D PAKHI SENGUPTA CHIEF OF STAFF, COUNCILWOMAN ANNABEL PALMA AGE: 34
espite her relative youth, Pakhi Sengupta is something of a veteran of city government, having worked for five years in the City Council’s finance division, as well as for the Administration for Children’s Services, before landing in the office of Bronx Councilwoman Annabel Palma. Yet it was her eye-opening experience first working for a domestic violence agency— Sengupta has a master’s in social work from Pace University—that inspired her eventual foray into politics. “I was working in clinical therapy and became discouraged with continually telling families that the system was the reason that they weren’t able to progress,” she said. “I said, ‘It’s time for something
RISING STARS new,’ and to stop complaining about macro systems and go and change them.” At the Council, Sengupta oversaw several Council committees, including General Welfare, Civil Rights, and Aging. She met Palma, who was chair of the General Welfare Committee, when the two worked together on a number of issues related to funding for childcare and after-school services. Their mutual interest in putting “instrumental” funds back into the system solidified their relationship, and after her brief stint at ACS, Sengupta was hired by Palma as her chief of staff. They are bound by their shared passion for preventive services and issues of homelessness and child services. “[Annabel’s] such a fantastic person and fantastic leader to work with because her interests are so vast, and it’s wonderful to work under someone who allows you to suggest anything or to expand on
anything,” Sengupta said. “Her support for me has been incredible.” If you were not working in politics or government, what would you be doing? “I love Broadway. I would probably be singing and making a fool of myself on a stage somewhere in New York.” What’s your favorite place in New York City? “East Harlem.” —NP
We congratulate our colleague
George Fontas
Congratulations To Our Very Own Congratulations To Our Very Own Karen Imas Karen Imas
For Being Selected by City & State as a
For Being Selected b y City & State as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star” “40 Under 40 Rising Star”
Michael Woloz, Marty McLaughlin, Maureen Connelly, Michael oloz, MSarty aureen PCopescu onnelly, Kathy CWudahy, usan MDcLaughlin, oucette & TMeodora Kathy Cudahy, Susan Doucette & Teodora Popescu 233 BROADWAY • SUITE 2310 • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10279 PHONE 212/ 437-7373 • FAXYORK, 212/437-7378 233 BROADWAY • SUITE 2310 • NEW NEW YORK 10279 PHONE 212/ 437-7373 • FAX 212/437-7378
and all the members of the City & State 40 Under 40 on their well-deserved honor.
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cityandstateny.com | OCTOBER 7, 2013
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