New Americans Honored At Ceremony

The New American Democratic Club honored 12 local civic and community leaders at a recent meeting that brought out many of the Democrats fall hopefuls in anticipation of Tuesdays Primary election.
The meeting was held by Club founder Morshed Alam, a Bangladeshi immigrant who lost the 2000 State Senate election to incumbent Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) with the strongest showing by an incumbent to date.
On hand for the festivities were a Whos-Who of local politicians, including Congressmen Gary Ackerman (D-Queens and Long Island), upstate Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island), and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Far Rockaway); State Senators Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) and Padavan; State Assemblymen Mark Weprin (D-Bayside), William Scarborough (D-St. Albans), and keynote speaker Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing); and City Councilpersons John Liu (D-Flushing) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans).
McLaughlin praised Alam for starting the Club in 1996 and giving recent immigrants a voice in the American political process.
"Tonight, we see the work of Morshed bearing fruit," said McLaughlin.
Ackerman arrived early with Congressman McNulty, who was in the City for last Fridays joint session of Congress at Federal Hall in lower Manhattan.
Ackerman actually had called to say he wouldnt make it, but managed to pop in for a few encouraging words.
"Your children," he told the multi-ethnic crowd, "can be everything they want to be in America."
After Ackerman spoke, a Bangladeshi childrens group performed song and dance routines for the audience before awards were handed out.
The honorees were:
Nayibe Burger, president of the Hispanic coalition of Queens and the Latino cultural center;
Farasat Ali, a well-known Bangladeshi activist and engineer who owns knitting facilities and a restaurant;
V.M. Chako, Community Board 13 member and South Asian community activist;
Marcia Comrie, editor of a southeast Queens newspaper and author of a book entitled "New American." She is also the wife of City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans);
Dr. Sachi Dastidar, a former school board member and president of South Asia forum, as well as an educator and activist;
Moustefa Elshiekh, Egyptian immigrant who is manager of Jamaica Center and president and founder of Americans for Domestic and Global Peace;
Maf Misbah Uddin, president of local 1407, vice president of DC-37 for the AFL-CIO, and president of Parkchester Condominiums in the Bronx;
Felicia Persaud, managing editor of the New York Trend and writer for multiple other newspapers, and an Indio-Caribbean immigrant;
John Y. Park, president of the Korean-American Community Empowerment Council;
Ellen Young, community manager for City Councilman John Liu;
Julissa Ferreras, district leader candidate from Jackson Heights, district manager candidate for Councilman Hiram Monserrate; and
Dr. Shakir Mukhi, physician involved in many South Asian community organizations.