AUGUST 2018 | FREE SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL Connecting South Jersey’s African-American Community Serving More Than 50,000 Readers in the South Jersey Region SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 2 African-American Women Leaders in New Jersey tion and the NJ State League of Munici - Housing Authority, Redd secured the The South Jersey Journal is proud to present its first issue honoring influential Brown began palities Educational Foundation. city’s third HOPE VI designation. The in - African-American women in New Jersey. her career as vestment of $122 million transformed an With women in today’s society often a reporter for A native of New Jersey, Brown lives with entire community with new public hous - juggling multiple roles in their private life, the Elizabeth her husband in Somerset County. They ing, expanded access to healthcare, im - it is important to highlight and congratulate the public achievements of these black Journal and have a daughter. proved parks and open space, as well women, who are at the forefront of the Asbury as, provided community supportive serv - government, education, business and Park Press. Dana L. Redd ices for resi - community in New Jersey and the United From there, dents to reach States. she moved on self-suffi - Charlene Brown to New Jersey Former mayor of Camden Dana Redd, ciency. As a state govern - is a proven and experienced leader with former state ment, serving more than 20 years of service in the senator, Redd As regional vice president of External Af - for nearly 10 years as press secretary public sector. She is known as a for - was a member fairs, Charlene Brown is responsible for for the Department of Human Services, ward-thinking professional with a of the Budget providing overall strategic direction for responsible for counseling the commis - demonstrated ability to lead organiza - and Appropria - AT&T’s external relationships in New sioner and the governor on a wide range tional change. SJ Magazine recognized tions Commit - Jersey. In her capacity as the state ad - of human services-related issues. Redd as, “The woman warrior who just tee, the vocate for AT&T, Brown serves as liai - might change Camden,” touting her Health, son with the governor’s office, the state Brown earned her BA in Journalism and tough stance and decision to join the Human Serv - legislature and other elected and ap - English at Douglass College and received Camden County Police Department. The ices and Sen - pointed officials. She is also responsible a master’s in Public Administration from transition, not only led to more officers ior Citizens Committee, the Community for a range of communications policy is - Rutgers University. patrolling the city of Camden, but also, and Urban Affairs Committee, and the sues and manages regulatory matters resulted in significant crime reduction Joint Committee on the Public Schools. before the NJ Board of Public Utilities. Brown is the board chair of a research within the first year of operation. A NJ She sponsored and negotiated passage Additionally, Brown determines whether organization, New Jersey PRO, a Spotlight article entitled, “Upgrade in of legislation creating the Homeless local philanthropic opportunities are trustee of Felician University and secre - Troubled City’s Credit Rating Gives Trust Fund, and $3.9 billion in new aligned with the objectives of the AT&T tary of the board of trustees of the Camden New Hope,” chronicled the school construction funding for New Jer - Foundation. Drumthwacket Foundation. She serves city’s progress under her leadership. sey Abbott Districts. on the board of the New Jersey Technol - Before moving to External Affairs, Brown ogy Council, the NJ Society for Environ - Redd has worked in various positions As mayor of Camden, Redd success - held various AT&T positions, including mental, Economic Development (NJ from local government to the New Jer - fully transitioned the city from state as AT&T’s eastern region public affairs SEED), the NJ Legislative Black Caucus sey State Senate. As a former council takeover to local control, and immedi - director. Foundation, the NJ Council on Innova - representative, and chair of Camden’s ately launched a capacity building re -

Dear South Jersey Journal Family, Welcome to the premiere issue of the reorgan - of our team which brings unsurpassed expe - ized South Jersey Journal. This month’s rience to these positions. paper is packed with information about some of New Jersey’s most impressive African- Moving forward, we plan to give you the in - American female leaders from all walks of side scoop on what transpires at our state life. Capitol in Trenton, as well as the U.S. Capi - tol in Washington, offering a perspective on This edition also features the work of our new news you cannot find elsewhere. Because we South Jersey Journal team, com - believe in building and celebrating prised of some of the area’s best community, we also plan to embark and brightest journalists. They on an aggressive civic engagement include our new editor-in-chief, program. As New Jersey’s largest award-winning sportswriter and African-American newspaper with editor, Edith L. Dixon; Calvin more than 50,000 readers in the re - Rankin, our new creative and gion, we intend to be the preemi - talented art director; and a new nent place for news in the black editorial advisory board, whose community. distinguished and award-win - ning members include, editor and columnist I thank you for your continued support over Linn Washington, and Paul Bennett, editor the years and encourage you to join us as we and publisher of The Spirit newspaper of grow. Delaware County, PA and owner of The Spirit Media Group. Our gifted, existing Sincerely, columnists, Wilfredo Rojas and John Har - mon, Sr., will be joined by popular entertain - Al Thomas ment writer, Yanina Carter. I am really proud Publisher/President SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 3 treat for her executive staff and depart - building will deliver education and train - authority committed $418 million in di - ment heads focused on the “change ing opportunities to a new generation of As a results-driven leader, Redd has a rect investments in 44 eligible commu - model.” The initiative, not only, allowed health care providers and offer world- unique ability to inspire hope, effect nities. This has led to the creation of her to set the vision, mission and goals class research space for Rutgers, change and transform organizations. 15,000 new housing units and 10 mil - for transforming the city, but also, fos - Rowan and Camden County College Dana Redd clearly understands the lion square feet of commercial and re - tered team-building to increase service faculty to seek innovations in the bio - enormous responsibility that comes with tail space. delivery and improve customer satisfac - sciences and allied health. Additionally, leadership. tion. Redd is charged with developing pro - In 2014, NJRA applied for and received While 2012 began the transition to a grammatic and policy initiatives which Leslie A. Anderson $20 million in New Market Tax Credits Camden County Police Department for reflect the board’s mission and overar - from the federal government. These public safety, in 2013, Redd led a full ching objectives of education, economic tax credits provide subsidies for com - state intervention into the public school development and civic engagement. Leslie A. Anderson is president and mercial and retail redevelopment proj - system to improve academic outcomes A graduate of Rutgers: The State Uni - CEO of the New Jersey Redevelop - ects in low income communities. Under for urban youth. The state and local versity – Camden Campus with a B.S. ment Authority (NJRA), a multi-million Anderson’s stewardship, NJRA lever - partnership focused on creating the degree in Business Studies, Redd also dollar, independent fi - aged these subsidies to ad - “cradle to college to career” pathways in earned continuing education units at the nancing authority, created vance much needed education offering Camden parents Edward J. Bloustein School of Plan - by the state of New Jer - economic development proj - choice through traditional, charter and ning/Public Policy, as well as, at the sey to transform urban ects in Camden and Newark. Renaissance schools. Most notably, in Council of State Government/Eastern communities through di - 2014, Standard and Poor’s Rating Serv - Regional Conference Robert J. Thomp - rect investment and tech - In 2006, Anderson created ices (S&P) published an issuer credit son Eastern Leadership Academy. She nical support. Anderson is the NJRA Redevelopment rating of BBB+. S&P recognized the fis - received her M.A. degree in Human the first African-American Training Institute (RTI) to cal controls the Redd administration in - Services Administration from Lincoln woman to helm an inde - provide learning opportuni - stituted to improve and stabilize the University. pendent financing author - ties centered on the com - finances of the city. This was a great ity in New Jersey and, plexities of redevelopment achievement since the city had not re - In addition to her business acumen and thanks to her tenacity, ef - and best practices for com - ceived an investment grade rating in volunteerism, Redd fosters and values fectiveness, and vision, munity revitalization. Since more than 15 years. the importance of civic engagement, she has been reap - its inception, RTI has trained grassroots organizing and responsible pointed to this position by three con - more than 2,000 attorneys, elected offi - Redd is the newly appointed CEO of the redevelopment. She said she strongly secutive governors. cials, developers and non-profits. It has Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden believes that a holistic approach must also received certification from the board of governors. In this role, she is be undertaken to rebuild a city and to Under her bold leadership, NJRA has American Institute of Certified Plan - responsible for overseeing board opera - create a more vibrant, thriving urban used its financial resources to leverage ners, the Northeastern Economic De - tions and the construction of a 95,000- core. She is a motivational speaker for more than $3.8 billion in new invest - velopers Association, and Continuing square foot, Joint Health Sciences interfaith organizations, nonprofit organi - ments, helping to redevelop some of Legal Education through the NJ Center that will be located at Broadway zations, professional women’s groups New Jersey’s most economically chal - Supreme Court. and Stevens Street in Camden. The and chambers of commerce. lenged neighborhoods. Moreover, the AUGUST 2018 | Page 4 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL

Prior to joining the staff of NJRA, An - member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, year was presented with the National derson served as a policy advisor to Inc., a public service organization that Anderson earned her Bachelor of Arts Association of Secretaries of State’s former New Jersey governor Christine strives to confront the problems facing degree in Political Science at Pennsyl - Medallion Award at the NJ State Capital Todd Whitman. In this capacity, she disadvantaged African Americans. An - vania State University. during NJ Electoral College Voting Day. was responsible for working on eco - derson has served in various leader - Wooten has earned community service nomic, commerce and urban policy. ship positions in the organization Laura Mitnaul Wooten awards from the South Jersey Journal at She played an integral role in the cre - including as president of the Central its annual “People Making A Difference,” ation of Governor Whitman’s urban Jersey Alumnae Chapter. Currently, Laura Mitnaul Wooten was born on De - dinner in 2017, and most recently from economic strategy that was enacted she serves her local chapter as a cember 19, 1920 in Goldsboro, NC, dur - the African American Chamber of Com - into law in July 1996 through the pas - member of the Scholarship Committee ing the aftermath of the Women’s merce of NJ at its Eighth Annual Circle sage of the New Jersey Urban Rede - and as chairperson of fundraising. In Suffrage Movement and the passing of of Achievement Awards Gala held this velopment Act. her role as fundraising chair, Anderson the 19 th year. has spearheaded the chapter’s efforts Amendment One of Wooten’s daughters, Yvonne Hill, Leslie began her career in her home - to raise more than $200,000 to support giving asked her mother about her long record town of Plainfield, NJ, where she spent community programming in Central women the of service and why she has worked so nearly a decade working in the city’s New Jersey. right to vote. faithfully for so many years. Without economic development office. She When she hesitating, her mother emphatically re - began her tenure as a planner, but Anderson’s commitment to service has was 4-years- sponded, “Voting is important.” after distinguishing herself, Leslie was earned her numerous awards and old, her fam - promoted several times and ultimately recognition. In March, she had the dis - ily moved to th selected by the mayor to serve as ex - tinction of being named one of NJBIZ’s Wooten celebrated her 97 birthday last Princeton, year and turns 98 this December. She is ecutive director of the Office of Eco - Best 50 Women in Business. In 2016, NJ, where nomic Development. In this position, she was recognized by the Black eagerly looking forward to the next elec - she gradu - tion when she will once again perform she was responsible for the overall cre - Alumni of Penn State University for her ated from ation, management, and day-to-day outstanding work in public service. her duties at the local polling place with Princeton High School in 1939. Immedi - pride, grace and a smile. operation of the city’s programs to at - Leslie is also the 2014 recipient of the ately after graduation, Laura was re - tract and retain businesses, revitalize Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award; cruited to work the polls by her great disadvantaged neighborhoods, and the 2014 recipient of the Chris Kjeld - uncle, Anderson Mitnaul, who was run - spur economic growth. She was instru - sen Community Service Award; the ning for Justice of the Peace. mental in helping the city to establish 2014 recipient of the Garden State Bar Dr. Monika W. Shealey an Urban Enterprise Zone program, Association’s Roger M. Yancey Award More than seven decades later, Wooten which focuses on attracting and retain - (one of three non-lawyers to receive still works the polls. She has done so for Dr. Monika Williams Shealey is a profes - ing businesses through an array of fi - this prestigious award); the 2004 recip - 79 consecutive years. Under the admin - sor and dean of the College of Educa - nancial incentives. ient of the Girls Scouts of Delaware istration of more than a dozen different tion at Rowan University in Glassboro, Raritan Women of Distinction Award, presidents, including 20 presidential New Jersey. Prior to her appointment as Anderson remains heavily involved in and a 2003 inductee to the Plainfield elections and five wars, Wooten has dean in 2013, making her the youngest the Plainfield community. She is a High School Hall of Fame. worked the polls for the local, primary dean in the school’s history, Dr. Shealey and general elections in Mercer County, served as associate dean for Teacher NJ. Officials at the Mercer County Board Education at the University of Missouri, of Elections confirmed that she is the Kansas City. longest-working poll worker in Mercer Dr. Shealey began her career in educa - County and the State of NJ. Indeed, tion as a special education teacher in St. Wooten is most likely the longest-living, Petersburg, Florida. She received her continuing-serving poll worker in the B.S. in Specific Learning Disabilities United States. and M.A. in Varying Exceptionalities from the University of South Florida. Wooten’s dedication to community serv - She received ice is undeniable. Last November 7, the an Ed.S. in day of the gubernatorial election, just a Reading and day after the death of her beloved 90- Learning Dis - year-old brother, Paul Mitnaul, she can - abilities from celled her ride to the polls. However, the University after learning she was still needed, of Miami and Wooten walked more than a mile—at 5 a Ph.D. in Ed - a.m.—to reach her assigned location, ucation with a working there until the polls closed later specialization that evening. in Exceptional Student Edu - For her distinguished commitment to cation from civic service, Wooten has received nu - the University merous awards. She was recognized on of the floor of the NJ General Assembly, at Central Florida. which time she was honored with a res - Dr. Shealey is a member-at-large on the olution in 2016; by the League of American Association of Colleges for Women Voters of New Jersey at its Teacher Education (AACTE) board of di - 2015 annual conference; at Twitter’s Na - rectors, and was recently elected tional Voter Registration Day event in president of the National Association of 2016 in Washington, D.C., and the same Holmes Scholars Alumni (NAHSA). SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 5

Dr. Shealey recently completed her fifth and gender barriers to become the first Subcommittee on Transportation and ons Act, which would prohibit the federal year as dean of the Rowan University Black woman to serve as majority leader Protective Security. She also serves government from contracting with for- College of Education. of the New Jersey General Assembly, on the House Committee on Oversight profit prison corporations and, the During her tenure, the college launched and as the chair of the New Jersey and Government Reform. SAFER Pipelines Act that would reform a new Ph.D. in Education program, Proj - Democratic State Committee. Her elec - the gas pipeline approval process over - ect Increasing Male Practitioners and tion to the House of Representatives Watson Coleman has championed legis - seen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Classroom Teachers (IMPACT), a makes her the first Black woman to rep - lation to protect vulnerable Americans Commission. unique recruitment and retention pro - resent New Jersey in Congress. and communities related to gun safety, gram to support male teacher candi - environmental protection, and long-term In 2016, Watson Coleman, alongside dates of color, the Center for Access, Watson Cole - unemployment. Watson Coleman is the two of her colleagues, founded the Con - Success, and Equity (CASE), a re - man has led author of the Healthy MOM Act, which gressional Caucus on Black Women and search and technical assistance center the call for re - would allow women to enroll in, or Girls, the first House caucus to study and three other new degree programs, a forms to pris - change their health coverage if they be - policy issues related to the continued B.A. in Leadership and Social Innova - oner re-entry come pregnant, the End For-Profit Pris - success and accomplishments of that tion, B.A. in Inclusive Education, and programs, M.A. in Urban Education and Commu - fighting tire - nity Studies. lessly to shut the revolving Bonnie Watson Coleman door of recidi - vism for indi - Bonnie Watson Coleman, a long-time viduals who and influential advocate for the people have returned of New Jersey, is currently serving her from incarceration. During her time as sophomore term in the United States majority leader, Watson Coleman con - Congress. Prior to her election as repre - vened a year-long series of public hear - sentative for New Jersey’s 12 th Congres - ings on the topic while shepherding sional District, Watson Coleman served legislation through the New Jersey As - eight consecutive terms in the New Jer - sembly that The New York Times called sey General Assembly. “a model for the rest of the nation,” on prisoner rehabilitation and release. The daughter of legendary state legisla - tor John S. Watson, Watson Coleman For her second term, as a member of has continued a family legacy of public the 115th Congress, Watson Coleman service fighting for women, economically was selected by her colleagues as the and socially disadvantaged populations, vice ranking member of the House and other vulnerable groups in our soci - Homeland Security Committee, where ety. Watson Coleman shattered racial she is also ranking member on both the AUGUST 2018 | Page 6 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL population. Watson Coleman is an ac - Lawyers of New Jersey. She is similarly proud of her volunteer gram for this 230-employee, multiple-lo - tive member of the Congressional Black service to the communities of Eastamp - cation, petroleum-based specialty prod - Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Chang brings to her law practice 29 ton, Mount Holly and Westampton, ucts company that markets its products Caucus, the Congressional Caucus for years of family law experience. Her where since 1997, she has sponsored throughout the East Coast. In this ca - Women’s Issues, the Congressional practice includes all aspects of family various soccer, baseball and softball pacity, Riggs developed and managed LGBT Equality Caucus, and the Con - law, including divorce, non-dissolution teams . stakeholder communication, including gressional Asian Pacific American Cau - (FD matters), custody, paternity and production of marketing materials, and cus. led employee engagement and commu - child support. Chang also serves as a Claire Riggs nity outreach initiatives. She also man - court appointed guardian ad litem both Watson Coleman graduated from aged crisis communication in the Family Thomas Edison State College and re - Claire Riggs, a part-time professor at preparedness and execution, as well as Part as well as ceived honorary doctorate degrees from Rowan University’s College of Commu - government affairs and media relations, The College of New Jersey, Rider Uni - guardian of the nication & Creative Arts’ Public Rela - serving as spokesperson and represent - versity and Stockton University. She is a person and tions and Advertising Department, has ing the company’s interests on national, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, property in been a part of the Gloucester County state and regional industry association Inc. and co-chair of the Girl Scouts of guardianship community for more than boards and committees. America Capitol Hill Honorary Troop. matters. She three decades. She cur - She fulfilled similar responsi - also serves a rently finds great fulfillment bilities as regional public af - Watson Coleman and her husband court appointed in instructing and guiding fairs manager at NuStar William reside in Ewing Township and administrator in our next generation of ad - Energy LP through 2012, and are blessed to have three sons; William, estate matters. vertising, public relations as public affairs manager at Troy, and Jared and three grandchil - Chang served and integrated marketing Valero’s Paulsboro Refinery dren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee. as the president of the Association of communication profession - (now PBF’s Paulsboro Refin - Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey als in their quest to be - ing Company) from 1999 through 2008. Throughout her for the 2017-2018 term. She also served come strategic writers, ethical thinkers, and so - career in the petrochemical in - on the Law & Justice Committee of the Carolyn V. Chang cially responsible leaders. dustry, Riggs worked to de - Gov. Murphy/Lt. Gov. Oliver Transition Riggs also serves as a velop and support community Team. Carolyn V. Chang was born and raised strategic communication partner at engagement through open communica - in Jamaica, West Indies. She immi - Graphics Solutions, an integrated mar - tion, effective partnerships, philanthropic Chang is proud of her public service to grated to the United States with her sib - keting and design firm. outreach and volunteer programs. In her the residents of Westampton Township, lings in 1972 and resided in East Prior to joining Rowan University in external and government affairs capaci - where she has served as committee - ties, she served on industry boards and Orange, NJ. Though she has a busy 2016, Riggs served as the public affairs woman since January 2011 and mayor director at Axeon Specialty Products, committees for the American Highway family law practice, Chang serves as since January 2013. formerly NuStar Asphalt LLC, where she Users Alliance, the National Asphalt mayor of Westhampton Township, and provided executive guidance and di - heads the Association of Black Women rected the strategic communication pro - See LEADERS - on page 8 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 7 AUGUST 2018 | Page 8 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL

LEADERS - from page 6 wellness activities. ing community engagement initiatives . Her education and community engage - Pavement Alliance, the New Jersey In 2010, Dr. Hill collaborated with the Of - ment repertoire extends from early child - Large Energy Users, the Chemistry Dr. Diane Hill fice of the Chancellor to expand the vi - hood to senior citizens. She has served Council of New Jersey and the New Jer - sion of OCCR and transformed it into as the principal and co-principal investi - Dr. Diane Hill is assistant chancellor at sey Business and Industry Association. the Office of University-Community Part - gator for several grants, “ Start Healthy Rutgers University-Newark. She has Riggs holds a Master of Arts degree in nerships, the campus’ first institutional - Stay Healthy Early Childhood Education Public Relations from Rowan University, been an integral member of the Rutgers ized office to advance Program,” a partnership with Nestle Nu - a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism University administration since 1988 and university-community partnerships. She trition (Gerber) U.S. that provides early from Temple University and is also a has served in key senior leadership po - is responsible for creating and promot - nutrition training to community members Leadership New Jersey Fellow. She cur - sitions during her tenure. ing partnerships and research collabora - and encourages community residents to rently serves as vice chair of the tions between the university and public, continue training. In collaboration with Gloucester and Salem Counties Em - Dr. Hill received a Ph.D. in Urban Sys - private and community- Rutgers Center for Molecular ployer Legislative Committee through tems, a joint program administered by based organizations. and Behavioral Neuro - the New Jersey Business and Industry the New Jersey Institute of Technology, science, Dr. Hill and her col - Association, Marketing Committee chair Rutgers University and the University of Renowned for her expertise league, Rutgers professor of the board of Appel Farm Arts and Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. in building community rela - Dr. Mark Gluck, serve as co- Music Center, on the United Way of Her research has focused on advancing tions, Dr. Hill has more than principal investigators for the Gloucester County’s Campaign Cabinet, community engagement in higher edu - 30 years of professional ex - African-American and is a member of Citizens Diplomacy cation, with special emphasis on univer - perience in education. A Alzheimer’s Disease Health International of Philadelphia. sity-community partnerships in urban Newark native, she mani - Literacy Program, which pro - Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Riggs universities, school-based youth college fe sts a deep commitment motes research, memory moved to Philadelphia, at the age of and career development, engagement and passion for collaborating health and a better under - seven, along with her widowed mother demonstration models, and community- with school systems to im - standing of Alzheimer’s and three siblings. She credits her based participatory research. prove graduation rates and among minority and eco - mother’s tenacious focus on education, academic performance for nomically disadvantaged unwavering devotion to lifelong learning, Dedicated to create and strengthen youth. She was at the forefront of creat - seniors, who have a greater risk of de - and genuine spirit of hospitality for fuel - bridges between Rutgers University- ing numerous academic enrichment veloping the disease. In collaboration ing her life’s course; and her faith in Newark and the Greater Newark com - “pipeline programs” for youth in the with the United Way of Essex and West Christ as her motivation, strength and munity, Hill brokers greater Newark area to make higher ed - Hudson, the Urban League of Essex purpose for serving others. university-community partnerships that ucation opportunity an accessible reality County and the Newark Public Schools, Married for 32 years to Steven Riggs, support research, teaching and scholar - for them. The “RU Ready for Work” pro - the Newark Fairmount Promise Neigh - CEO and president of Graphics Solu - ship initiatives that impact urban com - gram is a great example of Dr. Hill’s borhood Initiative (PNI) is another hall - tions, she resides in Franklinville, NJ, munities. She is the co-founding director dedication to the Newark community. mark of Dr. Hill’s outstanding community with her husband and twins sons, Jared of the Center for Pre-College Education She recruited and led a team in design - engagement work. A university-commu - and Justin. She enjoys working in chil - and Outreach at Rutgers-Newark. In ing a school-based demonstration nity partnership, the PNI is one of the dren’s ministry, singing in the choir and 2002, she founded and directed the Of - model for high school youth, supported signature programs of the White House facilitating women’s bible studies at fice of Campus and Conference Serv - by a university-community partnership and the U.S. Department of Education. Clayton Baptist Church, and is ener - ices, which evolved into the Office of among the Newark Public Schools, the A collaboration among more than 25 gized by local, regional and international Campus and Community Relations City of Newark (NewarkWorks/Work - community partners, which was un - travels, regular lunch or dinner gather - (OCCR ) because of the department’s force Development), and several local precedented in the City of Newark, PNI ings with friends, and daily health and expanded role in executing and promot - foundations. brings public and private partners to - SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 9 gether to build a continuum of high-qual - tion, taking control of their children’s manager—and someone noticed. hoping to inspire and motivate others ity, support services for children and lives. It led Dorinda Walker down a path Walker soon went from IT temp to IT facing a similar battle. She has also writ - families. of drug addiction, drug dealing, prison, consultant on a major project, building ten about her life in a book called, “Pro - dropping out of school, domestic abuse, the infrastructure to provide company tected by Purpose.” Dr. Hill is also an assistant professor of mental health problems, homelessness, agents with laptops. She then was rec - Professional Practice in the School of hopelessness and more. But Walker ommended for a job in medical under - Public Affairs and Administration at Rut - was a different writing, soon moved to disability claims, Dr. Barbara Gaba gers University-Newark. breed. She was then to life insurance marketing, where that person we she excelled and was put into a leader - Dr. Barbara Gaba was appointed the She continues to engage in brokering wish all afflicted ship development program. Walker was ninth president of Atlantic Cape Commu - multiple university-community partner - with these on her way. From the training she ro - nity College (ACCC) in January 2017. ships that support research, teaching problems could tated into brokerage marketing, busi - Her vision is to make ACCC the region’s and scholarship initiatives that impact be – one who ness development and finance, where preferred choice for higher education urban communities. uses a troubled she wrote a proposal suggesting the and professional training and a leading past as a cata - company should focus more on women catalyst for economic and workforce de - Dorinda Walker lyst to insure a and multi-cultural markets. That led to velopment. She works diligently with the better future. In her current position—one she create— school and its partners, to anticipate and fact, Walker’s as vice president of Multi-cultural Mar - fulfill the region’s educational needs, Dorinda Walker’s biography is unlike “future” has keting and Key Initiatives for U.S.-based and strengthen any of the others featured in this issue been stellar. She became an executive Initiatives for Prudential Financial in the commu - of the South Jersey Journal. Like all the at Prudential, a Fortune 50 company. Newark, NJ. nity’s economy women we highlighted, Walker has tri - by collaborating umphed in her professional and commu - After hitting rock bottom and attempting Looking further into Walker’s past, her with K-12, non- nity life and most likely faced an uphill suicide twice, a young Walker woke up rise was not all that unusual. Her great- profit and battle as a woman—a black woman— in a psych ward to a visit from her grandfather at 16, came to America from higher educa - while climbing to her current status. But grandmother’s spirit which helped her St. Kitts in 1906 and became a self- tion institutions. that may be where the likeness ends be - reaffirm her purpose in life was to suc - made millionaire in Newark. He lived in With extensive tween her and the other women profiled ceed. With parents unable to care for a mansion on Bergen Street, owned two experience in here. Walker’s background reads like a her, she went to live with an aunt who supper clubs, a music school attended higher educa - social ills disaster novel, with each had a professional career and a stable by Sarah Vaughn, and property through - tion, Dr. Gaba dilemma characterizing a chapter in her home, allowing Walker stability as well. out New Jersey. Though he died years is deeply com - early life. Soon, she fell in love, married and before Walker was born, some might mitted to the community college provid - began having children, while working at say success was in her genes and ap - ing educational pathways for student Walker was born in Newark, NJ, to par - a demanding job in the healthcare in - parently she found it. success. ents who became drug addicted, with dustry. Seeking more regular hours, she Recognizing the important role that edu - her father eventually afflicted by A.I.D.S. was hired as a temp in IT at Prudential Today, as Walker manages her division cation plays in transforming lives, she Her parents’ dysfunction did what it Financial. She had no IT experience but at Prudential and a 25-year marriage, has embarked on an aggressive plan to often does, seeped into the next genera - was a fast learner—and great project she travels the country telling her story, strengthen student services and en - AUGUST 2018 | Page 10 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL hance program offerings that address versity, Inclusion and Equity. Eagle Strategies, LLC and earned multi- munity and volunteers with established the needs of residents in Atlantic and Born and raised in New York City, Dr. year membership in the Million Dollar organizations including The South Jer - Cape May counties. Gaba is the first female and African- Round Table (MDRT). Prior to a career sey Food Bank; “Team Jamaica Bickle, ” Prior to joining Atlantic Cape, Dr. Gaba American president in the 50-year his - in financial services, Gordon spent 10 where she volunteers to help coordinate was provost and associate vice presi - tory of Atlantic Cape Community years in the social services sector. housing, meals and transportation to dent for Academic Affairs at Union College. She earned a Ph.D. in Educa - benefit Jamaican/Caribbean youths par - County College, a position she held tional Psychology from Bayero Univer - In 2012, she joined the leadership team ticipating in the Penn Relays; Glouces - since 2002. She was responsible for the sity, an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology in the South Jersey General Office as a ter County Workforce Investment Board; overall operation of the college’s urban from Rutgers University and a B.A. in partner. This role provides the avenue to the Hispanic Leadership Association Elizabeth Campus, serving as chief aca - Education/Sociology from the State Uni - identify, develop and train the next gen - Board and DOT Organization – Dreams demic officer and administrator of the versity of New York at Stony Brook. eration of agents and advisors, who will of Tomorrow. campus, where she provided leadership, Dr. Gabo resides in Mays Landing with continue the work of educating our com - Gordon is a graduate of the University of vision and strategic direction to the cam - her husband, Peter. They are the proud munities on financial matters. Under her Vermont, Rider University and The pus, its faculty, students and programs. parents of Lanre Gaba Makolo and Ay - leadership, her team has perennially fin - American College. She also holds the She also was dean of Academic and orkor Gaba; and grandparents of Hud - ished in the top five percent of all teams Series 6, 7, 63, 65, 24 licenses. Student Support Services at Camden son and Hugo Makolo. nationwide. County College and associate director Phoebe A. Haddon of the Office of Board Affairs and Gov - Euletta Gordon Gordon has been featured in “Garden ernment Relations at the New Jersey State Woman,” “Women for Hire,” A nationally Department of Higher Education. “NYLIC Review,” “South Jersey Jour - Euletta Gor - noted leader in Dr. Gaba serves on the board of several nal,” “New York Life Annual Report to don began issues related organizations including the Atlantic Policy Holders,” and “Burlington County her career to access and County Economic Alliance; Greater At - Woman.” She has contributed to “Audio with New equity, Phoebe lantic City Chamber; Atlantic County Edge ,” a program produced by NYLIC to York Life in A. Haddon be - Workforce Development, and the NJ share business ideas with other agents. 2001. came chancel - Community College Consortium for She has been a speaker/panelist at the She was a lor of Rutgers Workforce and Economic Development. 6th and 8 th Conference of African Ameri - financial ad - University– On the national level, she is a member can Financial Professionals (CAAFP) viser and fi - Camden on of the board at the Chair Academy for and has presented at numerous local nancial July 1, 2014. Leadership Development and a commis - church and community events. planner affili - She has direct sioner for the American Association of ated with responsibility for the daily administration Community Colleges Commission on Di - Gordon is actively involved in her com - SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 11 of a campus with more than 1,300 em - matters related to access to counsel for net safety and gang and drug aware - Cumberland County Prosecutor, and in ployees and enrolls more than 7,000 civil litigants. ness. Additionally, she oversaw the pro - January of 2017, she was sworn in, be - students in 39 undergraduate programs duction of videos on both healthy coming the first full-time prosecutor in and 28 graduate programs at the mas - In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, Haddon choices for youth and domestic violence Cumberland County to serve a second ter’s and doctoral levels. Under her was honored by The National Jurist as and the creation of an anti-bullying edu - term. Prosecutor Webb-McRae’s work leadership, Rutgers University–Camden one of the “25 Most Influential People in cational curriculum. Finally, she has motto is “I will go anywhere, at any time has widened affordable access through Legal Education.” Haddon earned an hosted a Youth Outreach Symposium, a to help the citizens of Cumberland its innovative Bridging the Gap program, LL.M. from Yale Law School in 1985 and Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium, an County make healthy, positive choices.” which provides full or significant tuition a Juris Doctor, cum laude , from Anti-Violence Summit, and Substance coverage for New Jersey’s working fami - Duquesne University School of Law in Abuse and Gang Awareness confer - Prior to becoming prosecutor, Webb- lies. She has expanded Rutgers–Cam - 1977. She received a bachelor’s degree ences for school professionals. McRae ventured into private practice, den’s role as an anchor institution in from Smith College in 1972 and served between 2002 and 2009, where she Camden and the Delaware Valley by ex - as vice chair of the Smith College Board One of Prosecutor Webb-McRae’s concentrated in the areas of criminal panding the institution’s nationally rec - of Trustees until 2009. proudest accomplishments was steering and municipal court defense, business ognized civic engagement program. the move of the Cumberland County and real estate and wills and estates. Prosecutor’s Office to 115 Vine Street, She has also served as child support at - In 2014, Haddon was an invited speaker Bridgeton, New Jersey in August of torney for the Cumberland County Wel - at the 91st annual meeting of the Ameri - Jennifer Webb-McRae 2 0 1 4 . T h e m o v e c o n s o l id a te d m o r e t h a n f a r e B o a r d , s o l ic it o r f o r t h e F a ir f i e l d can Law Institute, where other invited 100 employees from five buildings to the Township Land Use Board and public Jennifer Webb- speakers included U.S. Supreme Court renovated, historical Vine Street School, defender for Maurice River Township. McRae is a na - Chief Justice John Roberts and U.S. increasing productivity by consolidating tive of Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer resources. She is also proud of facilitat - Webb-McRae’s professional affiliations Vineland, New and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. ing the Cumberland County Law En - have included: the Superior Court of NJ Jersey. She is forcement Community Engagement -Vicinage XV Minority Concerns Advi - a proud gradu - Haddon currently is a member of the Series, which hosted six public sessions sory Committee, serving as a trustee ate of the American Bar Association’s Commission in 2016 covering topics such as, use of and officer for the Cumberland County Vineland Public on the Future of Legal Services, as well force, use of force investigations, law Bar Association and being a member of School System, as on the ABA’s Kutak Award Commit - enforcement hiring practices, incarcera - the County Prosecutor’s Association of Glassboro tee. She is on the board of trustees for tion/re-entry/expungement, police-citi - New Jersey and the Cumberland State University the Cooper University Health System, zen encounters, and internal affairs and County Human Relations Commission. and Rutgers – the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the critical incidents. The series continued Prior to being appointed prosecutor, she Camden Camden Health & Athletic Association, in 2017. was active in the community, as a past School of Law, where she earned her and HERS (Higher Education Resource member of the Vineland Planning Board law degree in 1994. Services). She is a member of the CEO In November of 2016, Governor Chris and Vineland Board of Education. Council for Growth. Additionally, Haddon Christie nominated Prosecutor Webb- She is also a graduate of the National McRae for a second five year term as is a Class C director of the Federal Re - Association of Criminal Defense serve Bank of Philadelphia’s board of di - Lawyers College in Macon, Georgia. rectors, where she is that board’s deputy She is admitted to the bars of the State chair. of New Jersey, United States District Court and the State of Pennsylvania. She has served on the ABA’s Diversity Webb-McRae was an assistant deputy and Inclusion 360 Working Group and public defender for the State of New Jer - the ABA’s Commission on the Future of sey for six years. Legal Services. Additionally, she has held membership on such boards as the In January of 2010, Webb-McRae was Delaware Valley Community Reinvest - nominated by Governor Jon S. Corzine, ment Fund, the Women’s Law Project, to be prosecutor of Cumberland County, the William Penn Foundation, the making her the first African-American, Samuel S. Fels Fund, the Philadelphia and first female in that position. In her Education Fund, and the Smith College capacity as prosecutor, she is the chief Board of Trustees. law enforcement officer of the county, responsible for overseeing the 110-per - Haddon previously served as dean of son office, which prosecutes indictable the University of Maryland Francis King crimes throughout the county. Carey School of Law. In 2011, the school received a $30 million commit - Prosecutor Webb-McRae preaches that ment from the W.P. Carey Foundation. while prosecuting crimes and keeping Prior to joining UM Carey Law, Haddon Cumberland County residents safe is served for more than 25 years as a dis - her primary responsibility, helping peo - tinguished faculty member at the Temple ple make positive choices is equally im - University Beasley School of Law. Dur - portant. She has continued her work ing her years at Temple, she fought with the community by launching an an - racial and gender bias on the Pennsyl - nual back to school initiative, where the vania bench and bar, serving on several office attends 30-plus back to school state and city bodies, including the City events per year to let parents know that of Philadelphia Board of Ethics. She has the office has a Speaker’s Bureau that written extensively on equality and ac - can keep kids safe and educate them cess in education issues as well as on about topics such as anti-bullying, inter - AUGUST 2018 | Page 12 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL

Jennifer P. Young on behalf of Verizon. Young is a board Born and raised in Willingboro, New Jer - schools with the Willingboro Board of member of the Southern New Jersey sey, Jill is proud to say that she is a Education Pool Program. Jennifer P. Young is the external affairs Development Council, the Cape May product of the field director at Verizon in Woodbury, County Chamber of Commerce, the town, having During her time with the Recreation and NJ. She is responsible for community Camden County Workforce Investment graduated from Parks Department, Cyrus has constantly relations, local government affairs, eco - Board, the Cooper’s Ferry Partnership Kennedy High tried to bring new and innovative events nomic development, consumer, educa - Corp. board, the LEAP Academy Char - School in 1984. and programs to the community. Some tion relations, and local media relations ter School board of trustees, the That fall, she of her favorites include honoring local for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape Gloucester County Chamber of Com - women and their work with the Phenom - May, Cumberland, Gloucester and merce, and the Greater Atlantic City began her edu - cational career enal Awards Dinner; taking the Willing - Salem counties. Chamber. She is also a member of the boro Jazz Festival to another level by Woodland Community Development at Fairleigh adding various components including Young began working at Bell Atlantic- Corp. Employer Advisory Board, Alpha Dickinson Uni - local and award-winning artists, and cel - New Jersey in the Small Business Sales Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the NAACP, versity (Madi - Group in and the Consortium of Information and son Campus) ebrating Black History Month by hosting Newark. In Telecommunication Executives. with the intention of seeking a degree in events where local members of the 1990, she Radiology through the Allied Health Pro - community are recognized for their con - Young graduated with a Bachelor of Arts was promoted gram. However, after her first semester, tributions in art, music, history and edu - to Bell Atlantic degree in Finance from Hampton Uni - with a GPA of 1.11, Jill realized the cation. Pennsylvania versity. She is a 2006 graduate of the health field was not her calling or pas - for a challeng - Leadership New Jersey program that Throughout her career, Cyrus has ing assign - teaches leadership skills to public and sion. After many “talks with God,” and shown a passion for the youth and the ment in private-sector officials. school counselors, she switched her community as a whole. She has been Outside Plant major to recreation and leisure and later an Elder, a Deacon and a youth group Operations. transferred to Montclair State University leader with the Willingboro Presbyterian During the fol - where she graduated with a Bachelor of Church, as well as a leader for the lowing Jill C. Cyrus Science degree in May of 1989 and a Burlington County 4-H Club. Additionally, decade, she led projects and teams in 3.6 GPA. she has been a member of the Willing - Operations, Project Management, Instal - Jill C. Cyrus is currently the director of boro Emergency Squad and the Willing - lation and Maintenance, Construction, the Recreation and Parks Department Cyrus has always loved working with boro Rotary Club. Dispatch, and Workforce Development. for Willingboro Township, where she people and especially the youth. Prior to She returned to New Jersey as Verizon plans, organizes, directs and coordi - her full-time job with the Recreation and Jill is 2 nd degree black belt in Tang Soo New Jersey’s Southern External Affairs nates a variety of recreation and parks Parks Department, she worked part-time Do karate, and will be finishing up her Field Director in February 2004. programs and events to meet the needs as a playground leader, tennis court at - last class with Strayer University in Sep - of the community. Prior to that, she held tendant and youth drama coordinator. She works with community and busi - tember to receive her MBA. the title of recreation supervisor for 18 She was also a gate guard, synchro - ness organizations across the southern years. nized swimming coordinator and in New Jersey region as well as statewide charge of getting pool tags out to the LEADERS - continued on page 17 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 13 Lifestyles Some NJ Officials Lynch the Camden County Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Robert Burke Johnson. (The Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden is named for Linn Dr. Wiggins.) A Camden minister and close friend of King, alerted Wiggins to Washington, King’s plight hours after the Maple Shade incident and Wiggins went to Jr. help King in the middle of the night.

Many across South Jer - Longtime Camden NAACP official Kelly sey see abundant evidence of govern - Francis, claimed Mayor Moran ad - mental officials in Camden County, vanced a bogus rationale for shifting grossly abusing the little known yet his - money from the King property preserva - torically significant legacy of civil rights tion project to the Fire Department. luminary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Francis said a housing organization he That legacy includes Dr. King’s first sit-in is involved with had applied for that protest against racial discrimination and $229,035, funding that had initially been King’s first lawsuit against racism. assigned to another Camden organiza - tion to conduct the preservation. Francis That King protest and lawsuit occurred said the housing organization he is in - in 1950 during a time when King studied volved with was fully prepared to quickly at a seminary located in Chester, PA. begin renovations on the Walnut Street property. When King protested at a café in Maple Shade, the owner used a gun to force “We applied for that money on January 30 (2018). Moran made the decision to King and three of his friends from the Earlier this year Camden’s new mayor, Francisco ‘Frank’ Moran, withdrew $229,035 reprogram the money before the re - café. That denial of service incident pro - allocated to preserve a Camden property at 753 Walnut Street, where Dr. King plotted quired 30-day review period for our ap - duced King’s first lawsuit against racism. that Maple Shade sit-in protest against racism. - LINN WASHINGTON JR. PHOTO plication was even over,” Francis said. Earlier this year Camden’s new mayor, erty despite documentation that King the federal funds allocated to the King- “The city could have transferred those Francisco ‘Frank’ Moran, withdrew plotted the Maple Shade protest there. related property because progress on funds to us. We were ready to act.” $229,035 allocated to preserve a Cam - that preservation project was allegedly den property at 753 Walnut Street, The HPO never required a formal study moving too slowly, a spokesman for the A document prepared by a Camden City where Dr. King plotted that Maple Shade for any of the other 51,000-plus items on mayor said. official casts shadows on Moran’s ration - sit-in protest against racism. New Jersey’s Historic Registry inclusive ale for defunding the preservation proj - of nearly 100 Registry listings in the city Moran spokesman Vincent Basara said ect and bolsters the claim by Francis Moran shifted that $229,035 allocated of Camden. federal guidelines required either mov - that political shenanigans were a part of for the King preservation project to ing the money or returning that funding the decision to reprogram those federal Camden’s Fire Department to buy new New Jersey researcher Patrick Duff is to the federal government. funds. equipment. the person who submitted the applica - tion to HPO for Registry placement and Moran is a “strong advocate for preserv - That document states federal authorities Even more insulting for some than Duff led the campaign for the initial allo - ing the rich history of Camden for future contacted Camden officials regarding Moran’s money move are the series of cation of funding for the preservation of generations,” Basara said, noting the unspent federal funds “on or about Feb - inactions and actions by New Jersey’s the Camden property. owner of 753 Walnut Street could apply ruary 22, 2018.” Camden officials then Historic Preservation Office (HPO), the for other funding from the city. made “the determination to reprogram” entity that places institutions and individ - Duff discovered the significance of the funds to the Fire Department. uals on the state’s Historic Registry. Walnut Street, Camden property while Some observers question Mayor In a curious inaction, the HPO has yet to researching the 1950 Maple Shade inci - Moran’s professed commitment to high - But that document also stated, inexpli - accept or reject an application filed in dent. Relatives of King’s seminary col - lighting the history of Camden given the cably, that on February 19 and 20, the 2015 for Historic Registry of that Walnut league and close friend Walter fact that in 1950 two prominent Camden City of Camden published public notices Street property. HPO reviews for Reg - McCall—who was with King during that residents immediately came to the aid of in a local newspaper that “announced istry placement usually take 90-days or Maple Shade protest—owned that Wal - King, thus bolstering the Camden con - the reprograming” of the money from the less. nut Street property. King stayed at the nection in King’s protest and lawsuit. preservation project to the Fire Depart - Walnut Street home occasionally. ment. Further, in a truly unprecedented action, “African-American history doesn’t seem Dr. King and his companions received the HPO commissioned a $20,000 study important to certain people,” Duff said. assistance from the then NJ State Francis and others see shenanigans in to determine the historic validity of NAACP head Dr. Ulysses Wiggins, and the obvious conflict between the claim King’s presence at that Camden prop - Camden Mayor Moran “reprogramed,” the Camden NAACP branch attorney See LEGACY - continued on page 23 AUGUST 2018 | Page 14 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 15 Opinion John E. Our Republic is Safe Harmon, Sr.

Through our campaign to increase addition, I witnessed a number of mili - Donald Brandt, chairman and president, William Tsutsui, president and professor awareness and foster relationships with tary exercises involving hostages, tacti - Pinnacle West Capital/Arizona Public of history, Hendrix College leadership in the public and private sec - cal engagement of our enemies and Service Tim Tynan, CEO, Bank of America Mer - tors, every engaged member should rescue of military personnel on land and Christine Candio, president and CEO, chant Services benefit from the elevation of the mission at sea. I gained a better understanding St. Luke’s Hospital Julie Tyson, SVP, Championship Man - of The African American Chamber of of the roles and mission of the U.S. Michael Cherenson, executive vice agement, PGA Tour Commerce of New Jersey, Inc. (AAC - Armed Forces, their skills, capabilities president, SCG Advertising and Public Susannah Wellford, president and CNJ). and the equipment employed in defense Relations founder, Running Start of our nation. The itinerary included the Jennifer Ciardelli, director, Civic and De - I have witnessed first-hand members following: fense Initiatives, U.S. Holocaust Memo - During the installation visits , we had an working hard with staff to complete their rial Museum opportunity to hear from the leadership member profile and various certifica - Day 1 - Pentagon/U.S. Coast Robert Clark, president, Tampa Steel of each branch of the military about their tions, all of which are prerequisites for Guard Sector Charleston, SC Erecting Company mission, and people, while also experi - positioning these members for opportu - Executive breakfast at the Pentagon, Annette Clayton, president and CEO encing and observing the execution of nities. Moreover, the inquiries to our of - Question and Answer Session with Sec - (NA Operations), Schneider Electric maneuvers with weapons, equipment fice, for membership and event retary of Defense Mattis Deborah DeLuca, director, Government and personnel. It was an invaluable ex - information, are also on an upward tra - and Environment Affairs, Duluth Seaway perience to see these men and women, jectory. The elevation of the profile of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Port Authority who have taken an oath to serve our AACCNJ is also having a residual im - Charleston Christine Duffy, president, Carnival country, at work, and who possess an pact on me as well. The number of in - Maritime K-9/Law Enforcement, Water - Cruise Lines ingrained sense of loyalty to their mis - quiries for speaking engagements and ways Pursuit Demonstration, Hazard Kenneth Dyer, superintendent, sion and each other. I was overwhelmed meeting requests, has run the gambit Material Handling Demonstration Dougherty County School System, with the representation of young people from small business owners to senior North Carolina between the ages of 18-26, most of government officials and corporate ex - Day 2 - Marine Corps Recruit - Cassandra Franklin, mayor, City of whom have an enormous degree of re - ecutives, all of which strengthen the ing Depot, Parris Island, SC Everett, Washington sponsibility inherent in their job classifi - brand of our organization while provid - Confidence Course, Obstacle Course, John E. Harmon, Sr., founder, president cation. ing an opportunity to leverage re - F-18 Simulations and CEO, African American Chamber of sources, opportunities and information Commerce of New Jersey Each decision made involved a number to benefit each investor in AACCNJ. Day 3 - 23d Air Wing, Moody John Harthorne, founder and CEO of lives and monetary assets all of AFB, GA MassChallenge which, if not executed properly, could It is truly an exciting and rewarding time Military operations in urban terrain Aminta Hawkins Breaux, president, have severe consequences. However at AACCNJ. However, we do not take demonstration, MRAP Rollover, Combat Bowie State University the mechanism that binds everything to - this time of personal gratification for Search and Rescue Training Observa - Chris Hogan, author, public speaker and gether is the level of trust that its military granted. This only fuels the staff and me tion leadership expert, Ramsey Solutions representative accepts and is held ac - to dig deeper and work harder for each Richard Kauffman, chairman Energy countable. Based on this covenant of and every member and supporter of Day 4 - U.S. Army Special Op - and Finance, New York State blind trust, tasks are executed, wars are AACCNJ. On June 15, I celebrated 21 erations Command, Fort Andrew Klaber, partner, Paulson and fought, rescues occur and humanitarian years as a chamber executive, and it Bragg, NC Company efforts take place daily. still feels like yesterday. I love my job, A full day scenario of JCOC participants Aylwin Lewis, board of directors, the service to each member and the State as hostages, who are saved by Special Walt Disney Company What was strikingly amazing throughout of New Jersey. Forces, Black Daggers Demonstration Victoria Neidigh, vice president, Strate - every interaction with each branch of the I am proud to announce I was selected (Parachute Jumpers), Weapons Famil - gic Initiatives, COMCAST/NBC Univer - military was their consistency in support - to participate in the Joint Civilian iarization, MH-47 Chinook Rescue sal ing the mission, their discipline, commit - Orientation Conference (JCOC) hosted Scott O’Neil, CEO, Philadelphia ment to excellence and focus on by the Secretary of Defense. The JCOC Day 5 - Norfolk Naval 76ers/New Jersey Devils executing the objectives well. Moreover, program is the oldest and most presti - Station/Joint Expeditionary Hutch Parker, chairman, Hutch Parker to see a large representation of millenni - gious public liaison program in the De - Base Little Creek, Norfolk, VA Entertainment als throughout each branch of the mili - partment of Defense. I was the only Tour of the USS George HW Maria Pitre-Martin, deputy superintend - tary executing their duties and applicant from the State of New Jersey Bush, Landing Craft Air Cushion ent, North Carolina Department of Pub - responsibilities rather impressively was selected to participate after the nomina - Flight lic Instruction something to experience. I say that be - tion process was completed. Kristine Sabat, executive producer, A&E cause, I and many others I have con - The new JCOC alums are: Television Networks versed with, have expressed deep As a JCOC participant, I spent several Lynne Sangimino, market vice presi - concerns about future generations. I intense days from June 10-16, 2018 at Thomas Abraham, chairman, Abraham dent, Cox Communications submit to you, based on my recent ex - military installations, engaging with sen - Foundation Mariko Silver, president, Bennington perience, Our Republic Is Safe! ior military officials and U.S. Service Sean Allen, founder/managing partner, College members. In addition to participating in AXLE Development Group Design Martha Spanninger, independent pro - tactical training exercises, while at the Randy Anderson, former president and ducer, CBS Weekly Radio Broadcast various military bases, I participated in CEO, Canyon Vista Medical Center Henry Stawinski, chief of police, Prince Monday’s from 6:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. physical fitness activities, shot various Dave Aronberg, state attorney/15th Cir - George’s County Maryland The Empowerment Hour weapons, was a passenger aboard a cuit Florida Matthew Swift, co-founder, chairman 920thejersey.com helicopter and a few cargo planes. In Elaine Bowers, Kansas state senator and CEO, Concordia Summit AUGUST 2018 | Page 16 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL NAACP call for investigation spurs hate-filled comments

Following the period since the police-re - in Deptford, NJ, an exhaustive and cred - lated shooting in Deptford Township, NJ, itable investigation into what led to the po - which resulted in the death of LaShanda Wilfredo lice shooting needs to suffice. We, as Anderson, 38, of Philadelphia, it has come residents of Gloucester County, cannot ig - to the attention of the Gloucester County nore what occurred no matter where are NAACP that many readers of our South “Wil” Rojas support lies. The actions of our police will Jersey newspapers have taken to the com - remain relevant to all our residents as other ment section to vent poisonous, racist and communities continue to struggle with find - harm this unfortunate incident may have in inappropriate comments directed at the de - ing the right mechanisms to support police, her unflinching dedication to NAACP work ceased, the NAACP and persons of all but demand and expect accountability. with law enforcement. backgrounds who are disenfranchised by In working closely with Loretta Winters and social-economic conditions defined by neg - Loretta has been measured in responding members of the Gloucester County criminal lect, exclusionary and divisive recurring to negative comments about the incident or justice team, I can personally say that the tactics of our times. personal attacks against her person be - attacks against her are personal, not based cause she would rather continue working I write this column to assure readers that on the facts of her work around issues that with the Gloucester County prosecutor and the Gloucester County NAACP is commit - are contentious and need to be addressed her criminal justice team in the NAACP. ted to being a good neighbor in assisting professionally. While I find the scathing comments on so - Gloucester County police departments in cial media personally insensitive and insult - making Gloucester County a safer and bet - The comments I read on social media are ing of the fine work of the Gloucester ter place to live and visit. As a Gloucester not only disheartening, but seem to stem County NAACP as it relates to its work with County resident and as a Gloucester from lack of knowing what really happened law enforcement, and I am sure every County NAACP official, I support the tire - on the day of the incident. Hopefully, the other resident concerned with police-com - less efforts of Loretta Winters, president of ongoing investigations will shed light on munity relations will as well. the Gloucester County NAACP, whose mo - what actually occurred, not on the many angry comments submitted by readers. tivation to assist in obtaining a fair and con - It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Like my elementary school teacher nun clusive investigation into the shooting, is many readers of white privilege persuasion would often say, “There are always three admirable and professional. find it necessary to jump on the negativity sides to a story — your side, their side and bandwagon without knowing the truth of Even after the many personal attacks what really happened.” Stay tuned for the what truly occurred that led to the police launched against her on social media for shooting. Until we get the full results of the results of the investigations. serving as a voice of reason, and continu - investigations currently been conducted, ing her drive to strengthen the ties between we need to hold our comments. Wilfredo “Wil” Rojas serves as special as - all communities in Gloucester County and sistant to Loretta Winters, president of the our police departments, Winters remains While there is nothing that can be done to Gloucester County NAACP. He can be committed to forging ahead and sharing erase the tragic, first-time police shooting reached at [email protected]. the wisdom of the NAACP in repairing any Events Calendar Visit Philly – Aug. Events

August 5, 2018 chocked passage along North Broad American Museum in Philadelphia. Call the Street—an eight-mile round trip route— African American Museum for further de - 2nd STREET FESTIVAL — Northern from City Hall to Erie Avenue. For more in - tails at 215-574-0380, or go to its website Liberties, the neighborhood that helped formation, visit phillyfreestreets.com. at aampmuseum.org. launch Philly’s craft beer craze, closes down North 2nd Street for a family-friendly August 31-November 9, 2018 August 2018 (TBD) festival of beer gardens, food, workshops, art, street performances and two stages for JOHN DOWELL: WHEN I SEE THE PHILADELPHIA BOURSE — live music. 2ndstfestival.org COTTON I SEE RED — Philadelphia The Historic District’s circa 1895 commodi - artist John Dowell shares large-scale pho - ties exchange transforms into an artisan August 11, 2018 tographs, sculpture and an installation, all market in the style of Chelsea Market via a reflections of his pilgrimage to the rural renovation befitting Philadelphia’s current PHILLY FREE STREETS — From 8 South, his exploration of cotton’s far-reach - and centuries-old reputation as a city of a.m. to 1 p.m., pedestrians, cyclists and ing and often tragic history with African- makers. Find more information at the - more can enjoy vehicle-free, free activity- Americans, in an exhibit at the African boursephilly.com. SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 17

LEADERS - from page 12 man Winters, III, and the two have a New Jersey Performing Arts Center Glover directs the association’s strategic blended family of seven beautiful chil - Women’s Board, a trustee of the New plan, business development and policy Loretta Winters dren. Jersey Women Lawyers Association; positions. She represents the organiza - secretary to the board of the New Jer - tion before energy industry executives Loretta Winters has a lengthy curriculum sey Legislative Black Caucus Founda - and national and state policymakers. vitae of service to the community. She is tion; and president of the Executive She is an industry thought leader for is - the president of the Gloucester County Michellene Davis Women of New Jersey. She also serves sues around diversity and inclusion. Her NAACP Branch 2345 and vice chair of on the board of work on international energy issues un - the board of directors for South Jersey directors of the derscores the importance of energy to As the executive vice president and Federal Credit Union. Caucus Educa - improve the quality of life for people chief corporate affairs officer for tional Trust, and throughout the African continent. The Under her leadership, the first and only RWJBarnabas Health, Michellene Davis NJ NAACP Foundation was formed at is a member of association under Glover’s leadership leads Social Impact and Community In - the Seton Hall has partnered with the U.S. Department Rowan College in Gloucester County, vestment across the System. She over - and the first New Jersey NAACP high Law School Di - of Energy on its Minorities in Energy ini - sees the areas of Policy Development versity Council, tiative as well as business development school chapter was chartered in Dept - and Governmental and External Affairs, ford, NJ. the Association programming for minority entrepreneurs. Healthy Living and Community and Em - of Black She has also testified before Congress ployee Wellness and Engagement, and Women about the impact of policies on under - Winters constantly partners with local Global Health. She is the creator of the Lawyers, the served communities. Glover has more hospitals and businesses for the better - RWJBarnabas Health Women’s Leader - New Jersey than 25 years of experience in the en - ment of the community and civil rights ship Alliance and Institute for Corporate State Bar Association, the Garden State ergy industry, including 15 years in both for all. She has successfully reached out Internship. Davis helps to direct the Bar Association, the National Bar Asso - electric and natural gas distribution com - to the Gloucester County superintend - strategic policy decisions of the system ciation, the American Bar Association, panies, where she has worked in gov - ents of schools to create an Equity and strengthens the system’s position and the Women’s Political Caucus of ernment affairs, regulatory affairs and Committee and the county’s police with state and federal elected officials New Jersey. Formerly, she served on economic development. chiefs to close the gaps and work to - and agencies. the corporate advisory board of the gether harmoniously. Believing in build - Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey, and In March 2014, Glover was appointed to She joined Barnabas Health in 2009, ing bridges not walls, Winters is also in the board of trustees of Essex County the National Petroleum Council by U.S. and soon after was named executive the process of starting a cable television College and Sacred Heart University in Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz. vice president of Corporate Affairs, the show called, “Issues,” to discuss hot Connecticut. In June of 2017, she was voted onto the topics. first woman and first person of color to board of directors for the Alliance to serve as an executive vice president in Davis has received national and Save Energy. the Barnabas Health system’s history. statewide recognition for her dedication Glover is also a She is a former councilwoman and vice and career accomplishments. Most re - member of the president of council for Monroe Town - In 2017, Davis was named to the top 10 cently, she received the 2016 Evan - advisory board ship, NJ. Be - on the NJBIZ Health Care Power 50, gelina Menendez Trailblazer Award from for the Mary - cause of and to the 2017 Top 100 in Business, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and land Energy Winters’ dedi - both lists on which she has been named was also the recipient of the 2016 Cor - and Sustain - cation and hard previously. She has also been ranked by porate Sector Award from the New Jer - ability Center at work, the town - NJBIZ as the State of New Jersey’s top sey Women Lawyers Association. the University ship named an lobbyist in the healthcare industry and Previously, she was named the 2015 of Maryland 8½-acre park by PolitickerNJ as one of the most politi - LUPE Amiga of the Year, 2014 Business Eastern Shore. called “Winters’ cally powerful people in the State of Advocate of the Year by the Statewide Cove,” in her New Jersey. Prior to her current posi - Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Glover received honor. In addi - tion, Davis served in several high-rank - selected as one of The Network Jour - her B.S. in Marketing Management from tion, Congress - ing statewide political appointment nal’s 2014 Top 25 Most Influential Black the University of Delaware. She is the man Robert positions. Women in Business in the United recipient of the Bring It Home to Hartford Andrews Award; the Clarke Watson Chairman’s Before joining Barnabas Health, Davis States. She has been honored by nu - named December 15, “Loretta Winters Cup and the Platinum Achievement st served as chief policy counsel to former merous civic organizations. Day,” throughout the 1 Congressional Award from the Cooperative Develop - New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, the District to honor her and her commit - She began her legal career as a trial liti - mental Energy Program at Fort Valley first African American to serve in the ment to community. gator, is an honors graduate of Seton State University. She is a 2003 graduate role, and Acting New Jersey State Hall University and holds a Juris Doctor - of Leadership New Haven and has con - Treasurer. Prior to Treasury, Davis led ate from Seton Hall School of Law. tributed to articles on work-life balance For her work as a civil rights trailblazer the $2.4 billion New Jersey Lottery as in “Take Pride” magazine. and community leader, she has served executive director and CEO and served as an electoral college voter in the 2016 as a senior policy advisor in the New presidential election, was on the 2018 Jersey Department of Health and Senior NJ governor-elect’s transition team and Services. Davis has a proven record of Paula R. Glover was named Super Women of the year Monique Chadband supporting women throughout her ca - Paula R. Glover is president and CEO by NJ Magazine. Among other honors reer and, while Acting State Treasurer of for the American Association of Blacks Monique Chadband is an executive, en - she has also been named one of New New Jersey founded the New Jersey in Energy (AABE), a national energy trepreneur, educator, advocate, mentor Jersey’s 25 most influential African Department of the Treasury’s Office of trade association that represents all sec - and scholar. Chadband is president and American Leaders for two years straight Supplier Diversity and Division of Minor - tors of the energy industry. Glover leads chief executive officer of United Way of in a row 2016 and 2017 by South Jersey ity and Women Owned Businesses. a 2000-member association with 40 Salem County as well as the founder of Journal. chapters nationwide. The association’s the Philanthropic Alliance for Community Davis is also active in her civic commu - focus is to represent the voice for Enterprise (PACE), a consulting firm nity. She serves as a member of the She studied Finance at Temple Univer - African Americans and other minorities comprised of industry experts across board of governors of Rowan University sity and believes that education is the on energy policy, regulations and envi - sectors, who work to efficiently and ef - – Rutgers Camden; a member of the key to the future. She is married to Her - ronmental issues. fectively build communities. AUGUST 2018 | Page 18 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL

A New Jersey native, Chadband earned in the nation. In addition, Mack, and nine Foster started AVER Designs, a profes - tion Employee of the Year, Burlington her Bachelor of Science degree in Busi - other female owner/operators, launched sional artistic company. Her company County Times Making a Deference in ness Administration from Montclair the McDonald’s Women Operator Net - provided business plans, sales strate - Burlington County Award, several soror - State University, New Jersey. It was work (WON), which now has a member - gies and sample products for new busi - ity and fraternity community service there that she tapped into her desire to ship of more than 500 female nesses using a personalized template. awards, the Veteran of Foreign Wars serve the community and make a differ - McDonald’s owner/operators. In 1993, she was hired as the director of Service Recognition Awards, Buffalo ence in the world by working as a stu - the Willingboro Township Senior Citizen Soldiers Service Award, Notable Woman dent-leader and community advocate. Mack is a Diamond Life member of the Center. She now serves as executive di - Award, Interfaith Community Service NAACP and a tireless community ser - rector of the Department on Aging, Award, Commendation from New York Upon graduation, Chadband returned to vant. She strongly believes in giving where she is the chief administrator re - City Council, Who’s Who in Universities her native South Jersey and worked in back by providing scholarships, donat - sponsible for and Colleges, Who’s Who in the East, the corporate banking industry before ing time and money to community proj - the day-to-day and twice recipient of the Citizen of the answering her call to community and ects, hiring minority youth and much operation of the Year Award. public service. She attained a Master of more. She counts herself blessed to be senior center Science degree in Administration of able to serve her community and adhere programs; co - Foster is passionate and enthusiastic Human Services, from Wilmington Uni - to the scripture of Luke 12:48, “For unto ordinates com - about life. She never misses an opportu - versity in Delaware, where she has also whomsoever much is given, of him shall munity nity to help someone. Her generosity is taught as an adjunct professor for the be much required.” resources with unparalleled. She strongly believes that School of Social and Behavioral Sci - federal, state if you can help one person along the ences since 2009. Mack has served on numerous boards. and local or - way, then your living will not be in vain. Currently, she serves as a member of ganizations She is the proud mother of three sons Chadband is a the board of trustees for AtlantiCare concerned with and three grandchildren. mentor to Health System, and as a member of the elderly issues. many young Foundation board of directors at Richard Her goal was to establish a state-of-the- people. She Stockton University of New Jersey. art senior citizen center and program said that faith, that would be continually recognized Sarah E. Jones education and A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Mack statewide, and a welcoming home away hard work are Sarah E. Jones is a strategic political holds a Bachelor of Science degree in from home for our senior population. In the keys to un - and public affairs advisor with more than Mathematics from Tennessee State Uni - 2007, her responsibilities for the Willing - lock one’s a decade of experience. With a proven versity. boro Township were expanded when she greatest poten - track record of operational excellence was chosen to head Community Affairs tial. Monique is and community outreach, Sarah is dedi - and subsequently Veterans Affairs De - completing a Reva Foster cated to implementing positive changes partments. Doctor of Phi - for communities throughout the State of Reva Foster graduated cum laude from losophy degree Foster has been deeply involved with New Jersey. Allen University in Columbia, South Car - in Public Policy and Administration at her community and several community olina with a Bachelor of Science degree Jones currently serves as director of Walden University in Minnesota. service organizations. Those affiliations in Biology. She went on to pursue grad - Government Affairs at Horizon Blue Though she has several career recogni - include being chairman and strategist for uate work in Microbiology at Miami Uni - Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. In this tions, Chadband attributes her success the United States Savings Bond Cam - versity where she received a graduate role, she represents Horizon BCBSNJ to the grace of God and the incredible paign; a member of the Advancement of assistantship teaching Microbiology to before the New Jersey Legislature and love and support of her parents, Carl H. Women, where she chairs the advisory freshmen and sophomore college stu - various federal departments and agen - and the late Marie D. Chadband. council; the Eastern Star; South Jersey dents. She is a certified master trainer cies, and provides senior executives Red Hatters; Willingboro Advocates; Rita Mack for the Stanford University Chronic Dis - with policy analyses and position papers Willingboro Committee Women for Dis - ease Self-Management Program. Foster on healthcare reform. Rita Mack’s dream of becoming a busi - trict 13; New Jersey Association of Sen - also holds several certificates in Busi - ness owner came true in 1986 when ior Directors; a life-time member of the Prior to joining ness Management, Senior Health, Qual - she and her husband, Tony, purchased NAACP, serving as president of the Will - Horizon BCB - ity Administration, Deming Quality Circle their first McDonald’s Restaurant in At - ingboro and Vicinity NAACP; a board SNJ, Jones and International Group and Personal lantic City, New Jersey. member and/or trustee of several local served as di - Fitness Certifications. She received an and state organizations and foundations, rector of Gov - Mack is an active and passionate volun - Honorable Discharge from the United and a life-time member of Delta Sigma ernment Affairs teer in the McDonald’s system. She has States Air Force. contributed tremendously to the brand Theta Sorority, Inc. She has served nine for Cablevision, in a number of leadership roles. Mack is Foster has held several positions of re - years as chairman of the New Jersey district director a past chair and CEO of the National sponsibility throughout her professional Black Issues Senior Symposium—four for Congress - Black McDon - career. Some of her past employers in - years as first vice chairman—and is cur - man Donald ald’s Opera - clude; Park Davis Pharmaceutical, rently state chairman of the New Jersey Payne, Jr., and tors Warner Lambert, Johnson & Johnson Black Issues Convention. She was se - held leadership Association Eastern Surgical Dressing Plant, where lected as the 2012 New Jersey State roles with Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr., (NBMOA), a she served as quality assurance super - Delegate for former President Barack and the late Congressman Donald 46-year-old or - visor, Domestic Operating Company, Obama. Payne, Sr. She has also practiced law ganization. served as a scientist, technical assur - as an associate for the law firm of Hunt, Foster has received many awards for Today, the ance. Throughout her career with John - Hamlin and Ridley, served as senior her service to the community including NBMOA is one son & Johnson, she climbed the counsel for the Newark Housing Author - the New Jersey Women of Achievement of the largest corporate ladder with increasing respon - ity, and as counsel to the City of Newark Awards, Outstanding African American and most suc - sibilities, which included manufacturing council president. Women, New Jersey Certificate of cessful manager, quality assurance coordinator, Honor, New Jersey Community Service Jones earned her undergraduate degree African-Ameri - manager of Specification Department Award, Outstanding Woman of Burling - in Political Science from Richard Stock - can, business and international auditor for North Amer - ton County Award, Rotary Club Recogni - ton University, and received her J.D. organizations ica, Central America and South America. from Nova Southeastern University. She SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 19 is a member of the Association of Black point, she worked tirelessly with re-entry Tawanda “Wawa” Jones on to college or trade school. One de - Women Lawyers of New Jersey and the advocates and the business community serving student is helped each year by a Garden State Bar Association. to draft and introduce “The Opportunity scholarship Jones gives in her grandfa - Tawanda “Wawa” Jones is the president to Compete” legislation, best known as ther’s name. They have purchased an and founder of Camden Sophisticated In 2016, Jones was the recipient of the “Ban the Box.” This legislation protects old 25,000 square foot factory, which Sisters, a nonprofit step dancing, drum Essex County Women of Excellence employers from doing criminal back - they hope to turn into a first class com - line and drill team program that has Award and has been recognized by the ground checks on prospective employ - munity center, with plans to call it “The been called lifesaving by its admirers. New Jersey Labor Advisory Board. She ees before giving them an interview and Dynamite Center.” The mission is to provide youngsters has also been named to PolitickerNJ’s hopefully an opportunity to tell their and their families with discipline, pur - “2016 Power List,” the “40 Under 40 story. “Ban the Box” in New Jersey re - pose and positive accomplishments in a Jones and CSS have been featured in List,” and named one of 50 Powerful ceived national attention after President fun environment. numerous articles, she was nominated Young Democrats in New Jersey by the Barack Obama mentioned it when he state’s Young Democrats Black Caucus. for an award by CNN Heroes and CSS announced implementation of a similar has received national acclaim. Thanks In 2017, Jones was named one of Amer - Growing up in program sponsored for the United to a grant from entertainer Steve Har - ica’s Top 100 emerging and executive Camden, States government. In her quest to offer vey, Jones now runs CSS full time and leaders by DiversityMBA Magazine. Jones saw the opportunities to released offenders, St. is studying business management at need to keep Sandra Bolden Sen. Cunningham and Governor Chris Strayer University. Christie, collaborated on new expunge - young girls off Cunningham ment legislation that will make it easier the streets, out for offenders to clean their criminal of trouble and On November 6, 2007, Sandra B. Cun - records. involved in Shantè D. Palmer ningham was elected to the New Jersey positive activi - State Senate by the people of the 31 st Cunningham is a member of the Senate ties that pro - Shantè D. Palmer is a public affairs ex - Legislative District, which is comprised Leadership, serving as deputy Majority moted ecutive, community advocate and col - of Bayonne and a portion of Jersey City. Leader. She is the chair of the Senate self-respect, lege professor. Her tenure in State Senator Sandra Cunningham Higher Education Committee, and she is something many of her girlfriends lacked government, community relations, holds the distinction of becoming the a member of the esteemed Budget and when she was a teen. She founded higher education and grassroots cam - first woman elected to the State House Appropriations Committee. She also sits CSS. Her late grandfather Walter “Dyna - paigns spans over a decade. from the 31 st Legislative District. St. Sen. on the Labor Committee. Additionally, mite” Green Jr., helped her get started Palmer is an advocate for those she Sandra Cunningham is the widow of the Senator Cunningham serves on The by buying three drums and 80 uniforms. represents. She works to provide a late Glenn D. Cunningham, a distin - Ellis Island Commission and the Pretrial She chose the colors navy blue and or - voice in the marketplace of ideas, facts, guished statesman who was the mayor Services Review Commission. ange, as a tribute to the colors worn by and viewpoints that aid informed public of Jersey City and the state senator of Green’s team when he started the first debate and decision-making. Her work the 31 st Legislative District. For nearly a In addition to public service, Senator African-American women’s baseball has proved her dedication to public, decade, Sandra and Glenn Cunningham Cunningham was board president of the league in the area in North Camden. In community and political organizations. the early days, the members practiced were visible community activists, who Sandra and Glenn D. Cunningham As senior vice president of business de - fought together courageously for their Foundation, which closed its doors on in downtown Camden at the Camden Youth Activity Center, once the site of velopment at Capital Impact Group beloved community until his untimely August 4, 2017. The foundation, over an (CIG), Palmer manages policy issues by death in 2004. 11-year period, rose upwards of the women’s prison. That was 32-years ago, and today, nearly 4,500 children leveraging top-tier government and pub - $250,000 to provide college scholar - lic affairs resources, specializing in cor - Today, St. Senator Cunningham contin - ships for over 200 at risk young people have come through CSS, which Jones still funds with her own money and do - porate community relations and helping ues the legacy she began with her hus - from Jersey City and Bayonne. The her clients develop corporate responsi - band. Cunningham is a vocal advocate foundation was designed to help pre - nations from family members, friends and community partners. Her step team bility programs. She works with organi - of children and working families. She cisely “C” students, who didn’t have the zations to design and implement believes that quality education is the financial resources or the “A” and “B” has performed at events, conferences and sadly, sometimes at the funerals for community programs that include train - passport to achieving social equity. Fur - grades to attend college. Each student ing, philanthropy, partnerships and do - thermore, she believes that working was paired with a mentor to help guide its members’ brothers killed in the streets of Camden. nations to improve the quality of families have a right to affordable health them through their college workload. community life and establish a legacy of care, a fair and The students would keep the same trust with the public where clients are lo - safe workplace, mentor for all four years, in which time While the organization’s cornerstone cated. and property tax they were encouraged to graduate. programs have remained the same, relief. Jones now insists those who participate Prior to joining CIG, Palmer served as Prior to serving in the State Senate, maintain at least a “C” average at senior projects specialist for U.S. Sena - In addition, St. Senator Cunningham was the former school, do 200 hours of community tor Cory Sen. Cunning - executive director of the Hudson County service, and write an essay entitled, Booker, where ham champions Bar Association. Previously, she was a “How Can I Improve Where I Live.” She she acted as a for a typically community and public relations coordi - also monitors students’ Facebook pages liaison to fed - forgotten popu - nator for Essex-Newark Legal Services. for inappropriate content. Using tough eral, state and lation — ex-of - She was also the deputy director of the love, positivity and discipline, Jones has local agencies, fenders. She Metropolitan Ecumenical Ministry, where fostered pride in these youngsters, represented the wholeheartedly she initiated programs to expand the which they in turn now have in Camden. senator at pub - believes in providing recently released role of the church in the community. lic events offenders with a “second chance” to be - Over the years, Jones who began danc - throughout the come contributing members of our soci - State Senator Cunningham is a native of ing at age 3, added boys to her program state, main - ety. She believes that removing Newark, New Jersey, and is a graduate by way of the Distinguished Brothers of tained networks obstacles to employment for people with of Bloomfield College, where she CSS and The Almighty Percussion of contacts with criminal records provides economic and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She Sound Drum Line (T.A.P.S.). Her mem - organizations, legislators, and commu - social opportunities to a large group of currently resides in Jersey City . bers have a 100 percent graduation nity leaders, hosted events, and formed people living in New Jersey. To that rate, with a mighty 80 percent headed effective relationships on behalf of the AUGUST 2018 | Page 20 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL senator. In addition, she has served as agement positions. She is a proven busi - Prior to DRPA, Brown served as assistant at the White House Domestic Policy an advisor for U.S. Senator Jeff Chiesa ness leader, skilled at mastering new sub - counsel to New Jersey Governor Jim Flo - Council, where she was tasked with de - and as project specialist for the late U.S. stantive areas and multi-tasking. She has rio. She also worked as a litigation asso - veloping, informing, and promoting Senator Frank Lautenberg. Her work for exceptional organizational skills, and has ciate at Hoyle, Morris & Kerr, in President Barack Obama’s higher edu - all three senators, included statewide been described as accessible, a good lis - Philadelphia. cation policy. She also served in the project development in areas she con - tener, and a consensus builder. Brown is Obama administration as a senior ad - siders pillars of society. Those areas in - forward thinking and a strong problem- From 2011 to July 2016, Brown served on viser at the U. S. Department of Educa - clude housing, education, small solver. the board of Moorestown Friends School. tion, where she developed business, and economic development. For that board, she served as treasurer, programmatic, policy and budget solu - Palmer began her career at the National Her expertise is in executive manage - chaired the Assets Committee, and tions to respond to pressing challenges Labor Relations Board, where she ment/administration, human resources, served on the search committee for the in college access, affordability, and com - served as compliance specialist respon - benefits, customer service, risk manage - new head of school. She previously pletion. sible for coordinating compliance on set - ment, EEO and other non-discrimination served on that board’s special Louis tlements, court judgments, and board issues. During her long tenure at DRPA, Freeh sub-committee where a compre - Before transitioning to work as a political orders in the NJ Regional Office. She Brown has held several positions, includ - hensive review of key school policies took appointee, Dr. Ellis served as director of also served as project associate at the ing manager, affirmative action, director, place, and appropriate changes were pre - Government Relations for the advisory Center for Law and Metropolitan Equity Office of Business Development & Equal sented to the board and later enacted. committee on Student Financial Assis - at Rutgers Law School. Palmer is an ex - Opportunity, deputy chief, Business De - She also served on the board of the tance, where she authored ecutive board member of the Montclair velopment, EEO & Personnel, and, her African American Chamber of Commerce reports on the efficacy of financial advis - NAACP, and a board member for Mont - current position, chief administrative offi - of NJ. ing in college access programs, on com - clair’s affordable housing organization, cer (CAO). As CAO, Brown reports di - munity college transfer and articulation, HOMECorp. She currently serves the rectly to the CEO and helps shape policy. She is an active member of the St. John and on the ability of low- and moderate- New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus She interacts with the board chairman, Baptist Church where she chairs a risk income families Foundation as a trustee and is an ad - vice chairman and commissioners, and management committee, focusing on to afford col - junct professor at Essex County College regularly makes presentations at Commit - legal and insurance matters, and she also lege more where she teaches American Govern - tee and Board meetings. serves on its scholarship committee. broadly. ment. Recently, Brown took the lead in shaping Brown is the recipient of the African Amer - Earlier in her Palmer was named one of New Jersey’s the Authority’s new “stewardship” mission ican Women Achiever’s Award in Corpo - career, Dr. Ellis 50 Powerful Young Black Democrats, and vision. She created the Authority’s rate & Business Affairs, the Camden worked directly and was listed on PolitickerNJ by the new tagline: “ Stewardship. Service. Com - County Freedom Medal, the YWCA Trib - with students in New Jersey Young Democrats of Amer - munity.” Leading a multi-departmental ute to Women and Industry Award for Ex - various capaci - ica. She serves on numerous grassroots team, Brown developed and implemented cellence and the National Hook-Up of ties across the campaigns in Essex County, NJ, and is a rebranding Black Women, Inc.’s Gold Star Award for K-12 system, an alumnus of Emerge New Jersey, the initiative Author - Outstanding Achievement in Field of Law. and her goal is premier political leadership training pro - ity-wide. to always bring Brown received her Juris Doctor degree gram for Democratic women. Today, as a re - those insights sult of the Com - from Rutgers, School of Law - Camden, to her current work. She worked on staff Palmer attended Essex County College, mittee’s efforts, where she was a published member of in various capacities for Teach For Montclair State University, and received the new stew - the Law Journal. Brown remains a mem - America, helping to train new teachers, an Executive Masters in Public Adminis - ardship vision ber in good standing of both the Pennsyl - and for the federal GEAR UP program in tration (EMPA) from Rutgers-Newark. and shared val - vania and New Jersey Bars. She East Boston, Massachusetts, providing Her current positions and previous ex - ues are an inte - received her Bachelor of Arts in Econom - college preparation and financial aid in - perience exemplify her dedication and gral part of the ics from Wellesley College, Wellesley, formation to high school students. Ellis continued involvement with public, com - Authority’s cul - Massachusetts. was introduced to federal policy as an munity, and political organizations and a ture. intern on Capitol Hill with the Congres - Brown resides in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, demonstrated ability to lead others Through a number of innovative and col - sional Black Caucus Foundation, work - with her husband, Michael. They have through influence and collaboration. laborative initiatives, Brown’s division is ing for her former hometown two children, Matthew and Rachel. the model of what it means to be commit - Congresswoman. A lifelong resident of Montclair, NJ, ted “World-Class Stewards”. Brown cre - Palmer resides with her two daughters, ated and implemented a Cultural Dr. Ellis has been featured on C-SPAN Naima and Naomi. Integration Program for employees new and Fox Business News, profiled in to the Administration Division. This suc - Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis the Chronicle of Higher cessful pilot program is now a significant Education and Diverse Issues in Higher part of the Authority’s new hire orientation Zakiya Smith Ellis is New Jersey’s Sec - Education and was twice named Toni Proffitt Brown process. Through a new training module retary of Higher Education, where she is to Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30. She for supervisors, Brown has linked the responsible for policy development and recently completed a three-year term as Toni Proffitt Brown is chief administrative stewardship vision and shared values to coordination of other higher education an appointed member on the board of officer of the Delaware River Port Author - the core competencies in the Authority’s activities for the state. directors for the National Association for ity (DRPA), a regional transportation performance management system. College Admission Counseling agency that connects millions of people Smith Ellis previously worked at Lumina (NACAC). and businesses in Pennsylvania and New In 1994, Brown created the Authority’s Foundation, the nation’s largest founda - Jersey. The DRPA owns and operates the award-winning MBE & WBE Program. To tion focused solely on higher education, Dr. Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree in po - PATCO commuter rail line and the Ben - date, the Authority has paid more than to advance federal policy to increase at - litical science and secondary education jamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Com - $338 million to certified minority, women, tainment and to develop new postsec - from Vanderbilt University, a master’s modore Barry and Betsy Ross toll disadvantaged, small and veteran-owned ondary finance models, focusing on degree in education policy and manage - bridges. businesses. In December 2015, the issues of affordability. ment from the Harvard Graduate School Women in Transportation Society’s of Education, and a doctorate in higher Brown has more than 25 years of experi - Philadelphia Chapter honored DRPA with Prior to her work in philanthropy, Zakiya education management from the Univer - ence in senior and executive level man - its Diversity Award . served as a senior advisor for Education sity of Pennsylvania. SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 21 Lifestyles A LONGTIME COMING: Cape May Celebrates Historic Visit by MLK It has been a hot summer and most about this historic event. people are running to the beach for re - lief. But on June 27, people headed to The program featured the Cape May the quaint, shore town of Cape May for Yanina Community Choir, a gospel choir led by a different reason. This time, the motiva - Lois Smith, comprised of choir members tion was to commemorate a visit there Carter from Cape May Lutheran Church, Cape by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. May United Methodist Church, Macedo - Hundreds joined in a joyous celebration nia Baptist Church and Tabernacle filled with spiritual and patriotic song, the ago on June 27, 1958, during the Methodist Church, and opening remarks stirring words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Friends General Conference in Cape by the master of ceremonies, the Rev. and a presentation entitled, “Take Me to May, held that week from June 23-30, Harold Harris of Cape May’s Macedonia the Water,” during “Martin Luther King, 1958. Given in the midst of the bour - Baptist Church. Mayor Lear gave wel - This photo of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jr. in Cape May: A 60th Anniversary geoning Civil Rights Movement (1954- coming remarks and there was a video 1968), King’s speech was part of the was taken in 1958 in Cape May during the message from U.S. Senator Cory A. Celebration,” held at Cape May Conven - Friends General Conference. biennial Quakers’ Friends General Con - Booker (D-NJ), and a reading of ex - tion Hall. What occurred was an impor - Photo provided by the Friends Historical Library ference. These Friends General Confer - cerpts from Dr. King’s speech by the tant community gathering, to elevate a of Swarthmore College previously unheralded moment in local ences have been held since 1868, with Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen. The featured in 1958 and heard Dr. King speak. Ter - and national history. Cape May as host for more than 30 speaker, the Rev. Dr. Harold Dean years, from 1928 until 1962. It was a Bush suggested to Cape May mayor, Trulear, brought Dr. King’s words into This special evening of remembrance, moving call to non-violence and resist - Chuck Lear, that the city commemorate context for those in attendance, with his music and fellowship, presented by the ance. this year’s 60th anniversary of Dr. King’s speech titled, “Take Me to the Water.” City of Cape May, in association with the visit. The mayor thanked him for bring - The event seemed complete when Anna Center for Community Arts, the Mid-At - This important moment in local and na - ing the information to his attention and Wright shared her memory of the lantic Center for the Arts and Humani - tional history might have been forgotten assured TerBush the city would look into evening 60-years-ago that brought the ties, the Chamber of Commerce of had it not been for a communication in ways to remember and honor Dr. King’s experience to fruition. Greater Cape May, Macedonia Baptist January of this year, from Anna Wright, visit. A committee was formed from vari - Church and the Greater Cape May His - via her nephew, James TerBush, of ous members of several community or - Now, a plaque will commemorate the torical Society, feted King’s speech, Elverson, PA, sent to the mayor’s office ganizations, and a celebration was in event at (the new) Cape May Conven - “Nonviolence and Racial Justice.” Dr. of the City of Cape May. Wright had at - the making. However, the committee tion Hall, the same site where Dr. King King presented the speech 60-years- tended the original Friends Conference soon realized that too little was known delivered his speech in 1958. AUGUST 2018 | Page 22 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL Entertainment

that are in this movie, I wrote 15-years- gether, Stallworth and Zimmerman team ago. They were as is. Patricia opening up to takedown the organization whose Yanina the door; Hedwig’s first scene, those real aim is to sanitize its violent rhetoric were all written already. And it’s literally to appeal to the mainstream. Produced from the same moment that I created all by the team behind the Academy- Carter the characters — all three of those char - Award-winning “Get Out,” “BlacKkKlans - acters. But I knew I wanted to do a man” offers an unflinching, true-life movie about him because I just loved examination of race relations in 1970s At the movies — Philly’s own M. him so much, and I thought it’s a rich America that is just as bracingly relevant Night Shyamalan brings together the world for storytelling, so I was super, in today’s tumultuous world. The movie narratives of two of his standout origi - super excited to finally make it. And if will hit theaters in August 2018. nals, 2000’s you are looking for an ‘Unbreakable’ se - Tina Turner with Adrienne Warren “Unbreakable,” quel,” Shyamalan said, “My hope is to In other parts of the world Produced by Stage Entertainment, the from Touch - make one final movie that combines the — The much anticipated Tina Turner show will be directed by “Mamma Mia” stone, and two, and “Glass” does just that.” musical received its director Phyllida Lloyd, and captured in 2016’s “Split,” world premiere in a book by writer Katori Hall, whose play from Universal, Joining the all-star cast are “Unbreak - London in April 2018 “The Mountaintop,” about the assassina - in one explo - able’s” Spencer Treat Clark and Char - at the Aldwych The - tion of Martin Luther King, Jr., gained sive, all-new layne Woodard, who reprise their roles atre in the West End, notoriety on both sides of the Atlantic. comic book as Dunn’s son, and Price’s mother, as opening to terrific re - This latest Tina Turner project has been thriller — well as Golden Globe Award-winner views. “Tina – The in the works for several years, with “Glass.” Re - Sarah Paulson (of the American Horror Tina Turner Musical,” Turner attending a workshop held in late cently wrapping Story series). “Glass,” will be released chronicles the life of 2016, where she said, “I am delighted to up filming in Bruce Willis by Universal Pictures in North America the rock ‘n’ roll legend be able to share our news as we begin Philadelphia, on on January 18, 2019, and by Buena who brought us hit Tina Turner the next chapter of our journey. It has the long Vista International abroad. songs such as “What’s been wonderful to collaborate with Ka - awaited film Love Got to Do With It,” “Proud Mary,” tori and Phyllida, and to have my story “Unbreakable,” Spike Lee Does it Again — From “The Best,” “River Deep Mountain High” nurtured by such an amazing creative Bruce Willis re - visionary filmmaker Spike Lee, comes and “Better Be Good To Me.” team is thrilling. London has always had turns as David the incredible true story of an American a very special place in my heart and it’s Dunn as does hero, in his new soon-to-be released Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock wonderful to be back.” Samuel L. film, “BlackkKlans - on November 26. 1939 in Nutbush, Ten - Jackson as Eli - man.” It’s the early nessee. She obtained Swiss citizenship Tina Turner’s story was previously pre - jah Price, 1970s, a time of in 2013 and currently lives in Küsnacht, sented in the film directed by Brian Gib - known also by great social up - Switzerland. She shot to fame in the son, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” his pseudo - heaval, as the mid-1950s singing with Ike Turner’s Released in 1993, it starred Angela Bas - nym, “Mr. struggle for civil Kings of Rhythm, originally under the sett as Tina Turner, and Laurence Fish - Glass.” Joining James McAvoy rights rages on. name “Little Ann.” She became Tina burne as Ike Turner. The stage musical from “Split,” are Ron Stallworth Turner in 1960 and began the Ike and “Soul Sister,” was devised by John Miller James McAvoy, (John David Wash - Tina Turner Revue, securing the string and Pete Brooks, and produced by Bill reprising his ington) becomes of aforementioned hits. She has since Kenwright and John Miller. It ran at The role as Kevin the first African- spoken openly about being a victim of Hackney Empire in 2012 before trans - Spike Lee Wendell American detective domestic abuse, and split from Ike in ferring to the West End’s Savoy Theatre, Crumb, and the on the Colorado 1976. where it was nominated for an Olivier multiple identi - Springs Police Department, but his ar - Award. This new musical, however, is ties who reside rival is greeted with skepticism and open “Tina - The Tina Turner Musical,” began the first musical with which Turner was within him, and hostility by the department’s rank and previews at the Aldwych Theatre on directly involved. The musical is sched - Anya Taylor- file. Undaunted, Stallworth resolves to March 21, 2018, and officially opened on uled to come our way before 2019. Joy as Casey make a name for himself and a differ - April 17, 2018 with Tina Turner in atten - Cooke, the only dance. ence in his community. He bravely sets Follow me on Facebook captive to sur - out on a dangerous mission — infiltrate Samuel L. Jackson @Yanina Carter vive an en - and expose the Ku Klux Klan. Turner is being played in the musical by counter with American actress Adrienne Warren. “The Beast.” Following the conclusion Posing as a racist extremist, Stallworth Warren made her Broadway debut in 2012 when she appeared in the Lin- The South Jersey Journal invites you of “Split,” Glass finds Dunn pursuing contacts the group and soon finds him - to email your events for publication in our Crumb’s superhuman figure of The self invited into its inner circle. He even Manuel Miranda musical “Bring It On,” at monthly calendar. Please include a date, Beast in a series of escalating encoun - cultivates a relationship with the Klan’s the St. James Theatre. She then went time, place and brief description of ters, while the shadowy presence of grand wizard, David Duke (Topher on to star in “Shuffle Along,” or the “Mak - the event. A phone number or ing of the Musical Sensation of 1921,” website address is helpful for those Price emerges as an orchestrator who Grace), who praises Ron’s commitment who wish to attend your event but holds secrets critical to both men. to the advancement of White America. and “All That Followed,” for which she is not necessary. Information should Shyamalan explained, “This was always With the undercover investigation grow - was nominated for a Tony Award for be sent to the Journal at least part of the “Unbreakable” world. Kevin ing ever more complex, Stallworth’s col - Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She three weeks in advance of the event. Wendell Crumb was a part of the origi - league, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), made her West End debut in “Tina,” and Send your calendar events to nal, original script for ‘Unbreakable.’ I poses as Ron in face-to-face meetings was described as an “exceptional tal - [email protected] . pulled him out because it just wasn’t bal - with members of the hate group, gaining ent,” when announced by Turner. ancing right. But a bunch of the scenes insider’s knowledge of a deadly plot. To - SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 23

LEGACY - from page 13 urged HPO to reject the study that dis - counted King’s first lawsuit as virtually by Camden officials that their decision insignificant. That lawsuit, the NAACP Sports to reprogram funds did not occur until letter stated, was a salient event in after February 22, yet the city ran a King’s development as a civil rights ac - Don’t forget to attend the Larry Gaines Stop public notice about their intent to re - tivist. The NAACP letter characterized the Violence organization’s (LGSTV) annual program days earlier. events surrounding that lawsuit as basketball tournament on August 17-19 at “very significant to American and New the courts at 4 th and Washington streets in That study commissioned by the HPO Jersey history…” is another example of shenanigans Camden. Organized in Larry’s memory by his brother Reggie Gaines, it’s the place to critics contend. Spokespersons for the HPO rebuff charges of engagement in improper see all area basketball stars in action for NAACP State Conference president procedures. HPO is awaiting a review free. Play starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, Satur - Richard T. Smith, in a letter to HPO, of the Stockton study by the King Cen - day and Sunday, with six games per night. strongly criticized the recommenda - ter in Atlanta. Local entertainment performs between tions of that study and the “very forma - games. tion” of that study conducted by a team Lloyd Henderson, head of the Camden of researchers from Stockton Univer - County East NAACP branch, dis - The LGSTV tournament features area boys’ sity in New Jersey. (That research missed the Stockton study as an exer - and girls’ youth and college players and cul - team did not include any African Amer - cise done “with pre-conceived notions” minates with a championship game on Sun - icans, a red flag for researcher Patrick about what the HPO wanted the study day followed by an Alumni Game. Past Duff.) to conclude. South Jersey hoop stars who played in the tourney include Dajuan Wagner, Ernest Richard Smith’s letter, on behalf of the Henderson said, “This whole process NAACP Conference composed of 41 is diminishing the history of black Turner, Mike Myers, Charron Fisher, Vincent branches in 21 counties, “strongly” folks.” Walls, Chanelle Perry and Crystal Lang - horne. A document prepared by a Camden City official stated, inexplicably, that on Feb - ruary 19 and 20, the City of Camden published public notices in a local newspaper To donate to the LGSTV, call 609-254-0974, that “announced the reprograming” of the money from the preservation project to or go to Larry Gaines Stop the Violence on the Fire Department. Kelly Francis of the Camden City NAACP is shown holding Paypal. Visit and like them on Facebook at papers. - LINN WASHINGTON JR. PHOTO Larry Gaines Stop the Violence. AUGUST 2018 | Page 24 SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL