Legislator Esteban sponsored Resolution No. 844-22, “Designating April as “Champions of Diversity Month” in Suffolk County. Beginning in 2023 and continuing every year thereafter, the month of April will be designated as “Champions of Diversity month. The resolution states that each Legislator shall designate a Diversity Champion for their contributions in promoting diversity from his or her Legislative District at the first General Meeting in April to be honored and recognized through a legislative pronouncement.
Legislator Esteban’s Champion for Legislative District 16 is Prafulba “Pinky” Vaghela. She is a champion for lending critical support to such organizations as Latina Sisters and Flutterflies that provide help to women in need. She has and continues to support domestic violence victims providing them with access to needed services. During the pandemic, Pinky had arranged vaccine appointments for community members that did not know where to turn for help.
She is the Director of the New York State Assembly Community Business Relation Services and has been a board member with the Town of Huntington Youth Board Bureau. In 2020, she was an appointed member to the Suffolk County Women’s Service Advisory Board where she continues to identify the needs and concerns of the female population in Suffolk County and acts as a liaison to Suffolk County government. In addition, Prafulba is the Founder and Director of Young Adult Community Services (YACS), an organization that connects students with local organizations to serve the community providing them with valuable experiences they will take with them for a lifetime.
“I am honored to present Prafulba “Pinky” Vaghela with a Proclamation today as “Diversity Champion for Legislative District 16”. “Her community involvement speaks volumes as to her character and commitment to each and every person in need” said Legislator Esteban. He added “I want to thank all my colleagues at the Legislature for their participation in this very important initiative I had sponsored with bi-partisan support. Together we can conquer anything” said Legislator Esteban. A favorite quote of mine to sum up the meaning of Diversity is:
Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.” ― Mahatma Gandhi