By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the appointment of Ahsia Badi as the executive director of the City Children’s Cabinet, the panel aimed at increasing coordination and efficiency across City agencies, mayoral offices, nonprofits, and the private sector to drive a holistic, family-centered approach for the sustained health, safety, and well-being of children, Hizzoner noted.
The Children’s Cabinet is a multi-agency initiative focused on bolstering communication and coordination among City agencies that directly work with the Big Apple’s most vulnerable children. Additionally, the cabinet supports cross-agency initiatives, creates policy priorities that can guide agencies’ short- and long-term planning, improves data integration, and develops analytic tools to allow for improved service delivery and strategic planning.
“When we invest in our children, we invest in the future and the endless potential within our city,” said Adams. “The Children’s Cabinet plays a foundational role in ensuring that our city government works with each and every sector to ensure that our children have every possible resource needed to thrive. With a proven track record of success, Ahsia Badi has the compassion and career experience necessary to build a coalition worthy enough to build the best possible city for our children. We’re excited to have her serve as our executive director.”
Badi brings over 15 years of experience across public health, child development, and supporting marginalized communities. Before this role, Badi served as a senior advisor to the deputy mayor for health and human services, providing support across multiple agencies including the City Administration for Children’s Services and the Department of Youth and Community Development’s Runaway and Homeless Youth program.
Prior to joining city service, Badi held key positions in large-scale public health programs at institutions including the New York Academy of Medicine, Columbia University, and Stanford University. Additionally, she played integral roles in wide-reaching campaigns focused on Census 2020 with Emgage and the State Redistricting Commission.
“I congratulate my friend Ahsia Badi on her historic appointment as executive director of the New York City Children’s Cabinet,” Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven) said. “I have witnessed her extraordinary leadership and commitment to public service over the years. Ahsia brings to the office a distinguished career, spanning more than 20 years with accomplishments such as spearheading children’s health programs at Stanford and Columbia, Muslim American community outreach for the 2020 Census, and serving as a senior advisor to the deputy mayor of health and human services. She has a record of giving back to her community, serving for over a decade on Manhattan Community Board Six. Under her leadership, the cabinet will unite all city offices, nonprofits, and the private sector to advance the welfare and safety of our children better than ever before. As the first South Asian woman elected to New York State office, I am especially proud that her appointment demonstrates our commitment to an administration that reflects the diversity of our ‘Gorgeous Mosaic.’”
Adams said Badi will report to Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar.
“Ahsia has a proven ability to work with and across multiple City agencies, as well as with key external stakeholders, to serve New Yorkers in need,” Almanzar added.
