CUNY Law 3L Ariana Collado and Ali Najmi ‘09 are among City & State’s 2021 40 Under 40 list of talented individuals who have already distinguished themselves in the eyes of their colleagues.
Each year, City & State honors 40 rising stars who work in New York City government, politics, and advocacy. These are people who are already making things happen and are young enough that we can expect to see much more of them in years to come.
3L Ariana Collado served as Chief of Staff to Councilman Andrew Cohen, while attending CUNY Law.
When State Senator Jamaal Bailey ’12 (also a CUNY alum) was elected Chairman of the Bronx Democratic County Committee last year, he appointed Ariana the Executive Director, calling her a “dynamic, hard-working, and tenacious woman who is committed to moving the Bronx forward.”
Ariana Collado / Guerin Blask via City and State
Ariana’s priority is to make sure that the Bronx has dedicated and committed individuals representing the needs of the borough.
“The Bronx is my home, and I love being able to work alongside people who share that passion,” she said.
“I am honored, thankful, and humbled to be part of City & State’s 40 under 40 among a group of diverse and dynamic individuals.”
Ali Najmi ’09 began his career as a Legislative Director at the New York City Council, where he helped author legislation protecting civil rights and religious freedom.
His interest in election law came from his own campaign for City Council. While he lost the race, he realized he could use his law degree to help progressive hopefuls fight political machines.
Ali Najmi / Guerin Blask at City and State
Since then, he has prevailed against the State Board of Elections and the Brooklyn Democratic Party. Among his goals are to ensure every vote is properly counted and that the rights of all voters and candidates are preserved.
He says it’s an honor to be recognized by City & State.
“I really love the law, and I love politics,” Najmi says.