Indian American educator, activist, and community leader Uma Sengupta (who passed away in March 2018) has been honored with the naming of a street in her honor in Queens, New York.
Friends and family of the pioneer, as well as elected officials, attended the street co-naming event at the corner of 152nd Street and Union Turnpike in the Briarwood neighborhood of Queens.
New York Attorney General, Letitia James who had also attended the event said on social media platform X, formerly twitter “I was proud to attend the street renaming to honor Uma Sengupta today. Uma spent decades fighting for social, racial and economic justice. She embodied the very spirit of Queens, and now her legacy will not be forgotten.” https://x.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1713657682417099256?s=20
As the first Indian American woman to hold the position, Sengupta made history when she was sworn in as the Democratic Party District Leader for the 25th Assembly District, Part B in Queens in January 2004.
Sengupta relocated to New York with her three children and late husband Suprabhat Sengupta more than 60 years ago. She founded a Montessori school in Flushing that flourished for over 38 years and provided excellent early childhood education. She is also honored for her community service, in which she worked tirelessly to promote equity, access, and a voice for Native Americans.
“Speaking of remembering, we did just that on Sunday afternoon with a street co-naming in honor of the late Uma Sengupta, Central Queens' trailblazing Indian-American former district leader who dedicated her life to serving her community. A great tribute for a great leader,” Queens Borough president Donovan Richards wrote on X, formerly twitter, after attending the event. https://x.com/QnsBPRichards/status/1714346499562230205?s=20
According to the QNS report, Council Member James F. Gennaro authored the City Council bill honoring Sengupta, which was passed earlier this year. Gennaro was present at the street naming ceremony. Sengupta, was "well known for her activism and decades of community service," and was "a trailblazer in the political scene here in Queens and beyond,” he was quoted as saying to the gathering at the ceremony by QNS.
I was proud to attend the street renaming to honor Uma SenGupta in Briarwood, Queens today.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) October 15, 2023
Uma spent decades fighting for social, racial, and economic justice. She embodied the very spirit of Queens, and now her legacy will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/C20DyU08uw
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