08/21/2025
Our CEO, Raj Kumar, of Youth & Women for Peace & Dialogue (YWPD), recently met with Irfan Hasan, Vice President of Programs and Grants at The New York Community Trust, during his visit to New York City. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas on peacebuilding, philanthropy, and community development, drawing on their mutual commitment to social justice and sustainable impact. Both leaders reflected on their experiences of supporting communities through crises, whether in the context of global conflict or local public health challenges, and emphasized the importance of building stronger bridges between grassroots initiatives and institutional philanthropy.
During their discussion, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Hasan explored avenues for collaboration in future projects, particularly in the areas of youth leadership, interfaith dialogue, and community resilience. They shared a vision of leveraging YWPD’s expertise in mentoring young leaders from around the globe with The Trust’s deep experience in funding and supporting community-driven initiatives. The meeting marked the beginning of a promising dialogue between two seasoned professionals dedicated to fostering peace, equity, and innovation, with the aim of expanding impact both locally and globally.
