Zahid Syed is an outstanding, well-respected community and former union leader who for the past 30 years, has been actively involved in civic, community, political, labor and human rights issues. Currently he serves Town of Hempstead as executive director of the Office of Community Affairs. Before that he was executive director of State Excelsior Program and deputy commissioner of Park.
In 2010, Zahid Syed was the first Asian-American to be appointed as Chairman of Nassau County Commission on Human Rights and Chairman of Nassau County Asian-American Advisory Board. He led as the Nassau County to create Nassau County’s Asian-American Advisory Board, Anti-Bias Crime Task Force, Nassau County’s Muslim Advisory Board and organizing interfaith prayers and vigil services. He made the Human Rights Commission the most active and diverse commission in the history of Nassau County. Through his dedicated leadership and passionate advocacy, he brought together the different community and religious leaders in Nassau County through organizing many ethnic celebrations first time in Nassau County, such as Ramadan, Vaisakhi, Eid Prayers, Diwali, Leadership Breakfast and Asian-American Heritage at no cost to Nassau County. Through his activism, the contribution of the diverse leadership and their communities in Nassau County have become widely known and well respected.
Zahid is currently 1st Vice Chairman and Commissioner of Nassau County Commission on Human Rights. His outstanding leadership and advocacy has led him to become a board member of the Advisory Board of the Nassau County District Attorney, the Nassau County Holocaust Memorial Center, Vice Chair for the Hofstra University Diversity Banquet, Community advisory board of Nassau University Medical Center and of the North Shore Children and Family Guidance Center among other prestigious community organizations.
New American communities have benefitted significantly form Zahid’s community service which has provided English as-a-second Language classes, computer classes, Health education, tax grievance and immigration and citizenship seminars. As labor leader for thousands of union members, he has lobbied and fought tirelessly to increase minimum wages and benefits for the working class. In 2002 he played a key role in obtaining health coverage, workers compensation benefits and thousands of dollars in back wages for limousine drivers throughout NYS Attorney General’s Office. Recently Zahid has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up testing and vaccination sites and food drive for those in need.
Zahid is the founder and the chairman of the South Asian-American Public Affairs Committee (SAPAC). This active and energetic organization works proactively and successfully to help the South Asia-American community integrate into American society and deal with its institutions and to foster civic and community participation among its members and community. Zahid believes “We rise by lifting others.”
In Recognition of Zahid Syed’s work, he has received innumerable awards and recognition from the U.S Senate, Congress, New York’s Governor, Mayor, State Senate, State Assembly, Nassau County’s Executive, County, Town and Local Officials as well as Union leaders, Communities and innumerable others all of which are so truly deserved.