art of a Broadway performance to Vincent van Gosh’s The Starry Night, there is a reason that New York City is considered the art capital of America. With over 100 museums, exhibits, and...