Honor Seemi Ahmed's Achievements

Senate Resolution No. 708 BY: Senator KAPLAN CONGRATULATING Seemi Ahmed upon the occasion of being inducted into the 26th Annual May W. Newburger Women's Roll of Honor by the Town of North Hempstead, in conjunction with the observance of Women's History Month WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those women of achievement within this great Empire State who have made strong contributions to their communities and who inspire others through their model citizenship; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Seemi Ahmed upon the occasion of being inducted into the 26th Annual May W. Newburger Women's Roll of Honor by the Town of North Hempstead, in conjunction with the observance of Women's History Month, to be celebrated with a breakfast on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Harbor Links Golf Course, Port Washington, New York; and WHEREAS, Since 1994, North Hempstead has held the Women's Roll of Honor breakfast to honor women who have made a contribution to their community, or have accomplished a significant achievement through public or private efforts; Seemi Ahmed is one such woman; and WHEREAS, Seemi Ahmed is a member of both the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Center of Long Island and the Speakers' Bureau at the Islamic Center; she is involved in interfaith dialogue and working to build bridges and promote understanding between the various faiths on Long Island through her involvement with The Multi Faith Forum; and WHEREAS, She gives lectures on Islam for college and high school student and teachers groups at various universities, churches, synagogues, and libraries to counter misconceptions about her faith; and WHEREAS, Seemi Ahmed is a Muslim chaplain at the Interfaith Center of Hofstra University where she is involved in youth counseling, interfaith events and activities with the Muslim Students Association; and WHEREAS, Seemi Ahmed is a healthcare chaplain having graduated from her residency in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the Northwell Health System; she is also a member of The Interfaith Alliance which is a national organization that aims to protect faith and freedom by respecting individual rights of people of diverse backgrounds; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Seemi Ahmed is a member of the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives which is a non-profit nonpartisan activist organization providing educational programs on peace and national security issues; and WHEREAS, Passionate about human rights and social justice issues, Seemi Ahmed is the co-Chair of the New York Chapter of Muslim Peace Coalition, a grassroots alliance formed to combat the evils of War on Terrorism and Islamophobia; and WHEREAS, Seemi Ahmed was instrumental in organizing a day long retreat to train Muslim peace activists; this retreat included an interfaith component and attracted an impressive turnout of interfaith leaders, clergy, and labor union leaders; she spoke on Islamophobia at the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority annual luncheon and moderated a session at The Parliament of World Religions held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in

2015; and WHEREAS, This remarkable woman is a longtime member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization which helps to provide college education to bright and interested students, who cannot afford it at Cottey College; and WHEREAS, The loving mother of three children, Seemi Ahmed has been the recipient of the 2011 Peacemaker of the Year Award from Pax Christi; the 2011 Women's Leadership Award from Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray; and the 2017 Woman of Distinction Award for International Awareness & Involvement from the Nassau Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Seemi Ahmed has displayed throughout her life; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate Seemi Ahmed upon the occasion of being inducted into the 26th Annual May W. Newburger Women's Roll of Honor by the Town of North Hempstead, in conjunction with the observance of Women's History Month; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Seemi Ahmed.