And they say you can't go home again. Udai Tambar, one of the most experienced and dynamic South Asian leaders in the nonprofit space, is returning to the organization where he began his NGO career. New York-based South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) has announced that Tambar is going to be the organization's next executive director (succeeding Annetta Seecharran and the organization's founder, Sayu Bhojwani).
SAJA has long been a supporter of SAYA, which, the press release describes as "the only organization in the nation that provides non-sectarian comprehensive youth development services to the South Asian American community." Translation: they do some amazing work with middle-, lower-middle-class and low-income and other South Asian kids in places like Queens and Brooklyn, far from the fancy Desi success stories on Wall Street, big corporations and the like.
Incidentally, he'd never mention it in his bio, but one of his more visible achievements has got to be the fact that he was responsible for coordinating the two-year community efforts that resulted in the Diwali parking holiday in New York City (which is now a permanent part of the official city calendar).
Please see the full press release below and post your comments. Board co-chair Harsha Marti is coordinating press requests.
South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) Names Udai Tambar As Executive Director
Queens, NY – (January 14, 2010) – The Board of Directors of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) today named Udai Tambar as the organization's new Executive Director.
Beginning February 1, 2010, Mr. Tambar will lead the only organization in the nation that provides non-sectarian comprehensive youth development services to the South Asian American community. He is returning after serving as the organization’s Program Coordinator in 1999.
“SAYA! is fortunate to have Udai Tambar take over as Executive Director,” said SAYA! Board Co-Chair Usha Saxena. “Udai’s policy and program management experience in government and the nonprofit sector, along with his prior work with SAYA! makes him uniquely qualified for this position.”
“I am thrilled to come back to SAYA!,” said Mr. Tambar, “I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and staff in fulfilling this important mission to create meaningful opportunities for underserved youth.”
Founded in 1996, SAYA! works to ensure the successful economic, social and civic integration of South Asian American youth, thereby preventing them from being trapped in poverty. Services include academic preparation, sports activities and leadership development. Mr. Tambar will oversee a budget of $1.3
million and a staff of 40 full-time and part-time staff.
Mr. Tambar is presently the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Parent and Community Engagement at the New York City Human Resources Administration, managing child support programs that strengthen and develop strategies to help low-income fathers be more involved in the lives of their children. Prior to his
appointment in 2008, he was Special Assistant to HRA Commissioner Robert Doar, acting as a policy liaison with Mayor Bloomberg’s Office and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.
In 2004, Mr. Tambar was the Assistant Director of the Policy Research Institute for the Region at Princeton University, an applied research center on regional public policy issues. At Princeton, he also taught a course on immigrant youth.
Mr. Tambar also served as the Policy Director for Newark Mayor-Elect Cory Booker's transition team and the Manager of Policy and Operations at the 9/11 United Service Group. His past experience in New York City government includes managing the City Council's New American Youth Initiative for Council Member Ken Fisher, working for the Deputy Chancellor of Management and Policy at the Board of Education and serving as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Workforce Development Division of the Department of Small Business Services.
Mr. Tambar was a member of the Urban Policy committee for Obama for America and is currently a Board Member for the Harlem Success Academy # 4, a charter school. He holds a M.P.A. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a B.A. magna cum laude in Asian Studies and Chemistry from Cornell University.
A Queens native, Mr. Tambar lives in Forest Hills with his wife and son.
CONTACT:
Harsha G. Marti
Board Co-Chairperson, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!)
Ph: 646-256-7057
Email: hgm[at]alum.mit.edu
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