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The inaugural women fellows of New York Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs were feted at a ceremony last week at the New York City Surrogate’s Court. The 13 fellows included four South Asians including Indian-Americans.
The fellowship was established by MOIA as part of the Administration’s “One New York Rising Together” platform to build closer relationships between immigrant women and the City and enhance the capacity of emerging and established leaders to promote positive social change in their communities.
At the conclusion of the fellowship, Nisha Agarwal Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs invited the 13 participants from this year’s inaugural fellowship to serve on MOIA’s women’s advisory cabinet starting in November. The program was supported by Unbound Philanthropy, a private foundation focused on supporting immigrant communities, and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
The South Asians among the fellows were Afreen Alam, executive director, Chhaya CDC; Kajori Chaudhuri, director of programs and operations, Sapna N.Y.C; Renee Mehrra, television journalist and community activist and Susan Shah, chief of staff, Vera Institute of Justice.
“Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to progressive leadership is nowhere more evident than in his record of diversifying the senior ranks of the City Administration, as he has done to an extent far beyond any of his predecessors,” said Agarwal said. “And our vision extends beyond City Government to supporting leaders from underrepresented communities across the City through efforts like MOIA’s Fellowship for Immigrant Women Leaders. This first class is made up of dedicated social change agents from non-profit, grassroots, academic, and faith-based organizations representing the best of New York,” she said. ”I look forward to hearing their perspective and guidance on a range of policy issues in the year to come,” Agarwal said.
Commissioner Penny Abeywardena of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, said that it was inspiring to speak with this dynamic, diverse group of immigrant women fellows, each of whom is working to eliminate the effects of systemic oppressions. “It is vital that, 20 years after the Beijing Declaration, these community leaders are implementing the objectives of the platform throughout all five boroughs. I look forward to the myriad ways these leaders will improve our international city and our world,” he said.
MOIA’s Fellowship for Immigrant Women Leaders is a 13-week leadership development program that was established in June 2015. The purpose, among others, is to form a network of immigrant women leaders who, through engagement together, are better networked with one another and with city leadership and to Identify the barriers or challenges to women’s leadership within the immigrant community and solutions available to remove these barriers.
A nominating committee of non-profit and government leaders identified a pool of 45 promising women leaders serving immigrant populations, from which 13 were selected to participate in the Fellowship.
“It has been an uplifting and insightful journey with kindred spirits that deepened my emotional intelligence and leadership skills,” said MOIA Fellow Renee Mehrra. “The fellowship gave me rare insights and strategic tools to overcome barriers to progress and advancement, including internalized oppression, discrimination and racism so we can become catalysts for change and heal, transform and empower ourselves and our communities,” she said.
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