About Me

Working with Seniors at Life Story Club

September 1st 2025

I worked on a research project with Life Story Club, an organization that combats social isolation among older adults through storytelling and small group gatherings. I created a list of public and private organizations that would be good partners for Life Story Club based on their interest in the senior population. 

My work helped me see how community-based organizations like Life Story Club provide more than just social interaction; they give older individuals a sense of purpose and belonging.  I learned how much loneliness and isolation can impact people’s mental health, especially older adults who are homebound, have health conditions, or are part of marginalized communities. Nonprofits like Life Story Club often partner with larger institutions like the New York City Housing Authority to reach more people. These initiatives are directly tied to public policy. Both private and public social programs and housing policies need to consider the importance of community and inclusion. This collaboration between Life Story Club and NYCHA showed me how community organizations and government policies can work hand in hand to address issues neither could solve alone. Another lesson I took away from this project was the power of storytelling itself. Sharing stories is not only personal, it is political. These individuals are highlighting lived experiences that cannot be captured solely by data. Understanding these stories can allow us to design more effective solutions to the problems we face

This project reinforced why I’m passionate about public policy. Social justice isn’t just about addressing large-scale systemic problems; it's also about making sure that no one’s left out of the conversation. Older adults, especially those who are isolated, deserve to be involved in policies that include housing, healthcare, and social services. Community-based organizations like Life Story Club prove that small, thoughtful interventions can have a big impact, and they remind me of the kind of work I want to keep exploring. 

Summers in Kolkata, India & Future Hope

September 14th 2025

I’ve lived in New York City my whole life, but every summer I return to Kolkata, India, the place that feels most like home. I love the rhythm of the city, engrossing myself in its culture and lifestyle. But alongside its vibrancy, there are reminders of the struggles people face, especially children who grow up in poverty. 

Last summer, I volunteered at the Future Hope School, an organization that provides housing, education, and medical programs for street and slum children in Kolkata. I spent most of my time in the Girls Home, with kids between 6 and 12. At first, I was worried about the language barrier- I don’t speak Bengali, and they didn’t speak English-but that didn’t stop us from connecting. Through broken Hindi and a lot of hand gestures, we were able to converse with each other. We sat together during mealtimes, eating lollipop chicken from the same tray. They introduced me to their favorite songs (which, to my surprise, included Selena Gomez), while I taught them crafts I loved as a child. 

Some of their stories were hard to hear. Many had come from families struggling with poverty, some had crossed the border from Bangladesh, and others had spent time working before arriving at the school. What stood out to me, though, wasn’t their hardship-it was their joy. Whether we were making bracelets or playing a silly game, they carried a sense of resilience I had never seen before. 

Spending time with them, I realized how powerful it is when children are given the chance to be kids again. I watched how Future Hope isn’t just providing these kids with education and housing, they're giving them a community, and space to reclaim their childhood. Experiences like these showed me how deeply public policy shapes children’s lives, from access to housing and education to protection against child labour. Stronger policies can ensure that more children don’t just survive, but have the chance to thrive and dream. 

Starting Navya by Nysa

September 28th 2025

The summer I spent in India was when my interest in public policy started to take shape in a more concrete way. At the Future Hope School for Girls, I saw up close how poverty affects children’s lives. It affected them in their daily routines, their access to education, and the opportunities they might or might not have in the future. My summer experience pushed me to think more critically about labor, equity, and how systems and policy can either exploit or protect specific segments of the population, especially those that are most vulnerable. The Future Hope school is a private sector non-profit that partners with many governmental organizations. It showed me how the public and private sector can work together to ensure that communities are  given the tools to build sustainable futures. 

Outside the school, I spent much of my time exploring local markets. I was struck by the talent and craftsmanship of the welders, craftsmen, and artisans whose work filled the stalls. The handmade pieces the jewelers created were intricate and carefully made, but it was clear they weren’t receiving good payment for their work. On the other hand, similar items are often sold abroad at marked-up prices, disconnected from the culture and reality of the people who made them. That realization stayed with me. I had always been interested in starting a jewelry business, but that summer gave it a new direction. 

I launched NavyabyNysa as a social enterprise that sold handmade Indian jewelry, with a percentage of profits supporting organizations like Future Hope. What began as an Etsy shop with small sales eventually grew into a project with a larger purpose: connecting people to the stories behind my jewelry while raising money for causes I care about. This year, I transitioned NavyabyNysa into a nonprofit organization. It is no longer just about selling handmade  jewelry, but instead we are partnering with many grassroots organizations to spread awareness, education about human rights issues, public policy, and we raise funding for related causes.

Joining YES Council in the NYC Department of Human Rights

October 12th, 2025

Last year, I joined the Youth Equity Council at the New York City Department of Human Rights. I had never served on a council before, or even worked with other students my age who shared my interest in public policy and social justice. Walking into that first meeting, I didn’t know what to expect, but I quickly realized how powerful it was to collaborate with people who were just as passionate about creating change in our city.

I decided to join the Education Equity team, which focuses on addressing disparities within New York’s school system. Our group was especially interested in the admissions process for specialized high schools. Many students, particularly in under-resourced communities, don’t learn about the SHSAT, the exam required for entry, until it’s too late to properly prepare. Some only hear about it once they’re already in high school, missing the opportunity altogether.

Our main goal became hosting an event to help families better understand the SHSAT process and access the right resources. We wanted to make sure middle school students and their parents both felt supported, so we planned separate sessions for each group: an engaging student panel and activities for the kids, and informational workshops with test prep materials for the parents.

Throughout the year, our council also organized initiatives centered on racial equity and language access, each one highlighting how deeply issues of education, race, and opportunity are connected in New York City.

Working with YES Council has continued to give me a better understanding of how systemic inequities play out in real time and how meaningful it is when young people are given a seat at the table to address them. It strengthened my belief that public policy isn’t just something that happens in government offices; it’s something we can shape ourselves, one community at a time. I am looking forward to my second year serving on Yes Council as a Junior.

My City Council Summer Internship

October 26th, 2025

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the office of New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher. Growing up in Manhattan, I’ve always been fascinated by how the city works behind the scenes.. But working inside a City Council office gave me a new perspective on how local government actually works and how policies take shape in people’s daily lives.

Over a few weeks, I attended events and policy meetings with Council Member Bottcher and his team. I quickly learned that much of city government happens behind the scenes, through ongoing collaboration with communities rather than big announcements. Whether it was helping organize a park cleanup, packaging food bags for seniors, or researching financial trends for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), each project connected back to the same purpose: improving quality of life for New Yorkers.

One of the most rewarding parts of my internship was joining community events where residents and officials worked together. I saw how small acts of service, like cleaning a park or distributing meals, are tied to larger policy areas such as sanitation funding, senior support programs, and urban planning.

By the end of the internship, I had a much deeper appreciation for how city governance really functions. Public policy isn’t just about passing laws or drafting reports—it’s about the everyday actions and decisions that make neighborhoods stronger and more equitable. My experience with Council Member Bottcher’s office reminded me how much impact local government can have when it listens, collaborates, and leads with the community in mind.

Diwali Chai & Samosa Sale for Sakhi.org

November 9th, 2025

This Diwali, the South Asia Society, the club I founded at my school, organized a chai and samosa sale to raise funds for Sakhi.org, an organization that supports South Asian survivors of gender-based violence and abuse. We wanted to celebrate the festival of light not just through food and festivity, but by bringing light to people who need it most.

Early that morning, our club members set up tables filled with steaming cups of chai, trays of mithai, and over 300 freshly made samosas. The line began forming before school even started, and within a few hours, everything was sold out. By the end of the day, we had raised $ 1,000, our most successful fundraiser yet!

Beyond the excitement of selling out so quickly, what made the event meaningful was knowing where the money was going. Sakhi.org provides critical services like counseling, legal support, and shelter to South Asian women and families experiencing violence. Sharing that purpose with our community helped start important conversations about issues that are often left unspoken, even within our own culture.

As I watched students and teachers line up for chai and samosas, I realized how meaningful it can be when culture and community come together for a cause. What started as a simple Diwali sale turned into a moment of awareness and giving. It reminded me that even small efforts, like sharing food or raising funds, can make a real difference when they’re rooted in purpose. Events like this continue to strengthen my interest in finding ways to connect culture, advocacy, and policy to create positive change in my community.

NYC Mayoral Race & Historical Win

November 27th, 2025

This November, New York City made history when Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race. Having grown up in this city and having spent the past several years focused on equity and social justice, his win felt like a meaningful step toward a city more attentive to the needs of everyday New Yorkers.

This election also saw one of the highest voter turnouts in decades, with more than two million ballots cast. Mamdani's campaign brought together working class communities, immigrants, young voters, and renters, groups that often go unheard in local politics. Seeing that coalition come together gave me a genuine sense of hope for what shared civic participation can look like.

What stands out to me is not only that he will be the city's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, but what that win represents. It reflects a growing desire for leadership that listens to communities, prioritizes affordability, and understands the realities people face day to day.

As someone invested in public policy, I am watching closely to see how the new administration approaches housing, immigrant support, and social services. I hope this moment becomes more than a historic milestone, and that it marks the start of lasting progress for the city I call home.

YES Council Volunteer Work

January 4th, 2026

This year I have continued my work with YES Council, building on last year's SHSAT event and exploring new ways to support students across the city. Our focus has been an upcoming event for middle and high school students, aimed primarily at teenagers with a secondary audience of middle schoolers, meant to give students the tools to navigate specialized high school admissions while supporting their families through the process.

I have been developing separate programming for students and parents, including a student panel and interactive activities alongside resources on test preparation and specialized high schools for parents. Coordinating these sessions has required considerable planning and a real effort to think through what families across different communities actually need.

I have also worked closely with Catapult Learning, an organization that supports Title 1 schools through tutoring, parent engagement, and professional development. Their guidance has helped make our event more effective, and I have learned how to highlight programs that can continue supporting students long after the event itself has ended.

Beyond education, I have also been involved in planning World Teen Mental Health Day, helping design activities and resources aimed at raising awareness of mental health among teenagers.

This work has shown me how much impact youth-led initiatives can have when paired with strong partnerships and careful planning. Whether expanding awareness of the SHSAT or building mental health programming for young people, this experience has deepened my commitment to social justice and reaffirmed my interest in public policy as a means of addressing inequity at both the systemic and community level.

NYC has a new Mayor: Leadership for the People

Erik Bottcher's election to the New York State Senate carries particular meaning for me, since I had the opportunity to work in his district council office over the summer and into the fall, well before any campaign headlines or election results.

During my time in the district office, I saw how much of the work centers on listening. Constituents came in with questions about housing, city services, and local concerns, and the priority was always ensuring people felt heard and supported. I learned that effective leadership often happens quietly, through follow-up, problem-solving, and consistency rather than public attention.

We addressed food insecurity by distributing groceries to those in need. He advocated for converting existing commercial buildings into residential units, including low-income housing, to expand affordable housing in his district. I also accompanied him to Northwell Hospital in Greenwich Village to meet and support healthcare workers, and to a protest in Midtown where he defended free speech and freedom of the press.

Watching Erik Bottcher move from city government into the State Senate showed me how experience at the local level shapes broader policymaking. It is not only about legislation but about responsibility to the people a representative serves. None of what I observed in the district office felt abstract. It was immediate and personal, and it demonstrated how city and state policy directly affects people's everyday lives. As he begins his work in the State Senate, I feel fortunate to have been a small part of his team. He remains an important model for young people, since his leadership has been built over time through trust and community engagement. This experience has reinforced my interest in public policy and social justice, and continues to shape how I think about government, advocacy, and my own future in public service.

Looking back on Erik Botcher’s role as a NY City Councilman

February 22nd, 2026

As Erik Bottcher begins his new role in the New York State Senate, I find myself reflecting on what he accomplished during his time as a City Council Member. Having worked in his district office, these accomplishments feel more personal to me, since I witnessed how much effort and collaboration went into policies that often appear as simple headlines or statistics.

One of the most significant was the passage of the Midtown South Mixed Use Plan, a major rezoning effort that will bring 9,535 new homes to the area, including 2,842 affordable housing units. Alongside the new housing, the plan includes a 325 million dollar investment to transform Broadway from 21st to 42nd Street into a park-like promenade. Watching a project of this scale take shape helped me understand how city planning shapes not only neighborhoods but how people experience public space day to day.

Transportation and accessibility were also central priorities. The approval of the 34th Street car-free busway moves the city toward faster and more reliable public transit, a policy that may seem minor at first but directly affects how people commute and access jobs.

Environmental initiatives were another meaningful part of his term. Over four years, 1,000 new trees were planted across Council District 3, improving air quality and expanding green space. Legislation such as Intro 1233 reimagined traffic medians as spaces that can support trees and plants, showing that even overlooked pieces of city infrastructure can contribute to a healthier urban environment.

Mental health support saw some of the most measurable change. Local Law 35 required onsite mental health care in every family homeless shelter, a significant shift given that only four percent of shelters previously offered such services. Within a year, 7,691 people received care across the thirty largest shelters alone, referrals more than doubled, and serious incidents dropped considerably. Learning about this work reinforced how directly policy decisions can improve safety and well-being for vulnerable communities.

Food insecurity was addressed through the Fresh Food for Seniors program, which packed and delivered 1,547 bags of fresh produce to older adults across the district in 2025 alone.

Looking back on these accomplishments has helped me better understand how local government operates at its best. Housing, transportation, environmental sustainability, mental health, and food access may appear to be separate issues, but together they shape the everyday lives of New Yorkers. Observing these initiatives develop from inside the district office strengthened my interest in public policy and social justice, and showed me how meaningful change often begins at the local level.

The Housing Shortage in New York City

March 15th 2026

Housing is a subject that comes up frequently in everyday conversation in New York, whether through rent prices, apartment searches, or people relocating to different neighborhoods. In 2026, the housing shortage has become an increasingly visible issue, shaping how people make decisions about where and how they live.

One of the central challenges is the gap between the number of available homes and the number of people who need them. As demand continues to grow, supply has not kept pace, particularly with respect to affordable housing, making it harder for many families to find stable, reasonably priced places to live.

What stands out to me is how unevenly this shortage affects people. Lower income families and long time residents of certain neighborhoods often face greater pressure, whether through higher rent or displacement to areas further from where they have lived for years. Housing connects to nearly every other part of daily life, including access to schools, jobs, and community, so these effects extend well beyond housing itself.

Through my experiences, I have come to understand how closely housing is tied to public policy. Decisions around zoning, development, and affordable housing programs shape what options are available, and to whom. The housing shortage is not simply a market phenomenon. It reflects the choices that determine how a city grows.

This has strengthened my interest in public policy and social justice. It has made me more aware of how important it is to build systems that make housing more accessible and how much policy can do to make cities more equitable over time.

Health & Human Services in NYC

May 10th, 2026

Before I became interested in public policy, I thought of health and human services as separate from everyday life, largely associated with hospitals or emergency assistance programs. Through the work I have done in New York City, I have come to understand how broad this field actually is, and how many people rely on these systems daily.

Working with organizations and community programs has shown me that health and human services extend far beyond medical care. They include mental health support, food assistance, childcare, housing services, and programs that help families navigate difficult circumstances, resources that people may not consider until they need them personally.

One thing that has stood out to me is how closely these services connect to education and opportunity. Through my work with YES Council, particularly on teen mental health and education equity, I have seen how students are affected when they lack access to adequate support systems. Stress, housing instability, food insecurity, and limited mental health resources can all impede a student's ability to succeed in school.

I have also become more aware of how much local government and community organizations depend on one another in this area. Programs offering free meals, mental health resources, or family support often rely on partnerships between nonprofits, schools, and the city, and observing how these systems interact has made public policy feel considerably more concrete, since these decisions shape people's daily lives directly.

What interests me most about health and human services is how practical the work is. These policies determine whether someone can access therapy, afford childcare, or receive support during a difficult time, and even modest changes in funding or accessibility can have significant effects on families and communities.

Learning more about these systems has underscored how important accessible support networks are within a city as large and diverse as New York, and it has led me to think more critically about what it means for a government to support the well-being of its residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Recent Changes by Mayor Mamdani

May 30th, 2026

When I first became interested in public policy, I largely imagined government as meetings, legislation, and lengthy policy documents, rather than something creative. More recently, I have started noticing how city leaders are experimenting with approaches that feel more closely tied to people's everyday lives.

One example that caught my attention is Mayor Zohran Mamdani's focus on affordability, particularly his administration's push for city-supported grocery stores intended to provide more affordable access to basic food items. As grocery prices continue to rise, particularly in New York City, the idea of creating spaces where families can access lower cost essentials stood out to me, since food is such a fundamental need.

I have also followed his efforts to expand childcare programs throughout the city. Childcare was not something I considered much before becoming interested in policy, but it turns out to be connected to a great deal else. High childcare costs affect work opportunities, financial stability, and whether families can continue to afford living in the city. Expanding free childcare can reduce pressure on families while also giving children access to early education.

What strikes me is that these initiatives address matters people encounter nearly every day. Public policy can sometimes feel distant, but grocery costs, childcare, transportation, and affordability are things people think about constantly. They are not merely statistics or debates. They shape how people experience the city around them.

As someone interested in public policy and social justice, this has changed how I think about leadership. Policy is not only a response to problems after they occur. Sometimes it involves finding ways to improve people's daily lives before challenges grow larger. The more I learn, the more attentive I have become to how policy affects ordinary moments, since those are often where people feel its impact most directly.

World Teen Mental Health Day

June 22nd 2026

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to help organize and attend a World Teen Mental Health Day event through YES Council. While much of my work with the council has focused on education equity, this event allowed me to explore another issue affecting many young people across New York City: mental health.

One highlight of the event was a talk by Diane Bacchus, who shared her experiences and insights on mental health, self-care, and resilience. Hearing her speak reinforced how important it is for young people to have spaces where they can openly discuss challenges and learn healthy ways to manage stress. Her message emphasized that mental health should not only be considered during difficult moments but prioritized regularly.

In addition to the talk, we organized several activities designed to help participants relax and connect with one another. One activity involved making cards for UNICEF, giving attendees a chance to express encouragement through creativity. We also hosted a slime-making station, which proved surprisingly popular and gave students a break from academic pressures.

What stood out to me most was how engaged everyone remained throughout the event. Conversations about mental health can feel intimidating, particularly for teenagers, but combining educational content with hands-on activities created an environment where students felt comfortable participating.

This experience reinforced something I have been learning through my work with YES Council: supporting young people requires more than addressing academic success. Mental health, community, and access to resources all play an important role in helping students thrive. Events like this demonstrate how communities and local organizations can address important issues while creating spaces where young people feel supported and heard.

By the end of the day, I left with a greater appreciation for the role mental health plays in overall well-being, and for the importance of making these conversations more accessible to young people. It served as a reminder that meaningful change often begins with something as simple as giving people a place to learn, connect, and support one another.