Members of Gen Z are stepping into the political field to impact and inspire lasting change. As youth-led movements and leaders organize and advocate for their communities, several have emerged as outspoken representatives, including Tanbir Chowdhury, who has become a leading advocate for South Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. 

That’s why Unity for Equality is proud to recognize Tanbir Chowdhury as one of its 2025 honorees, celebrating his dedication to building political power and fostering equitable change across New York state, but especially in the Queens and Nassau counties. 

What inspired your journey to first get involved in politics and community organizing? Was there a defining moment? 

Chowdhury: Growing up in Queens, I saw firsthand how policy decisions directly impacted working and immigrant families like mine, often with little to no input from the communities most affected. What truly pushed me into the work was realizing how often people with the loudest voices weren’t necessarily the most informed or most committed to real change. I wasn’t interested in being loud. I wanted to be effective. My defining moment came when I organized politically in New York’s 3rd Congressional District for the 2022 election, fighting to help keep the seat in Democratic hands. I helped organize against George Santos and saw how organizing and storytelling, when done with discipline and determination, could shift public opinion and outcomes. 

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Chowdhury is a rising Gen Z political activist in New York who leverages his background in organizing across all levels of politics to drive get-out-the-vote efforts and empower local communities. He is an organizing powerhouse who sought to mobilize voter power in New York’s South Asian community, helping to boost voter turnout in several key elections across New York. 

Always the fighter, Chowdhury has built his work on the continuous effort to support his community members. In 2021, as a student at John Jay College, Tanbir Chowdhury advocated for state legislators to pass legislation making Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha public holidays. His early career and advocacy work also includes his time as a legislative staffer for the New York State Assembly, District Director to New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, and Director of Public Affairs in the New York State Assembly. All this experience has allowed Chowdhury to develop and impact community policy and outreach strategies, making him a dynamic force to drive civic power. 

What keeps you grounded and motivated when the work gets difficult? Are there people, practices, or moments you return to? 

Chowdhury: When things get hard, and in this business, they often do, I come back to the basics and the why. It’s the people. Whether it was the young South Asian volunteer who canvassed for the first time and felt seen or the single mother who cried to me because she needed something that should be so simple – government being responsive to those in need, like she was when she needed the Taxi & Limousine Commission to help her renew her TLC license because that was the main source of income for her and her kid. This is what keeps me grounded and motivated – people have seen me as a conduit between them and issues they needed their representatives to guide them on, and I never take for granted or overlook the privilege I have at helping make government and our representatives more accessible.  

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In 2024, Chowdhury re-launched They See Blue NY, a grassroots organization aimed at mobilizing and engaging South Asian and AAPI communities in the democratic process. This relaunch was designed to mobilize communities to become civically engaged and active in the democratic process by amplifying their unique voices in government. As President, They See Blue NY boosted South Asian turnout from Suffolk to Syracuse. This year, They See Blue NY is continuing to organize within local races.  

What motivated you to relaunch They See Blue New York in 2024, and what goals did you set when you stepped into the role of President? 

Chowdhury: I relaunched They See Blue New York following our large success of replacing George Santos with Congressman Tom Suozzi in the February 13, 2024, special election. Working with They See Blue, we reached more than 24,000 AAPI voters to drive them out to the polls and serve dually to empower their voices and strengthen Democratic representation. Following this success, we wanted to continue it because South Asians in New York were a rising force in numbers but still undervalued in the political conversation. I wanted to change that, not with empty identity politics, but with precision organizing. When I stepped into the role, I had one goal: move our community from being an afterthought to being a deciding factor. We set clear benchmarks from voter contact goals, engagement in battleground districts, and building a bench of South Asian organizers, and we executed. In 2024 alone, our work reached over 50,200 South Asian voters across New York in battleground districts, helping to flip 3 congressional seats & 2 assembly seats from Republican to Democratic control and defend 2 Congressional Democrats. These were candidates who met with our communities and demonstrated a commitment to carrying our voices in Albany and Washington, D.C. That’s not just representation, it’s results. 

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What do you think is still missing in AAPI civic representation? What would you say to other young leaders looking for inspiration and motivation to get involved? 

Chowdhury: I think we’re still missing practical power. There’s growing visibility, but visibility without influence is strictly decorative. Too many of our communities are still tokenized or treated as monoliths. We need more AAPI leaders who understand the system, know how to move within it, and who don’t just speak for us, but they build structures that serve us. They also recognize the many diverse communities and unique needs within the AAPI community itself. 
To young leaders, I say this – know your value, learn the mechanics, and act with intention. So many, including the new generation, get into politics for the glamour and photos they can put up on social media – forget that because the people watching won’t. Focus on results. There’s already so much noise and smoke & mirrors in politics. We need more people who show up consistently and execute well, even on the fights that are not headline-grabbing. It’s the small fights we win that make so much a difference for many. 

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Unity for Equality believes that equity and equality are achieved through community empowerment. Chowdhury is a committed advocate for amplifying AAPI voices, highlighting the unique needs of the community. As we honor Chowdhury this year, we also celebrate those he represents and uplifts. His journey is a reminder that change begins at the local level and that young leaders are helping to pave the way for everyone. 

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City & State. (2025, February 12). The 2025 political consultants power 100. City & State NY. https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2025/01/2025-political-consultants-power-100/402027/  

Griffin, A. (2021, October 4). Queens student fights to make eid al-fitr and Eid al-Adha State holidays. Sunnyside Post. https://sunnysidepost.com/queens-student-fights-to-make-eid-al-fitr-and-eid-al-adha-state-holidays