Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know - Continued On Page 7 6 CITY VIEWS November 7, 2025 Queens Community Observes National First Responders Day O n Tuesday, October 28, 2025, National First Responders Day, the Arts4All Foundation, elected officials, NewYork City Police fficers, NewYork City Firefighters, doc- tors, paramedics, EMTs, EMS, educators, healthcare emergency service workers, 9/11 first responders, and the Queens community gathered to celebrate Nation- al Responders Day, a date on which first responders across the nation are com- memorated for their courage, sacrifice, and emergency support during times of crisis. The Arts4All Foundation, in collabora- tion with the 105th NewYork City Police Department, honored Captain Douglas Moodie, Commanding Officer of the 105th Precinct, former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Ivonne Sanchez, a former FDNY EMT and 9/11 first responder, and Dr. Jacqueline Moline, the Director of the Northwell Health’s QueensWorld Trade Center Health program. The honorees delivered speeches dur- ing the event, dwelling on the work of first responders and thanked Dr. Sumita SenGupta and the Arts4All Foundation for hosting the event. Assemblyman Edward C. Braunstein said, “I was honored to attend the Na- tional First Responders Day Celebration hosted by the Arts4All Foundation and Dr. SenGupta at the 105th Precinct and voice my appreciation to those who dedicate their lives to keeping NewYorkers safe and healthy. All of the honorees have shown an outstanding commitment to public safety, and I am thankful for their work.” NewYork City has the nation’s larg- By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:Arts4All Foundation Indo-American Arts Council Holds Successful Annual Gala T he Indo American Arts Council (iaac.us ) held its Annual Gala at the Union League Club in NewYork City October 26, 2025. Among the special attend- ees was India’s Consul General in NewYork Binaya Srikanta Pradhan. “I am delighted to share that it was a superb evening, made all the more meaningful by the presence and sup- port of our generous donors and patrons!” said Executive Director Suman Gollamudi in an email to media and supporters. “Together, we celebrated excellence, creativity, and connection,” Gollamudi added. To Indian American leaders were recognized this year as 2025 IAAC Gala Honorees: Jyoti Menon, a seasoned financial-services executive and community servant whose leadership continues to empower many. In a brief bio provided on Menon on its program high- lights, IAAC said Menon, “has a proven track record of delivering next-generation digital solutions that elevate customer experiences, drive revenue growth, and stream- line operations across global and diverse markets” She is the Vice President of Bread Financial. In 2024, she was recognized among the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award. She is also on the Board of several im- portant organizations, including Barnard College Board of Trustees, the Athena Center for Leadership Studies, Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, and the Board of IAAC. Deepak Raj, a philanthropy-visionary and advocate strengthening the Indian-American community through transformational giving. Raj spent many years onWall Street. He is the founder of The Raj Family Foundation which focuses on his wide- ranging philanthropic activities, particularly those affect- ing India and Indian Americans. He is Chairman of the India Philanthropy Alliance, former Chairman of Pratham USA. He and his wife Neera established the Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies under the auspices of the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. In 2015, he co-founded Indian American Impact which aims to harness the potential of the community in public service. The evening also featured a special performance by musicians from the Berklee India Exchange, who brought a blend of Indian and global musical traditions to the stage. BIX is a global arts institute at Berklee College of Music that champions Indian and South Asian artistry through education, performance, and innovation, and has a track record of high-impact productions, a Grammy nominated album, and international collaborations. The IAAC thanked contributors for helping “make this evening not only a celebration, but a reaffirmation of IAAC’s mission: to promote, showcase, and build aware- ness of the arts and artists of Indian heritage across the United States.” A silent auction was among the efforts to bring in funds that would enable IAAC to continue its mission. It invited supporters to continue their commitment through this silent auction on Givergy. The IAAC invited supporters to continue thieir support through the silent auction hosted on Givergy — a curated online auction of exclusive art pieces, experiences, and collectibles whose proceeds benefit IAAC’s year-round programming. The Silent Auction items range from an 18K Gold OM Pendant from Jewel Joy to a Double Room for 2 nights/3 days in Varanasi. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS: IAAC Jyoti Menon being honored at IAAC Gala October 26, 2025, in NYC. Assemblyman Edward Braunstein and Dr. Sumita SenGupta with honorees 911 First Responder Ivonne Sanchez, Dr. Jacqueline Moline, and Captain Douglas Moodie at the National Responders Day Celebration. Berklee India Exchange performing fusion music at the October 26, 2025 Annual Gala of IAAC, in NYC. Deepak Raj being honored by IAAC at Annual Gala October 26, 2025.