Trinidadian Hazra Ali has received the US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph Biden for over 20 years of Community Service – for her “lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service”.
Biden in a White House statement said,“The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. I congratulate you on taking it upon yourself to contribute to the public good, and I’m proud to present you with the President’s Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of your 5,700 hours of service to this great nation.”
- Advertisement -
“Throughout our country’s history, the American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be with the resilience to turn that vision into reality,” the president added. “I know I’m not alone in recognizing that those who are willing to step up and volunteer in service of community and country are essential to the ongoing work of forming our more perfect union.
“By sharing your time and passion, you are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face – solutions that we need now more than ever,” Biden continued. “We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.
“On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and I encourage you to continue to answer the call to serve,” he said. “The country is counting on you.”
Ali is the Community Lead person for New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams and who coordinates Adams’ Caribbean-American Heritage celebration at Gracie Mansion, at the Mayor’s official residence in Upper Manhattan. She is also a member of Adams’ Caribbean Advisory Council.
In 2006, Ali was appointed by the Washington-based Institute for Caribbean Studies (ICS) to serve as Director of Special Programming for New York, a voluntary position with a mandate to lead the charge in the celebration of the very first Caribbean-American Heritage Month. She represented New York at the White House reception to commemorate the first Caribbean-American Heritage Month Celebration.
She previously served as chair of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Caribbean-American Heritage Committee.
Ali was born in Trinidad and Tobago and graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine with a degree in Pharmacy. She practiced as a pharmacist for several years before migrating to New York.
Prior to starting her business, New Hope and Beyond, Inc., a real estate investment company that deals primarily with foreclosure properties in Queens and Brooklyn, where she lives, Ali worked as an account executive in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
She currently serves on the Land Use/Historic Landmark Committee of Community Board 2 in Brooklyn and as the Mayor’s Representative on the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
