Who is Zone 126?

Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani is the Executive Director of Zone 126. Born in the Bronx, her family later crossed the Triborough Bridge and settled in Astoria/Long Island City, Queens in the 1980s during a turbulent period in New York City’s history. A proud product of the NYC public school system in District 30—the very community where Zone 126 now operates—she understands firsthand the challenges that young people and families face.

Her career in youth development began in high school, working as an after-school tutor. What started as a part-time job ignited a lifelong passion and commitment to education and leveling the playing field for youth who are too often overlooked.

Dr. Rupchandani holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Education and History from Pace University and a master’s degree in Leadership in Community-Based Learning from Bank Street College of Education. Since joining Zone 126 in 2011, she has gained extensive expertise in Collective Impact, Community Schools, Chronic Absenteeism, Data & Evaluation, Fund Development, Government Relations and Partnership Development, Grants Management, Leadership, and Program Design.

In 2021, she completed her doctorate at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her dissertation focused on students who are chronically absent and living in NYCHA public housing—a topic that resonates deeply with her personal story. As she often reflects:
“I was a chronically absent student. My family lived paycheck to paycheck, we didn’t have enough food, and life was chaotic. I am here because a few people believed in me along the way and noticed when I was missing.”

Her professional mission is grounded in ensuring programs are rooted in data, strategically supported by city, state, and federal resources, and designed to meet the needs of those most impacted by systemic inequities. She carries a deep passion for working with children, youth, and families living in NYCHA public housing and temporary housing, centering equity and justice at the core of her work.

Her personal identity and family legacy are also central to her leadership. She is of mixed race and proudly stands on the shoulders of strong Caribbean Black and Latina women who shaped her values of resilience, entrepreneurship, and service. Her great-grandmother, a Black woman, sold fruits and vegetables in the islands—known simply as “the vegetable lady” but, to Dr. Rupchandani, an entrepreneur. Her grandmother, also a Black woman, could not read or write yet became an independent childcare provider, raising the community’s children. Her mother, who had to leave school after the fourth grade, remains one of the most brilliant and resourceful women she knows. These legacies fuel her work to break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation.

Recent Awards & Honors

• 2017 – NY Nonprofit Press Front Line Heroes Awardee

• 2021 – NY No Kid Hungry Hunger Hero of the Year 

• 2022 – NYS Assemblywoman Honoree of the Year

• 2022 – WPIX 11 Empowered Woman of the Year

• 2023 – NYPD Community Leader of Distinction

• 2023 – Power Player in Education

• 2024 – Schneps Media Queens Power List

• 2025 – Schneps Media Caribbean American Honoree