Democrat,

As the month-long holiday of Ramadan drew to a close this week, we reflected on the spirit of unity, reflection, and community that has characterized this sacred time for our Muslim friends and neighbors. Throughout these thirty days, our Muslim friends have embraced the discipline of fasting, the solace of prayer, and the generosity of giving, embodying the essence of devotion and compassion.

Let us continue to stand in solidarity with one another, supporting and uplifting each other in the journey towards a brighter, more harmonious future.

On behalf of the NJDSC, we extend our warmest wishes to all celebrating Eid al-Fitr. Eid Mubarak!

We are also very excited to introduce two new Co-Chairs, Fal Pandya and Venu Menon, to the NJDSC Hindu Caucus leadership team; serving alongside current Chair Niki Shah.

Fal Pandya is a passionate advocate for human dignity, focusing her efforts on promoting education, yoga, mental resilience through meditation, and the importance of cultural and interfaith exchange. She founded “Namaste Global” to inspire the next generation towards character building and a sense of global responsibility, all while maintaining a connection to their cultural roots. Fal’s commitment to community service was inspired at an early age by her father’s influential leadership roles. Currently, she is actively involved with the AAPI Commission and the NJ-India Commission under Governor Murphy’s administration.

Fal Pandya is a visionary leader whose approach is deeply rooted in the Yoga-centric worldview, embracing the ancient Hindu principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the belief that the entire world is one family.

Venu Menon is a current two-term Democratic Councilman in the Borough of Tenafly. Having won re-election two years ago, he is now in the sixth year of serving his community. Prior to becoming a councilman, he was a member of the Tenafly Board of Adjustment and, since 2014, has been a County Committee member on the Tenafly Democratic Municipal Committee. Venu is a 25-year veteran in the commercial banking sector in New York, with experience in audit, credit analysis, risk management and portfolio management. Along with this, he also started a company that focused on the varied needs of seniors and more recently started and operates his own vegetarian Indian restaurant (Kerala cuisine) in Englewood, NJ. A proud Hindu, he has been a member of cultural, religious and social organizations for most of his life.

This week marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and innovation as Governor Murphy joined a distinguished lineup of speakers at the first-ever NJ AI Summit hosted at Princeton University. The summit, convened to explore the profound implications of artificial intelligence on our collective future, featured speakers like Microsoft President Brad Smith, who drew parallels between AI’s transformative potential and the historical impact of the printing press. Central to the discussions was the imminent launch of the Artificial Intelligence Hub at Princeton, heralded as a beacon of research and innovation.

“We are a state that has cultivated one of the most talented workforces in the entire world,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “We have in New Jersey, more scientists and engineers per square mile than anywhere else on the planet. And we are a state that has an unparalleled track record when it comes to unleashing game-changing inventions.”

As the first generation tasked with stewarding the integration of machines into decision-making processes, the summit served as a call to action to ensure a future where innovation aligns with humanity’s collective well-being. Governor Murphy’s presence at the summit reaffirmed New Jersey’s commitment to leading the charge in shaping a responsible and inclusive AI landscape.

President Biden announced that 277,000 more Americans will get their student debt canceled, bringing the total debt relief approved by the Biden-Harris Administration to $153 billion for 4.3 million Americans through various actions. President Biden announced new plans that, if implemented, would cancel student debt for over 30 million Americans when combined with actions the Administration has taken over the last three years. This week’s announcements reinforce the President’s commitment to using every path available to deliver student debt relief to as many borrowers as possible through various actions.

Student Debt Relief in New Jersey:

• The Biden-Harris Administration has approved $102 million in debt cancellation for 8,110 people in New Jersey through SAVE early loan forgiveness.
• The Biden-Harris Administration has approved $999 million in debt cancellation for 21,360 people in New Jersey through fixes to other Income-Driven Repayment plans.
• The Biden-Harris Administration has approved $1.5 billion in debt cancellation for 21,860 public service workers in New Jersey.
• The Biden-Harris Administration has approved $305 million in debt cancellation for 11,330 people in New Jersey with a total and permanent disability
• In total, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved $2.9 billion in debt cancellation for 62,660 people in New Jersey.

Earlier this week, the President announced his Administration’s alternative path to debt cancellation in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision. Learn more about these plans at StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief.

— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

P.S. NJDSC’s Building Our Future Training program is back for 2024! We are excited to bring back our no-cost four week training program for future Democratic candidates and political operatives. Anyone who you see potential in as a future candidate, operative, or a dedicated volunteer will benefit from this program. I urge you to encourage them to apply soon as we can only accept a limited number of candidates. Spots are limited and applicants must apply by MAY 24TH, 2024 and submit their resume to [email protected].

APPLY FOR YOUR SPOT HERE