S. Mitra Kalita

Jackson Heights

Journalist. I have worked everywhere. Aspiring Queen of Queens. Mama to 2 kids, 2 books, 1 mutt. Our community: https://t.co/tJaxqo9Q1t. Our network: https://t.co/a97POTb5x3

Articles

What Queens owes Malcolm X on his centennial

2 weeks ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

The legacy of Malcolm X seemingly grows more powerful over time. And yet his house in Queens—purchased by the Nation of Islam as a sanctuary for his family, only to be repeatedly firebombed—displays not even a reference to its most famous inhabitant. As the world celebrates the centennial birth anniversary of Malcolm X, it feels necessary to remind everyone: Malcolm X lived in Queens, the most diverse place on the planet.
What Queens owes Malcolm X on his centennial

2 weeks ago | url-media.com | S. Mitra Kalita

The legacy of Malcolm X seemingly grows more powerful over time. And yet his house in Queens—purchased by the Nation of Islam as a sanctuary for his family, only to be repeatedly firebombed—displays not even a reference to its most famous inhabitant. As the world celebrates the centennial birth anniversary of Malcolm X, it feels necessary to remind everyone: Malcolm X lived in Queens, the most diverse place on the planet.
How to get Global Entry without waiting six months for an interview

1 month ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

If you’ve been in any customs or security lines at the airport lately, you know they are bad. In our ongoing quest to make life more efficient, our latest hack relates to Global Entry, the program that allows trusted travelers to enter and clear customs through kiosks.
How to get a Real ID in New York

1 month ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

The rush is on to get a Real ID by May 7. But it’s okay to slow your roll. You only need the Real ID, which is a federally compliant driver’s license or other identification issued by a department of motor vehicles, if you plan to board a domestic flight soon or enter a federal building (this includes district court). Even so, showing your passport, passport card, greencard, or Global Entry card is fine.
Staying home for NYC spring break? We got you

1 month ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

We know not everyone is going away during New York City’s official spring break. Lucky for you, there are plenty of escapes right nearby. Here are three must-catch suggestions on the homefront: “Real Women Have Curves” on BroadwayThis show is still in previews, which makes getting discount tickets a bit easier. It’s the best thing I’ve seen all year, and there’s a ton of great theater right now (“Purpose,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and “Oh Mary” come to mind).
“Adolescence” and “Dorian Gray” are human triumphs over tech

2 months ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

We humans might prevail after all. That’s the takeaway from two buzzy performances I watched this month: Netflix’s four-part series “Adolescence” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray” on Broadway. That both take social media to task for narcissism, misogyny and distortion, and that both are technological masterpieces, is no coincidence. In fact, they offer a playbook for how ’Humans vs. Robots’ could turn out in favor of the former.
5 years after Covid, 5 takeaways from the epicenter

2 months ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

It’s been five years since Covid-19 shut down the world, and Epicenter NYC just commemorated the milestone with a discussion at Elmhurst Hospital. We spotlighted the efforts of hospital CEO Helen Arteaga-Landaverde and Commonwealth Fund president Dr. Joseph Betancourt, who looked back on the pandemic response, looked ahead on the future of health equity, and shared their philosophy around abundant leadership. Read our five key takeaways below, or watch the whole conversation here.
Crowdsource your way into the best New York City high schools

2 months ago | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

Families have always relied on each other to navigate the batty world of New York City public schools. But now there are a bevy of tools that basically allow them to crowdsource the path. We’ve written about this before and list them below to make the process easier. Also a plea: If you’ve just finished high school admissions for your kid, please consider filling out this survey to help gather data for the next group that’s about to go through this.
Where NYC seniors can get housing and caregiving help

Jan 10, 2025 | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

In the 4+ years of our existence, responding to New Yorkers’ needs in the here and now has been a pillar of Epicenter NYC’s strategy. This week, we will begin sharing answers to some of the most asked questions we get from our neighbors. Special thanks to Mon Yuck Yu, previously the policy director for the Brooklyn borough president and the founder of an immigration nonprofit, for fielding this housing- and caregiving-related query. As you may know, these are two areas we’ve covered extensively.
A year-end plea: Help trusted messengers like Epicenter NYC meet this moment

Dec 18, 2024 | epicenter-nyc.com | S. Mitra Kalita

Before we ring in 2025, before we face a new presidency and new world order, I want to share a rare morsel of certainty: Epicenter NYC is well fortified to meet this moment. And that’s because of you. Help us close out 2024 with strength, and grow our resources and keep doing good by giving here. Stay with me.