Newark NAACP Vol. 7 2023 Summer Newsletter

NewarkNAACPNews

Summer 2023 Vol.7

In addition, all of the County Commissioners will be on the ballot. Remember when they were called Freeholders? The County Commissioners make policy for the quality of life and services within your county. Newark is in Essex County, the largest and most populated county in the state. Our votes matter in the state of New Jersey!

NOVEMBER 7 ELECTIONS: Get Out to Vote!

On November 7, 2023, all 120 seats of the New Jersey Legislature are up for election.

What does that mean to you? You will be asked to vote for your state legislators in your district. All the NJ Senate and Assembly seats will be on the ballot.

In Newark, your district is either 28 (Newark, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington and Nutley or 29 (Newark, Belleville). One senator and two assembly members will represent us from each district.

Why is this important? These are the people who will make policy for you, your family, your community, your businesses that will affect your quality of life in New Jersey.

The state legislators just passed a $54.5 billion budget which directly touches every aspect of our lives as New Jersey residents. Aspects include: education, environment, healthcare, community affairs, taxes, highways, tunnels, economic development, jobs, pensions, family assistance, support for seniors, law and public safety and more.

The Civic Engagement Committee will host informational forums in the coming months to give you the opportunity to hear candidate platforms from District 28 and 29. Every election counts. Every election has consequences. We are asked to vote every year for someone who will make decisions about how we live.

You don’t have to wait until Nov. 7 to cast your vote. Early voting is now a part of the voting process in NJ. Early voting is Oct. 28th - Nov. 5th. There will be 10 sites opened in Essex County for early voting. You can also vote by mail if you make a request. You can contact the Essex County Clerk’s Office at www.essexclerk.com for more information.

Your vote is your voice and when you don’t vote, you have no voice.

You have a responsibility as a citizen to vote. To vote is your chance to defend democracy where you live and to uphold rights that have been gained. People fought and died for the right to vote. We urge you to get out to vote! Don’t take for granted that you don’t have stake in this country, in your state, in your town. The last presidential election demonstrated the power of voters in their states.

As W.E.B. Dubois, co-founder of NAACP so eloquently stated: “ The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save us from a second slavery?”

VOTER REGISTRATION & MEMBERSHIP

Branch members who came out to support Membership Drive at Just Fish Grill and Bar.

Deborah Smith Gregory President

NewarkACT-SO

Continues a Legacy of Exce ence.

FREEDOM Is NOT FREE! AND OUR JOURNEY IS NOT OVER.

By Kathleen Turpin Merritt

Proud Member and Servant Leader of the NAACP for 60 years.

1st Vice President

Sixty years ago, in the 1960’s when I started my personal journey for Justice, the NAACP educated and empowered me, this 14 year old Negro girl (we were Negroes in the 60’s) who had moved from Newark, NJ to a working class predominantly white Polish neighborhood in Reading, PA where our neighbors did not speak to us.

The Newark Branch brought five students to the National ACT-SO Competition. Students competed in Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Filim, Poetry Performance and Biology. The Newark branch brought home 2 of the 5 nationals medals won by the state of New Jersey! Kieri Keys received a bronze medal in sculpture, and Brianna Barnett received a bronze medal in filmmaking. The two winners will receive a cash scholarship, an Apple iPad and Apple AirPods. Students enjoyed many events throughout their days in Boston including; a kick off celebration, a college fair, and a victory celebration. Through these events students were able to engage and connect with other participants from across the country. Students also had an amazing opportunity to hear Vice President Kamala Harris speak!

Registration is now open for all high school students for our 20232024 season on the state ACT-SO website www.newjerseyactso.org.

Our history and contributions to this country are much more than being enslaved in the dehumanizing American slave system. We are the descendants of Kings and Queens who built this country through a free labor market. The NAACP provided me with our rich historical, cultural and educational accomplishments that stemmed from the continent of Africa to the shores of America

We as a people know better than any other group that “Freedom Is Not Free.” Never has been and never will be. We have been fighting since 1619.

Fighting for Freedom came at a very high cost. It cost massive loss of lives: loss of family members through enslavement; lynching; bombing of our churches and bombing of our leaders homes; assassinations of our leaders; mass murders of our people; physical and mental abuse; free labor; redline housing, education and health discrimination and disparities; police brutality and police abuse of power; human and civil rights violations; voting rights denials and delays; bias legislative laws; unfair judicial practices; Jim and Jane Crow laws; mass incarceration.

I have been conveying this message for the last six decades.

Never Forget: “Freedom is Not Free”

Never Forget: “Much Has Changed, Much Has Not”

Never Forget: “The Struggle Continues, and So Must We”

Never Forget: “We Who Believe in Freedom Must Continue Until it Comes”

Never Forget: “Voting Matters” and “Your Vote is Your Voice”

Never Forget: “The NAACP Matters”

Never Forget: “Honor Our Ancestors Who Died, So We May Live a Better Life”

Kieri Keys, Bronze Medal in Sculpture, next to her award winning entry

Newark National ACT-SO Winner 2023, Briana Barnett, Bronze Medal in Filmmaking ACT-SO Chairperson Colette Jackson Belle

Did You Know?

The Importance of Reading by 3rd Grade

Reading on grade level is critical to a child’s success in school and later in life. However, many third-grade children are promoted to fourth grade without learning to read proficiently.

Because all skills begin with the basic reading and math, these skills need to be mastered in the early grades (K-3). Most children are learning to read in the third grade. By the beginning of the fourth grade, children should be reading to learn.

• Monitor the time children are on electronic devices and YouTube. They may be highly proficient at a video game but still not able to read well.

• Set aside reading time at home. Read with the children. Let them read to you or read together taking turns. Grandparents, aunts, uncles are included. Have a family read where everyone in the house reads for a specified time.

• Set up a reading nook in your home. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just comfortable.

• Visit public libraries. Third grade is not too early!! Let them get familiar with the children’s room. (And it’s free!) Follow www. Newark Public Library.org for various activities throughout the year.

IN THE NEWS

Research states that if a child is reading proficiently by the end of the third grade, they are four times more likely to graduate from high school than students that are not proficient. Failure to read proficiently by the end of third grade is linked to discipline problems, higher rates of school dropout, incarceration and more arrests than those who graduate.

Today’s economy demands a more educated workforce and reading on grade level is absolutely essential for jobs in the future.

The Newark Branch NAACP believes it is our duty to provide parents and the community information and tools that will help produce the next generation of leaders.

Some basic tools and advice for parents:

• Have them make up their own endings to stories they read. Encourage them to be creative and to be a part of the story.

• Help them increase their vocabulary by increasing yours! Use a larger vocabulary when talking to them and whatever you do, don’t use curses to communicate with your child.

• Stay in touch with your child’s teacher. Don’t just wait for Open House, reach out to your child’s teacher on a consistent, regular basis. Let them know your child has an adult in their life that is a partner in their education.

• The City of Newark recently introduced a new 10 point literacy program for children grades K-3. Contact the Chief Education Officer, for Newark, Dr. Sharnee Brown @ brownsharn@ci.newark. nj.us for more information. Another helpful website is www. Newark Trust for Education.org.

This is the first in a series of articles written by the Learning Acceleration/ Recovery Subcommittee of the Education Committee.

Newark ACT-SO Team stands tall at the National ACT-SO Competition held in Boston.

2023 National Convention Delegates: Kathleen Merritt, Ali McBride and Leah Owens

Branch Leaders Judith Favors, Religious Affairs Chairperson, Rick Robinson, Criminal Justice Chairperson and Debra Chandler, Civic Engagement Vice Chairperson were on hand to talk about their respective committees.

NAACP leaders and community from around the state came out in support of the NJ Reparations Task Force launched by NJ Institute for Social Justice in Perth Amboy. Shown are NAACP representatives from Newark, Rahway, Metuchen Edison and Perth Amboy.

Atiyah Rashidi, Health Committee member and daughter Asada, Chairperson of Environmental Justice demonstrate family commitment.

“ Most children are learning to read by grade 3. Children should be reading to learn by grade 4.”

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE NEWARK NJ BRANCH

2023 Freedom Fund Journal and Ticket Order Form

Payments made be made online at www.NAACPnewark.org .Click on the Freedom Fund tab to use Paypal. Or Make checks payable to Newark NAACP -Freedom Fund Dinner Gala. Mail this form and payment to: Newark Branch NAACP, P.O. Box 1262, Newark, NJ 07101-1262.

PLEASE NOTE: TICKET COST IS $125.00 AT THE DOOR ON DAY OF EVENT

Mail your camera- ready art and copy or written text to: freedomfundnewark@gmail.com Camera ready ads should be sent one of the preferred formats of .DOC, PDF, JPG. Journal size is 8 1/2x 11. For online payment, go to www.NAACPnewark.org and click on the Freedom Fund tab. All Ads and payment are due by September 11, 2023. Thank you for your support!

Contributions to the NAACP Newark are not tax-deductible.

GET INVOLVED

GET OUT TO VOTE!

• BY MAIL- You must apply for a Mail-in Ballot by October 31. You may apply in person or via an authorized messenger no later than 3:00pm one day (Nov. 6) before the election.

• EARLY VOTING- Begins Saturday, October 28th and runs for nine days to Sunday, November 5th. There are 10 designated sites and you can go online at www.essexclerk.com for the locations.

• ELECTION DAY- November 7 you can go to your polling site to cast your ballot in person.

The last day to register to vote in the November election or transfer is October 17, 2023.

Make sure your voter registration is up to date! Thank you.