Bayside, Queens, based community leader Malini Shah was recently honored and recognized for her contribution to community service, cultural advocacy and women’s empowerment by two Queens based organizations, the New American Voters Association (NAVA) and South Asians of New York, Inc. (SANY).
Invitees at the celebratory event included special guest Congresswoman Grace Meng; Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz; Senator John Liu; Assembly Members Steven Raga, David Weprin and Nily Rozik; City Council Members Shekhar Krishnan, Julie Won and Linda Lee; District Leader Dilip Nath who is also the President of NAVA, and Rhonda Binda. The event was attended by a large number of community members.
Shah was the Community Cultural Liaison for the late Council Member Paul Vallone. She is currently the Vice President of the Clinton Club, member of the Queens District Attorney’s South Asian/Indo-American Council, Vice- President of the Center for women of New York (CWNY) and represents Speaker Adrienne E. Adams on the Board of Museum of Arts and Design.
Shah and CWNY advocate for gender equality and support women facing financial, legal, and social challenges, and connect them with essential services. Shah is also the Co-Chair of Felicia’s Promise, a nonprofit organization that empowers young women from underrepresented communities in New York.
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As a cultural ambassador, Shah has organized cultural programs, cultural exchange and promotion of Indian arts under her Nritya Kala Kendra / Indo-American Arts and Cultural Forum. Shah is the President of Difference,Inc., her jewelry company, and an active member of the Women’s Jewelry Association.
Shah has been much decorated with several awards which include the Award for Outstanding Service to Society from the Society of Foreign Consuls, the Dr. Martin Luther King Visionary Award, Queens Ambassador Award, Women of Distinction in Leadership Award, South Asian Leadership Award, Hind Rattan Award, and most recently, an Award from District Attorney Melinda Katz during Women’s History Month.
NAVA was established two years ago with an aim to advance political awareness, educate the new immigrant communities in New York City, and increase voter turnout in local and federal elections through promoting naturalization. It partners with the National Partnership for New Americans, a coalition of immigrant and refugee rights organizations. The organization declares it is its mission to increase interaction between the immigrant communities in NYC and their local elected officials, and to increase voter registration.
South Asians of New York, Inc., is a community organization based in Flushing, NY, offering cultural, educational and social programs to foster unity within the local South Asian population.