We are proud to share that Amber M. Shah, CEO of the Emma L. Bowen Community Service Center, has been named to City & State’s 2026 Above & Beyond: Women list.

In the short time since joining the Bowen Center, Ms. Shah has already made a clear impact, strengthening and advancing a comprehensive continuum of care that integrates mental health services, addiction treatment, early childhood and school-based programs, care management, and critical supportive services.

Bowen’s model ensures that individuals and families are supported at every stage…from early intervention to long-term recovery and stability, through coordinated, community-based care.

Each year, the Bowen Center serves more than 5,000 New Yorkers across the five boroughs and distributes over 100,000 bags of food through its Food Pantry, addressing both clinical and essential needs as part of a truly holistic approach.

Amber’s leadership is grounded in a clear principle:

“The work is about dignity, not charity. People don’t need saving—they need systems that work.”

At Bowen, that means building systems that are accessible, integrated, and responsive, delivering care that treats the whole person and strengthens communities.

Amber will be recognized at City & State’s Above & Beyond: Women awards event, at the Dramma Times Square, honoring leaders who are shaping the future of New York.

We congratulate Amber on this well-deserved recognition!