News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Indian American Among Top Volunteer Awardees Named By NYC Service O n April 22, 2025, top volunteers, including an Indian American, received awards at a ceremony in Gracie Mansion. The top five volunteers were recognized by NYC Service with the 2025 Mayoral Service Impact Awards. NYC Service also recognized more than 3,000 volun- teers representing more than 200 nonprofit organizations and over 70 private sector businesses that actively engage their employees in service. In honor of National Volunteer Month, Indian Ameri- can Rina Madhani, a Bronx native won the Mayoral AmericCorps Alum Impact Award for her work addressing the literacy crisis in underserved NYC communities. Madhani received the award for continuing to embody the AmeriCorps spirit of “Getting Things Done” in New York City communities beyond her service year, the press release noted. During her AmeriCorps VISTA service term, Mad- hani noticed a gap in literacy resources across NewYork City. As a response, she founded Start Lighthouse with a Literacy Hub initiative that serves 2,100 students in underserved communities, including schools like P.S. 214. The Literacy Hubs provide both books and holistic, equity-focused programming. These include daily literacy lessons, author workshops, family engagement activi- ties, and mentorship opportunities, all aimed at boosting academic performance and literacy. NYC Service received 164 nominations for this year’s top five awards, the most received in the history of the awards program, the press release said. A review commit- tee selected 20 nominees who underwent a week-long public voting period that drew more than 2,200 individu- als to select their top volunteer projects. The other four top winners included Nancy Easton who received the Spirit of the City Award; the organiza- tion Every Day is a Miracle which received the Commu- nity Impact Award; Morgan Stanley and NewYork Edge which received the Partnerhip Impact Award; and Adams Street Youth Leadership Council which won the Youth Impact Award. The honorees were celebrated at the Mayoral Service Recognition Ceremony held in Gracie Mansion – a tradi- tion that highlights the power of volunteerism to unite individuals and build a city where all NewYorkers can succeed, a press release from NYC Service said. To date, NYC Service has awarded approximately 45,000 volun- teer, organization, and business certificates, as well as 30 Service Impact Awards to recognize the city’s volunteer and service sector. “Our city is stronger, safer, and more united thanks to the volunteers who power NewYork City’s nonprofit organizations,” Mayor Eric Adams is quoted saying in the press release. “We thank the five Service Impact Award winners and the thousands of volunteers whose inspiring work strengthens their communities and sets an example for all NewYorkers.” “Serving as an AmeriCorps member for two years— first in a literacy intervention program and then as a classroom teacher in the Bronx—transformed my under- standing of educational equity,” Madhani said. “It gave me the tools, perspective, and deep-rooted commitment to address systemic barriers through community-based solutions.” Madhani went on to say, “Those early experiences laid the foundation for Start Lighthouse, an organization born out of the belief that every child deserves access to literacy and opportunity. AmeriCorps didn’t just shape my career path—it shaped my purpose.” Every year during Global and National Volunteer Month, NYC Service organizes the Mayoral Service Rec- ognition program, which includes distributing certifi- cates of recognition to individuals and organizations, an awards program, and a recognition ceremony. There are five Service Impact award categories honoring a diverse type of service member or entity – an organization, a young person or youth group, an AmeriCorps alum, a single volunteer, and a private-public sector collabora- tion. The winners received an award and a $1,000 cash award for exceptional service made possible by a gener- ous contribution from the Fund for the City of NewYork. “This year’s honorees exemplify the extraordinary depth and diversity of service shaping NewYork City’s future,” said FCNY President Lisette Nieves. “From Nancy Easton’s transformative leadership in reimagining school wellness for over a million children throughWellness in the Schools, to Rina Madhani’s founding of Start Light- house and its impact on literacy access for thousands of young readers …” By a StaffWriter New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts NYC Service’s Mayoral Service Recognition Ceremony at Gracie Mansion, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. PHOTO: BennyPolatseck/Mayoral PhotographyOffice VA Senator Ghazala Hashmi Urges Governor Youngkin To Sign Virginia’s Right To Contraception Act V irginia Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-SD15), chair of the Senate Education and Health Commit- tee and chief Senate sponsor of the Virginia Right to Contraception Act (SB1105/HB1716), is urging Governor Glenn Youngkin to sign the legislation. The Governor has until 11:59 p.m. on May 2 to act on the bill. In a statement issued on April 25, 2025, Senator Hashmi, who is also a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, high- lighted recent developments in Tennessee, stating, “Just yesterday in Tennessee—a state with a Republican trifecta and a Re- publican supermajority in both chambers of the legislature—the governor signed a bill codifying the right to contraception.” Hashmi criticized Governor Youngkin for, as she described, repeatedly attempt- ing to obstruct similar protections in Virginia. She noted that Youngkin had delayed and denied access to contracep- tion through tactics such as proposing amendments that she said would under- mine the bill’s intent, as well as vetoing similar legislation last year. This opposition, Hashmi emphasized, comes despite broad support for contra- ceptive access among Democratic, Repub- lican, and independent voters. “I sponsored the Right to Contracep- tion Act because in the face of Trump’s attacks on our rights, we can no longer rely on federal protections alone,” she said. “It’s time for the governor to listen to the people he represents rather than extremists in his own party led by Donald Trump, stop playing political games with the health care of Virginians, and sign the Right to Contraception Act.” -(Used under special arrangement with South Asian Herald) By South Asian Herald Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi. PHOTO:X@SenatorHashmi Tumpa Roy Named Among Top Women In Media & Ad Tech 2025 For Engineering Leadership And Innovation T umpa Roy, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Blockboard, has been honored as one of the TopWomen in Media & Ad Tech 2025, a prestigious accolade presented by AdExchanger and AdMonsters. The annual award recognizes women who are transforming the digital media and advertising technology industries through innovation, leadership, and groundbreak- ing contributions. With a distinguished track record in en- gineering and product development, Roy brings a deep well of expertise in AWS, Java, JavaScript, SQL, ad-bidding systems, and cloud infrastructure management. At Blockboard, she leads key engineering efforts that power platform scalability, system optimization, and next-generation AI-driven solutions. Known for her stra- tegic acumen and technical prowess, Roy has become a driving force in shaping re- liable, high-performing digital platforms. “Tumpa’s work is a testament to what can be achieved when deep technical knowledge meets visionary leadership,” said a spokesperson from Blockboard. “She has consistently delivered robust solutions that not only scale effectively but also elevate user experience through innovation.” Beyond her corporate leadership, Roy is also a passionate advocate for educa- tion and mentorship. Her contributions to the academic and research communi- ties include the publication of three IEEE papers and five Springer papers, focusing on machine learning, blockchain, and ad- vanced cloud architecture. Her dual role as an innovator and mentor has made her a standout figure in a traditionally male- dominated sector. By a StaffWriter Tumpa Roy, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Blockboard. 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