Selene Ferdinand, an eighth-grader at Elmont Memorial High School, founded her own foundation, Meera Empowerment, at the age of 8. Her foundation, which is named after her middle name, Meera, aims to inspire young individuals and empower them to give back to their community.
In 2023, Selene was named National American Miss New York Preteen for 2023-24. And although the now 13 year-old is from Elmont, she goes far beyond her home base when it comes to giving back.
She is now taking her movement international. “We’re working to collect iPads and we’re donating them to a school in Haiti,” Selene said. Her new mission during this holiday season is to help transform third-world countries by giving children access to technology, “to support them for better education and empower them to be the best of themselves as possible,” she said.
It’s no wonder that Selene is a role model wherever she goes. She brings community members together, and her kindness is evident, serving as the glue for events focused on helping people in her hometown and across the world.
Her continued support for disadvantaged communities does not go unnoticed. Marya Baker, the principal of Elmont Memorial, describes Selene as a voice for many communities. “In Guyana, she does a lot of work there when we have horrible things happen,” Baker said, “and, like, the hurricanes in Haiti.” Selene has a talent for raising money and mobilizing people to focus on something bigger than themselves.
“And what struck me the most was, number one, her confidence,” Baker added, “and also being incredibly humble, but she is also this sweet 13-year-old kid.”
Selene has nearly 1,000 followers on Instagram, but Baker emphasizes that she is not loud in her actions, but rather a simply natural leader whether of the members of her Girl Scout Troop or her friends at school.
During the holiday season, the Elmont Cuture Center hosts an annual holiday drive where they partner with Meera Empowerment Foundation and Dutch Broadway Elementary School to collect toys. The event was at Elmont Memorial Library on Dec. 23. Selene has been sponsoring families and partaking in holiday giveaways since the age of 4. Children and their families gathered in the library for some hot coco, crafts and a visit from Santa, and Christmas décor and music — a highlight was Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” — created a spirited holiday atmosphere. There were plenty of toys to go around as well, no fewer than 100, spread across several tables.
Selene’s foundation partners with the cultural center and other Meera “ambassadors” — wholehearted individuals focused on the cause. McDonald’s and Sapienza Bakery sponsored the event, providing apple juice and cupcakes.
Many attendees complimented the growth of Selene’s nonprofit organization, a result of her leadership in her community. “It was a full house and a successful event,” her mother, Savitre Ferdinand, said, adding that there was an overflow of visitors. “We were over the limit, so we just started giving out gifts to people.”
“The turnout was incredible,” Selene said, noting that the number of attendees more than doubled last year’s. “I’m so grateful and proud to see how much this event continues to grow each year with the support of our community and our partners,” Selene said.
In April, Selene and her foundation will also partake in the Elmont Culture Center's annual Easter Egg Hunt in Elmont.
“She just has a wonderful sense of community spirit,” Baker said. “And I think that that’s the thing I’ve learned about being here, is that you can go anyplace throughout Elmont, and you’ll find people who are community advocates, who are people who are doing something to help and lift up each other.”
