Wednesday,November 11,
Cover Image: Horizons, 2008, Milt Masur, bas relief/collage, overpainted with oil on panel. From the Collection of Embracing Our Differences, Long Island: A Project of the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding.
Welcome!
Dear Friends,
Long Island’s multi-cultural diversity is the key to our social and economic survival. The ability of people from different races, religions and other backgrounds to live and work together is crucial to our prosperity and peace of mind. In the spirit of promoting tolerance and understanding, welcome to the annual Celebration of Suburban Diversity!
If ever there were a year to stand up for the value and values of diversity, this is the year!
Hosted by The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®, the Celebration’s 17th year is again bringing together hundreds of Long Islanders on the multi-cultural spectrum, including the disabilities and LGBTQ communities, for an evening of awards, art, entertainment and inspiration. And we are so pleased to be back for the terrific food and service at Crest Hollow Country Club – live and in many colors!
We would like to thank honoree Derek Petersen for delivering tonight’s keynote address. Derek’s Soter Technologies invents and develops devices that make countless people safer and healthier. We also are proud to honor Chief Robert Pharaoh who has led the Montaukett Indian Nation’s fight for its rightful recognition; Mohinder Singh Taneja, a leader in Long Island’s Sikh community; and Hofstra’s Dr. Martine Hackett, a nationally recognized expert in race-based health disparities. They honor us by allowing us to honor them!
We know that our fractured suburb has a long way to go before we can say it truly embraces diversity, but tonight we celebrate the strength and opportunities in our differences. Diversity is everybody’s business -- and “good” for everybody’s business. Long Island’s new suburbanites are the new students, patrons, customers and entrepreneurs who can revive and sustain our economy. Tonight is a chance to get to know one another.
Special thanks to our most generous personal, corporate and organizational sponsors, Robert B. Catell, Derek Petersen, Scott Rechler, Pat Dolan, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, JP Morgan Chase, Tai and Tony Wang of WAC Lighting, the Starfish Foundation, the Long Island Contractors Association, Ascend Long Island, UCP Long Island, and other organizations that have supported us for all or most of the dinners.
Thank you to Soh Young Lee-Segredo for continuing to coordinate our multicultural entertainment, including the innovative Latino-themed presentation by Hofstra students and another moving performance by the New York Chinese Chorus. Many thanks also to NCSS Senior Assistant Dean Deb Tinnirello who undertook the arduous task of overseeing our high school diversity essay contest, sponsored every year by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union.
I would especially like to offer a loud shout out to our new NCSS team member Shari Linker, who along with Ina Katz organized this entire event. Without their efforts, to which they bring great conscientiousness and good cheer, this dinner would not be possible.
Finally, I’d like to recognize Dr. Susan Poser, an embodiment of diversity as Hofstra’s first woman president, for continuing the University’s commitment to the community-facing mission of the National Center for Suburban Studies - and for turning the spirit of the event into a reality on campus and beyond. She and Hofstra’s entire leadership team truly are “walking the talk.”
We know that we’ve asked much of you and appreciate all you’ve done in contributing and attending. And in return, we promise you this: we have - and will continue to - put your donations to very good use through our pro bono work in underserved neighborhoods and diversity-related scholarships, research and community grants. Dozens of people and groups will benefit from your generosity this year, as they have each year since 2009.
Please enjoy the evening and, best of all, make new friends of diversity!
Lawrence Levy
Executive Dean
The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
Program
~ Master of CereMonies ~ Lawrence Levy
Associate Vice President, Hofstra University
Executive Dean, National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
~ audio & Visual Montage ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have A Dream”
~ PerforManCes ~
The Hofstra Latin Review, El SUR Review: Latin America in Music and Dance
~ WelCoMing reMarks ~ Susan Poser President, Hofstra University
~ reMarks ~
Ambassador George J. Tsunis
~ introduCtion of keynote sPeaker ~ Michael Cohen
~ keynote address ~ Derek Peterson
Founder and CEO, Soter Technologies
~ PerforManCe ~
New York Chinese Chorus Under the direction of Qi Dai Accompanist: Dihua Lin
“NYCC Men’s Choir”
Pipa 琵琶 – Zhou Yi
Shepherd Song 牧羊曲
Lyrics & Music: Liping Wang
The Shepherd’s Song was originally featured in the 1982 film Shaolin Temple. The song’s lyrical melody and simple, heartfelt lyrics convey the shepherd boy’s love for life and longing for freedom.
“NYCC Women’s Choir”
Pipa 琵琶 – Zhou Yi
Zhudi 竹笛 – Yimin Miao
Tea-Picking Song 採茶舞曲
Lyrics and Music: Dafeng Zhou
Chorus Arrangement: Jianqiang Xu
“Tea-Picking Song” is a Zhejiang folk song composed by Zhou Dafeng in 1958.
Inspired by the tea fields of Taishun County, it became widely popular across China in the 1950s. Its lyrics — “The stream flows clear and long, with beautiful scenes along its banks” — vividly depict the charm of the Jiangnan region.
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
“New York Chinese Chorus”
Dance – Jun Zhou
Chrysanthemums Terrace 菊花台
Lyrics: Wenshan Fang | Music: Jay Chou
“Chrysanthemum Terrace” Choral Arrangement is a mixed-choir adaptation of Jay Chou’s song. It blends lyrical melodies and rich tonal colors with Chinese opera elements, portraying the fallen beauty of a dynasty through the metaphor of a trampled chrysanthemum.
“Pipa (Chinese Lute) by Zhou Yi; Frame drum by Yimin Miao” Spring on the Silk Road 絲路春色
Hofstra uniVersity-fourleaf federal Credit union suburban diVersity HigH sCHool essay Contest sCHolarsHiP aWards
Presented by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union
Christopher Niedt, Academic Director, National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University® Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology
Students who won the essay contest and a reprint of the First Place winning essay can be found on a following page.
~ introduCtion of Honorees ~ Cornell Craig Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Hofstra University
~ Honorees ~ Mohinder Singh Taneja Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity Founder, American Diversity Forum
Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh Montaukett Indian Nation
Martine Hackett
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health Director, Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University Professor of English, Hofstra University
~ CoCktail Hour MusiC PerforMed by ~ John Colonna Trio
~ oPening audio and Video Montage ~ Eric Hutchison, Inbeon Company
~ Honoree Videos ~ Omar Lopez, Jr. Thomas Halaczizki and Ashley Verona
~ HeMPstead HigH sCHool MarCHing band ~ Under the direction of Richard Catania Hempstead UFSD High School Band Teacher
New York Chinese Chorus Performances
牧羊曲 Shepherd Song
作詞作曲者:王立平
Lyrics & Music: Wang Liping
Sunrise over Song Mountains Valley startles the birds in the morning. A brook gurgles through the woods, and green grass graces the slopes. Wild fruits are fragrant, and mountain flowers are vibrant. Dogs leap, sheep run.
I raise my staff and wave it gently.
Across the mountains drifts the shepherd’s song
採茶舞曲
Tea-Picking Song
Lyrics Music: Zhou Dafu · Choral Arrangement: Xu Jianqiang
The stream is clear, the stream flows long, and the scenery along its banks is truly beautiful.
Spring has arrived, and the hills are filled with the fragrance of new tea leaves. Look, West Lake has a new look.
Pick the tea, oh pick it fast! Thousands of baskets still won’t hold the last. Pick the tea, oh pick it fast!
The folk songs sang by the tea pickers never stop. With fragrant leaves and cheerful songs, our tea pickers are delighted! Oh, joyful tea-picking girls!
Left hand picks, and right hand too, both hands descend simultaneously like they always do. One hand starts and the other will follow, like two roosters fighting over rice, up and down.
Two baskets hang on either side. picking tea leaves with two separate hands requires a break after picking for a while.
No dizzy heads and no more blurry vision. More and more, faster and faster.
A bountiful harvest of Longjing tea every year.
New York Chinese Chorus Performances
菊花台 Chrysanthemums Terrace
詞:方文山 曲:周杰倫
Lyricist: Fang Wenshan, Music: Jay Chou
Your tender shimmering tears carry with it pain and sorrow.
The pale crescent moon evokes memories of the past.
The night drags on far too long, turning into a frosty stillness.
Who is in the attic, lost in icy cold despair?
As the raindrops gently patter on the vermilion window.
My life is in tatters, like paper battered in the wind.
My dream grows more distant as it fades into a thread of incense, drifting away like your image in the wind.
Withered chrysanthemums streak across the ground,your smile fades.
Flowers fall, hearts are broken.my mind, languishes in silence.
The north wind gushes on, the night is still young
.Your shadows linger,then leave me alone with just my own reflection in the lake.
As flowers near their end, their splendor diminishes.
Wilting in their passage through life, life is uncertain.
Worried whether to cross the river. My heart is torn asunder.
Fearing about not making it to shore, my life is cast adrift.
Whose kingdom is it, with the frantic sounds of charging horses.
Fully decked in armour, my life whizzes by.
Dawn breaks, you sigh gently over the passing of yet another restless night.
Withered chrysanthemums streak across the ground, your smile fades.
Flowers fall, hearts are broken.my mind, languishes in silence.
The north wind gushes on, the night is still young.
Your shadows linger, then leave me alone with just my own reflection in the lake.
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Banquet Committee Welcomes You Committee
Robert B. Catell Chairman Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center
Tariq Khan Sentar Fuel Company Inc. Niats Realty Corporation
Eric Alexander Vision Long Island
Gloria Baca Community Advocate
The Honorable Michael Balboni RedLand Strategies
Sandi Brewster-Walker LI Indigenous People Museum
The Honorable Jon Cooper Spectronics Corporation
Don Dreyer Disability Rights and Policy Consultant
Thomas J. Garry, Esq. Harris Beach PLLC
Henry Holley Henry Holley Group
Dafny Irizarry Long Island Latino Teachers Association
Jessica K. Kalra, Esq.
David A. Gallo & Associates LLP
David Kilmnick Long Island LGBT Services Network
Jeffrey Kraut Northwell Health
Linda Leaf LI Human Rights Activist
Soh Young Lee-Segredo Educator Celebration Music Coordinator
Bernard Macias AARP
Pavneet Mehra Citi
Robert Suarez Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Zahid Syed Nassau County Commission on Human Rights
Mohinder Singh Taneja Community Advocate
Freda Wagner, Esq. Mediator and Consultant
Tai Wang WAC Lighting Company
The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
present
The Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
Susan Poser President, Hofstra University
Charles Riordan
Provost, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Hofstra University
Cornell Craig Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Hofstra University
Lawrence C. Levy Executive Dean,
National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University® Associate Vice President, Hofstra University
Christopher Niedt Academic Director,
National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University® Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology
Deborah Tinnirello Senior Assistant Dean
National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
Shari Linker Administrator
National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
Ina Katz Administrator
National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University®
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Hofstra Faculty Committee
Athelene Collins
Executive Director, Hofstra Cultural Center
Cornell Craig
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Martine Hackett
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health Director, Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University
Aashish Kumar
Professor of Radio, Television, Film
Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
Julian Ku
Professor, Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Mario Murillo
Vice Dean and Professor of Radio, Television, Film
Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
Christopher Niedt
Academic Director, The National Center for Suburban Studies
Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology
Lauris Wren
Clinical Professor of Law, Neighborhood Law Office
STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER
110 STATE STREET ALBANY, NY 12236
November 18, 2025
Susan Poser, President Hofstra University 102 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11550-9814
Dear Friends:
Greetings to all those gathered this evening for the Celebration of Suburban Diversity hosted by the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. Since 2007, the National Center for Suburban Studies has worked to promote the rigorous study of suburban issues and further the goals of suburban sustainability, social equity and economic development.
Congratulations are due to this year’s honorees: Derek Peterson, Founder and CEO, Soter Technology, Mohinder Taneja, Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity, Founder, American Diversity Forum; Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh, Montaukett Indian Nation; and Martine Hackett, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health, Director, Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University. Their leadership, service and accomplishments are worthy of your recognition.
A nonpartisan research institute at Hofstra University, the National Center for Suburban Studies analyzes racial, ethnic, religious, economic and political diversity in the suburbs. The National Center is part of Hofstra’s commitment to academic excellence and the University’s rich tradition of encouraging lifelong learners and cultivating a lively exchange of ideas between the campus and the broader community. The dedicated administrators, staff, student researchers, alumni and supporters of the National Center for Suburban Studies are furthering our knowledge and enriching the cultural life of Long Island.
Best wishes for a joyful celebration and continued success.
Sincerely,
Thomas P. DiNapoli State Comptroller
Office of the County Executive 1550 Franklin Avenue Mineola, New York 11501
November 18, 2025
Dear Friends,
I want to extend my greetings to all of you who have gathered for Hofstra University's Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025. This event pays tribute to the numerous cultures, perspectives, and experiences that make our communities strong.
Nassau County is home to people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, and I believe our combined experiences and unique cultures contribute to making our local communities better places to live. In fact, I'm certain they are a large part of why Nassau County is recognized as the best place to live in all of New York.
As we celebrate tonight's event, I encourage all of you to reflect not only on the differences that make us unique but also on the shared values that tie us together. Please accept my best wishes for your success, and I hope you all enjoy tonight's event!
Sincerely,
Bruce A. Blakeman Nassau County Executive
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Past Keynote Speakers
2009 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Charles Wang
Owner-New York Islanders, Co-founder-CA Technologies
2009 Honorees
Margaret Abraham
Hofstra University Diversity Task Force
Don Dreyer
Disability Rights Activist and Policy Consultant
Rabbi Bruce Ginsburg
Congregation Sons of Israel, Woodmere, NY
Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Faroque Ahmad Khan, M.B. (Kmr), M.A.C.P.
Islamic Center of Long Island
David Kilmnick
Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Services Network
Nadia Marin-Molina
The Workplace Project
Lawrence W. Mulvey
Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department
Reverend Reginald Tuggle
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Roosevelt
2010 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Michael Dowling North Shore-LIJ Health System
2010 Honorees
Athelene Collins
Hofstra Cultural Center
Jon Cooper
Suffolk County Legislature
V. Elaine Gross
ERASE Racism
Evelyn Blose Holman
Bay Shore School District
Nereida Perez
Inclusion and Diversity, National Grid
Tai Nin Wang WAC Lighting
& Honorees
2011 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Kirk Kordeleski
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
2011 Honorees
Habeeb Ahmed
Islamic Center of Long Island
Peter I. Cavallaro
The Village of Westbury
Helen T. Chin
Chinese Center on Long Island, Inc
Dr. Constance R. Clark-Snead Westbury School District
Dafny J. Irizarry
Long Island Latino Teachers Association
Cliff Jernigan
Hofstra University, School of Communication
Howard Maier
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County
2012 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Robert B. Catell
Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center
2012 Honorees
Alice Chan
Chinese American Association of North Hempstead
Henry Holley
Henry Holley Group
Ruth Negrón-Gaines
Sustainable Long Island
David A. Powell
Hofstra University, Hofstra College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Past Keynote Speakers & Honorees
2013 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
John R. Durso
President, Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, President, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW
2013 Honorees
David Huang
Humanitarian, Philosopher, Philanthropist
Arthur Katz
Jewish Community Relations Council- Long Island
David Newman
Jewish Community Relations Council- Long Island
Soh Young Lee-Segredo
Educator, Activist, Performer
Jennifer Mieres, MD
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, North Shore-LIJ Health System
Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine
Rev. Dr. Gloria Nixon-Pone Author, Educator
Darrell Wayne Pone, MD
Physician, Author
2014 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
George J. Tsunis, Esq.
Chairman and CEO, Chartwell Hotels
2014 Honorees
Sammy Hsiao
Great Neck Rotary, Rotary International
Richard J. Montes, Esq.
Mauro Lilling Naparty LLP
Long Island Hispanic Bar Association
Belinda Pagdanganan
Government Relations Manager, National Grid
Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board
Susan Gordon Ryan Disability Rights Activist
Gina G. Granger
Hofstra North Shore –LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University
Medical Scholars Pipeline Program
June E. Scarlett
Hofstra North Shore –LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University Medical Scholars Pipeline Program
2015 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Scott Rechler
RXR Realty
2015 Honorees
Sandi Brewster-walker
Board Chair and Executive Director
Long Island Indigenous People Museum & Research Institute
Gemma de Leon Lopresti
Executive Vice President, RWDSU-UFCW
President, Local 1102, RWDSU-UFCW
Raj Mehta
Chairman and CEO, Infosys International Inc.
Mandell Smith
Field Director, Northwestern Mutual
2016 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Jean Kelly
Executive Director, Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) Honoree and Keynote Speaker
2016 Honorees
DaZhou Wang
Professor and Founding Dean, the School of Design, East China Normal University
Lutricia “Pat” Edwards
Vice President, Citi Community Development
Kirit Panchamia
Certified Public Accountant, Panchamia CPA Owner, Adult Day Care Facility Hotelier
Ramon Soto
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Northwell Health
2017 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Robert A. Isaksen
Bank of America
Long Island Market President
Long Island Market Executive, Business Banking
2017 Honorees
Isma H. Chaudhry, MD, MPH President, Islamic Center of Long Island
Margarita Grasing
Executive Director, Hispanic Brotherhood
Himanshu Pandya, MD
Vice President
American Association of Physicians of India
Origin, Queens-Long Island
Eustace Thopmson, Ph.D.
Chairman, Teacher, Learning and Technology
Hofstra University
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Past Keynote Speakers & Honorees
2018 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Richard Cavallaro
Previous President and CEO, Skanska USA Civil
2018 Honorees
Isha Mehta, MD
Chief of Gynecology, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
ELIJA Farm CSA
Debora Thivierge, Executive Director Center for Civic Engagement at Hofstra University
2019 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Anthony Boutin, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Emergency Medicine
Nassau University Medical Cente
2019 Honorees
Sadri Altinok
Turkish Cultural Center/Human Rights Activist
Gloria Baca Boulevard Home Care Associates
Tariq Khan Businessman / Philanthropist
Lutisha S. Vickerie-Dearman, Ph.D., J.D. Hofstra University
Richard N. Hayes, PhD, M.Div. Hofstra University
2020
The 2020 Celebration of Suburban Diversity was a virtual event, honoring Long Island’s frontline hero’s –the essential workers in the COVID-19 pandemic –who gave and continue to give so much of themselves to those in need of assistance and care.
2021 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Linda Armyn
Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Bethpage Federal Credit Union
2021 Honorees
Eliana Fernandez
Lead Organizer, Make the Road New York
Shanequa Levin
Women’s Diversity Network
Joysetta* and Julius Pearse Directors, Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County Founders, African Atlantic Genealogical Society
Black Leaders Advocating for Change (BLAC) Hofstra University
*Honored posthumously for a lifetime of leadership and dedication
2022 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH
Senior Vice President, Community and Population Health, Northwell Health
Professor of Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
2022 Honorees
Elise de Castillo, Esq. Executive Director, CARECEN
Farrah Mozawlla
Founder and CEO, Asian American Institute of Research and Engagement (AAIRE)
Gillian Atkinson
Director, Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion, Hofstra University
Leadership and Engagement
2023 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Thomas Falcone
Long Island Power Authority
2023 Honorees
Joye Brown
Columnist, Newsday
Lily Han
Entrepreneur, Developer, and Philanthropist
Nilesh Soni, DPT
President and CEO, Dynamic Physical Therapy Services
Mario Murillo
Vice Dean and Professor of Radio, Television, Film Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra University
2024 Honoree and Keynote Speaker
Zaki Hossain CEO, Pintail Coffee
2024 Honorees
Yong Hwa Ha Founder, Esther Ha Foundation
Robert Vitelli
Chief Executive Office, LGBT Network
Craig M. Rustici
The Dr. Mervin Livingston Schloss Distinguished Professor for the Study of Disabilities Professor of English, Hofstra University
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
The Celebration of Suburban Diversity is proud to exhibit banners from:
Embracing Our Differences – Sarasota
Michael J. Shelton, Executive Director
“A Helping Hand”
By Kathy Kushmer Palmetto, Florida
“The Beauty of Diversity”
By Carolyn Silverman
Sarasota Middle School
“Copy Cat”
By Liz Goodman
Sarasota County Technical Institute
“A Child Sees A Person”
Laura Lang’s Second Grade Class
Cranberry Elementary School, Sarasota
“Scapegoat”
By Jerry Bacik
Tarpon Springs, Florida
“Unity”
Ballard Elementary School
Embracing Our Differences – Long Island: A Project of the Center for Social Justice and Human Understanding, Suffolk County Community College
Steven Schrier, Executive Director
“Horizons”
By Milt Masur
“Untitled” Puzzle
By Caroline Kruger
Embracing Our Differences is a dynamic outdoor art exhibit initiated in Sarasota, Florida where it “has truly changed the way children and adults think about other people.” The Embracing Our Difference – Long Island project is “designed to provoke public discussion and encourage understanding and acceptance of difference.” We thank Executive Director’s Michael J. Shelton and Steve Schrier for their cooperation and generosity in allowing us to display the banners this evening.
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2024
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
Keynote Speaker and Honoree
Derek Peterson is the Founder and CEO of Soter Technologies, a rapidly growing environmental sensor and technology innovator headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York. The profound impact of his work has earned him the designation as one of the most influential African Americans in technology. He is committed to being a mentor and advisor for students and has served his community and industries through numerous organizations.
As a teen, Mr. Peterson was fascinated with computers and technology and has been developing software since high school. Today, he is a business leader and problem solver who leverages his expertise to address complex social, business and community safety challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the vaping and bullying epidemics. “Soter” is the ancient Greek god of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm – an apt name for a company devoted to the practical application of technology to improve and save lives. In short, Mr. Peterson believes that, if he has the time to figure it out, no puzzle is impossible to solve.
And solve he does: The holder of over 60 patents, Mr. Petersen leads a team of engineers, software developers, researchers, scientists, business and communications experts to produce an innovative suite of first-in-the world devices. They include SymptomSense™ Medical Evaluation Gateway, which helped limit the spread of Covid-19 worldwide by rapidly scanning vital signs. Mr. Peterson and his team have invented the world’s first vape and bullying alert system for schools, FlySense. With over 50,000 devices deployed around the world, this technology is making schools healthier and safer, having been credited with saving the lives of students contemplating suicide. A former bullying victim as a high school student, the problem is deeply personal to him; developing a solution extremely gratifying.
Mr. Peterson’s inventions and products have received national attention, including NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Cheddar TV and many other media outlets. Among a long list of awards, in 2020 Mr. Peterson won the prestigious Roy L. Clayton Technology prize. In 2023 Mr. Peterson was listed in the New York State Real Estate Journal as a Commercial Real Estate Visionary. In 2024, he won Innovator of the Year at the Black Tech Achievement Awards, and was especially proud to be voted into the Bay Shore High School Hall of Fame.
On the road to operating his own business, Mr. Peterson established a proven track record in the high-tech and software sector and held senior and key roles at IPS, Symbol Technologies (a $1.6B NYSE company), and Neohapsis (bought by Cisco). In 2003, he co-founded CBD, Inc. to assist libraries and public schools. Mr. Peterson is also a national thought leader in the field of the Internet of Things (IOT) and currently writes for TechTarget / IOT Agenda. He regularly writes on tech subjects and speaks at universities and conferences.
Mr. Peterson can be described as a Renaissance Man in technology, working across many industries. For the accounting profession he developed some of the country’s first tax software. For the public sector he developed the first Public Computer Management system. Early in his career, he led the development of key security products for the gaming and aviation sectors. He also re-engineered the process by which Symbol Technologies (Motorola/Zebra) developed products.
When he is not engaged in the world of technology, Mr. Peterson enjoys spending time with his family, training for Ironman Triathlons and customizing high-performance autos. He especially enjoys giving back to his community by supporting young people, including at the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch located in Riverhead. This not-for-profit provides residential programs that offer a safe haven for at-risk youth
Mr. Peterson earned a BS in Computer Science and Applied Math from Stony Brook University in New York in 1988.
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
MOHINDER SINGH TANEJA
Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Founder, American Diversity Forum Diversity
Mohinder Singh Taneja is widely recognized for the passion and persistence he has brought to decades of promoting the values of Sikh and Indian culture and the value of racial, ethnic and religious diversity in general. Mohinder is a familiar figure at business, civic and governmental gatherings. He is often described, as he was recently by the news site New India Abroad, as an “Ambassador of Diversity” for his efforts to foster cross-cultural dialogue and business development.
Mohinder has another facet to his public and professional life that most people aren’t aware of — that of tech entrepreneur and industry advocate. He is the founder and board chair of Sterling Universal Group and its Vedirobotics subsidiary. Recruiting talent from Stanford University, Northwell Health and other centers of innovation, Mohinder’s Hicksville-based companies are known for their development of various AI-driven healthcare and education technologies. By efforts to merge advanced robotics with AI, the company endeavors to empower hospitals, clinics, and other enterprises to “enhance productivity, safety, and precision.”
Mohinder was recently appointed to the National Board of Advisors of the Minority Business Roundtable, a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting minority, veteran and women entrepreneurs. Mohinder co-founded the Indian American Chamber of Commerce to enhance both local and international trade cooperations. And he represents the U.S. in the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Forum, which focuses on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in India.
In his civic and cultural roles, Mohinder has been an official outreach representative for the Nassau and Suffolk County executives, and the founder or leader of numerous groups dedicated to diversity-related issues. Events held by his American Diversity Forum, for instance, attract major local, state, and federal officials.
His surprise birthday party drew 400 people, including a number of elected officials of both major political parties; a sign of Mohinder’s personal appeal even beyond LI’s fast-growing Indian community. It is fair to say that, without him, Hofstra’s annual Celebration of Suburban Diversity might never have existed. In 2009, when the NCSS was planning an international conference on the challenges of the changing suburbs, Mohinder was a member of our community advisory board. When the agenda turned to a planned dinner for visiting academics, it was Mo’ who suggested – no, insisted – that the community be invited for a “celebration of diversity!” The rest, as they say, is diversity history.
Honoree
CHIEF ROBERT PAUL PHARAOH
Chief of the Montaukett Indian Nation
Robert P. Pharaoh of Sag Harbor is the Chief of the historic Montaukett Indian Nation. He was raised in a multigenerational household dedicated to preserving the history of their indigenous ancestors and fighting to restore legal recognition snatched from them more than a century ago in a court decision widely considered racist. Robert’s life has centered on stewardship of the land, water, and sacred Native sites. Beyond his tribal duties, Chief Pharaoh has also spent over 35 years as a volunteer firefighter in the Sag Harbor department, where he is proud to have held many leadership positions. Among many accolades, he was recognized as its Fireman of the Year and received a citation from the Southampton department for Life Saving Rescue.
Bob, as he is known, quietly watches over the Island of Paumanauke where for thousands of years his ancestors were known as the First People. He is deeply rooted in the traditional practices used by the Montauketts to care for their people, land, water, and ecosystems. His stewardship is based on long-term sustainability, a spiritual and historical connection to the Indigenous people. As he prepares daughter, Tami Pharaoh, to carry on the Nation’s struggle against being erased from history, Bob understands the imperative in honoring his antecedents’ sacrifices.
Bob’s life story began 46 years after the Montauketts lost State recognition. Before Bob took over the Nation’s leadership, his mother, Olive Pharaoh, was its respected leader, and his Montaukett ancestry is traced through her line of chiefs, warriors, ministers, educators, and seamen sailing the world. The Montauketts quietly lived by an egalitarian system. Srong native women like Olive were often the essential spiritual authority serving as healers and maintaining Native cultures through all struggles. Olive was a direct descendant of Maria Fowler Pharaoh, who was in the courtroom in 1910 when Judge Blackmar made the racist decision that the Montauketts have fought for 115-years. Bob also descends from Chief Wyandance, who signed early Indian deeds with the land-grabbing Euro-Colonists. Bob’s mother’s grave can be found at Oakland Cemetery in Sag Harbor. He believes she still guides him from the spirit world to carry his people’s history by letting all know, “We are Still Here!”
Chief Pharaoh leads the Nation trustees and its estimated 1,500 enrolled citizens. The Montauketts assert an inherent right to govern themselves, including the authority to create and enforce laws and control their own land and economy. Tribal sovereignty is based on the understanding that tribes are distinct governments with a nation-to-nation relationship.
The Montauketts are part of the larger Algonquian-speaking peoples, sharing linguistic and cultural ties with four other Nations on LI: Matinecock, Setalcott, Shinnecock, and Unkechaugs. At an early age Bob learned this intertribal history and has accepted numerous awards for the Montauketts. In 2024, amid on-going efforts to reinstate the Nation’s state recognition, East Hampton Town awarded a proclamation acknowledging the Montaukett’s history and continued presence. He remains confidently optimistic that the Governor will take steps to correct the historical injustices.
Honoree
MARTINE HACKETT Ph.D
Hofstra University
Martine Hackett is an associate professor, the Director of the Master of Public Health Program, and the chair of the Department of Population Health at Hofstra University. Her research and community-based work is focused on maternal child health, suburban public health and health equity and the intersection of health and housing. She is also the co-founder of the Birth Justice Warriors, an organization committed to eliminating Black maternal and infant mortality in Nassau County.
Martine is especially admired for the way she bridges academia and community, not only conducting peer-reviewed research and mentoring students, but working directly – truly hands on -- with vulnerable populations and service organizations to solve life-threatening problems.
Dr. Hackett is the President of the Board of the Child Care Council, Nassau Inc. and a steering committee member of the Health Equity Alliance of Long Island, a volunteer organization dedicated to bringing together health care stakeholders to more effectively and sensitively deliver services to underserved communities. She is also a long-time consultant with the Maternal Child Bureau at the New York City Department of Health, where she previously served as a deputy director. She has served as director of Suburban Health Equity Studies at the National Center for Suburban Studies.
Martine has a BFA in film and television from New York University, a MPH from Hunter College, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the CUNY Graduate Center. She lives in Uniondale on Long Island with her husband and two sons.
First Place ($3,000)
Jia Ru Yang
11th Grade
Valley Stream Central High School
Second Place ($2,000)
Destini Barrow
12th Grade
Uniondale High School
Third place ($1,000)
10th Grade
New Hyde Park Memorial High School
First Place High Essay
By: Jia Ru Yang
My Own Voice: The Silent Burdens Accented Speakers Carry
The memory of my elementary school ELA teacher rings clear in my mind: twisting my tongue with a popsicle stick, urging it into shapes it had never made before. My tongue curled like a snail shell, or a lopsided lollipop. She told me to repeat after her, rolling her tongue in a way that didn’t touch her teeth, to make a basic “l” sound. To my young ears, I did exactly what she demonstrated. But to her, a native English speaker, the sound I emitted was wrong, and she asked me to try again and again. I had been pulled out of class with four others, silent proof that our households spoke languages other than English. For me, that language was Chinese. Its sounds were rounder, softer, not crafted for the sharp edges of English consonants. And so, my mouth became a problem to be fixed.
As I grew, English slowly replaced Chinese in my life. It became the langauge I think in, dream in, and claim as my own. Yet certain sounds still betray me, when my tongue hesitates and reveals an accent I desperately try to hide. Reading out loud has become anxiety-inducing, ensuring others don’t hear the tiny mistakes that separate me from my counterparts. On Long Island, where immigrant families shape the culture of our communities, accents should be celebrated as proof of our multicultural identity. Instead, they become markers of difference, making it a clear signal of someone who doesn’t quite belong.
This bias shows up early. Studies find that teachers frequently assume multilingual or English-learner students have lower academic ability than their peers, even when their measured skills are the same (Umaansky et al., 2019). These assumptions limit participation and confidence long before children discover their potential. The impact follows them into adulthood, with proof that foreign-accented speakers are less likely to be hired or promoted, despite equal qualifications (Schmaus & Kristen, 2021). Lev-Ari and Keysar (2010) further confirm that listeners judge accented speakers as less credible, not because of content, but because of unconscious prejudice. When their voice becomes a barrier to being heard and taken seriously, students can internalize shame, withdraw from discussions, and avoid leadership roles. It is an invisible inequity, one that hides behind burdens of politeness and mistaken incompetence.
However, having an accent is a powerful thing. It represents bilingual ability, adaptability, and carrying the weight of two cultures at once. If anything, that gives me more perspective than many monolingual people and shouldn’t be a deterrent from future opportunities. In fact, I wish to become an accountant in the future, a respected figure who advises clients and earns their trust with clear communication. My success will not dwell on distorting my voice to match someone else’s standard, but from proving that communication is about connection, empathy, and expertise. On Long Island, accents should be evidence of strength and skill, not shortcomings. I will speak in my own voice, and encourage others to do the same.
Works Cited
Lev-Ari, S., & Keysar, B. (2010). Why don’t we believe non-native speakers? The influence of accent on credibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46(6), 1093–1096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2010.05.025
Schmaus, M., & Kristen, C. (2021). Foreign Accents in the Early Hiring Process: A Field Experiment on Accent-Related Ethnic Discrimination in Germany. International Migration Review, 56(2), 562-593. https://doi. org/10.1177/01979183211042004 (Original work published 2022)
Umansky, Ilana, and Hanna Dumont. (2019). English Learner Labeling: How English Learner Status Shapes Teacher Perceptions of Student Skills & the Moderating Role of Bilingual Instructional Settings. (EdWorkingPaper: 19-94). Retrieved from Annenberg Institute at Brown University: https://doi.org/10.26300/55tz-cm58
Entertainment
JOHN COLONNA TRIO
Kenji Tokunaga
John Colonna
John Colonna is a virtuosic and lyrical pianist who mixes many influences into a unique and vibrant sound. He studied classical piano as a child and teenager and was seduced by the power and simple beauty of rock music. Soon his interests turned to jazz and he graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Jazz Composition. After performing across the country in a variety of venues and genres, he attended New York University to study with Don Friedman, the late great jazz pianist. Since receiving his Master’s Degree from NYU he has performed with his own group (the John Colonna Quartet), the Blake Fleming Trio, Renaissance Church in Harlem and teaches at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick college. He has also been active playing with Chinese rock and pop musicians such as Vivian Fang Liu, Theresa Carpio, Rose Liu, Eric Moo, Wu Hongfei, Kevin Lin, Shino Lin and Candy Lo.
A former student at the New School of Jazz, Kenji has worked major local venues (Blue Note, Shrine, B.B. King’s) and shared stages with a legend or two or three (Force MDS, Bobby Womack, Geno Young) to cite a few, in this city considered the epicenter of jazz.
A double threat on electric and upright, Tokunaga is an exemplary pocket player, improviser, and soloist, referencing be-bop to hip-hop, rhythm and blues, and beyond.
Joel Proctor
Joel Proctor is a drummer from New York City, with over 12 years of experience playing various genres of music. These genres include but are not limited to jazz fusion, funk, hip hop/R&B, pop and gospel. With influences from Robert Glasper and Snarky Puppy to Now vs. Now and John P. Kee, Joel incorporates a unique perspective, creativity, and approach to the music and bands he has been part of. You can find him playing for local funk/R&B cover bands, weddings, jazz trios, churches and a host of other private engagements.
To contact the John Colonna Trio: johncolonnamusic@gmail.com
THE HEMPSTEAD MARCHING BAND
A traditional ensemble deeply rooted in the history of Hempstead, the Hempstead High School Marching Band is celebrated for its distinctive and original “Hempstead Beat.” Recognizable for their striking uniforms and spirited performances, the Marching Tigers bring music, pride, and energy to every event— from parades and school functions to community celebrations. With their powerful drumline and dynamic presence, they continue to inspire audiences and uphold a legacy of excellence throughout Hempstead and the surrounding communities.
Entertainment
THE HOFSTRA LATIN REVIEW
“EL SUR” Review: Latin America in Music and Dance.
NEW YORK CHINESE CHORUS
紐約中國民歌藝術合唱團簡介
The New York Chinese Chorus (NYCC) is the cultural arm of the Glow Foundation and actively promotes cultural exchange by performing both Chinese classical and folk songs in local communities. Founded in October 2009, the chorus brings together talented vocalists from China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia to introduce and deepen the understanding of Chinese culture through a diverse repertoire that includes folk songs, classical pieces, and pop music.
In addition to participating in various local community events, the chorus has competed in international music competitions and won multiple awards, including First Place in the Taiwan First Overseas Hakka Folk Songs Competition and three awards at the 14th China International Chorus Festival in Beijing in 2018.
NYCC was founded by Peter Koo, former New York City Councilman, and Tai Wang, co-founder of WAC Lighting Company. Through their inspiration, passion, and commitment, they have helped enhance cultural appreciation within the Chinese community. Tai Wang, as the founding president of NYCC, has created an environment that fosters joy and engagement for all music lovers. Thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of its members, NYCC has gained recognition throughout the New York area. The current music instructors of the chorus are conductor Qi Dai and accompanist Dihua Lin.
NYCC welcomes music lovers to join the chorus. Auditions are held throughout the year. We are in urgent need of tenors and basses, and hope to leverage your support to help the chorus grow. Rehearsals take place every Thursday evening from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at 133-29 41st Ave, 1st Floor, Flushing, NY 11355.
Contact: Tel: (718)359-1888
email: Contact@glownyc.org | Contact1@glownyc.org
Contact2@glownyc.org
Entertainment DIVERSITY DINNER
ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR
Soh Young Lee-Segredo was born in Seoul, S. Korea, and lived in Paraguay, Brazil, and Spain. She is an educator, a multi-faceted artist, humanitarian and community activist. She taught in Hempstead UFSD as a monolingual and bilingual teacher, and an IB Coordinator at the Jackson Main School embracing cultural, multilingual and global mindfulness.
As the first Korean American recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2007. She served as a Nassau County Human Rights Commissioner appointed by Executive Tom Suozzi. For more than 40 years she has worked tirelessly to bring Korean culture to a diverse array of communities, locally and globally. As an educator, she was proud to be the first Asian in 45 years to be recognized as the Bilingual Teacher of the Year from the New York State Association of Bilingual Education (NYSABE).
Soh Young has been performing since the age of five. She is a singer, storyteller and Master of Ceremonies. The ‘Soh Young Ensemble’ has been recognized by the Artists’ International Alliance and debuted in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Soh Young was also the winner of the KBS Korea Sing New York Competition in 2007, and a winner of the Korean Folk Art International Competition. She was a guest singer performing anthems for the International Taekwondo Competition at Madison Square Garden at the age of 18 and also performed at the New York premiere of the Turkish movie ‘Ayla’ in 2018.
In October 2024, at You’re Our Unity event, she received President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award, having dedicated 4,500 hours in education and the arts.
One of her favorite mottos is “ I can make a difference one day at a time!”
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IasoNotes proudly supports this Celebration of Suburban Diversity and honors tonight's recipients.
Champion of Diversity
Diversity is everyone’s business
Robert B. Catell is pleased to support
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SUBURBAN STUDIES at HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
Congratulations
2025 Celebration of Suburban Diversity
Keynote Speaker
DEREK PETERSON FounderandCEO,SoterTechnologies
Honorees
MOHINDER TANEJA , Co-Founder , CelebrationofSuburbanDiversity Founder,AmericanDiversityForum
CHIEF ROBERT PAUL PHA RAOH, MontaukettIndianNation
MARTINE HACKETT, AssociateProfessorandChair, DepartmentofPopulationHealthandDirector, PublicHealthGraduatePrograms,HofstraUniversity
Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
From community banking to community building
At JPMorganChase we’re making a difference in the communities where we live and work by supporting the neighborhoods, businesses, programs and ideas that are moving our communities forward.
We’re proud to participate in these efforts and support The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.
©2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Friend of Diversity
Friend of Diversity
BUILDING COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING
Northwell applauds the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University for its research and commitment to enriching diverse communities through sustainability, social equity and economic development.
Congratulations to the 2025 Community Partner Award Recipients:
DEREK PETERSON
Founder and CEO
Soter Technologies
MOHINDER TANEJA
Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity Founder American Diversity Forum
CHIEF ROBERT PAUL PHARAOH
Montaukett Indian Nation
MARTINE HACKETT
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Population Health Director Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University
Margaret M. Crotty Chair, Board of Trustees
John D’Angelo, MD President & CEO
New York Transco is proud to support this Celebration of Suburban Diversity, and to celebrate tonight’s honorees.
New York Transco is a New York-based company that owns, operates, and develops electric transmission systems, helping to move electricity — no matter the source — from where it’s generated to the homes and businesses that rely on it.
To learn more, visit NYTransco.com.
Friend of Diversity
Friend of Diversity
The Lawrence Herbert
School of Communication and its
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
The Lawrence Herbert School Communication Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
congratulate all of the 2025 Celebration of Suburban Diversity distinguished honorees
congratulate all of the 2025 Celebration of Suburban Diversity distinguished
Friend of Diversity
Friend of Diversity
Diversity
We salute the National Center for Suburban Studies for its hard work and efforts in promoting multiculturalism on Long Island.
Your vision exemplifies AARP’s commitment to help strengthen communities for New Yorkers 50+.
Get to know us at aarp.org/local.
/aarplongisland @aarplongisland
Ally of Diversity
Ally of Diversity
The Central Nassau County Rotary Club and Foundation And members, are pleased to support The wonderful work of the National Center for Suburban Studies At Hofstra University. And their Associate VP, and Executive Dean, Larry Levy and the Marvelous Ina Katz.
Annabel Bazante Elder Attorney
Margarette Daniel Co-President
Roberta Diamond Orthopedic supports
Carl Gerrato Law Enforcement
Rony Kessler Retired CPA, Author
Bruce Kozlowsky Co-President
Richard Marmon-Halm CPA, Financial Adviser
Regina Mascia Library Director
Cathy Menzies Licensed Social Worker
Chris Mollenthiel Restaurateur
Dr. Howard Robins Health Provider
Dr. Eric Shoenfeld MD Physician, General Medicine
Margaret Thomas Finance
Rabbi Art Vernon Clergy, Rabbi
Ally of Diversity
Ally of Diversity
Leaders in engineering and innovation
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• #1 Ranked Engineering Firm on Long Island (Long Island Business News)
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• Sustainability & Energy Solutions
• Consulting & Advisory Services
Ally of Diversity
Hofstra University’s School of Health Sciences joins The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University in congratulating the 2025 Celebration of Suburban Diversity Honorees:
Mohinder Singh Taneja
Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity Founder, American Diversity Forum
Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh Montaukett Indian Nation
Martine Hackett
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health Director, Public Health Graduate Programs Hofstra University
Derek Peterson Founder and CEO Soter Technologies
Their contributions in support of The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University help advance the goals of suburban sustainability, social equity, and economic development.
Ally of Diversity
Defender of Diversity
Defender of Diversity
Defender of Diversity
The Maurice A. Deane School Law at Hofstra University is proud to join
The National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University in supporting this year’s Celebration of Suburban Diversity
Congratulations to all the honorees!
Derek Peterson Founder and CEO Soter Technologies
Mohinder Singh Taneja
Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity Founder, American Diversity Forum
Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh Montaukett Indian Nation
Martine Hackett
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health Director, Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University
Defender of Diversity
Derek Peterson
Founder and CEO, Soter Technologies
Mohinder Taneja
Co-Founder, Celebration of Suburban Diversity
Founder, American Diversity Forum
Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh Montaukett Indian Nation
Martine Hackett
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health Director, Public Health Graduate Programs, Hofstra University
Their contributions in support of The National Center for Suburban Diversity at Hofstra University help advance the goals of suburban sustainability, social equity, and economic development.
The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell proudly recognizes the 2025 Celebration of Suburban Diversity Honorees
Heartfelt Congratulations from the American Punjabi Society
We proudly extend our warmest congratulations to Mohinder Singh Taneja
Senior Vice President , American Punjabi S ociety on being honored at the Celebration of Suburban Diversity 2025
This well- deserved recognition celebrates your unwavering dedication, selfless service , and extraordinary contributions to the community and the cause of humanity. Your tireless efforts continue to inspire and uplift everyone around you, and we are proud to have you as part of the APS family.
With deep appreciation and best wishes, Gary S. Sikka
Global President, American Punjabi Society
Hofstra University(s
Celebration of Suburban Diversit-y: 2025
Congratulations to the Honorees
Derek Peterson Mohinder Taneja
Chief Robert Paul Pharaoh Martine Hackett
The Asian Pacific American Council of Educators applauds your vision, innovation and community involvement.
The Asian Pacific American Council of Educators Board Members
• Soh Young Lee-Segredo, Founder and President
• Mary Waring
• Li Hong Cheng www.apace-li.org info@apace-li.org
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We join in celebrat ing all t he work of t he Hofstra Nat ional Center for Suburban Studies and congratulate all honorees of t he 2025 Celebrat ion of Suburban Diversity.
Celebration of Suburban Diversity Sponsors
Champion of Diversity
Rechler Philanthropy/RXR
Robert Catell
Patron of Diversity
Derek Peterson
FourLeaf Federal Credit Union
Friend of Diversity
Ambassador George J. Tsunis
Contractors Association of Long Island
Howard Fensterman
Long Island Power Authority Northwell Health
Office of the President, Hofstra University
PSEG Long Island
The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra University
TLC Starfish Foundation
Vineyard Offshore
Ally of Diversity
AARP Long Island
Andy Linder
Arthur Katz, Knockout Pest Control
Central Nassau County Rotary
The D&F Development Group
Edward Wacks
Esther Ha Foundation
Harmony Healthcare
IMEG Consultants
Jovia Financial Credit Union
Long Island Latino Teachers Association
Michael Rosenblatt
Nassau Financial Credit Union
School of Education, Hofstra University
School of Health Sciences, Hofstra University
South Nassau Hospital
Webster Bank
Zaki Hossain
Defender of Diversity
Building & Construction Trades Council
Crest Hollow Country Club
Deepak Kumar
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Farrell Fritz Attorneys
Law Office of David Sperling
Newsday Media Group
Professional Group Plans
Steve Schlesinger
Tariq Kahn
Thaddeus Hill
The Division of Marketing and Communications, Hofstra University
The Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra University
United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island
Supporter of Diversity
Caring Professionals, Inc.
Carrie and Paul Fleischman
Daniel H. Cohen and Susan Miller
Edward Levine
EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Herminia’s Brokerage - Herminia Bonilla
Hispanic Brotherhood
Hispanic Counseling Center
Isma Chaudry
Lisa and Lewis Warren
Martine Hackett
Nassau BOCES
Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce
Natalie Naylor
Philip Dalton, Ph. D
Robert and Carol Gordon
Roger Tilles
Steven B. Vitoff
Strategic Planning Consulting - Michael Dawidziak
Thomas Maier
The Viscardi Center
Vision Long Island -- Eric Alexander
Wednesday,November 11,
