Our mission is to create a broad coalition of recognized leaders representing Democratic networks that are organized among all backgrounds, faiths, ethnicities, and demographic or geographic origins. The NAECC serves as the forum for coordination, cooperation, and consensus building among these diverse groups, as well as the vehicle for the public education, voter registration and advancement of our shared aspirations. In this spirit, we welcome all interested individuals to join our caucus. State Committee membership is not required to participate.
Leadership:
Chairman Dr. Umar Farooq
Dr. Umar Farooq, is a physician Board Certified in Internal Medicine and practices in Bensalem, PA in Bucks County. Dr. Farooq was named Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Doctor 2018 – 2022 and was awarded “Physician of the Year 2022” by the Jefferson Health System. Professional appointments include being the Head of the Outpatient Clinic for Lower Bucks Hospital, serving as a Teaching Physician with multiple Internal Medicine residency programs, including Jefferson Health System and Nazareth Hospital, and being a Civil Surgeon with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Moreover, Dr. Farooq was elected as a Member of the PA Democratic State Committee in May 2022 and the Chairman of the New Americans & Ethnic Coordinating Caucus. As an active member of the community, Board appointments include Member (Former Chair) of the New Americans Advisory Commission of Bucks County, Member-at-Large of the Bucks County NAACP Executive Committee, Hospital Board Authority for St. Mary Medical Center, and National Board Member of PAK-PAC. Dr. Farooq’s mission is: “Empower to be Empowered!”
Vice Chair Dr. Seema Kazmi
Dr. Seema Kazmi is a pharmacist from Morrisville, PA and is a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee serving Bucks County. Dr. Kazmi received a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and serves on the Boards of the BucksMont Pharmacists Association and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association. Dr. Kazmi was the recipient of the YWCA Salute to Women Who Make a Difference in Bucks County Award for Advocacy and Civic Engagement. Moreover, Dr. Kazmi has done advocacy for affordable healthcare, access to insulin, and other health initiatives. Service appointments include being a Consumer reviewer and Consultant to the US Department of Defense for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, and Secretary of the Bucks County Human Relations Council. Dr. Kazmi is a member of the NAACP and was part of the inaugural 2018 class of the NAACP NextGen Leadership Program. Furthermore, Dr. Kazmi has created videos in Hindi and Urdu languages for voter outreach in the AAPI community and to support Democratic candidates.
Secretary Dr. Catherine Bartch
Cathy Bartch is a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee representing the Fifth Senatorial District in Philadelphia County. Cathy is a committeeperson and secretary for the 63rd Ward, 9th Division in Philadelphia. Outside of Democrat politics, Cathy works in higher education as an administrator and educator serving as the Associate Director for the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Cathy also serves on the board of the Centro de Cultura Arte Trabajo y Educación (CCATE), a non-profit education organization in Norristown, and the Institute for Dialogue and Diplomacy. Cathy holds a B.A. in International Relations from Bucknell University, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Miami (Coral Gables), and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Temple University.
Treasurer Adrian Jadic, MSME
Adrian is originally from Romania and now lives in Wyomissing, PA serving as a State Committee member representing Berks County and a member of the Berks County Democratic Committee. Involved in politics at an early age, Adrian, at age 28, fought in the December 1989 revolution that toppled the dictator Ceausescu. After the communists retook power, Adrian and wife Ruxandra fled the country and received refugee status in Germany where they continued to fight for Romanian democracy together with other members of the Romanian diaspora. In 1994, the Jadics emigrated to Canada and in 1997 to the United States. Along the way, they worked jobs from picking grapes on the Rhine Valley to finally working in their professions – Adrian, with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering as an engineer – and Ruxandra as a physician. In 2009, when Ruxandra accepted a position as Division Chief at Tower Health, they moved to Berks County. In 2016, the Jadics became proud US citizens and immediately registered as Democrats. As a member of NAECC, Adrian is honored to be able to actively stand for the immigrant heritage of America and to help promote equal opportunity, fairness, and diversity in our society.
NAECC Advisory Committee and Regional Leads:
Allegheny Regional Caucus
Barbara Ernsberger
Philadelphia Regional Caucus
Mariel Kornblith Martin
South East Regional Caucus
Ayanna Laney-Martin
Contact
info@newamericanscaucus.org
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PADemsNAECC
Membership and Get Involved
Get more information about the New Americans and Ethnic Coordinating Caucus
Sign up for membership to the caucus
Bylaws
We’ve made a copy of our bylaws open to the public, which can be viewed here.