Executive Leadership
Murad Awawdeh
President and CEO
Murad is a strategist, organizer, and advocacy expert currently serving as the President and CEO at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). The son of Palestinian immigrants, Murad has dedicated over two decades of his life fighting for low-income communities of color across the State of New York. He grew up organizing to stop dangerous and hazardous developments in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and engaging community residents to build power and bring transformational change to their neighborhoods. As the NYIC's Executive Vice President of Advocacy & Strategy he successfully led electoral, legislative, and policy campaigns at the federal, state and local levels, and mobilized hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers at demonstrations against anti-immigrant policies. As the Executive Vice President of NYIC Action, the NYIC’s sister 501(c)4 political advocacy and action organization, he has successfully led grassroots electoral campaigns to elect progressive candidates. Murad has been featured in VICE and the Huffington Post, and was honored with a U.S Congressional Recognition, and Public Service Awards from the NYS Senate and Assembly. He serves as a Trustee of the New York University Family Health Centers Board, as a member of the Justice 2020 Committee, and as Commissioner of the New York City Civic Engagement Commission.
Robert Agyemang
Vice President of Advocacy
Robert Agyemang is the Vice President of Advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition. Robert previously served as the New York Director for African Communities Together (ACT) where he helped to lead landmark victories for immigrant communities in Language Access and with the Stop Immigrant Abuse Bond Act. He also served as Director of Communications for a State Assemblymember, as National Director of Governance for the Actors’ Equity Association and as Campaign Manager and strategist for several successful New York-based electoral campaigns. Robert received a Master of Arts in Political Science, Urban Policy and Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies, all from Brooklyn College. Robert is Ghanaian-American and a native of Brooklyn.
Suvasini Patel
Vice President of Communications and Strategy
Suvasini Patel is the Vice President of Communications and Strategy at NYIC. In this role, she oversees the communications team and works to optimize processes and opportunities to ensure that organizational issues and concerns remain in the public eye. Previously, she led communications efforts at a poverty research center at New York University and at WITNESS, the international human rights group. She also served as the Deputy Director of Special Projects at journalist Bill Moyers' Public Affairs Television and as the High Impact TV Director at the PBS series, P.O.V., where she developed dozens of online and community-based campaigns with scores of national and local partners and public television stations in support of some of the most pressing social causes of our times.
Emily Patka
Chief Operating Officer
Emily Patka is Chief Operating Officer at the New York Immigration Coalition. She first got involved in social change work when she was 15, and over time found her niche in helping mission-driven organizations build and maintain efficient operations so they can maximize their effectiveness. She is dedicated to fostering a strong and supportive organizational culture, and to ensuring all necessary systems and resources are in place and operating smoothly so that the amazing staff and coalition members of the NYIC can focus their energy where it belongs: uniting immigrants, members, and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. Emily has a decade of professional nonprofit experience in a variety of direct service, advocacy, administrative, and leadership roles, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from SUNY Albany, and a Master of Science in Organizational Change Management from The New School. She is also a proud Upstate New York native, avid knitter, cross stitcher, and weightlifter, self-described cat lady, and reptile enthusiast.
Lovelie Tejada
Chief of Staff
Lovelie Tejada is the Chief of Staff at the New York Immigration Coalition where she successfully executes key initiatives, helps coordinate interdepartmental projects, and provides strong judgment and strategic vision to help guide the organization forward. Most recently, she was the Director of Community Engagement, overseeing the NYIC's community outreach efforts in New York City and Western New York. Previously, Ms. Tejada served as Congresswoman Yvette Clarke's Director of Outreach, helping integrate residents' suggestions into the office's policy priorities and event schedule. Her passion for empowering marginalized communities has been an overarching theme throughout her career tied to her commitment to social justice. Ms. Tejada earned her BA in Political Science and Film Studies from Trinity College.