Our Team
Aminta Kilawan-Narine,
Founder & Executive Director
Aminta Kilawan-Narine is a lawyer, community organizer and social justice activist. Aminta has lived in South Queens for almost 30 years. She is the co-founder of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, a non-profit organization merging the values at the heart of social justice with those at the heart of Hinduism. Through Sadhana, Aminta has led monthly beach cleanups at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to promote eco-friendly worship, facilitated conversations on gender equity and domestic violence with her community partners at Jahajee Sisters, organized immigration know your rights forums in her local Queens community and been a prominent voice for interfaith activism. In efforts to promote civic engagement, Aminta became a weekly columnist for the West Indian newspaper in 2015 and is also a contributing writer for Brown Girl Magazine. Aminta also serves as an Executive Board Member of Chhaya: Community Development Corporation. A survivor of teen dating abuse whose activism is informed by her lived experience, Aminta often writes on issues related to gender justice. Aminta and her work have been featured in many media outlets, both large-scale and local, such as the New York Times, the Huffington Post, NY1 (Spectrum News), amNY, Colorlines, the New York Law Journal, and CBS. Aminta has a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University and a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law School. Professionally, Aminta works as a Legislative Attorney at the New York City Council, drafting and negotiating laws and policies ranging from women's rights, to homelessness/housing, to access to public benefits and child welfare. Aminta is licensed to practice law in the state of New York. She currently lives in Howard Beach, Queens with her husband, fellow community organizer Rohan Narine.
Candace Prince-Modeste, Founding Board Member
Candace Prince-Modeste is a public affairs professional with 15 years of government administration and non-profit management experience with the NYC Mayor’s Office, NYC Council and NYS Assembly. She has over five years of experience leading operations for elected officials and six years of administering multi-million-dollar federal grant programs. In her community, Candace wears many hats. In November 2018, Candace was elected as the youngest ever President of the Jamaica Branch NAACP. Her NAACP work has included participating in voter registration drives, serving as a delegate at State and National conventions, and coordinating the branch’s annual Freedom Fund Dinner Dance, Candidates Forum and Vendor Fair. In addition to her work with the NAACP, Candace is a board member of the Elmer Blackburne Democratic Club, the Vice Chair of the Social Concern Committee of Springfield Gardens, a member of the Springfield Gardens Taxpayers & Citizens Association, the Treasurer of the Top Ladies of Distinction Queens Empire State Chapter, and the Area II NAACP Chair for the Top Ladies of Distinction. Candace has served as a trainer and poll site coordinator for the New York City Board of Elections for several years. In 2013, Candace launched Modeste Business Solutions, LLC, a technical and administrative support services company. Her services include digital content management, virtual administrative support, and grant writing.
Harmehar Kaur Kohli, Founding Board Member
Harmehar Kaur Kohli is currently a medical student at Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine. She graduated from New York University in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Dramatic Literature and Chemistry. Since Harmehar was young, she has been a vocal activist with a passion for women’s rights and social justice. In 2017, she founded Kaurageous Love (KL), a 501(c)(3) organization focused on creating dynamic and powerful women leaders in South Asian Queens communities. KL aims to engage young women to empower each other through enrichment programs, philanthropy, and community based events that serve to inspire individuals and elevate group consciousness. She is also the president of the Stony Brook chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a national organization that provides education, support, and resources to those affected by mental illness. In her free time, Harmehar enjoys singing, playing the ukulele, and acting in plays for pediatric patients.
Afeza Rozario
Co-Director of Youth and Professional Development Programs
Afeza Rozario is a student centered and equity-minded higher education professional at Guttman Community College, CUNY. With a decade of experience in various Enrollment Management and Student Affairs positions within the City University of New York (CUNY) system, Afeza has demonstrated a profound commitment to fostering student success and engagement. She received her Bachelor of Science from New York City College of Technology and Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has also been an active member of SQWM since its inception in 2020. In her role at Guttman she supports human services and information technology continuing students and cybersecurity certificate program students. At Guttman she is a member of the Women of GRIT (Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity, Talent) leadership team, and serves on the Academic Senate Executive Committee, College Council, Legislative and Curriculum Committee. Additionally, as a dedicated John Jay alumna, she serves on the MPA Advisory Board, contributing valuable insights to enhance the graduate student experience.
Afeza is deeply involved in initiatives aimed at supporting student enrollment and improving retention rates. Her core belief is that every student possesses the will and intellectual capacity to succeed in college. Serving as a champion for student success, she advocates for holistic campus supports to guide students toward graduation and beyond. She actively encourages students to stay mindful of the "big picture" and places significant emphasis on experiential learning through internships and service-learning opportunities. Afeza remains unwaveringly committed to students’ success. Her approach centers around instilling a "growth mindset"—an attitude that fosters their personal and educational goals. She passionately believes that success is achieved through effort, discipline, and persistence, and she is driven to continue designing equitable and inclusive support services on her ongoing journey.
In her role as Co-Director of the Youth and Professional Development Programs at SQWM and a collaborative leader, Afeza welcomes input from community members, understanding that their insights are invaluable in shaping programs that truly make a difference. Through her role, she aspires to contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of South Queens by fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that nurtures the aspirations of its residents.
Amelia Inderjeit
Director of Art Programs
Amelia, a first-generation Indo-Caribbean educator, finds that her involvement defines a significant part of her identity. Her overarching goal has always been to support others, in any context, whether it's within her work or through community engagement. Aside from this, she is a poet working on her second Masters Degree. Outside of her academic and volunteer commitments, she passionately enjoys Socasize as a dedicated enthusiast of The Figure Studio.
Amelia holds a dream for the South Queens community where the youth actively participate in after-school community organizations. Her vision is for these spaces to offer a sense of safety and opportunities for engagement in activism or similar pursuits, becoming a natural and integral part of their lives.
Anjali Seegobin
Co-Director of Gender-Based Violence Programs
Anjali serves as South Queens Women’s March’s co-director of gender based violence programs. In her capacity as the organization’s former civic engagement coordinator, Anjali has led our voter engagement efforts and our facilitation and implementation of The People’s Money, New York City’s first citywide participatory budgeting effort. Anjali wears many hats, also serving as South Asian Youth Action’s (SAYA) Young Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator. Anjali began her journey with SAYA as a high school youth in the Young Women's Leadership Program, and is an alumna of the College Success Program. She graduated from the City College of New York (CCNY) with a BA in Political Science and Anthropology. As an undergrad, she was a part of the Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies and the Ed Koch Scholarship Program in Public Service. Anjali found her passion in uplifting the voices of her community and advocating for social justice through community organizing. Outside of work, you can find her dancing at community events, writing for Brown Girl Magazine, and sipping on salted caramel cold brews.
Debora Chaitlall
Office Manager and Co-Director of Gender-Based Violence Programs
Debora Chaitlall, originally from Georgetown, Guyana, embarked on a journey to the United States a few years ago, where she has been carving out her path with determination and enthusiasm. As a dedicated student, she is currently pursuing a degree in radiology technology, driven by her passion for healthcare and the prospect of making a difference in community lives. Beyond her academic pursuits, Debora takes on the role of an office manager at South Queens Women's March, where she contributes to the organization's empowering mission and the advancement of women's rights. In her free time, Debora finds solace in the harmonious world of music, often seeking aesthetic spaces to vibe and unwind. She is also a cat lover, cherishing the companionship and warmth that feline friends bring into her life. On any given day, you might find her taking spontaneous walks in the park, appreciating the beauty of nature and embracing the serenity of the outdoors. Debora is a person of diverse interests and boundless potential, determined to make her mark in both her professional and personal life.
Debora envisions a South Queens community characterized by harmonious coexistence, peace, and love, aligning with the core mission of SQWM. Inspired by various global and national women's rights movements, she aspires to see these values deeply embedded within South Queens.
Nerissa Martinez
Civic Engagement Coordinator
Nerissa, a longtime resident of Ozone Park, has recently returned home after earning her B.A. in Political Science from Stony Brook University, with a minor in Philosophy. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to apply her skills and passion for civic engagement to our community here in South Queens.
During her time at SBU, she interned at the Center for Civic Justice, where she initially began connecting and promoting civic engagement within her community. She organized numerous events and contributed to campaigns aimed at involving college students in meaningful discussions about social and political issues affecting our communities directly. Nerissa recognizes the importance of creating safe spaces and encouraging community involvement, which is why she feels privileged to begin this journey with SQWM.
In her free time, Nerissa can be found biking around Queens, reading a book (currently reading Judith Butler), or sipping on an Iced Matcha Latte!
Nicole Cobham
Co-Director of Youth and Professional Development Programs
Nicole Cobham is a Consulting Manager, professional and personal development coach, and community organizer. She graduated from the University of Central Florida where she studied Finance in 2017. Professionally, Nicole is Manager at KPMG in Financial Services Risk, Regulatory and Compliance. She has over 5 years of experience serving Banking and Capital Markets clients as a consultant offering services related to financial crimes and regulatory compliance, fraud, and control testing.
Nicole has been a member of South Queens Women's March, (SQWM), since 2020 where she has served as a volunteer with food and resource distributions, clothing, toys, school supply drives and much more! She has also served as a Youth & Professional Development committee member, prior to taking this role, where she would host, facilitate, and speak on various workshops related to financial literacy, resumes and interviewing and personal branding.
In addition to her work at SQWM, Nicole is the Vice President of Finance for Delta Sigma Pi - New York Alumni chapter, Young Professional member for the New York Urban League, a member of the Women's Bond Club and member and now a Champion for the Executive Women's Forum. She leverages her network to connect SQWM and community members to leaders across various industries (e.g., financial services, real estate, insurance, and law)
She is very passionate about bridging the equity gap for women and youth, especially those of underrepresented groups. She dedicates her time in her profession and roles in community and professionally based organizations to provide resources, education and opportunities related to professional development, financial management and personal enrichment.
Paveena Rewah
Director of Mutual Aid Programs
Paveena Rewah is a Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience in the field. She is currently a People Manager at a global advertising, marketing, and communications organization. She loves being a coach and mentor to colleagues and employees at work.
Paveena was exposed to community service at a very young age due to her membership in the Sri Sathya Sai Baba international organization. She served as a youth leader as a teenager, where she created and organized projects such as winter clothing drives, book drives, and food distributions. She continues her work and is currently a volunteer teacher within the Sai Spiritual Education framework of the organization. Her goal is to facilitate the practice and understanding of the five Human Values - Love, Truth, Peace, Non-violence, and Right-conduct.
Her passion continues as she works with the Mutual Aid Committee, as the newly appointed Program Lead. She has a love for leading projects such as community fridges, food pantries, and hand-delivering groceries to the elderly in the community.
Paveena is also the mom of two energetic boys and loves introducing them to community work.
Raqeebah Zaman
Events Coordinator
Raqeebah Zaman was born in Guyana, South America. She studied Film and Cinema Studies at the University of Central Florida and is currently based in Little Guyana, Queens, New York, where she lived for the majority of her life.
Raqeebah's work, both within and outside of the art realm is informed by her passion to positively affect the communities she is a part of. She has a deep interest in working with minority and underprivileged communities, as seen in her past work with CUNY and with non-profit organizations; as well as her art, which has been displayed locally and globally.
Sacha Sulaiman
Outreach Coordinator
Sacha Sulaiman, a native of Guyana, relocated to Brooklyn, New York at the age of three with her family. Currently enrolled at Teachers College, Columbia University, Sacha is dedicated to pursuing a master's degree in nutrition and public health. With a vision to connect the realms of nutrition and healthcare, she aspires to bridge the gap between the two fields in the future. She currently works as an Adjunct Lecturer at CUNY City College and as the Outreach Coordinator for SQWM. During leisure hours, Sacha finds joy in painting, listening to audiobooks, reading, dancing, traveling to new places, and savoring diverse cuisines.
Sacha holds a profound passion for supporting SQWM’s food pantries and initiatives aimed at alleviating food insecurity. The initial involvement in this cause commenced during Sacha's volunteer work for the Christmas food pantry in 2021, her very first volunteering event with SQWM. Witnessing the tireless efforts of community organizing and the substantial impact on the neighborhood's residents served as a truly inspiring experience.
Sacha hopes the South Queens community takes decisive strides to break free from generational stigmas, trauma, and gender inequities. Sacha firmly believes that organizations such as SQWM play a pivotal role in driving these necessary changes and fostering progress within the community.
Tyra Powell
Director of Civic Engagement Programs
Tyra earned their Political Science degree from Buffalo State College, a challenging yet deeply rewarding accomplishment they take immense pride in. Their mother serves as their primary source of inspiration, having made the journey from Trinidad to America in pursuit of better opportunities. Tyra feels a sense of responsibility to carry forward these opportunities bestowed upon them by their mother, striving to lead a successful life. Actively engaged in volunteering, Tyra eagerly seeks involvement in various community initiatives.
Tyra holds a strong passion for SQWM's civic engagement initiatives. Being actively engaged and immersed in facilitating the community's understanding and utilization of government changes brings them great satisfaction. Tyra finds joy in conducting outreach, connecting with more individuals in the neighborhood, and relishing enjoyable moments while spreading awareness about SQWM’s cause. To them, those who lend an ear demonstrate genuine care and concern for the community's welfare.
We honor the dedication of previous leaders of South Queens Women’s March, without whom our movement would not be the same. Thank you for tirelessly cultivating South Queens Women’s March from its infancy and beyond.
Fatima Shabbir, Founding Board Member
Nirmala Singh, Founding Board Member
Tannuja Rozario, Founding Board Member
