Category: Profile

KPCC President K Sudhakaran has announced the appointment of James Koodal as the Global President of the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress. The decision was communicated by KPCC General Secretary TU Radhakrishnan.

James Koodal brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having served as the National Chairman of the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (America) and as a Member of the Lok Kerala Sabha from America. His leadership extends to various international platforms, where he currently serves as the Global Business Forum Chairman of the World Malayali Council and as the Chairman of Global Indian Media, headquartered in Houston, USA.

A distinguished figure in business circles, James Koodal is the Chairman of the MSJ Business Group chain, with a longstanding presence in Bahrain since 1994 and the USA since 2015. His contributions span across public works, philanthropy, media, and more, showcasing a commitment to community development and global connectivity.

Prior to his current appointment, James Koodal held significant roles within the World Malayali Council, serving as the former Global Treasurer and leading numerous impactful initiatives during his tenure. He has also been actively engaged in public service through organizations like Akhila Kerala Balajanasakhya, demonstrating a strong commitment to grassroots empowerment and societal progress.

Furthermore, James Koodal’s leadership journey includes significant responsibilities such as President of the World Malayali Council America Region, General Secretary of the Coordination Committee of Indian Association under the Bahrain Indian Embassy, Patron of the Indian Community Relief Fund, Global Treasurer of the Overseas Indian Congress, President of the Bahrain National Committee, Jaihind Channel Bahrain Bureau Chief, NORKA Advisory Board Member, President of Congress Kalanjoor Constituency, Director of the Adoor Taluk Rubber Marketing Society, and a member of the Malankara Catholic America Canada Pastoral Council.

Originally from Konni in Pathanamthitta district, James Koodal’s roots reflect a deep connection to his homeland, even as he takes on significant responsibilities on the global stage.

Vishv Umiya Foundation which is building the world’s tallest Umiya temple including community services near Ahmedabad, honored Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, on March 19, 2024, in India.

The VUF believes in the ideal of ‘national consciousness from spiritual consciousness’ and its new temple is taking shape at Jaspur between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The VUF also held an event at Times Square March 30, where more than 200 people gathered from around the United States, and a five-minute video was broadcast at the “Crossroads of the World.” Cries of “Jai Jai Umiya” and “Umiya Mata Ki Jai” rang out as people danced the garba to music and dholbeats.

Vishv Umiya Foundation is a non-profit organization which has a diverse range of initiatives to address crucial social issues, promote education, and provide healthcare support to the underprivileged, its website says.

The temple is situated on eighty acres in Jaspur opposite the famous Vaishno Devi Circle and near billionaire Adani’s Shantigram project.

The Maa Umiya temple will be 143 meters tall and have a student hostel, higher education-based university, a sports complex, hospital, a Non-Resident Indian Bhavan, and global business networking facilities for all sections of the society, the president of the organization R. P. Patel said at the March 19 event in Gujarat.

Dr. Bhagirath Patel, who is associated with the organization invited Dr. Parikh to the temple site, where he was welcomed by the president, trustees and other dignitaries.

Dr. Parikh was deeply impressed by the religious and service activities of the institution. He extended all possible cooperation in the activities of Umiyadham. He also assured all support and publicity through his US-based newspapers and TV in every function of the organization.

Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold were among the sponsors of the March 30 event at Times Square where special guests included candidate for Congress from the 5^th District of New Jersey, Mary Jo Guinchard, and Sussex County Republic Party Chairman Joseph Labarbera.

The Times Square program included a meet and greet, garba dancing, photo session, a light lunch and the broadcast of a videoclip on VUF.

“We are celebrating all of you and your family traditions and your small businesses,” and your children, Guinchard told ITV Gold, asking for the Indian American community’s support in her campaign for Congress.

Labarbera said it was a honor to be invited to the event and that Gujarati values were the same as American values.

Attendees hailing from Boston, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and California, as well as other places spoke to ITV Gold about UVF and its philanthropic work, as well as their pride in being Indian and Gujarati, and noted the unity among VUF followers. One of the main organizers of the Times Square event was Vice President of Umiya Dham, Edison, NJ Harshad Patel.

Athul Patel, coordinator of VUF in US, thanked Times Square management for allowing the broadcast of a 5-minute video on Vishv Umiya Foundation. He said $250 million would be spent to build the temple in the heart of Ahmedabad, which was aimed at helping youth not just in Gujarat but beyond.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, known for his commitment to climate resilience and civil rights, declares his candidacy for Congress, pledging to honor his Sikh background while prioritizing environmental, healthcare, and reproductive rights concerns.

A native of New Jersey, Mayor Bhalla has called Hoboken home for over two decades. Before assuming office as Hoboken’s two-term mayor in 2018, he served eight years on the city council. Prior to his political career, he practiced as a civil rights attorney.

Mayor Bhalla engaged with constituents during a meet-and-greet at Jesse Singh’s residence in Crownsville, MD, and Dr. Navin Sethi’s residence, where he articulated his journey, stating, “My journey did not begin with myself, it began with my father. He was an immigrant from India and he came here (the US) for education. He was asked to cut his hair and remove his turban to integrate but he chose to refuse. If he decided not to maintain who he was, I would not be standing here today. My father is an example that anybody can be successful in America and be who you are.”

During his tenure as Mayor, Bhalla focused on bolstering Hoboken’s resilience to climate change. In 2019, he endorsed the City’s Climate Action Plan, with the aim for Hoboken to achieve net-zero energy status by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Reflecting on his father’s influence, Bhalla stressed that success is attainable while maintaining one’s Sikh identity. “He was told that you can’t do both and he rejected that choice,” Bhalla said. “If he didn’t maintain his articles of faith, I wouldn’t be here running to be the first turbaned member of Congress.”

If elected, Bhalla, New Jersey’s inaugural Sikh mayor, would make history as the first turbaned Sikh elected to Congress and only the second Sikh to serve in the nation’s capital.

Bhalla completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in Political Psychology. He then pursued advanced studies at the London School of Economics (L.S.E.) in the United Kingdom, obtaining a Master of Science degree in Public Administration and Public Policy. Subsequently, he earned a Juris Doctor Degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Indian American software engineer Ashwin Ramaswami has announced his bid for the Senate seat from Georgia’s Senate District 48.

If elected, Ramaswami will be the first Indian American candidate and the first Generation Z member with a computer science and law degree in the Georgia Senate.

“I am committed to bringing inclusive, informed, and forward-thinking leadership to our State Senate,” he posted on X announcing his candidacy. Georgia’s Senate District 48 comprises parts of North Fulton County, South Forsyth County, and North Gwinnett County, and parts of Johns Creek, Cumming, and Sugar Hill.

His campaign will work towards fostering a competitive and favorable work environment for Georgia state employees to make the government work better. “Let’s build government capacity by paying state employees competitive wages, introducing better technology, and securing our elections. Let’s fund our courts and pass a comprehensive state civil rights law to ensure equal justice,” his website reads.

Ramaswami will also prioritize investing in public safety, making healthcare affordable, grow a high-tech economy for all, protecting the earth and the community, and providing world-class education to everyone, as per his campaign.

“I am from Johns Creek, GA and the only candidate who grew up in this district. I’ve worked to make positive change in my community through nonprofits, religious communities, technology startups, and law and policy — all thanks to the wonderful people and resources in my hometown. It’s time for me to pay it forward and help advocate for the futures of young people — and everyone — in our community,” Ramaswami said.

A second-generation immigrant, Ramaswami is a software engineer by profession. As per the bio on his campaign website, he has built a career in election security, and technology law and policy research. Aside from software development, his interests lie in digital humanities, reading history, religion, and Hindu philosophy.

His professional experience spans over seven years, where he has built several tech startups, and worked with the federal government on cybersecurity for three years. In August 2023, he was a fellow in the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, helping keep Georgians safe online and on social media.

Between November 2020 to 2023, Ramaswami established a cybersecurity program for state and local election officials while at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), supporting election security efforts for both the 2020 and 2022 elections. He worked with states across the country, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office to flag and fix election security problems.

Currently, he runs a consulting company around software architecture, technology law and policy. He is an alumnus of Georgia Tech, Stanford University, and Georgetown University.

Indian American economist Abhijit Banerjee has been conferred with the Tagore Prize for Social Achievement 2023 at the sixth Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize, event hosted by India International Centre in New Delhi.

The prize is in recognition of his contributions to social welfare. Along with Banerjee, Sukrita Paul Kumar, poet, critic and translator, won the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize.

Expressing gratitude for the honor, Banerjee said, “Being awarded the Tagore Prize for Social Achievement is a profound honor. This recognition underlines the importance of addressing societal issues and underscores the impact of collective efforts in shaping a better world.”

Currently the Ford Foundation International professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Banerjee shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer in 2019.

The 62-year-old Mumbai-born economist earned a Bsc honors degree in economics from the Presidency College in 1981; a masters’ from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; and a PhD from Harvard University. In 2011, he featured among Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 global thinkers.

Banerjee was a Guggenheim Fellow and an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. His work focuses on development economics. In 2003, he founded a global research center Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). He has also taught at the Harvard and Princeton University.

Copenhagen-based Peter Bundalo, founder of Maitreya Publishing Foundation, and part of the Tagore awarding committee, remarked, “Abhijit Banerjee and Sukrita Paul Kumar embody mastery in their respective fields, enriching our world with their distinct visions and contributions.”

Rishi Kumar, a Silicon Valley hi-tech executive and mechanical engineer has announced his intention to run for U.S. Congress (CA-16). As a Saratoga councilmember, he was elected with the most votes in Saratoga’s history for getting things done.

The Indian American is hoping to win the seat held by U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16), who has announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024, after 42 years in public service, including 32 years in Congress and ten years on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Rep. Eshoo will serve out her term through January of 2025 with the same vigor and commitment she is known for by her constituents, colleagues and staff. She is recognized as a national leader on healthcare, technology, and environmental policy. Rep. Eshoo was named one of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley by the Mercury News, and one of the 100 most influential people in Artificial Intelligence by Time Magazine.

She is one of the most effective Democratic Members of Congress known as a consensus builder and proficient legislator. During her tenure, 66 of her bills were signed into law by five Presidents, despite serving two thirds of her tenure in Congress in the minority.

Rishi Kumaris a Silicon Valley hi-tech executive and mechanical engineer running for U.S. Congress (CA-16). As a Saratoga councilmember, he was elected with the most votes in Saratoga’s history for getting things done.

He has served on Governor Brown’s UC Regents committee and California’s K-12 public school computer science implementation panel. Rishi has been elected and served multiple terms as the Executive Board and Delegate to the California Democratic Party. He brings tech industry experience and a track record of people-centric public service.

Rishi Kumar Said:

• I am grateful for the overwhelming support we have received in the last few hours. Our campaign – that never stopped after the November 2022 election – has now propelled forward, and we will together secure a win next year!
• I respect Rep. Eshoo’s five decades of public service. I will certainly miss her anticipated contributions to the world of Artificial Intelligence.
• I am ready to accept the torch. The time has come to pass the torch to a new generation. I will foreverreject the special interest group, the dark tainted money and our district will never subvert the interest of the American people…. I will always fight for the people!”

Rishi’s technology expertise as a C-suite executive
Rishi’s expertise from more than two decades in the software industry – working for a few AI companies –  gives him the unique expertise to strategically guide Silicon Valley into the future.

We need new leadership, not “recycled” establishment & career politicians.
Recycled Water – Yes! Recycled Politicians – No!
Now more than ever, we need leaders who understand technology and those who are able to grapple with the upcoming automation and prepare American workers and our economy for the future.  This is our opportunity to leave an enduring mark on the district for years to come..for our children and our future.

Over the past decade, Rishi has served in various influential roles
Rishi has served as an Executive Board member of the California Democratic Party, and has served on California Governor’s University of California Regents Selection Committee. As a panelist on the California Department of Education’s Computer Science Implementation panel, Rishi is proud to have implemented California’s K-12 Computer Science curriculum.

As an elected leader, Rishi has led with commonsense
Rishi successfully tackled significant challenges such as reducing crime, utility bills, and taxes in his city and regionally. Rishi’s reelection with record-breaking votes – highest votes in 66 years of my city –  is a testament to his problem-solving capabilities and commitment to effective leadership.

A historical election performance last year
Our campaign in 2022 achieved a historic milestone, garnering 42% or 102,000 votes – the highest ever for a challenger in this district.  We won many cities and precincts in the congressional district – that had never been accomplished by any Rep. Eshoo challenger, and we were encouraged by hundreds of our neighbors to run again in 2024.

About Rishi

• Rishi was only 21 when he stepped off a packed red bus, passport-in-hand and ran towards the American consulate in Mumbai.

• He grew up in a middle class suburb apartment in Mumbai with no air conditioning, my dad worked extremely hard in the cryogenics industry, and my mom herded three boys.

• Rishi Kumar is a Silicon Valley hi-tech executive and mechanical engineer running for U.S. Congress. As a Saratoga councilmember, he was elected with the most votes in Saratoga’s history for getting things done.
• Rishi has been elected and served multiple terms as the Executive Board and Delegate to the California Democratic Party.
• Rishi Kumar secured 102,000 votes, receiving a historic 42.2% of the total vote share – winning many cities and precincts in the congressional district.
• Rishi’s motivation is to change the broken sold out Washington culture by bringing a new brand of people-driven, rather than lobbyist-driven, politics. Rishi’s run is for the people.
• As an immigrant and an engineer working for IBM, Rishi found his calling as an activist stepping up for complex community challenges that he couldn’t ignore.

Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani, a Republican, announced his campaign for Congress November 14, 2023 from Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, which leans significantly Republican.

State Sen. Antani’s announcement came on the heels of Congressman Brad Wenstrup, a Republican, making public on Nov. 9, that he will not seek re-election and will retire from Congress. The Republican primary in Ohio will take place on March 19, 2024, when Sen. Antani hopes to get the support of the GOP to run in the November 2024 general elections.

If elected to the US Congress, he would become the youngest Hindu and Indian American Member of Congress in the nation’s history and the 1st Republican Hindu Member of Congress in the country’s history.

In a statement, Antani said, “As the 1st Hindu and Indian American State Senator in Ohio history, I’ve worked hard every day to ensure every Ohioan has an opportunity to achieve their American Dream. Now, I am running for Congress to be a warrior for our community’s values and fight against those who seek to wreak havoc on us. I will stand steel-spined for the policies that benefit our community and strongly oppose those who kowtow to those against us.”

Born and raised in southern Ohio, Sen. Antani is serving his first term in the Ohio Senate, having previously served three terms as State Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives. He has received numerous awards from organizations for veterans, community college, small businesses, and more. Sen. Antani is a graduate of The Ohio State University.

“I am incredibly excited to announce I am running for Congress in 2024!   Current Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2) has served southern Ohio with honor in Congress and as a combat surgeon in the Army and I wish him well as he announced his retirement,” he wrote.

In his announcement, Antani said the American Dream is “under attack” and he is running for Congress to “defend” it. “I’ll be a tireless warrior in Congress for our community and I’ll never stop working hard for our shared value and ideals.” The Republican primary in Ohio is set for March 19, 2024.

A win in the 2024 congressional elections would make Antani the youngest Indian American member of Congress and the first GOP Hindu member of Congress in U.S. history, as per a report.

The young politician became involved in politics in his early twenties. He was elected to the Ohio house at age 23 and to the State Senate at age 29. From 2014-2020, he served as the State Representative for the 42nd House District in the Ohio House of Representatives.

While in the House, Antani served as Vice Chairman of the Rules and Reference Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Insurance, and as a member of the Committee on Health, Committee on Public Utilities, and Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee. In 2015, Forbes featured him on the list of “30 Under 30” people in the United States for Law & Politics.

Sterley Stanley of Indian Origin has been elected overwhelmingly to  New Jersey’s State Assembly from the state’s 18^th District during the recently held elections on November 7^th, 2023.

New Jersey voters headed to their local polling stations on Tuesday with the entire New Jersey Legislature up for grabs. All 40 seats in the state Senate and the 80 seats in the state Assembly were on the line. All but two races were uncontested. General Assembly seats are two-year terms, while the Senate is four years.

In New Jersey, there are 6,494,988 registered voters for this general election, with 2,503,776 declared Democrats and 1,541,671 Republicans, according to the state Division of Elections website.

Here’s a look at the unofficial results to the DISTRICT 18:

Sterley S. Stanley, Democrat polled 20,662 votes in the elections and was relected to the Assembly, convincingly beating the Republican candidates, Teresa A. Hutchison, who got 13,012 votes and Joseph C. Wolak, another Republican polled 12,815 votes. Stanley’s Democratic colleague, Robert J. Karabinchak received  20,805 votes as both of them will represent the 18^th District in 2024-25.

Three years ago, Sterley Stanley won a special election for New Jersey State Assembly in the 18th district, capturing the seat left vacant this month after Nancy Pinkin (D-East Brunswick) resigned to become the new Middlesex County Clerk. He had defeated Edison Councilman Joseph Coyle by a 58%-42% margin.

The 18th has the highest percentage of Asian Americans of any legislative district in the state.

Republicans have not won an Assembly race in the 18th since 1993, although the Senate seat was held by a Republican until the 2001 election.

The 57-year-old Stanley was elected to his East Brunswick council seat in 2020 against Republican Suzanne Blum. He served as council president until his election to the Assembly in 2021.

“It has been my great honor to represent the 18th Legislative District in the General Assembly,” Stanley who serves as the Vice Chair of the Assembly’s Environment and Solid Waste and as a member of the Committees on Health as well as on Law and Public Safety.

Indian-American Vin Gopal has been re-elected as New Jersey state senator for a third time in a row, beating his Republican challenger in the US state’s 11th Congressional district.

With a total of 32,772 votes, 38-year-old Gopal garnered 58 per cent of the vote over Steve Dnistrian, thus keeping a key swing seat under Democrat’s control.

“I think voters are tired of the political bickering,” Gopal said on Tuesday ahead of his victory, the PBS News Hour reported.

“They want people to bring them together. There needs to be discussion and debate and decorum back in government.”

Gopal’s campaign trail focused on abortion, tax relief, and increased school funding for local districts. In addition, the campaign was among the most heavily contested this year, and saw more political spending than any other race, PBS reported, quoting October figures from the state’s campaign finance watchdog.

During his first term in the State Senate, Gopal served as Senate Majority Conference Leader and Chairman of the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

He has also had a number of tax relief and shared-services bills signed into law and successfully fought party leadership from instituting a shore rental tax, according to his campaign website.

A lifelong resident of Monmouth County, Gopal holds a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University.

He previously served on the Board of Directors for the then-Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce, and was also President of the Hazlet Township Business Owners Association.

The New Jersey’s legislature is made up of the state Senate and Assembly and has 120 members from 40 districts.

Each district has one representative in the Senate, and two in the Assembly that serve four- and two-year terms.

Jose Abraham, an esteemed legal professional practicing at the Supreme Court of India, has received a prestigious accolade from the United States Department of State in recognition of his exceptional contributions to his field. The US department unveiled the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award on July 29, lauding Abraham’s endeavors aimed at empowering minority communities in India. This commendable award comes with a monetary prize of US$5,000 (equivalent to 411,000 rupees).

Expressing his reaction to this momentous news, Abraham conveyed his profound appreciation, stating that the award holds significant honor and serves as a motivating force, particularly because it originates from the US government. He affirmed his unwavering commitment to advancing his mission, which is centered around the legal empowerment of minority groups in India. Abraham shared these sentiments with Matters India on July 31, stating, “I will continue with one of my missions related to the empowerment of minority communities in India legally.”

During this year, Abraham collaboratively authored a book titled “Minority Empowerment Law,” in partnership with Justice Narendra Kumar. This publication adds to his already noteworthy accomplishments, contributing to the legal discourse surrounding minority rights and empowerment.

Abraham has achieved an impressive feat by representing over 7,000 educational institutions across India, assisting them in obtaining their minority status certificates. This crucial legal protection is afforded to these institutions under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India. Such an accomplishment underscores Abraham’s dedication to his work and his commitment to upholding constitutional rights.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) stands as a flagship initiative of the US Department of State, designed to facilitate professional exchanges. Through short-term visits to the United States, foreign leaders, both current and emerging, have the opportunity to experience American society firsthand and cultivate enduring relationships with their American counterparts. These professional interactions align with the participants’ areas of expertise and contribute to the foreign policy objectives of the United States.

With an annual participation of nearly 5,000 international visitors, the International Visitor Leadership Program has provided a platform for engagement between international leaders and American society. The program’s impact extends to an impressive roster of more than 200,000 international visitors, including over 500 former or current heads of state and government.

Abraham holds the esteemed title of Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India, which grants him the authority to both advocate and plead on behalf of parties within the country’s apex court. As per the established rules, only advocates who are recognized as advocates-on-record possess the privilege to file appearances or represent parties before the Supreme Court. Additionally, advocates who aren’t advocates-on-record may only appear and plead if they are instructed by an advocate-on-record.

Furthermore, Abraham serves as the founding President of Pravasi Legal Cell, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing pro-bono legal aid to vulnerable segments of the migrant community. His active involvement extends to his role as Chairman of the Paideia Institute for Training and Research in Social Sciences, based in New Delhi. Additionally, Abraham offers his expertise as a consultant and legal advisor to numerous NGOs and educational institutions.

With a robust academic background, Abraham has earned postgraduate degrees in both Law and Political Science. His current pursuits involve comprehensive research on Indian migration laws as part of his doctoral studies. Notably, he is an accomplished author with six books to his name, including titles such as “Indians and Emigration: Laws, Concerns, and Remedies” (2016), “Safe Emigration” (2018), “Right to Information: Key to Open Democracy” (2019), “Sexual Abuse of Children: A Guide for Caring Adults” (2019), “Minority Rights” (2021), and “Empowerment of Minorities: Educational Rights & NEP 2020” (2022).

Jose Abraham’s remarkable contributions as a legal professional dedicated to minority empowerment have garnered international recognition through the prestigious IVLP Impact Award. This acknowledgment underscores his commitment to legal advocacy, constitutional rights, and the betterment of marginalized communities in India.

Dr. Ravi Parikh, a noted ophthalmologist in New York, was recently awarded one of the highest recognitions from the American Society of Retina Specialists, ASRS, at its annual conference in July 2023.

The ASRS presented Dr. Parikh the 2023 Honor Award “For Outstanding Service to the Society’s Scientific and educational Programs, Original Papers, Panel Discussions, Instructional Courses.”

A Board-Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Parikh of Manhattan Retina and Eye is a retina specialist whose goal is to combine clinical medicine, health policy, management, and to better deliver care to patients in the U.S. and abroad, is known for his forward looking approach to care, including using artificial intelligence and spreading awareness about telemedicine. Dr. Parikh received his medical training at Vanderbilt University and earned a Masters of Public Health in Policy and Management from Harvard University. He trained as a resident at Yale University School of Medicine/Yale Eye Center/Yale New Haven Hospital.

He has been the Director of Healthcare Delivery Research, Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health. His hospital appointments include New York University Langone Health 2019; Bellevue Hospital, New York Health and Hospitals Corporation New York, 2019; and Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY, 2019.

Dr. Parikh is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Health Policy Committee and the American Society of Retina Specialists’ Federal Affairs Committee.

At the ASRS 2023 meeting, Dr. Parikh spoke on the issue “Biosimilar Paradox: How Biosimilar Use Will Increase Patient and Healthcare Cost.”

“Great American society of retinal specialists meeting. Happy to see friends, learn a lot, and present on the biosimilar paradox and how we will need to advocate to make sure our patients have access to low cost repackaged bevacizumab. Also humbled to get the ASRS honor award!,” Dr. Parikh is quoted saying on Linkedin.

He has published numerous papers in top journals such as Ophthalmology and JAMA ophthalmology and his work has been cited in Bloomberg Businessweek (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-28/how-private-equity-helped-corner-the-cancer-care-market-in-naples-florida) as well as Wired Magazine (the leading technology magazine in the United States https://www.wired.com/story/us-government-pay-doctors-use-ai-algorithms/).

After finishing his fellowship, Dr. Parikh went on to publish numerous studies in Ophthalmology and JAMA Ophthalmology (the two leading ophthalmic research journals) while running his own practice (Manhattan Retina and Eye Consultants) along with studies in numerous other journals.

His work (almost all of which he has led the study as corresponding author) has included several firsts such as the first and largest evaluation of national anti-VEGF use over 10 years and across all diagnoses (published in ophthalmology), the first global use of anti-VEGF across the US, UK, Australia, and Asia (published ophthalmology retina), the largest study evaluating surgical errors in ophthalmology and how to improve/reduce errors (published in Ophthalmology), the first study to describe medical malpractice cases D ophthalmic trainees (published in Ophthalmology), the first study showing the increase of and trend of private equity acquisitions in ophthalmology (published in Ophthalmology), the first study assessing telemedicine usage before and after COVID 19 beyond a single institution (published in Ophthalmology), and the first study demonstrating economic/reimbursement challenges in using artificial intelligence to identify diabetic retinopathy (published in Ophthalmology and featured in Wired Magazine).

(AP) — Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32.

The 50th anniversary of Lee’s death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.

A government-run museum organized a camp for students to learn about Lee’s legacy by introducing them to Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style that Lee invented and practiced. The museum also screened his films.

Many of Lee’s supporters said his philosophy inspired them since they were young, even though many only learned about him and his works after his death.

Sophie Uekawa, a translator, said she was initially attracted to Lee’s muscular body and smooth moves on TV. But she was later impressed by his words, including about how unhappy circumstances eventually pass. When Uekawa was bullied by schoolmates in secondary school, Lee’s quotes helped her endure feelings of helplessness.

“It can be said that he is my savior,” Uekawa said.

Lee began his career as a child actor in the 1940s and started learning Chinese kung fu when he was 13. He moved back to the U.S. in 1959 and studied philosophy at the University of Washington.

The superstar fought hard against racist stereotypes in the U.S. entertainment industry where Asian men were often portrayed as servants, unskilled workers or evil geniuses in Hollywood.

Lee eventually went back to Hong Kong and made hits like “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury.” His last film, “Enter the Dragon,” was released six days after his death and became his most popular movie. He was one of the first Asian actors to attain Hollywood megastardom and fanned a kung fu craze that swept the world.

On Thursday, W Wong, the chairperson of a Bruce Lee fan club in Hong Kong, was touched to see fans from different countries including Britain and Korea gathering at Lee’s statue to pay tribute to him.

But Wong said demographics of the club established nearly three decades ago are changing as members grow older and that it has only one member in his 20s.

“We face problems in passing on our work,” Wong said, although the group still has some 600 members.

An instructor at a martial arts institute in Hong Kong’s Jordan district says more than half of the studio’s Jeet Kune Do students came to learn the martial arts style because of Lee.

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Teacher Ricky Fong said adaptability is important in Jeet Kune Do and life and pointed to one of Lee’s most famous sayings: “Be water, my friend.” The phrase was frequently used by protesters in Hong Kong’s 2019 pro-democracy movement to describe their guerrilla strategy of moving fluidly across the city.

One of Fong’s students, Adrian Li, said he admired Lee’s martial arts skills and philosophy. He added that Lee’s eagerness to keep learning has influenced him deeply. “Not be bounded by anything. One can learn a lot,” he said.

Indian American Congressman Ami Bera received the Healthcare Leadership Council’s “Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award” in recognition of his support of high-quality, affordable health care in the country on July 12. He was felicitated during Healthcare Leadership Council Innovation Expo 23 in Washington DC.

As a doctor and lawmaker, Bera has continuously been contributing to address Americans’ health concerns and issues, the award recognises his efforts for the same. “As a doctor, I’m committed to working to ensure that every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care,” he said reacting to the honor on Twitter.

Honored to receive the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award from @HealthInFocus. As a doctor, I’m committed to working to ensure that every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care.

During his two-decade long medical career, Bera worked to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of healthcare. In his role as the chief medical officer of Sacramento County, he fought to reduce the cost of health care, create jobs, and deliver care to tens of thousands of Sacramento residents.                                             ‌

As a clinical professor of medicine and associate dean for admissions and outreach at University of California, Davis, Bera has inspired the next generation of doctors and as a legislator, he has proposed several legislations to serve the Americans interest, including most recently a bill to expand reproductive health care training to medical students.

The Healthcare Leadership Council is an association of executives from various professions within the medical field that work to create a more efficient and effective healthcare system to benefit all Americans.

Ken Mathew has become the first Indian American to be elected as the Mayor of Stafford City in Houston’s Fort Bend County. Mathew hails from a Kerala town and is also the first Malayalee to be elected to this position.

Having defeated incumbent Cecil Willis, who had been the Mayor of Stafford since December 12, 2020, Mathew was sworn in as Mayor during a ceremony held at the Council Chambers in Stafford.

Mathew, a former Stafford City Council member, won the race defeating incumbent Mayor Cecil Willis by 16 votes in a run-off race this month, crediting his victory to his faith in god, the Fort Bend Star reported.

He was administered the oath of office by Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt, also an Indian-American, at a special event attended by his family members and top officials.

Indian-American Fort Bend County Judge, K.P. George, who was present on the occasion, tweeted: “Congratulations to Stafford Mayor-elect Ken Mathew! It was an absolute pleasure to attend his swearing-in ceremony this evening. Wishing him all the best as he embarks on this important role.”

Texas representatives, Ron Reynolds and Suleman Lulani, and former Missouri City Mayor Owen Allen also graced the occasion.

Back home, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also congratulated Mathew in a tweet. “Congratulations to Ken Mathew from Kerala for becoming the elected Mayor of Stafford, US. He is the first Indian to be elected to the post, in 67 years’ history of Stafford,” Chandrasekhar wrote.

Mathew served on Stafford Council since first being elected in 2006, and served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for several years before then.

He immigrated to the US in the 1970s after earning a degree from the University of Bombay, the Star reported. An MBA, Mathew worked as an accountant and financial executive for several corporations, including Toshiba in the Houston area. He has lived in Stafford since 1982.

The oath of office was administered by Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt, who presented Mathew with a personalized gavel as a gift on the occasion. Rep. Ron Reynolds, gifted him a Texas State flag that was flown over the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin.

Mathew has served on the board of Stafford Economic Development Corporation since 2008. He also served as a City Council member and on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He immigrated to the U.S. from Mumbai, India, in the 70s after completing his graduation from the University of Mumbai. He obtained MBA at the University of Detroit after arriving in the States, and made Stafford his home in 1982.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has been named to this year’s “Great Immigrants” list by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which honors contributions by immigrants to American life.

Indian-American Banga, who became the 14th president of the top bank this year, was among 35 honorees from diverse backgrounds and fields whose contributions and actions enriched and strengthened American society and democracy.

From India, he is the only honouree in the prestigious Carnegie list, which has named more than 700 “Great Immigrants” since 2006.

With over 30 years of experience in key positions, Banga is expected to usher in transformative policies at the World Bank to combat poverty and address climate change, opening opportunities for people around the globe, a Carnegie statement said on Wednesday.

“We need to find ways to embrace the value and talent immigrants have to offer — not the least of which is their diversity. Their diverse perspectives and experiences make us stronger,” Banga was quoted as saying in the statement.

Earlier this month,Banga became the new president of the World Bank, the first-ever Indian American to lead the institution.

He started his career in India, spending 13 years at Nestle India and two at PepsiCo, and in 1996, he joined Citigroup, eventually leading the Asia-Pacific region as CEO.

Later moving to the US, he served as President and CEO of Mastercard for 12 years before being named executive chairman.

Among numerous honors, he was awarded the Foreign Policy Association Medal, Padma Shri and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

The Class of 2023 Great Immigrants has individuals from 33 countries, who, according to the Corporation, “have fostered opportunities for others through their work as educators, mentors, philanthropists, job creators, public servants, storytellers, and advocates”.

“The 35 naturalized citizens honored today embody that tradition, reminding us that the contributions of immigrants make our country more vibrant and our democracy more resilient,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a naturalized citizen who first came to the US from Ireland as a graduate student.

Other honorees in the list are esteemed leaders in their fields, including two Nobel Prize laureates, an Olympian, a member of Congress, a university president, a public theologian and immigration advocate.

It also includes celebrities such Elle magazine editor-in-chief and TV personality Nina Garcia, bestselling novelist Min Jin Lee, seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette, Hollywood star Pedro Pascal, and Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan.

“AAPI will honor Dr. Prem Reddy, AAPI Patron in Chief with the “Special Presidential Appreciation and Achievement Award” for his Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Philanthropy,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of AAPI announced here. “Dr. Reddy will be conferred with the most prestigious of all AAPI awards along with other recipients during the Presidential Gala during the 41^st annual AAPI Convention planned to be held in Philadelphia from July 6^th to 9^th, 2023.”

Others who will be honored along with Dr. Reddy with awards during gala include: Dr. Ranga Reddy is the recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award; Dr. Manmeet Ahluwalia is the recipient of the AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished Physician Award; AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished Service Award is being bestowed on Dr. Udaya Shivangi; Dr. Soumya Reddy Neravetla is the recipient of the AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished YPS Award; and, AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished MSRF Award will be given to Mehul Mehra, Dr. Kolli said.

Chairman, President & CEO of Prime Healthcare Services, Dr. Prem Reddy, is a physician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, founded Prime Healthcare Services with a mission to save hospitals, improve community healthcare and provide the very best care to patients. Prime Healthcare now owns and operates 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states and is the fifth largest tax paying hospital system in the nation. Among numerous accolades, Prime Healthcare has been recognized as one of the “10 Top Health Systems” and one of the “15 Top Health Systems” in the nation three times. Since 2003, Prime Healthcare hospitals have been recognized 66 times among the “100 Top Hospitals” in the nation by Fortune/IBM Watson Health.

During his 25 years of practice, Dr. Prem Reddy performed more than 5,000 cardiac procedures, including coronary angiography and angioplasty and permanent pacemaker implantations. Dr. Reddy has been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the “50 Most Influential Physician Executives” in healthcare nine times, the “25 Top Minority Executives in Healthcare” multiple times, recognized among the 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and is consistently listed among the “Top 100 Physician Leaders to Know” and “Top 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” Dr. Reddy has also been honored with the 2017 Bernard Osher Philanthropists of the Year award, recognizing Dr. Reddy and his wife Dr. Venkamma Reddy for their generous support of Victor Valley College and other California community colleges.

Dr. Reddy and his family founded the Dr. Prem Reddy Family Foundation, a non-profit foundation that has donated millions to charities supporting healthcare and education, including universities and college scholarships; national charities such as Boys and Girls Club; medical equipment for poverty-stricken regions around the world; mental health care; and free community clinics. Dr. Reddy also founded the Prime Healthcare Foundation, not-for-profit public charity that owns 14 of the Prime Healthcare hospitals. Combined, the foundations have assets of $1.3 billion, all donated by Dr. Reddy and his family. Driven by Dr. Reddy’s life-long passion for healing and education, the Foundations act as stewards of private funds to be used for public good and fulfill a commitment to give back to communities. Dr. Reddy made a $60 million commitment to found the California University of Science and Medicine, (CUSM), a non-profit medical school located in Southern California that welcomed its first class of students in July 2018. Dr. Reddy serves as Chairman of the Board of CUSM and also served as Chairman of the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) 2021 Board of Directors.

Living up to its motto of “Saving Hospitals. Saving Jobs. Saving Lives,” Prime Healthcare has invested nearly $2 billion since 2005 on capital improvements and equipment to modernize and improve its facilities and has provided more than $9 billion in charity and uncompensated care since 2010. Led by Dr. Reddy, Prime Healthcare is continuing its promise to provide compassionate care and clinical excellence to patients and families in more than 600 communities across the United States.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award of any reputable national and international organization is a tribute to the decades of selfless service of an outstanding leader that propels the organization to the heights of excellence, which remains a significant milestone in the annals of the organization,” said Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of APPI, while announcing that “The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) is proud to bestow the AAPI 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award on Dr. Ranga Reddy, a veteran AAPI leader and past President of AAPI, a 41 years old organization.

Dr. Ranga Reddy will join 5 others who will be honored at the the Presidential Gala during the 41^st annual AAPI Convention planned to be held in Philadelphia from July 6^th to 9^th, 2023.” Others who will be honored along with Dr. Reddy with awards during gala include: AAPI will honor Dr. Prem Reddy, AAPI Patron in Chief with the “Special Presidential Appreciation and Achievement Award” for his Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Philanthropy; Dr. Manmeet Ahluwalia is the recipient of the AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished Physician Award; AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished Service Award is being bestowed on Dr. Udaya Shivangi; Dr. Soumya Reddy Neravetla is the recipient of the AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished YPS Award; and, AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished MSRF Award will be given to Mehul Mehra, Dr. Kolli said.

“The entire leadership of AAPI congratulates Dr. Ranga Reddy on being chosen to receive the prestigious AAPI 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award,” Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of AAPI Board of Trustees, said. “AAPI stands today on the shoulders of pioneering leaders such as Dr. Reddy, who have shown the way for us to emulate.”

An alumnus of Kurnool Medical College, Andhra Pradesh, with MBBS and M.S. (General Surgery) degrees, Dr. Reddy was trained at the State University of New York. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Management. He was a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology@ SIU School of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, Illinois.

Dr. Ranga Reddy’s contributions to AAPI in various leadership roles, including as the President (1997-98) and Member of the Board of Trustees (1998-2001) for more than three decades are a testimony to his commendable service to the organization and membership. Dr. Reddy streamlined the AAPI organizational structure and simplified the election process. As Chairman of the AAPI Bylaws Committee (1996-97), Dr. Reddy amended the bylaws to include one “member- one vote” provision that reflects a truly democratic election process.

Dr. Reddy envisioned the bright future of AAPI as belonging to the younger generation of Physicians and created a robust new Chapter of AAPI, viz, the Medical Students and Residents (MSR) section. Dr. Reddy initiated an Annual “AAPI Legislative Conference Day” in Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., to represent the interests of the Indo-US Physicians.

Dr. Manmeet Ahluwalia is the recipient of the “AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished Physician Award,” which is given to a current or former physician member of AAPI, whose work has had a significant impact on science, innovations in patient care that have had a widespread impact, or health-related community service that has served humanity at large.

““The AAPI is proud to bestow the AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished Physician Award on Manmeet Ahluwalia, an alumnus of Maulana Medical College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. AAPI leadership congratulates Dr. Manmeet Ahluwalia on being chosen for the AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished Physician Award for his accomplishments and contributions in the field of Medicine,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder, President-Elect of AAPI. “Dr. Ahluwalia has enhanced AAPI’s image though his great services to the nation.”

After his internship and residency at Fairview Hospital, Cleveland Health System, Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Ahluwalia did a Hematology-Oncology fellowship at University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, followed by advanced training at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Ahluwalia is currently the Chief of Solid Tumor Medical Oncology, Chief Scientific Officer & Deputy Director at Miami Cancer Institute, and Professor of Translational Medicine at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.

For over a decade, Dr. Ahluwalia has led practice-changing research for developing new therapies for patients with primary brain tumors and metastases, resulting in his 250 +peer-reviewed research publications. He designed and led the initial studies on combining immunotherapy/targeted therapy and radiosurgery in brain metastases. He co-led the first-in-man trial of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for primary brain tumors, which led to US FDA approval. He also designed and led the LASER trial exploring LITT for brain metastases and radiation necrosis.

An internationally recognized authority in Neuro-Oncology in all domains, a longitudinal mentor, and a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare, Dr. Ahluwalia is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the National Cancer Institute /Career Development Award, the Velsano Impact Award for Brain Metastases, Cleveland Clinic’s Leadership Award in Healthcare, ASCO Leadership Development Program Award including the highest level of Organizational Service Recognition as Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished Service Award” is being bestowed on Dr. Udaya Shivangi, a distinguished member of the AAPI, who has rendered decades of outstanding service in advancing the mission of the Organization,’ said Dr. Satheesh Kathula, current Vice-President of AAPI.

Dr. Shivangi is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Karnataka, India (MBBS). She was a Resident Physician at Kuhn Memorial Hospital, Vicksburg, Mississippi, a Fellow of Sleep Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and a Staff Physician for Disability Determination Services. She was also the Founder-Director of Jackson Sleep Centers, Mississippi.

Dr. Udaya Shivangi’s contributions to AAPI have been extensive and outstanding. She has served AAPI in different capacities and many of them in leadership roles. A Patron Member of AAPI for over 30 years, she currently serves as the Chairperson of the AAPI Women’s Forum. Her previous roles and services include President of AAPI Mississippi Chapter and Chairperson of a number of AAPI committees: Global Health Summit, Publications, and Women Physician’s committee. She is also a member of the AAPI Legislative committee and Bylaws committee.

Dr. Shivangi‘s untiring humanitarian services as the Director of AAPI Charitable Foundation during COVID-19 era are ongoing. She has organized successful fundraisers supporting national AAPI initiatives, and community service projects such as “blood drives” and “share a blanket” program for the homeless. As one of the top dedicated Women Physician Leaders of AAPI, she has excelled in her commitment to champion the specific causes of Women Physicians in AAPI and elsewhere in other Organizations.

Her contributions to Organized Medicine in the US and India, both mainstream and ethnic, as a distinguished member of various professional organizations (such as Indian Medical Council and American Medical Association) are well recognized. Dr. Shivangi, with a longtime track record of “Service of Excellence” to AAPI, has also contributed to ongoing activities of various social organizations including humanitarian assistance to communities in Mississipi. Her distinguished service to AAPI was recognized with the “AAPI Presidential Award” in 2017-21.

“Dr. Soumya Reddy Neravetla is the recipient of the AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished YPS Award, given to a young physician (within eight years of completing GME training) and has distinguished herself in the workplace and has done outstanding service to organized medicine,” Dr. Meher Medavaram, Secretary of AAPI announced. “AAPI is proud to bestow the AAPI 2023 Most Distinguished YPS Award on Dr. Soumya Reddy Neravetla, a Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine alumnus in Rootstown, Ohio.”

Dr. Neravetla pursued her residency program in General Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, Florida. She did her fellowship in Thoracic Robotic Surgery at Baptist Health System/South Miami Hospital in Miami, Florida, followed by another fellowship in Structural Heart Surgery at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Neravetla is currently the Director of Thoracic Oncology and Structural Heart with Springfield Heart Surgeons, LLC in Springfield, Ohio, and TAVR & Lung Nodule Clinic Director at Kettering Health in Dayton, Ohio. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Surgery at Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She has a strong record of quality research presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals in the specialty of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.

As a patron member of AAPI, Dr. Neravetla has an impressive track record of years of serving the organization in different roles such as Chairperson of Committees of IT, Publications, Women’s Forum at the 2019 Global Health Summit, Co-Chair of Membership Committee and Member of the Nominating Committee. A current member of the Board of Trustees, she served as the President of the Young Physician Section of AAPI with significant ground-breaking contributions to the growth and expansion of the Chapter.

Dr. Neravetla is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as the Presidential AAPI YPS National Award, the Healthcare Heroes’ Award of Georgia Medical Society, and Awards of Academic Distinction and Scholarships as a Medical Student, Resident, and Cardio-thoracic Surgery Fellow.

“AAPI’s 2023 Most Distinguished MSRF Award will be given to Mehul Mehra. The award is  given to a medical student, resident, or fellow who has distinguished him/herself in the workplace and has done outstanding work for organized medicine,” Dr. Sumul Raval, Treasurer of AAPI announced.

Mehul Mehra, an MD-MPH Student at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia,  graduated from the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences, Augusta, Georgia. He has a commendable track record in academic medicine, research, and clinical work. He was the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Academy Founder, President, and Volunteer Advisor.

His scholarly activities involve research in diverse fields such as Epidemiology, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Neurosciences, and Cardiology. His numerous high-quality posters and oral presentations, Journal reviews, and publications are outstanding. Mr. Mehra is a student leader of Organized US Medicine. Through the Georgia American Medical Association Student Chapter, he worked to lobby state legislators to support prior authorization reform in Georgia, where physicians no longer need prior authorization on chronic drugs for up to one year.

In India, Mehra has volunteered as a Medical Student & Logistical Coordinator at Aakash Healthcare & Venkateshwar Hospital in New Delhi, India. He assisted in general surgery for underserved populations at Venkateswar Hospital in Haryana. He also provided vaccine education and community health awareness to socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the local Hindi language.

Mehra’s recognitions Awards include “Augusta University Student Leader of the Year, 2023, National Science Foundation Travel Award, 2023, MCG Educational Innovation Institute Funding Award, 2022, AU/MCG Student Research Program Award, 2020, Augusta University Annual Deans List Award 2017-20, Augusta University COVID-19 Student Innovation Challenge Award 2021, among many others.

Indian Overseas Congress Vice Chair George Abraham, one of the founders of the Congress organization in America a quarter of a century ago, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rahul Gandhi in a rare honor.

The event was the IOC reception of Rahul Gandhi at the Terrace on Park in Queens, New York, on June 3, ahead of his public meeting on June 4. To everyone’s surprise, IOC Global Chair Sam Pitroda announced the honor and invited Rahul Gandhi to present the plaque that lauded his vision and commitment to the organization.
The 300-plus party supporters in the audience greeted it with thunderous applause. It was a proud moment for Abraham, who started his association with the Congress Party during his school days. He worked in ‘All Kerala Balajana Sakhyam’ (a youth organization) and became the state treasurer. Later he worked in the Kerala Students Union (KSU) before moving to the U.S.

He has completed 55 years in the U.S. and kept his Indian citizenship. In the U.S., too, he held the ideals of the Congress Party in his heart. Congress leaders who visited the U.S. were always welcomed by him and received his hospitality. It was in the late 90s that he, along with a few others from Kerala, came forward with the idea of setting up an organization to support the party. During a visit of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in 1988, the former Kerala chief minister, an organization called ‘Indian Overseas Congress’ was launched. It is to be noted that the first planning meeting for the organization was held at his house in New York. Later, it grew to become a national organization known as INOC. Sonia Gandhi, former AICC President, inaugurated the organization upon her visit to the U.S. on June 25, 2001. Upon the creation of an Overseas Congress Department under AICC and the assumption of Chairmanship by Mr. Sam Pitroda, the organization’s name was reverted to IOC.

The award was a befitting recognition for a person for his vision, dedication, and hard work. His wife, Lona Abraham, too, worked side by side with him for the organization.
Mr. Abraham retired as a Chief technology officer at the United Nations.

Rahul Gandhi, a leader of India’s Congress party, has concluded a tour of the US in which he visited three cities, held meetings with American lawmakers and interacted with Indian American communities. Before he began the tour, Gandhi was delayed for two hours at an airport while waiting for immigration clearance.

During this time, he stood in line with other passengers and took selfies. When asked why he was waiting in line, Gandhi replied “I am a common man. I like it. I am no longer an MP.”

Gandhi’s visit has been arranged by the Indian Overseas Congress, with the aim of establishing connections and a conversation between Gandhi and American individuals, institutions, and media, including the growing Indian diaspora. “The purpose of his (Gandhi’s) trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media, including the Indian diaspora…to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over,” said Sam Pitroda, the chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress.

Gandhi had a full week of events planned across the US, including speaking engagements at Stanford University, meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC, and a public gathering in New York. He will also engage with Wall Street executives and university students during the tour.

Gandhi’s disqualification as a Member of Parliament in March due to his conviction and two-year sentence in a defamation case over a Modi surname remark has not disrupted his political activities. His visit to the US aims to build links between the political and social spheres of India and the US.

The reason for Gandhi’s visit is to promote shared values and a vision of “real democracy”, according to Sam Pitroda. Pitroda stated, “the purpose of his trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions, and media, including the Indian diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace, and opportunities world over.”

Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi received a new ordinary passport on Sunday, two days after a local court granted its no objection to the issuance of the same. The passport office assured Gandhi in the morning that the passport would be issued to him on Sunday, and he got it in the afternoon. Gandhi had applied for an ordinary passport after surrendering the old diplomatic passport issued to him when he was a member of parliament.

Gandhi’s visit to the US comes just a week after the Congress Party recorded a thumping majority in Karnataka. During this significant victory, the Congress party managed to form a government in collaboration with the Janata Dal-Secular.

This electoral win in Karnataka has been hailed as an essential step in boosting the Congress parties’ morale, given their recent defeat in the national assembly elections in 2014.

Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US will be closely watched by many political analysts to assess his global standing, particularly following his assumed title of heir to the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty. His trip may also signal his intent to take a more assertive role in politics, including his aspirations for the national leadership. His official Instagram account shared photos of him interacting with people and visiting places in California, ahead of his engagements.

Tata Sons chairman, N Chandrasekaran has been conferred with the highest French civilian award, “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, in Paris. The award recognized Chandrasekaran for his outstanding business successes and decisive contribution to strengthening Indo-French economic ties.

Presenting the award French Minister Colonna said, “Dear Natarajan Chandrasekaran, you’re a true friend of France. Tata is a major player in the Indo-French partnership. I was glad to confer the Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur on its Chairman, on behalf of the French President. Dear Natarajan Chandrasekaran, you’re a true friend of France.”

The chairman was in France to represent his company at the Choose France Summit hosted by French President Macron at the Versailles Castle involving over 180 CEOs from across the world.

The French Embassy in India said in a press statement that Tata Group has a strong historical relationship with France that began in the 1930s with Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD Tata) and is still expanding its presence in industrial and technological fields in India and in France.

Chandrasekaran joined the board of Tata Sons in October 2015, an enterprise established in 1917, and became the chairman in January 2017. He has served Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in various positions the chief operating officer (COO), executive director, and chief executive officer (CEO).

Chandrasekaran was born in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, and completed his bachelor’s degree in applied sciences from the Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, and his master’s in computer applications from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil India.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced that Delegate Kumar Barve will be appointed to the Public Service Commission. The appointment will occur after the 2023 legislative session.

“I am proud to announce the selection of Delegate Kumar Barve to serve on the Public Service Commission. He is a veteran of the Maryland House of Delegates and his leadership within the Environment and Transportation Committee makes him the ideal candidate for this role.” said Gov. Moore. “I am confident in Delegate Barve’s ability to bolster my administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship while ensuring ratepayers are protected.”

Barve has been a member of the House of Delegates since 1991 and is the first Indian-American elected to a state legislature in the US. The Public Service Commission regulates public utilities and certain passenger transportation companies in Maryland.

While representing District 17 in Montgomery County, Barve served as Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015 and his policy accomplishments include economic development, environmental regulation, energy generation, energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and tax policy.

Delegate Kumar Barve was the first Indian-American elected to a state legislature in the United States. He has been a member of the House of Delegates since January 1991. While representing District 17 in Montgomery County, he served as Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee since 2015. He served as Democratic House Majority Leader from 2003-2015.

Delegate Barve’s various policy accomplishments include economic development, environmental regulation, energy generation, energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and tax policy. He sponsored several climate change laws, led Maryland’s effort to promote high tech job creation, and was a central player in closing corporate tax loopholes and in transforming Maryland’s tax code to be more progressive.

Delegate Barve also has more than 40 years of experience as an accountant. He has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Environmental Management Services, Inc. since 1993; he was the Financial Manager of UNISYS Corporation from 1987 to 1990; and from 1981-1987, he was the Economic/Proposal Manager of the Space Communications Corporation.

Delegate Barve earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of numerous awards.

Noted Indian-American mathematician and statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics for his work more than 75 years back, which continues to exert a profound influence on science. The award is often considered the “Nobel Prize” of math and statistics.

Rao, 102, will receive the prize, which comes with a $80,000 award, this July at the biennial International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

“In awarding this prize, we celebrate the monumental work by C.R. Rao that not only revolutionized statistical thinking in its time but also continues to exert enormous influence on human understanding of science across a wide spectrum of disciplines,” said Guy Nason, Chair of the International Prize in Statistics Foundation, in a statement.

Rao demonstrated three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of statistics and provided statistical tools heavily used in science today in his 1945 paper published in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society.

Combined, these results help scientists more efficiently extract information from data.

Rao is currently a professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at the University at Buffalo.

Born in 1920 in Karnataka, he was the eighth child born in a family of six brothers and four sisters.

He secured an MSc in Mathematics at Andhra University in 1941, an M.A. in statistics from Calcutta University in 1943 and a PhD degree at King’s College in Cambridge University in 1948.

Cambridge University awarded him the prestigious Sc.D. degree in 1965, and he has received 31 Honorary Doctoral degrees from universities in 18 countries.

In India, under the direction of P.C. Mahalanobis, Rao worked to set up statistical bureaus in different states and developed a network of statistical agencies at the district level for collecting data.

India honoured Rao with a Padma Bhushan in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. It has also instituted a biennial national award in Statistics known as the ‘The Professor C.R. Rao’ award.

In his honour, the Pennsylvania State University has established a C.R. and Bhargavi Rao Prize in Statistics.

The first International Prize in Statistics was awarded in 2017 to David R. Cox for the development of the Cox proportional hazards model, which allows researchers to investigate patient survival rates in complex studies.

Awarded biennially at the ISI World Statistics Congress, the International Prize in Statistics aims to enhance public understanding of the depth and scope of statistics.

Indian-American Shaleen Sheth of Lynnfield, MA is among the six honorees chosen to be honored by the Massachusetts AAPI Commission at its inaugural award ceremony for AAPI Unsung Heroes during the 15th Annual Unity Gala on May 6, 2023.

The Massachusetts Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission, known as AAPI, is the only permanent statewide body dedicated to advocating for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Unsung Hero Awards will be given to Connie Wong, Deputy Commissioner for Labor Relations, Boston Fire Department;  Shaleen Sheth, Youth Activist; Master Nam and Sarah, Business people; Shaina Lu, Artist; Rev Dr. Ko Ko Lay, a pastor of Burmese Christian Church; and Maria Isabela Campos, Youth Activist.

“The AAPI Commission has created an AAPI Unsung Heroes Award, which will be presented annually to an individual or group who has worked tirelessly to support and uplift all communities but has not received the recognition they deserve,” said AAPI Commission Executive Director Yasmin Padamsee Forbes. “It is critical for us to recognize people who the community knows is the person who has assisted them in times of need, doing important and impactful work year after year.”

The Massachusetts AAPI Commission will be at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. The event will feature keynote speakers, to be announced at a later time. One of the highlights of the Unity Dinner is the granting of awards to community leaders and organizations.

Shaleen Sheth is a socially conscious young professional based in Boston who has been actively involved in community service since 12. She graduated with honors from Babson College, majoring in business and finance. She co-founded Women Who Win, a non-profit organization that amplifies women’s voices worldwide through story-telling, skill-sharing, mentorship, and networking. As a Co-CEO, she scaled the organization to over 20k members in 80 countries, with support from institutions such as Bank of America, Linkedin, and Akshaya Patra USA. She is an Advisory Council Member for Saheli Boston, supporting South Asian domestic violence survivors, and was appointed to the Young Professionals Leadership Council for Akshaya Patra in 2022. Shaleen received a citation from the Massachusetts State Government for her leadership in women’s empowerment. Her mission is to use media and technology to uplift the voices of women and minorities globally.

On the sidelines of the March 22, 2023, United Nation’s World Water Day commemoration, Dr. Rajendra Singh, referred to popularly as the “Water Man” of India, was hosted by Save Indian Farmers, a non-profit in the U.S., and the Gandhian Society in collaboration with Parikh Worldwide Media in Edison, New Jersey.

Dr. Singh also visited the offices of Parikh Worldwide Media, where he was felicitated, and gave an interview to PWM’s  24/7 television channel ITV Gold.

As part of the occasion, Mayor of Edison, N.J., Sam Joshi, issued a proclamation declaring March 23 as Rajendra Singh Day, in recognition of the Indian environmental activist’s lasting contributions to society. The proclamation was read out at the reception.

Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of PWM, who presented an award to Dr. Singh, spoke at the event praising the water conservation specialist for his commitment and hard work. Dr. Parikh also affirmed his own commitment to humanitarian and philanthropic work after he turned 60 years old. Currently, Dr. Parikh is 76 years old, and his goal is to empower the younger generation of Indians “to love Mother India,” as much as he did. Not only does PWM publish 4 newspapers, it also runs the 24/7 ITV Gold station which partners with Door Darshan India.

“That is all philanthropic work. It is my passion. And for the last 12 years I am running these at my own expense,” Dr. Parikh said. However, he emphasized, nothing compares to the philanthropic work Dr. Singh had been doing, and how he had met villagers and convinced them to bring about change. “And I saw the result. It was so impressive,” he said, and offered his support.

Dr. Singh, in his speech, talked about the world being in a water crisis, and how the World Water Day at the UN was spent discussing ways in which planet earth could “free from that.” The phenomenon of floods and droughts happening around the world, needed to be controlled. “If we don’t find ways to save ourselves from these then our planet earth and humanity, both will face grave danger,” Dr. Singh said. “We are here for this work.”

Bhadra Butala, founder of Gandhian Society, noted the “big function” being held in Edison to honor Dr. Singh. And he praised Dr. Parikh for presenting an award to Dr. Singh. The Gandhian Society does humanitarian work around the world, particularly to familiarize youth with Gandhian principles.

Tejoo Bambulkar, vice president of Save Indian Farmers which was started in Arkansas by a few friends, described how the board members went beyond just funding various organizations in India.

Dr. Hemant Joshi, founding member and secretary of Save Indian Farmers said that the organization has more than 80 volunteers, some 25 active program directors, and about 20 ongoing projects.

In an interview with ITV Gold, Dr. Rajendra Singh outlined the discussions at the UN, and how the water crisis had become worse over the years since WW Day was declared.

“Our planet is sick,” he said noting that when it rains, the water dissipated instead of being controlled, cutting through the land and rivers which flood towns and cities.

“We had begun Word Water Day so that the world would learn the importance of water. But it seems that where we were standing before … we have regressed. Where the world could have worked for our health and planet’s health, we have polluted our water … amrit became poison.”

He also contended that, “Ancient Indian knowledge about water has been lost. … We appear to have forgotten the relationship to water. Even the UN seems to have forgotten.”

Dr. Rajendra Singh, famous for his water conservation work, seen here being interviewed by ITV Gold host Nidhi Kathuria, at the Parikh Worldwide Media offices in Edison, N.J., during his recent visit to the U.S., on the sidelines of United Nations World Water Day which falls on March 22, 2023. Photo: videograb from ITV Gold video on YouTube

Dr. Singh gave an account of his own journey from working in the government to stepping out and working at the grassroots. “Go to the people who have lost everything.” He chose Alwar Jila to help people. There, when he was just 26 years old, he met an old man who inspired him to make the world his canvas.

Dr. Singh proceeded to educate himself about various environmental sciences and engineering. “And I never looked back, and have never felt despair,” he said, despite all odds including some 377 lawsuits which “were put against me whenever I worked to get water to the people.”. (Courtesy: ITV Gold)

Indian-origin CEO Rajesh Subramaniam was conferred with the prestigious 2023 Horatio Alger Award along with twelve other distinguished business leaders for embodying the ”power of the American Dream.” The award was given to exceptional business, civic and cultural leaders from across North America  at the 76th Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2023.

Each year, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization, honors present outstanding leaders who have displayed extraordinary perseverance in overcoming challenges with the Award.

In his congratulatory message to Subramaniam, Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu tweeted, “Happy to see the journey of a young man from Thiruvananthapuram to Tennessee, which also underlines the potential of India-U.S.partnership, felicitated at the iconic event.”

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans annually confers the award to esteemed individuals who have succeeded despite facing adversities and have remained committed to education and charitable efforts in their communities, a press release by the organisation said.

Subramaniam, who grew up in Thiruvananthapuram, was selected in 2022 to serve as president and CEO of FedEx, the USD 94 billion transportation company. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai and after winning a scholarship immigrated to America to attend Syracuse University, where he earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering.

In 1991, he graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an MBA and joined FedEx as an associate analyst. According to the press release, over the next 30 years, Subramaniam served in various executive-level positions and became known as a strategic leader who confidently saw the company through a period of tremendous growth.

“Mr Subramaniam embodies the power of the American Dream,” the executive director of the Horatio Alger Association, Terrence J. Giroux, said. “His commitment to education and building a better life for himself is admirable, and he will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for our scholars,” he said.

Subramaniam serves on the board of directors of FedEx Corporation, the Procter & Gamble Company, the US Chamber of Commerce’s China Center Advisory Board, FIRST, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and the US-China Business Council. He is also a member of the US-India CEO Forum. For 76 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been conferred annually, and the association inducts the awardees as lifetime members. According to the press release, members support promising young people with the resources and confidence needed to overcome adversity in pursuing their dreams through higher education.

An IIT alumnus, the CEO earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

“I strongly believe that through hard work and perseverance, one can overcome adversity to achieve success,” the press release quoted 55-year-old Subramaniam as saying. “It is a privilege to accept membership into the Horatio Alger Association, an organization whose mission reflects this ideal. I’m honored to join an incomparable list of Members and look forward to meeting the Scholars and supporting them through their college years and beyond.”

The US Senate has confirmed Indian-American lawyer, diplomat and executive Richard Verma as the Deputy Secretary of State, Management and Resources, a position which is normally seen as the CEO of the powerful State Department in the US government. Verma, 54, was confirmed by a vote of 67-26 on March 3oth, 2023.

In his new role, Verma will be responsible for directing, coordinating, and supervising State Department operations such as foreign assistance and civilian response programs. Verma previously served as US Ambassador to India (2015-17) during the Obama Administration, becoming the first person of Indian descent to hold that position.

He is presently the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at Mastercard. He also served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, where he led the State Department’s efforts on Capitol Hill.

He served as the US ambassador to India from January 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017, and is currently the chief legal officer and the head of global public policy at Mastercard. A US Air Force veteran, Verma served on active duty as a Judge Advocate. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.

During the previous Obama administration, Verma served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. Earlier in his career, he was National Security Advisor to United States Senator Harry Reid and was Democratic Whip, Minority Leader and then Majority Leader of the United States Senate.

Richard Verma has served as Vice Chairman of The Asia Group, Partner and Senior Counsellor at Steptoe and Johnson LLP, and Senior Counsellor at the Albright Stonebridge Group. Verma was appointed to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and is a former member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Commission. He serves as a trustee of The Ford Foundation and is on numerous other boards, including that of the National Endowment for Democracy and Lehigh University.

Verma is the recipient of the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award, the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship, and was ranked by India Abroad as one of the 50 most influential Indian Americans.

Verma, who was born in 1968 to an Indian immigrant, grew up in Pennsylvania. He attended a private college on a US Air Force scholarship. He earned a B.S at Lehigh University, a J.D. cum laude at American University, an LLM with distinction at Georgetown University Law Center, and a PhD at Georgetown University.

Mayor Eric L. Johnson announced last week he has appointed Arun Agarwal to serve as Chair of the Community Bond Task Force (CBTF) Committee as part of the 2024 Capital Bond Program development process.

Agarwal currently serves as the President of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, the CEO of Dallas-based textile company Nextt, and the Vice Chair of the Texas Economic Development Board, in addition to his other civic and business endeavors.

The CBTF is a 15-member group that will assist the Dallas City Council and city staff in reviewing and selecting projects for possible inclusion in the 2024 Capital Bond Program. Agarwal and his colleagues on the task force will assess the city’s $13.5 billion needs inventory and recommend to the Dallas City Council a $1 billion package of priorities. The City Council will ultimately make the final decisions on ballot propositions and whether to call a bond election.

Mayor Johnson said that he wants the city’s next bond program to focus primarily on improving the “Three P’s” — public safety, potholes, and parks. “We are working every day to make Dallas a safer, stronger, and more vibrant city — and we are making substantial, measurable progress,” Mayor Johnson said. “The upcoming bond program will provide us with a critical opportunity to build for our future by investing in public safety, in infrastructure, and in our most significant needs. Arun Agarwal has proven to be an effective and engaged leader in our city, and I am confident he will advocate for the right priorities for the people of Dallas.”

Bond programs, which must receive voter approval, are meant to pay for the city’s capital needs. That means the authorized funds cannot legally pay for salaries, benefits, and other ongoing programmatic costs.

Mayor Johnson said Agarwal’s appointment underscores his administration’s commitment to ensuring that parks are treated as a top priority in the bond program.

“While Dallas has many needs to address through our bond program, I believe parks, trails, playgrounds, and recreation centers are critical infrastructure in a modern city,” Mayor Johnson said. “When I was growing up in West Dallas and Oak Cliff, families like mine — folks who didn’t have access to private swimming pools, gym memberships, or country club memberships — depended on our city’s parks, trails, and recreation centers. Parks are a great equalizer for our communities, as well as an excellent driver of economic development. And I am confident that Arun Agarwal will be a strong advocate for our green spaces.”

Agarwal said he is “honored to be appointed as chair of this community-focused group that will help guide critical discussions about our city’s future.”

“I am particularly excited to help make major investments in parks, trails, and recreational facilities,” Agarwal said. “Mayor Johnson has been a true champion for our city’s parks and for the efforts to build a safer and more vibrant city. I look forward to working with Mayor Johnson, my colleagues on the task force, and the residents of Dallas as we prioritize our city’s most pressing needs.”

Mayor Eric L. Johnson announced last week he has appointed Arun Agarwal to serve as Chair of the Community Bond Task Force (CBTF) Committee as part of the 2024 Capital Bond Program development process.

Agarwal currently serves as the President of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, the CEO of Dallas-based textile company Nextt, and the Vice Chair of the Texas Economic Development Board, in addition to his other civic and business endeavors.

The CBTF is a 15-member group that will assist the Dallas City Council and city staff in reviewing and selecting projects for possible inclusion in the 2024 Capital Bond Program. Agarwal and his colleagues on the task force will assess the city’s $13.5 billion needs inventory and recommend to the Dallas City Council a $1 billion package of priorities. The City Council will ultimately make the final decisions on ballot propositions and whether to call a bond election.

Mayor Johnson said that he wants the city’s next bond program to focus primarily on improving the “Three P’s” — public safety, potholes, and parks. “We are working every day to make Dallas a safer, stronger, and more vibrant city — and we are making substantial, measurable progress,” Mayor Johnson said. “The upcoming bond program will provide us with a critical opportunity to build for our future by investing in public safety, in infrastructure, and in our most significant needs. Arun Agarwal has proven to be an effective and engaged leader in our city, and I am confident he will advocate for the right priorities for the people of Dallas.”

Bond programs, which must receive voter approval, are meant to pay for the city’s capital needs. That means the authorized funds cannot legally pay for salaries, benefits, and other ongoing programmatic costs.

Mayor Johnson said Agarwal’s appointment underscores his administration’s commitment to ensuring that parks are treated as a top priority in the bond program.

“While Dallas has many needs to address through our bond program, I believe parks, trails, playgrounds, and recreation centers are critical infrastructure in a modern city,” Mayor Johnson said. “When I was growing up in West Dallas and Oak Cliff, families like mine — folks who didn’t have access to private swimming pools, gym memberships, or country club memberships — depended on our city’s parks, trails, and recreation centers. Parks are a great equalizer for our communities, as well as an excellent driver of economic development. And I am confident that Arun Agarwal will be a strong advocate for our green spaces.”

Agarwal said he is “honored to be appointed as chair of this community-focused group that will help guide critical discussions about our city’s future.”

“I am particularly excited to help make major investments in parks, trails, and recreational facilities,” Agarwal said. “Mayor Johnson has been a true champion for our city’s parks and for the efforts to build a safer and more vibrant city. I look forward to working with Mayor Johnson, my colleagues on the task force, and the residents of Dallas as we prioritize our city’s most pressing needs.”