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Home , Carol Moseley Braun, Kamala Harris, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sharon Weston Broome

2019 NJSBA Annual Meeting

The Future of the Elected Official is a Black Woman Co-sponsored by the Association of Lawyers of New Jersey

Moderator/Speaker: Suzette Price, Esq. Association of Black Women Lawyers of NJ (ABWL)

Speakers: Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (District 22) New Jersey General Assembly Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (District 35) New Jersey General Assembly Estina Baker CWA (AFL-CIO) Freeholder Ashley R. Bennett Carolyn V. Chang, Esq., President, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey Marilyn Davis, Area Director of Government Affairs Altice USA

The Impact of Black Women In Federal Elections

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey 19.4%

3.4%

20%

0.0% 19.3%

4.1%

24.6% 3.5%

27.1%

0.8%

The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court

More Black Women are Voting in the U.S. compared to White Women

The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court

The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court Yet only one-third of those seats were contested by Black women. The proverbial glass ceiling is at the point of entry – more Black women running can break it!

The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court

Three Black Women Have run in major party primaries for President of the US

1972 2004 All Democrats 2020

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Shirley Chisholm estimated that her campaign for president raised $300,000 from the time she started her campaign until the last vote counted at the convention

Carol Moseley Braun raised and spend $628,000 before suspending her campaign and endorsing Dean

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

2020 Fundraising How Democrats Are Stacking Up

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Where the Money Is Coming From?

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Black Who Have Chaired Committees in the U.S. House, 1949–Present This table is based on information drawn from the Biographical Directory of the Congress. Congress Name House Committee House Committees 116th (2019–2021) JOHNSON, Eddie Bernice Science, Space, and Technology 116th (2019–2021) WATERS, Maxine Financial Services 110th (2007–2009) JONES, Stephanie Tubbs Standards of Official Conduct 110th (2007–2009) MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Juanita House Administration Select Committee on the House 95th (1977–1979) BURKE, Yvonne Brathwaite Beauty Shop Select Committee on the House 94th (1975–1977) BURKE, Yvonne Brathwaite Beauty Shop

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

Black Women Currently Serving In the US Congress

% of Black Population in District They Represent

Rep. Alma Adams North Carolina Rep. 25% Black Rep. Joyce Beatty Ohio 33 ¼ % Black Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester Delaware 21% Black Rep. Yvette Clarke New York 49% Black Rep. Florida 11.9% Black Rep. Ohio 52% Black Rep. Jahana Hayes Connecticut 5% Black Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson 43% Black Rep. Robin L. Kelly 55% Black Rep. Brenda Lawrence Michigan 58% Black Rep. California 19% Black Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Texas 36% Black Rep. Lucy McBath 14% Black Rep. Gwen Moore Wisconsin 36% Black Rep. Minnesota 16% Black Rep. Ayanna Pressley Massachusetts 26% Black Rep. Terri Sewell Alabama 63% Black Rep. Lauren Underwood Illinois 3% Black Rep. California 23.6% Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman New Jersey 17.6% Black Rep. Frederica Wilson Florida 56% Black

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Impact of Black Women In Statewide Elections

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

There have been 2 Black Women U.S. Senators 1. Carol Mosley Bran 2. Kamala Harris

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

In 2018 there were 276 Black Women Black women are State Legislators out of 7,383 underrepresented State Legislators in State Legislatures 3.74%

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Black Women Who Have Ever Held Statewide Elected Executive Office

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

Party Affiliations of Black Women Statewide

Of the 13 Black Women Ever Elected to Statewide Elected Statewide Elected Executive Office 8 have been Democrats & 5 have been Republicans

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey – Lessons Learned

Georgia has been a red state since 1984 except for Clinton

Y e 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 a r

Georgia Nixon Carter Carter Reagan Bush Clinton Dole Bush Bush McCain Romney Trump

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Katherine E. Pugh - , MD Vi Alexander Lyles , GA Baton Rouge, LA White: (29.6%); Black: (63.7%); American Indian and Alaska Native:(0.4%); Asian: (2.3%); Other Charlotte, NC Black or African American: 54% Black or African American: 50.4% race: 11,303 (1.9%); Two or more races: (2.1%); 41.7%White, 35.2% Black, White: 38.4% Asian: 3.1% White: 40.8% (non-Hispanic: 37.8%) Hispanic/Latino: (4.2%) and 13.8% Hispanic Native American: 0.2% Other race: 2.2% Asian: 3.5%Native American: 0.5% Two or more races: 2.0% Two or more races: 1.3% Hispanic of any race: 5.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race: 3.5%

Black of the 100 Washington, DC Largest Cities , CA 47.1% Black or African American, La Toya Cantrell White: 47.2% (non-Hispanic: 41%) 45.1% White (36.8% non- Asian: 34.3% Hispanic White), 4.3% Asian, , LA : 5.3% 0.6% American Indian or Alaska African American: 60.2% Native Americans: 0.4% Native, and 0.1% Native White: 33% Asian: 2.9% Pacific Islanders: 0.4% Other: 6.6% Hawaiian or Other Pacific Two or more: 5.1% Hispanic or Islander. Latino of any race: 15.3% The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

“Black women have been the most loyal supporters of the Democratic Party, through thick and thin,” Avis Jones- DeWeever, an adviser to the Black Women’s Roundtable, said during September’s Congressional Black Caucus conference. She said the party has focused more on wooing back “white male voters who have not supported the Democratic Party for 50 years” rather than “watering the garden in your own back yard.” The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey New Jersey Afro-American Female Population in New Jersey Population Totals

Total Population African American Population in New Jersey 1,204,826 Male Population: 565,706 Female Population: 639,120

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey

Westampton, New Jersey

Mayor Emeritus

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey The future for Black Women Representation?

The Honorable Marie White Bell, JSC (Ret.) American Inn of the Court The Association of Black Women Lawyers New Jersey Biographies

Estina Baker is a nationally recognized Actress, Poet and Storyteller. Ms. Baker is a Second generation graduate of and a third generation graduate of a Historically Black College. She is the daughter of the late nationally renowned Harlem physician Dr. Vernon G. Baker and the daughter of iconic Early NJ Childhood Educator, Isabelle M. Baker. Estina is also the grand-daughter of one of the founders of the Brotherhood of Pullman Porters, Minor M. Coleman. Estina served as the Artist-In- Residence @ the National Civil Rights Museum (The Lorraine Motel) in Memphis, TN, site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1998 – 2000. During her tenure at the National Civil Rights Museum, Ms. Baker designed and implemented After- School Theatre-In-Education Programs for “At-Risk” Teens. Ms. Baker was also instrumental in expanding the Teen Docent Program. During her residency at the National Civil Rights Museum, Estina wrote, developed and toured her One Woman Show entitled “Conversations…Between Sisters” to critical acclaim in the Mid-South. The One Woman Show has become a must-see for Women’s History Month. While a student at Howard University, Ms. Baker was the East Coast College Coordinator for the Committee (Lead by Stevie Wonder) to get legislation signed to get Martin Luther King’s Birthday recognized as a National Holiday. A much sought after motivational speaker on the National Circuit, Estina is a past recipient of the NYC ’s Award for Artist of the Year. She won this award for her tremendous work as a Community Artist and through her innovative Arts-In-Education Programs. Since 2001, Ms. Baker has registered over 4500 African American voters in Bergen County NJ. She has run the Bergen County Democratic African American and Faith Based GOTV for local, state and national elections including: the 2001 D.37 State Assembly Race; the 2002, 2006 Bergen County (County) Executive Race; the 2004 US Presidential Race; the 2005& 2009 NJ Gubernatorial Race, the 2006 NJ US Senatorial Race. In 2008, Ms. Baker worked the AA Faith Based Vote for then IL Senator ’s Presidential Campaign travelling to Primary States in SC, DC, MD, VA, PA and IN, finishing the General Election in her home state of NJ. Ms. Baker has trained over 150 Political Volunteers (ages 16 – 25) for GOTV. In 2012, Estina served as the Regional GOTV Director/OFA-PA for the President’s Re-election Campaign in Chester County, PA. After taking a 4 month Sabbatical in Charlotte, NC, Ms. Baker was excited and rejuvenated for her role as the Regional Organizing Director-Pittsburgh/Western PA for Mayors Against Illegal Guns in 2013. Ms. Baker became the Senior State Director for Working America, the Community Affiliate of the AFL-CIO in 2014. She served briefly as a Senior Policy/Mobilization Director for PA Senator Art Haywood of the 4th Senatorial District in 2016. Estina is National staff for CWA (Communications Workers of America, where she serves as the Senior Campaign Lead based out of the district office in Trenton, NJ. She recently represented CWA-NJ District One as the Senior Adviser of the historic 2019 Atlantic City Women’s March honoring Fannie Lou Hamer and the 55th Anniversary of her challenging Jim Crow at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

Ashley Bennett graduated Egg Harbor Township High School in 2003. While in high school, Ashley became an Emergency Medical Technician and discovered her passion to serve others. Ashley went on to attend Rutgers University, where she earned a degree in Psychology and a minor in Organizational Leadership. While at Rutgers, Ashley became a Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholar and completed original research as well as presented at the McNair Conference at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She went on to pursue a graduate degree at Georgian Court University, where she earned a Masters in Community Counseling. Ashley furthered her education by completing a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University, where she worked in The Forensic Neuropsychology Research as a Research Assistant. During this time she has presented original research at both the Association for Psychological Science and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies National Conferences. Ashley has also been the project leader in the Forensic lab for the past two years on Exposure to Violence and Trauma research. She is currently working with her advisor and research team members on several manuscripts for publication. Ashley has been in the mental health field for a decade and currently works as a psychiatric emergency screener in a local emergency room where she conducts mental health assessments and links those in crisis with mental health treatment. Ashley is completing two additional graduate degrees in Public Health and Business Administration, with plans to get involved with policy. Ashley is the newly elected Freeholder of District 3 of Atlantic County, New Jersey, where her race garnered national attention when her opponent mocked the Women’s March on Washington on social media. This spurred Ashley to enter politics for the first time. Ashley is a passionate believer in the policies that truly benefit everyone and strongly advocates for education, our youth, and social justice. Ashley has been featured in national and international media outlets like the Fox29News with Hank Flynn, News One Now with Roland Martin, MSNBC Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, MSNBC Mitchell Reports with Andrea Mitchell, Daily Show with Trevor Noah, WNYC Sunday Calling with Joan Walsh, MSNBC with Richard Lui, MSNBC with Rachel Maddow, WNYC Brian Lehrer, CNN Erin Burnett Out Front, The View and the . Ashley was a featured speaker at the 2018 Women’s March in . This past January Ashley along with a number of women running for office graced the cover of TIME magazine. Ashley is also a member of the Sorority, Incorporated. In her role as District 3 Freeholder, Ashley currently serves as the Liaison to the Atlantic County Youth Services Commission and Library Advisory Commission. She was recently nominated to the National Association of Counties Human Services and Education Steering Committee. She is a 2018 New Leaders Council Fellow, as well as serves on their National Advancement team advisory subcommittee. Ashley is the advisory board chair for the South Jersey Young Dems Black Caucus and in September of 2018 Ashley was named by The Root.com to their 100 influential African Americans of 2018. In 2019, Ashley was chair, organizer, visionary behind the Inaugural Women’s March in Atlantic City honoring the legacy of Civil Rights Activist Fannie Lou Hamer. She served on the host/planning committee for the YEO Young Elected Officials Network’s first ever Women’s Conference which brought over 100 young elected women at all levels of government from across the country to NYC in early February for training and networking. Currently her story is profiled in the book “Why I Run” which hits bookshelves in March of 2019.

Linda Carter is an American Democratic Party politician. A resident of Plainfield, she has represented the 22nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018.

Carolyn V. Chang is an exceptional attorney who practices Family Law in Burlington County New Jersey. She is known statewide for her legal acumen and her passion for children and public service. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Chang has shared her talents as a public servant in the capacity of Mayor and Committeewoman for the Township of Westampton, New Jersey. A resident of Westampton Township since 2002, Ms. Chang was elected in 2010 to the Westampton Township governing body. She was sworn in as Mayor in January 2013 and served in that capacity until January 2016. As a former Law Clerk to the Honorable Judith Yaskin, PJFP, the Honorable Mary Ann Burgess, JSC and the Honorable J. Wilson Noden, JSC, all of the Superior Court of New Jersey- Chancery Division- Family Part in Mercer County, Ms. Chang understands the importance of leading by example and the necessity to mentor other attorneys in the proper practice of law. To that end, after years of providing individual counseling to young attorneys and sharpening her legal skills as a Barrister with the Thomas S. Forkin American Inn of Courts, Ms. Chang helped found the Honorable Anne E. Thompson American Inn of Court (n/k/a the Honorable Marie White Bell American Inn of Court) where she currently serves as its Treasurer. Due to her unselfish contributions to the legal community, she was awarded the Professional Lawyer of the Year by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Further, she was honored at the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey’s 2016 Scholarship Jazz Brunch as a “Woman Breaking Barriers” because she has been a trailblazer, mentor, and role model for many women and has shattered barriers and paved the way for others to follow. In addition to the above, Ms. Chang has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the extended community. She was named Woman of the Year by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Delta Zeta Chapter; Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey; and a “Woman Worthy of Honor” by Instruments of Righteousness Evangelistic Ministries, Inc. She was inducted into the Rutgers African American Alliance Hall of Fame in October 2018. Wherever she goes, this woman makes a wonderful and transformational impact on all whom she encounters. Ms. Chang compliments her law practice with service to her community through various legal and civic organizations. Notably, Ms. Chang is an active member of the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey (ABWL), Chairperson of ABWL’s 2017 Scholarship Jazz Brunch and the 2017- 2018 President of the organization as well as Chair of the ABWL Social Justice Committee. She served on the Law & Justice Committee of the , Lieutenant Governor Shelia Oliver Transition Team in 2017-2018 and the Burlington County Democratic Freeholder Board Transition Team in 2018-2019. She is also a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), and the ABA Law Practice Management Section; the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA); the National Bar Association (NBA); and the Caribbean Association of Southern New Jersey. Ms. Chang is also a former member of the Supreme Court Family Practice Committee and is a former member of the NJSBA’s-Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee (JPAC) where she served for six (6) years, as well as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Attorney Malpractice Insurance and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Women In the Courts. Ms. Chang is a member of several other committees and boards, including a prior member of the Board of Trustees of South Jersey Legal Service, a current member of the Board of Trustees for the Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP) all charged with improving the practice of law and/or the quality of life for residents within the State of New Jersey. This busy Barrister attributes her work ethic and drive to the values instilled in her during her childhood in Jamaica, West Indies. She understands that it is upon the shoulders of so many others that she stands and this brings a responsibility to help others. A Rutgers alumnae, both undergraduate and law school, Carolyn has been married to the love of her life, Ronald David Chang, for thirty-three years. They have two children: Chelsea Simone, a 2015 graduate of Rutgers University, who previously resided and worked in Tottori, Japan who recently returned home to attend Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work, and Christian Victor who is a senior at Rutgers University College of Arts & Sciences in New Brunswick.

Marilyn D. Davis joined Altice USA in January 2017 as the New Jersey Area Director for Government Affairs. Ms. Davis manages relations with elected officials and community partners as well as oversee legislative and regulatory matters.

Previously, Ms. Davis worked at the Democratic National Committee as the National Director of Community Engagement until December 2016. She lead a team of nine individuals responsible for engaging stakeholders in the African American, Hispanic, AAPI, Jewish, LGBT, youth, women, ethnics, veterans, rural, and small business communities as well as organized labor in electoral politics and civic engagement.

She served in the Obama/Biden Administration as a political appointee at the United States Department of Labor where she worked under the leadership of Secretary Thomas E. Perez. As the Deputy Director of the office of Public Engagement, Ms. Davis managed labor and African American outreach.

She was also the president and chief executive officer of the consulting firm, Davis & Associates, LLC. As a consultant, Ms. Davis specialized in campaign management, fundraising, strategic development, political organizing, and community outreach.

Davis has held a number of senior positions in government and electoral politics. The 2016 Presidential cycle marked the fourth presidential campaign where Ms. Davis was involved in efforts to secure a democratic victory. Her first presidential campaign was in 2000 as the Constituency Director for the Victory 2000 Coordinated Campaign in New Jersey.

Davis has also served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), and deputy commissioner of labor and deputy chief of staff under former Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ).

Additionally, Davis has worked as a national political representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and on numerous presidential, gubernatorial, state and local campaigns.

Davis received her B.A. from the University of and pursued graduate studies at Howard University. Davis currently resides in Central Jersey.

Suzette Price, Esq. is a Solo Practitioner is Trenton, NJ. Her practice is devoted to litigation in the areas of family, civil, employment and bankruptcy law in state and federal Court. She also handles contracts and real estate closings.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Price was involved in performing needs analyses for the design and development of policies, procedures and training programs for large corporations across industries. She has also managed training and documentation for large corporations. Ms. Price began her career as a computer programmer.

Ms. Price earned her J.D. from Southwestern University, and her LLM in Law and Government from American University Washington College of Law with a concentration in Intellectual Property. She also earned a MGA in Information Systems and a BS in Computer Science from University of Maryland, and a BA from Trenton State College (The College of New Jersey).

Ms. Price is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, California, and the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ms. Price is professionally active with the New Jersey State Bar Association as an active member of the Solo and Small Firm and the Federal Procedure sections. In addition, Ms. Price is active on the Appellate Practice Special Committee as Vice-Chair.

Ms. Price’s civic and community involvement includes: former Board member of Trenton Rotary Club, Board Member Lawrence Township , Board Member of New Jersey Association of Black Women Lawyers and she is an active member of Sorority, Inc., and working on - too many to count - political campaigns for local, state, and federal elections.

Shavonda E. Sumter is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2012, representing the 35th Legislative District.