K 155: Honoring Hafza Girdap upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala on March 9, 2025

 Assembly Resolution No. 155 BY: M. of A. Cook HONORING Hafza Girdap upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala on March 9, 2025 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend individuals whose leadership, dedication, and service have transformed communities and improved lives; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Hafza Girdap upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala, to be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in celebration of Women's History Month under the theme "Women of Destiny"; and WHEREAS, Hafza Girdap serves as the Executive Director and spokesperson for Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST), and is a founding member of the Set The Free platform; she is dedicated to addressing women's rights violations, particularly in Turkey; and WHEREAS, Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Women's and Gender Studies at Stony Brook University, Hafza Girdap is actively engaged in delivering lectures as part of her academic pursuits with a background holding a B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature, her research focuses on human rights and the status of women in Muslim contexts; and WHEREAS, Hafza Girdap's primary interest lies in exploring the integration and adaptation experiences of Muslim immigrant women while redefining their cultural identities; she aims to analyze the lives of Muslim women, studying the challenges they encounter within their cultures before, during, and after conflicts; her doctoral research concentrates on the self-identification and gendered racialization experiences of immigrant women from Turkey in the United States; and WHEREAS, Beyond her academic pursuits, Hafza Girdap contributes as a nonresident research associate to the European Center for Populism Studies' (ECPS) gender program; and WHEREAS, In her research endeavors, Hafza Girdap actively incorporates the voices of female survivors of conflict; she examines the coping mechanisms employed by these women to navigate various challenges, including social discrimination, oppression, and violations of basic rights, across different contexts such as their home countries, refugee camps, and new settlements; and WHEREAS, Residing in the United States since July 2016 due to political persecution in her native Turkey, Hafza Girdap has expanded her research interests and actively participates in women's rights movements; over the past three years, she has organized and spoken at UNGA and UN CSW panels, focusing on women's issues and experiences; and WHEREAS, Additionally, she mentors youth, encouraging their involvement as researchers and speakers in these events; and WHEREAS, Embracing the personal motto "Let Dreams Lead You," Hafza Girdap runs online global book clubs on Instagram; through live interviews, she addresses topics related to women and youth empowerment; and WHEREAS, Hafza Girdap, along with her husband and two daughters, currently resides on Long Island, New York; and WHEREAS, Hafza Girdap exemplifies the spirit of leadership, resilience, and service, using her expertise to uplift communities, advocate for the underserved, and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Hafza Girdap upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Awards Gala, commending her for her unparalleled contributions to healthcare, leadership, and community service; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Hafza Girdap.