NYN Correspondent:
A celebration marking the 250th Anniversary of the United States brought together elected officials, diplomats, business leaders, community members, and volunteers as APAG Cares hosted its “America at 250: Civic Education & Community Leadership” event. The gathering recognized America’s historic milestone while encouraging greater civic participation and leadership among Pakistani Americans and the broader community.
Organizers described the event as both a celebration of the nation’s history and a reminder of the responsibilities that come with citizenship and community involvement. “This event was not only a celebration of our nation’s 250-year journey, but also a reminder that we all have a responsibility to give back through civic engagement, public service, entrepreneurship, and community leadership,” the organizers stated. The message reflected the event’s focus on encouraging active participation in public life while recognizing the contributions of immigrants who proudly call the United States home.
The celebration welcomed several distinguished guests, including New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, State Senators Toby Ann Stavisky, Kristen Gonzalez, and John Liu, Council Members Linda Lee and Phil Wong, Assembly Member Steve Raga, and Vice Consul General of Pakistan Umar Sheikh. Organizers thanked the officials for attending, noting that “Your presence reaffirmed the strong partnership between our community and leaders at every level of government.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards recognizing outstanding leadership across multiple fields. Sidra Qasim received the Trailblazing Entrepreneurship Award, Inspector Adeel Rana was honored with the Distinguished Public Service Award, and Hassaan Chaudhary received the Civic Leadership Award. The ceremony celebrated their achievements and acknowledged their contributions to business, public service, and community engagement.
The event also recognized the efforts of APAG’s women volunteers and youth speakers, whose dedication and leadership were praised as a source of optimism for the future of the community. Organizers expressed gratitude to every APAG member, volunteer, supporter, and attendee for contributing to the success of the celebration and reaffirmed the organization’s mission to “Engage. Empower. Elevate.”
As the evening concluded, the event reinforced the importance of civic education, public service, and cross-community collaboration. By bringing together public officials, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and volunteers, APAG Cares celebrated both America’s 250-year journey and the growing role of Pakistani Americans in strengthening civic life and community leadership across the United States.
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