Ali Rashid is the paragon of a model citizen—ambitious, hard-working, and deeply empathetic. He is the Founder and President of the American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) and the CEO of Kingsland Properties. His lifelong mission is to build bridges that empower communities by engaging, elevating, and inspiring the people he serves.
Ali graduated from CUNY Baruch College with Honors, earning a BBA in Finance and Investments. He went on to build a successful career in Corporate America, serving as Vice President for Intra-Group Sales at HSBC Bank. Today, he leads Kingsland Properties with a hands-on approach, overseeing the company’s planning, growth, and investor-relations functions with meticulous attention to detail. His commitment to excellence and mentorship of emerging entrepreneurs has earned him notable recognitions, including the Top 20 Under 40 award from the Long Island Board of Realtors and the Stars Under 40 award from Schneps Communications.
Despite his professional achievements, Ali remains deeply committed to uplifting underserved communities. As Founder and President of APAG—a social service and advocacy organization rooted in the principles of engaging, empowering, and elevating—he has spearheaded transformative initiatives that advance democracy, freedom, and equal opportunity. Under his leadership, APAG has made substantial progress in supporting minority and immigrant communities across local, state, and federal levels.
Ali works closely with government officials to champion laws that protect civil rights and enhance cultural awareness, particularly for the Muslim community. APAG played a pivotal role in working with New York State officials to pass the Religious Scarf Bill, which prohibits discrimination against religious attire and affirms protections under the Human Rights Law. APAG also collaborated with New York City officials to promote Halal food access in public schools, securing the first $1 million allocation for halal and kosher school lunches in four schools and helping develop a comprehensive pilot proposal for citywide implementation.
Ali’s community commitment extends far beyond policy work. He leads numerous service initiatives throughout the year, including Ramadan food drives, back-to-school distributions, halal Thanksgiving food programs, holiday toy drives, and winter clothing collections—ensuring families receive support during their most challenging times.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ali and the APAG team worked tirelessly across New York to assist vulnerable residents, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to public service when the community needed it most.