Winter 2024 Issue

SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE

Positive Change

SPECIAL SECTION: REMEMBERING

NJ LT. GOVERNOR SHEILA Y. OLIVER

NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director,

The late, great Lt. Governor

Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent, hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

were given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was—a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives

Fighting For Social JuStice: eneF

By Jennifer Jones Austin

or every good reason, when we think of the fight for justice for people of African descent in a land once foreign to us, but now as much our home as anyone else’s— save indigenous people—we recall the tireless work and sacrifices of Harriet Tubman; Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Nat Turner, Richard Allen, W.E.B. Du Bois, Dorothy Height, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, James Meredith, Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hammer, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and hundreds more. Their individual and collective actions made possible our freedom from both physical and mental bondage. Their sacrifices paved the way for us to one day live as full-fledged Americans with all the civil and human rights that attend. They set us on a path—trusting the nation—and more importantly, we would never turn back. Because of them, no longer are African Americans legally enslaved to work without pay, though we still are disproportionately paid less for our labor. Because of their great works,

is illegal for law enforcement to detain and arrest us without probable cause, yet today our communities are oversurveilled and arrest and prosecution rates are disproportionately higher for alleged crimes by Black persons compared cont’d

Guest

Rev. Al Sharpton

Transport Workers Union Local 100 celebrates

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In the 1930s, when the Transport Workers Union was in its infancy, African-Americans could only work in the transit system as porters, cleaning stations and trains. Managers who were racist wouldn’t hire African-Americans into higher-paying positions.

TWU, led by our founder, Michael J. Quill, fought back. By organizing and agitating, TWU kicked open the doors of opportunity, so all transit jobs in the subway and bus system could be available to everyone.

During Black History month, Transport Workers Union Local 100 reflects on the past struggles and advancements. We also recommit ourselves to the ideal of an America that is unburdened by racism, discrimination and hate, where everyone has a fair chance of reaching their full potential.

TWU Local 100 • We Move New York

Richard Davis President

John V. Chiarello Secretary-Treasurer

LaTonya Crisp Recording Secretary

Lynwood Whichard Administrative VP

RWJBarnabas Health proudly congratulates Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. and each of today’s exceptional honorees, and will always remember the contributions of the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

rwjbh.org

Clara Maass Medical Center

Community Medical Center

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

Jersey City Medical Center

Monmouth Medical Center and The Unterberg Children’s Hospital

Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

Trinitas Regional Medical Center

RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center

Children’s Specialized Hospital

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

an NYPD hero, the eternal search for justice

On a Friday night 53 years ago last month, NYPD Patrolman Robert Bolden stopped by to visit the bartender at his neighborhood restaurant in downtown Brooklyn. Only one other person was there, a man lingering in the phone booth. The bartender, who wanted to close the empty bar, asked Bolden to let the man know it was time to leave. The off-duty cop tapped on the phone booth door, and the man replied by revealing a shotgun and opening fire, mortally wounding the surprised cop. As the gunman fled, an accomplice ran in and grabbed Robert Bolden’s 38-caliber service revolver. The suspects were never apprehended, making this the oldest unsolved cop-killing in modern NYPD history. But the story doesn’t end there.

For the past five years, Detective John Bolden of Brooklyn South Homicide, Patrolman Bolden’s grandson, who was born seven years after the killing, has been part of a renewed effort with NYPD Crime Stoppers to offer a reward for tips that could finally lead to a resolution of the case. The fund, bolstered by donations raised by police unions and organizations like Blue Lives Matter, totals $111,500 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction – or at least an explanation of what happened.

Although Detective Bolden never knew his grandfather, his ancestor was a constant and visible presence in his young life. A portrait of his grandfather hung in the living room when he was growing up and he remembers looking at the shield every single day. He says the killing impacted his family for generations and caused his grandmother’s health to deteriorate. “She really had a broken heart,” Detective Bolden says. His grandmother would often tell him, “Someday they’re going to catch the person who did this.”

Witnesses to the murder might be anywhere from 65 to 95 years old today. Tipsters can contact NYPD Crime Stoppers by phone or at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still collect the reward through a bank code number received at the time of giving the information.

“Even if the killer is dead,” says Detective Bolden, an 18½-year NYPD veteran, “It doesn’t mean the case is closed as far as the family is concerned, because we still have a lot of unanswered questions. We want justice – or, at the very least, closure.”

Asked how long he is willing to carry on the search, Detective Bolden answers unhesitatingly: “Forever.”

https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org

Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, Inc.

Patrick Hendry, President

Detective Bolden at the 75 Pct., posing with the reward poster, when the search for his grandfather’s killers was resumed four years ago.

TSAVING OUR OWN COMMUNITY

Newark Boys Chorus School

he Positive Community’s annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet, celebrates excellence, service, freedom and the genius of Black music in America! Our 5th year theme is inspired by the Maze featuring Frankie Beverly’s soul classic, “We Are One.” How wonderful to gather and fellowship under a banner of spiritual unity, cultural unity and love! We are proud of our honorees whose life’s work demonstrates an unwavering dedication to progress.

Welcome to TPC’s Winter Issue, the Social Justice Edition, Special thanks to Guest Editor, our friend, Jennifer Jones Austin. She has brought together an awesome group of leaders to share their thoughts on important matters of our times. A different side of Rev. Al Sharpton is our featured cover story. In this issue, we pay a special, heartfelt tribute to the legacy of Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver.

Now in its 25th year of publishing Good News from the Church and the Community, our media company remains ever devoted to the community-building ideals of positive change. In other words, we’re on the side of the forward-thinkers: individuals, groups, small businesses, corporations and institutions that care!

The Crisis

Recently we learned that the Newark Boys Chorus School closed in October, 2023. Founded in 1969, the school has been a source of academic learning, music appreciation and community pride! The school could not reach their fundraising goal of about $500,000 needed to continue operations.

The chorus—known as Newark’s Musical Ambassadors— has been heard on six continents, performing a repertoire that included traditional classical music, spirituals, folk music and jazz at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the White House, according to the school’s website. The chorus also appeared at community events in Newark.

The current crisis in spirituality and culture among our people is best illustrated in today’s music! And now we witness the demise of a vital institution of academic and music excellence. The Newark Boys Chorus School, a light in the world, has dimmed due to a lack of funding.

Indeed, the very fortunes of our people will change for

the better the day we accept full and complete responsibility for the future of Black music in America. The Newark Boys Chorus School was created for the people; by the people of Newark! It will continue to live, if only we will it to live! Let us mobilize our collective resources to ensure the future of this great institution of music and song.

The Gift

The Positive Community’s contribution to social justice and positive change is in our ministries of cultural literacy and music appreciation. We believe that the progress of our children and the integrity of our African American culture, values and traditions—our collective soul— mean everything. Yes, it is our patriotic duty and our God given right to protect, preserve and promote our very best—America’s best!

The African American Cultural Narrative is the story about us—cultural literacy. It is the truth about who we really are: Liberated, beloved sons and daughters of the Most High God: mighty decedents of the Great American Emancipation—1863–65!

Begin by teaching the Cultural Narrative to a child at about the age of 6. Ideally, by their 13th birthday, a young person should know how to read, write, comprehend, speak and commit to memory this cultural narrative—a new language of freedom. And this is how we secure and fortify the future!

For maximum effect, have a young person rehearse it and then stand before you and read it out loud. Watch what happens—the Spirit of Truth will speak to your soul! The great African American Cultural Narrative—it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Our Music

Music appreciation goes hand in hand with cultural literacy. They complement one another. Particularly among our people, how can one be culturally literate without appreciation for our greatest collective asset— our music. According to music legend, Duke Ellington: “the Negro has had a major influence on the total culture of America. Which of course, I would say that American music has the greatest influence on the world.”

For the ultimate music appreciation experience, tune to The Positive Community’s all new 24/7, music streaming service, TPC Radio. Visit our website: thepositivecommunity. com, press the “Radio” tab. Listen and enjoy America’s best, In Classic Black

The African American Cultural Narrative

African Americans are a unique people with a peculiar history in this land. Brought to these shores in chains from Africa in the early 1600s, our people toiled and suffered as captives in brutal bondage for a quarter of a millennium (250 years). On January 1, 1863, two years into the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, became law, signaling an end to slavery. On that day, the African American community of the United States of America was born.

One hundred years later in August 1963, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial, as he led hundreds of thousands to a March on Washington, seeking an end to discrimination and 90 years of Jim Crow segregation in the South. It was a demand for full and equal citizen’s rights for the people in what has been called “the Second Emancipation.”

Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s tragic assassination in 1968, America elected its first black president, the Honorable Barack Obama (2008).

In the 100 years between the first and second emancipation, in the midst of bitter persecution, humiliation, lynching, and enduring the denial of basic human rights, the resiliency of the African American spirit continued to shine brightly in religion, business, education, medicine, invention, sports, and in the creative arts—music, fashion, dance, language, literature, and theater. Indeed, original American art forms and a popular culture which has become the envy of the world were founded upon the souls of a forlorn people! And that is our story—the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of a loving and gifted race—revealed!

An Extraordinary History

Ours is an extraordinary history of trial, tribulation, and triumph that we must never, ever forget! This is the very story we must tell our children and ever be remembered for all future generations. We the people, descendants of the Great Emancipation must tell our story and sing our greatest songs to each other and to the entire world! We must remind ourselves over and over again of the noble struggle, human dignity, sacrifices and wisdom of our torch-bearing forefathers; of our goodly heritage, our divine inheritance; our great music legacy—Positive Music Matters!

This is our story—the cultural narrative—a new language of freedom; a springboard toward a great and prosperous future; a spiritually enlightened ideal. A vision of hope, opportunity, and progress; liberty and happiness; health and wholeness—peace and goodwill!

WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH…!

—Adrian A. Council, Sr.

GREAT AMERICAN EMANCIPATION DAY AWARDS HONOREES

Tri-State Ballroom Robert Treat Hotel

Rev. Al Sharpton

Alfred Charles Sharrpton, known as Rev. Al Sharpton, is a civil rights and social justice activist, Baptist minister, radio talk show host, TV personality, and founder of the National Action Network. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. Sharpton hosts the nationally syndicated weekday radio talk show, Keepin' It Real, and is a political analyst and host of Politics Nation weekends on MSNBC

John M. Bonhomme

John M. Bonhomme is an executive director in the Global Strategic Markets group at JP Morgan. He began working on Wall Street in 1998, with J.P. Morgan in the Leverage Finance Department. During his varied career, Bonhomme has held positions at Goldman Sachs & Co.; was founder and Managing Partner of Bonwick Capital Partners & BWB Bank and served as COO and Board Strategic Advisor to Eagle National Bank. Mr. Bonhomme is a federally licensed, registered representative holding professional registrations of NASD Series 6, 7, 24, 63, 79 & 99. Mr. Bonhomme received a M.B.A degree from Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management, where he was a Robert Toigo fellow and holds a bachelors degree from Colgate University with phi beta kappa and magna cum laude, honors in philosophy and religion.

Melba Moore

American Rhythm & Blues Singer and Actress Melba Moore is a four-time Grammy nominee and the winner of the 1970 Tony Award for Best Performance as Lutibelle in Purlie. With a total of eleven top ten U.S. hits on the Billboard charts over the past 40 years, both singles and 19 albums, Melba Moore continues as one of pop music’s most enduring artists. A native of Harlem, New York, Moore later moved to Newark, New Jersey with her family. She attended the High School for Performing Arts in Newark. She went on to Montclair State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education. Moore began her career as a background vocalist. She is also an acclaimed actress with television, film, and Broadway appearances.

Rev. Dr. Forest Soaries Jr.

His impact spans government, ministry, community development, financial empowerment, and corporate social responsibility. He served as New Jersey Secretary of State from 1999 to 2002. Retired after three decades as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, New Jersey, the life’s work of Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. has shaped spiritual growth, educational excellence, economic empowerment, and faithbased community development. President and CEO of Corporate Community Connections, Inc.,Soaries aids corporations in their social responsibility efforts. His dfree® Financial Freedom Movement focuses on empowering financial independence. Soaries has penned ten books, and hosts For Your Soul on SiriusXM Urban View. Listen to Soaries’ Sermons on TPC Radio Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30AM

Bishop William T. Cahoon

Known as a family man first, Bishop William T. Cahoon was married for 47 years, 10 months, and 5 days to the late Lady R. Carolyn Cahoon. Their four children have given him 11 grandchildren. His multitude of roles include: dedicated husband, father, grandfather, family advocate, counselor, and mentor for families, church, and communities at large. Bishop Cahoon serves as the New Garden State (NGS) jurisdictional prelate, Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and the senior bishop, in service, State of New Jersey. Since 1993, he has provided executive direction and leadership to 21 churches in six counties. He also serves as pastor of House of Prayer COGIC, Plainfield, NJ, and New Reid Temple COGIC, East Orange, NJ. COGIC Urban Initiatives works to empower the local church to implement programs that address education, economic development, crime, family and Financial Literacy. Those programs will result in measurable improvement in the quality of life for people, families, and communities. This is done by identifying and replicating best practices from our churches as well as external resources, and making them easily available to all churches utilizing technology and other resources.

Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond

Dr. LaKeesha Walrond became the first woman president of New York Theological Seminary (NYTS) in 2019. Highlights of her accomplishments at NYTS include a master of professional studies (MPS) program at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility that graduated nine incarcerated women, the redevelopment and national expansion of the Certificate Program, and the relocation of the campus to Union Theological Seminary. Mayor Bill de Blasio named October 26, 2019 “Rev. LaKeesha Walrond Day” in the city of New York. Dr. Walrond began as associate minister at Zion Temple UCC in North Carolina. She served as the executive pastor and chief of staff of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, NY for thirteen years. In an effort to reach the hearts of women, Dr. Walrond launched the Getting to Greatness (G2G) Women’s Conference in 2013. She is the author of two books. My Body is Special (2017) is the first in her six-part Let’s Talk About It (LTAI) children’s book series, written to help end sexual violence against children. Her first e-book, Stronger Than Your Worst Pain: A Spiritual Guide to Activating Your Inner Power (2018), empowers women to recognize their passion, power, and potential to overcome life’s most difficult challenges.

Jiles H. Ship

Jiles H. Ship serves as commissioner of the New Jersey Police Training Commission.He is a 30-year law enforcement veteran and expert who began his career on the Edison Police force. In 2002, Ship was asked to serve as a special assistant to the Director in the office of the New Jersey Attorney General. He has coordinated anti-crime and community justice initiatives and law enforcement efforts on the federal, state, county and municipal levels. In 2004, Ship was named director of Public Safety for the City of Plainfield. Over the years, he served as a board member of the New Jersey Regional Community Policing Institute and president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). Ship is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Thomas A. Farrington

Thomas Farrington founded PHEN in 2003 after receiving treatment for prostate cancer in 2000. He published his first book, Battling The Killer Within, in 2001. Recognized as the leading national prostate cancer education and advocacy organization focused on the needs of African Americans, PHEN credits its success with its national network of prostate cancer survivors and their loved ones, who support the organization’s efforts within their communities. PHEN partners with churches bringing education and awareness programs where local prostate cancer medical specialists educate communities. Farrington’s background is in information technology and PHEN uses online programming to reach and support individual educational needs. He currently serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines Panel and the NCCN Prostate Cancer Early Detection Guidelines Panel. He serves as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and as an advisor to a number of other healthcare organizations.

HOSTS AND MUSICAL GUESTS

Jeniffer Austin-Jones

A fourth-generation leader of faith and social justice, Jennifer Jones Austin fights for equity. She is CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty, policy and advocacy organization with 170 member agencies and faith partners. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of National Action Network; co-hosts WBLS’ “Open Line,” frequently guest hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, “Keep’n It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton,” and appears frequently on the cable show, “Brooklyn Savvy.” She is a returning guest and contributor on the “Karen Hunter Show.” Jennifer Jones Austin is the author of Consider It Pure Joy—the harrowing account of her year-long battle with a sudden, life-threatening illness, and the power of faith and community to transform desperation into joy.

Rev. Jacques DeGraff

Reverend De Graff served as the first Vice President of the One Hundred Black Men, New York, where he has been a founding member of two public high schools; The Eagle Academy for Young Men and the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice (Urban Assembly). As chief of protocol in the National Action Network, Reverend DeGraff traveled with Reverend Al Sharpton to the Sudan to spotlight abuses against Christians, and to Cuba to meet with Premier Fidel Castro to discuss the U.S. embargo. DeGraff has been an outspoken advocate for economic and social justice for communities of color. Well-known and respected in New York leadership circles, he has been a tireless advocate for Minority and Women owned businesses which create jobs in our communities, and he helped to lead the passage of Local Law1 to create municipal opportunities for MWBE contracts.

Elisabeth Withers

She’s Broadway’s original “Shug Avery,” in “The Color Purple,” receiving both Tony and Grammy nominations. The multi-talented actress, songwriter, and dancer is the featured singer for our Emancipation Day Awards. Ms. Withers graduated from the Berklee School of Music in Boston and earned a master's degree from New York University. She has sung with Bill Withers, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, and Luther Vandross. The late iconic singer/songwriter Bill Withers, who is not related, performed a duet with her at the ASCAP Songwriters annual concert and said of her, “Elisabeth Withers is my musical daughter. She’s one of the real singers in this industry.” She is currently working on her fourth album entitled “Press Play.” As music and vocal coordinator for Fusionfest, Florida's largest global festival Elisabeth conceptualized, co-wrote, co-produced, and performed the theme song for the festival; “I Can Be Me Here.” Subsequently, she received honors from the nationwide LGBT Music & Cultural Festival for her contribution to music and the arts.

Violin Diva

Charisa the Violin Diva began her musical journey in a small public school program at the tender age of four, and so began a lifelong love-affair with music. Born and raised in Maryland, all of her earliest musical influences - from traditional gospel to Washington DC’s gogo; and from swinging jazz to the music of a classical symphony, intermix in her music today to create an innovative, jazz-infused take on contemporary soul. A progressive jazz artist and in-demand innovator, Charisa Rouse has collaborated with some dynamic artists across the musical borders, including Wynton Marsalis, Savion Glover, Quincy Jones, Kim Burrell, Common, Diana Krall, and Musiq Soulchild. As an opening act, she has set the stage ahead of Melissa Morgan and Freddie Jackson, and collaborated with the Ailey Dance Company

Newark Boys Chorus

Founded as The New Jersey Symphony Boys Choir in 1966, the Newark Boys Chorus School was established three years later with the goal of creating an academic and music program unique to the city of Newark, New Jersey. Excelling in academic and musical education, the primary mission of Newark Boys Chorus School is the development of students into successful young men of sound character through rigorous academic and musical training. Few Chorus School graduates become professional musicians, but the training and experience they receive demands discipline and poise while providing the selfesteem these young men carry with them through life. They leave the Newark Boys Chorus School as young men prepared for and looking forward to productive and happy futures. Donald C. Morris serves as music director.

Congratulates fellow Multicultural Consortium for Responsible Drinking (MCRD) member Commissioner Jiles Ship for his Corporate Community Partner Award!

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Celebrates 40 Years of Service

On January 17, 2024, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) celebrated its 40th anniversary. Since its founding 40 years ago, NJHMFA’s programs have directly benefited hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents by providing affordable housing options and vital mortgage assistance. Through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, NJHMFA has financed 70,000 apartments, over 66,000 of which are affordable to low- and moderate-income households. Another 112 new multifamily developments are underway, which together will bring online another 9,000 affordable units. NJHMFA has helped more than 10,000 families buy their first home, representing more than $2 billion in market value at the time of purchase and nearly the same again in wealth created through equity. NJHMFA has also helped more than 56,000 families facing housing instability by providing counseling and financial assistance. Beyond the numbers, NJHMFA’s work has improved thousands of lives: families have found stable homes, neighborhoods have been revitalized, and individuals have found support in their time of greatest need. Against this backdrop, NJHMFA’s 40th anniversary commemorates not only the Agency’s work, but the substantial impact investment in New Jersey’s residents can have on our communities and our future.

“For 40 years, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has helped many thousands of New Jerseyans become new homeowners,” said Governor Murphy. “Our Administration’s partnership with NJHMFA has been essential to creating access to more affordable

housing throughout our state. As the agency reaches this incredible milestone of an anniversary, we recognize the many programs the agency has created to make the American dream attainable for so many in our state.”

“NJHMFA exists to make New Jersey housing affordable to all New Jerseyans, and for 40 years, it has delivered. We have deployed innovative programs, policies, and partnerships, becoming a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing development and producing numerous award-winning and landmark properties,” said Executive Director Melanie Walter. “NJHMFA is proud of the positive impact that we have on the lives of all New Jerseyans, particularly those looking for apartments or first homes that are affordable to them in the communities where they want to live. We look forward to continuing to support community development and revitalization in the years ahead.”

“Congratulations to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) on 40 years of progressive and innovative work making communities more diverse, and municipalities economically stronger,” said DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “Today, New Jersey families and individuals with specialized housing needs have more options when seeking safe, affordable, and stable rental housing and homeownership opportunities. Without a doubt, New Jerseyans will continue to benefit from NJHMFA’s transformative work in the future.”

NJHMFA was created by an act of the New Jersey legislature merging the New Jersey Housing Finance

Agency (HFA) and the New Jersey Mortgage Finance Agency (MFA) into a single organization to house the state’s affordable housing production capacity for both multifamily and single-family housing. Today, NJHMFA oversees a multifamily production portfolio that has grown to exceed $1.3 billion each year, and an approximately $1 billion annual single-family mortgage program. Over the past 40 years, NJHMFA has become the New Jersey state allocator of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the host of the state’s preeminent down payment assistance program for new homebuyers, and the administrator of federal assistance programs designed to protect homeowners against the impacts of economic downturns.

Through the LIHTC program, created in 1986, NJHMFA has financed the creation or preservation of over 75,000 affordable apartments across 1,010 properties, with 66,000 of these units already completed and another 9,000 units forthcoming. These projects have provided thousands of low- and moderate-income residents throughout the state with safe and high-quality homes, cumulatively generated billions of dollars in the direct and indirect economic impacts of new construction, supported thousands of jobs, and helped municipalities advance their community development goals.

At the same time, NJHMFA has consistently expanded homeownership opportunities for low- and moderateincome households. Since the 2017 expansion in singlefamily programs, NJHMFA has allocated over $100 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to approximately 10,000 first-time low-and moderate-income homebuyers. These borrowers were able to make home purchases cumulatively valued at over $2 billion. Despite the challenges of recent interest rate hikes, this initiative has continued to grow, assisting about 2,500 households in 2023 alone. That same year, NJHMFA created a program specifically tailored to the needs of first-generation homebuyers, making New Jersey one of only a handful of states to offer such assistance.

In addition to creating multifamily housing opportunities and offering access to homeownership opportunities, NJHMFA works to effectively protect quality of life throughout the state by preventing the loss of homeownership. When the housing market collapsed in 2008, NJHMFA provided more than $320 million to over 8,000 impacted homeowners, as well as housing counseling that helped struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure. More than 56,000 New Jersey families have benefitted from NJHMFA’s free housing counseling initiatives. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, NJHMFA developed the federally funded ERMA program, which has distributed more than $150 million to help more than 5,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure so far.

As NJHMFA marks its 40th anniversary, it uses the lessons of the past to shape its clear vision for the future. The Agency seeks to expand its impact, leveraging data resources, technology, and state and federal resources to meet the many diverse housing needs in evidence across the state. It will continue building strong community and development partnerships, optimizing resources, and addressing emerging housing issues proactively. In these ways, NJHMFA will remain at the forefront of New Jersey affordability, accessibility, and sustainability, supporting NJ residents and fostering community well-being in the decades ahead.

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA,

Come participate in the many recreational opportunities available for people of all ages as you enjoy the Essex County experience. You can learn about conservation and animals through exciting hands-on activities while visiting Essex County Turtle Back Zoo or our Environmental Center. Youngsters will have a fun-filled adventure when they attend one of our affordable camps at either facility. For a great physical challenge, hit the ice at Codey Arena in our ice skating camps. Every day brings something new in Essex!

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive And The Board of County Commissioners

Announce The

Essex County Codey Arena

560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange 973-731-3828 ~ www.essexcountynj.org/codeyarena

SUMMER FIGURE SKATING CAMP

The camp runs seven weeks from June 24 to August 9

Basic Skills 3 and up for ages 5-15

Full Day 8:00am – 3:15pm

Half Day 8:00am – 12:00pm

Camp includes on-ice and off-ice training, yoga, arts & crafts, zoo trips and much more. There is a 10% discount for families with more than one child enrolled in the program during the same week.

Essex County Environmental Center

621B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland 973-228-8776

www.essexcountynj.org/environmentalcenter

SPRING CAMP

Tues., April 2; Wed., April 3; Thurs., April 4; 9:30am-3:30pm

For children ages 6-10. Restore the bond between children and nature. Children will have the opportunity to explore nature at the center’s varied habitats, which include the forest, wetland, pond and river. Pre-registration and payment required either in person, by mail or online at www.essexcountyparks.org/calendar $210 per child for all three days OR $85 per child/per day

WILDERNESS SKILLS SUMMER CAMP

Monday, July 8 to Friday, July 12; 1:30-4:30pm

For grades 5 to 8. Join Senior Staff Naturalist David Alexander for some exciting lessons in outdoor skill building. Participants will identify wild plants, learn to track animals, create fires, go canoeing, make natural cordage, build shelters and much more! Advance registration is required. $300 per child/per week

NATURE EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

July 8-19, Grades Pre-K and Kindergarten; 9:30 am to 12:30pm

July 22 to August 2, Grades 1 and 2; 9:30am to 1:30pm

August 5 to August 16, Grades 3 and 4; 9:30am to 1:30pm

Enjoy exploring and discovering woodland and river habitats for insects, birds, amphibians, Lenape life and much more. Sign up for one or two weeks per grade level. Advance registration is required. $210 per child/per week for Pre-K and K, $230 per child/per week for Grades 1 and 2; $250 per child/per week for Grades 3 and 4

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange 973-731-5800

www.essexcountynj.org/turtlebackzoo

2024 CAMP PROGRAMS

Spring Break 1: Tuesday, March 26; Wednesday, March 27; Thursday, March 28 (each day has a unique curriculum)

Spring Break 2: Tuesday, April 2; Wednesday, April 3; Thursday, April 4 (each day has a unique curriculum)

Summer Camp: weekly starting Monday, June 24 through Friday, August 30

Join us at Turtle Back Zoo for some wild fun! To further our mission of conservation, education and stewardship, campers will be introduced to the extraordinary world of animals, nature and science. Children will enjoy ageappropriate camp activities that include games, teacher-led lessons, behindbehind-the-scenes tours, up-close animal encounters, hands-on science demonstrations and fun crafts.

Drop off time for all camps is at 9am; pickup is at 4pm. Summer Camp has an option to register for extended care. Summer camp curriculum is repeated weekly; most campers sign-up for one week. Registration opens in March. For more information, visit turtlebackzoo.com/discover/zoo-camps/

Establishing credit is one of the most important keys to achieving financial health and creating generational wealth.

A good credit score shows you have a track record of borrowing money responsibly and is important to landlords, mortgage lenders, financial institutions and more. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rates will be on credit cards and loans, helping you save money over time.

Building a credit history from scratch can feel challenging since you need credit to build credit. If you don’t have credit, you’re less likely to be approved for loans and credit cards, limiting your ability to make major purchases that create financial stability for yourself and your family.

How can you build credit without having credit?

First, what does it mean to build credit?

All consumers have a three-digit score between 300 and 850. You want your score to be as high as possible, as lenders look at credit scores to make loan and credit decisions.

A credit score consists of your payment history, available credit, total balances, the mix of credit type, length of credit history, and the frequency and amount of new credit you’re applying for.

If you don’t have a credit history or you’re rebuilding your credit, your credit score will likely be on the lower end. Here are a few simple steps, including some you may already be doing, that can help start the year off on the right foot and improve your score:

Report rent or bill payments and pay on time.

Ask a service provider, such as a landlord, to report payment activity to the credit bureaus. Also remember to pay bills on time. Paying your utility bills, rent, credit cards and loans on time can demonstrate fiscal responsibility to lenders.

Apply for a store or gas card.

Retailers and businesses often approve applicants with little credit history for a card. Store cards usually carry a higher interest rate, but payments still become part of your credit profile. Remember to try to pay off

5 Tips to Help Improve your Credit Score in 2024

the balance each month to avoid raking up interest.

Open a bank account and consider a new-to-credit card:

Although checking and savings accounts don’t factor into your credit score, lenders can review them to see how fiscally responsible you are. And in the case of Chase Freedom Rise, which is designed for new-to-credit customers, having a Chase checking account increases your likelihood for approval.

Become an authorized user or joint account holder.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be added to their credit card. You’ll get an extra card with your name on it, and activity from that card will be reflected on your credit report over time. Be sure this person has a good history of on-time payments and low credit utilization – if they have bad credit habits, it will reflect on your credit, too.

Find a co-signer.

Apply for credit jointly with someone who already has an established credit history. Remember, the co-signer is putting their credit on the line for you, so keep up with your payments and don’t overspend.

These options can help you demonstrate your creditworthiness, and you may start seeing your score rise sooner than you might expect.

Resolve to build credit in 2024

It’s never too late to build -- or rebuild -- your credit. As you make your resolutions for the new year, put credit building near the top of your list. Not only will good credit help you have a happy new year in 2024, you’ll see your hard work pay off for many new years to come.

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Bechtel Outreach Event in Harlem

With the recent authorization of capital infrastructure projects across the nation, major opportunities for MWBEs appear to be a certainty on the horizon. The Bechtel Corporation, the global engineering and construction management giant, continued its outreach in the New York City region with an introductory event at the glittering Renaissance Hotel in Harlem. Hosted by the Pearl Alliance, Northeast Regional President John Williams and his team engaged in dynamic presentations and discussions with a bevy of

prominent MBEs, community leaders, advocate, clergy, business and civic leaders. Among those attending were First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright; Chancellor David Banks; Democratic County Leader Keith Wright, Pearl Alliance Founder/CEO Terence Banks, members of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Black Architects & Engineers, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, One Hundred Black Men, Chief Business Diversity Office of New York City Michael Garner, and TPC Publisher Adrian Council.

L-R: Rev Jacques A. DeGraff, Lori Davis, CEO of Bechtel John Williams,Terence Banks, and Nacole Grogan

L-R: Keith Wright, members of Black Architects and Engineers including leader Julie Harris

L-R: Ali Banks, Michael Garner, Dwayne Sampson, and Rev. Brian Scott

L-R: Philip Banks, David Banks, guest, and Minister Willie Walker

Photos by: Bruce Moore

The Berwyn Grande Ribbon Cutting in East Orange

Mayor Ted R. Green, the East Orange City Council and The Department of Policy, Planning and Development joined SBF Development, LLC in celebrating the opening of The Berwyn Grande, another urban renewal project built by Sa’id and Gigi Boykin, East Orange natives and longtime business owners in the City of East Orange.

Located at 30-34 Berwyn Street, this 24-unit chic, urban residence is located right in the heart of the Transit Village and within a five-minute walking distance from NJ Transit’s Brick Church Train Station. Family, friends, fellow developers and city officials came together on Wednesday, February 7, 2023 for an official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held in the building’s majestic vestibule.

Sa’id Boykin said he entered into the world of entrepreneurship with the intention of rebuilding the community where he was born and raised. He and wife Gigi made their first investment in the city with the opening of Illtown Salon on Main Street, a city staple that recently celebrated its 30th year in business.

That was 1994, and since then, SBF Development’s project portfolio has increased significantly to include more than 50 redevelopment projects, including his latest projects in East Orange: The Clinton Grand and The Clinton Grand North on North Clinton Street, two mid-rise residential apartment buildings also located in

the Transit Village.

In his remarks, Mayor Ted Green recognized the commitment, perseverance, and resilience of the Boykins, including their valued partnership in our community and their long-time success as a minority-owned family business.

“For the last 10 years or so, if you look around, you will see just how much Sa’id and Gigi Boykin have invested in the community that invested in them,” said Mayor Green. “Sa’id is one of the humblest people I know, and he knows his purpose.”

Mayor Green reinforced the city’s commitment to providing opportunities for minority developers to build in the city.

“We talk it, we walk it, we live it,” said Mayor Green, referencing the fact that most of the city’s new construction has been developed by minority men and women, who like the Boykins, also have a personal interest in seeing our community grow. “Together, we are working hard to ensure that we build an East Orange that we can all be proud of.”

Newark Breaks Ground on Mildred’s Bridge

A home for those reentering society, breaks ground in Newark

For people who’ve been incarcerated, rejoining society can be a challenge. Finding housing, a job, and reconnecting to family and community is difficult. The New Hope Memorial Community Development Corp.—with support from the Profeta Urban Investment Foundation Inc.—is working to change that.

An eight-unit apartment building named Mildred’s Bridge will be located in the South Ward and is named for Mildred Crump, one of Newark’s most revered trailblazing public servants. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place in January. The new building will be across the street from the Essex County home of the New Jersey Reentry Corp., the nonprofit led by former Gov. Jim McGreevey. The facilities will work together for those who are transitioning back into society.

Paul Profeta said Mildred’s Bridge project can help an enormous amount of people. He noted that the prison system does little to help those who commit crimes because of homelessness, hunger and other struggles.

Crump became the first Black woman ever elected to Newark’s city council in 1994 . Twelve years later she won a councilwoman at-large seat and later became the first female city council president, a post she held until she resigned for health reasons in 2021.

Crump, who was on hand, was humble in accepting the accolades, noting: “Little did I know that my life would become so rich and worthy. God has given me an opportunity to give to others and that’s what I wanted to do in my life, to do for others.”

The indomitable Mildred Crump

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka

Newark Councilmember Rev. Patrick Council

L-R: Rev. Steffie Bartley and C. Lawrence Crump

Photos by: Vincent Bryant

Baptist Ministers Meeting

On January 15 th , 2024, The Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater NY and Vicinity recently held their Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day at the Convent Ave Baptist Church in Harlem. The theme was: “Let Freedom Ring.” The keynote speaker was the Honorable Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City. He shared a moving message about “Freedom.”

Founded in 1898, the Baptist Ministers’ Conference is NYC’s oldest and largest clergy leadership organization has been on the front lines of social justice and civil rights movements for more than 100 years. Rev. Dr. James A. Kilgore is President.

US Senator Chuck Schumer with clergy leadership

Dr. Malcolm Punter, CEO, HCCI

Mayor Eric Adams delivers keynote remarks

Prayers for Mayor Adams

L-R: Host Pastor Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Williams, Rev. Keith Dennis , Rev. Kilgore NYC Councilman, Yuseff Salaam, and Rev. Brian Scott

FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Guest Editor: Jennifer Jones Austin | Special Consultant: Caryl Lucas

Fighting For Social JuStice:

the ShiFt From BeneFiciary to Burden Bearer

By Jennifer Jones Austin

For every good reason, when we think of the fight for justice for people of African descent in a land once foreign to us, but now as much our home as anyone else’s— save indigenous people—we recall the tireless work and sacrifices of Harriet Tubman; Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Nat Turner, Richard Allen, W.E.B. Du Bois, Dorothy Height, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, James Meredith, Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hammer, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and hundreds more. Their individual and collective actions made possible our freedom from both physical and mental bondage. Their sacrifices paved the way for us to one day live as full-fledged Americans with all the civil and human rights that attend. They set us on a path—trusting the nation—and more importantly, we would never turn back.

Because of them, no longer are African Americans legally enslaved to work without pay, though we still are disproportionately paid less for our labor. Because of their great works, it is illegal for law enforcement to detain and arrest us without probable cause, yet today our communities are oversurveilled and arrest and prosecution rates are disproportionately higher for alleged crimes by Black persons compared cont’d on next page

THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY

FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

cont’d from previous page

to whites. Their actions led to the ending of segregation in public schools with the promise of equal education, but still our children are taught in predominantly Black schools with significantly fewer resources. Fewer than two out of 10 Black children are proficient in reading and math. They promised we would receive our 40 acres and a mule, but still today we have been neither compensated for our ancestors’ labors nor ensured our fair share, reinforcing systemic and widening wealth gaps between Blacks and whites. With some giving their lives, they secured our legal right to vote with the Voting Rights Act of 1964, but with the United States Supreme Court having gutted the law in 2013 and since then 29 states passing nearly 100 restrictive laws that detrimentally impact us most, we must fight again just to preserve this civil right.

We are the descendants and direct beneficiaries of all the good that resulted from the hard work, sweat, tears, and

blood shed by our ancestral leaders and doers. And just as they bore the burdens of pressing for equal opportunity and fairness, we must do the same. If we are to stave off further erosion of the gains made for our good and realize true equality, equity, and opportunity, we must embrace this moment and our responsibility. Now, we are burden bearers.

This special edition of The Positive Community brings forth the voices of both faith leaders and leaders of faith engaged in the pursuit of justice. Their steadfast works in the fields of education, health and mental health, religion, community development, civic engagement, criminal justice, and economic insecurity indicate they both understand and embrace their roles as burden bearers. Their contributions to this publication provide critical perspectives on the issues that present some of the greatest challenges for Black Americans, and actions that can and should be taken to alleviate and ameliorate them.

Silent . . . no more! the Black church and mental health

By Rev. Dr. Michael A. Walrond Jr., Senior Pastor, First Corinthian Baptist Church

Birthed in the midst of the most dehumanizing and brutal institution known in the history of this country, the Black Church was born to rebel against a racial hierarchy that claimed to have divine sanction. At the same time, I am keenly aware that the phrase, “Black Church,” cannot fully capture the multiple manifestations and expressions of the African American religious experience, for African Americans are not monolithic. Nevertheless, historically, the church has played a central role in the struggle for liberation and has been at the social, cultural, and political center of the community. This is why we, as pastors, cannot bypass the role the church can play in addressing the current mental health crisis that exists in the African American community.

There are those who naively believe the current mental health crisis directly results from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the truth is, there has been a long-standing mental health crisis in our country and the pandemic simply exacerbated what had already been an undercurrent in our culture. Recent studies suggest one in five adults in the United States experience mental health challenges or illness annually, with less than half of that number receive treatment or services. And since the pandemic, it is believed that one third of all Americans have experienced some form of depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Looking at the impact of the mental health crisis on the African American community, the data are alarming. Studies have shown African Americans are 20% more likely than whites to experience serious mental health problems,

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until is faced.

—James Baldwin

but less likely to pursue or use mental health services. In fact, African Americans seek help for mental health challenges at one-half the rate of white Americans. So many African Americans suffer in silence, partially due to two contributing factors.

First, in the African American community, we have experienced and continue to experience the normalization of trauma. Since the moment we arrived here as enslaved people, we have faced oppression, domination, conquest, and racial trauma. African Americans have experienced and continue to endure racism and its brutal, violent tentacles woven into the fabric of this country. It is difficult to quantify the mental and emotional toll that systemic racism takes on a people, but we know that numerous individuals in our community languish on the margins of our culture in emotional and psychological distress. Because we normalize it, we fail to address that distress.

Second, a negative stigma is associated with mental illness in the African American community. A recent study found that two-thirds of African Americans consider a mental health condition a sign of weakness. There is also a profound resistance to being viewed as or labeled as “crazy.” As long as these attitudes and perceptions exist, countless people suffer in silence.

The church can play a pivotal role in addressing the mental health crisis in the African American community. A Pew Research study found that African Americans are among the most religious of any racial or ethnic group in the United States with 87% reporting a formal religious affiliation. Other studies show more African Americans use religion—especially prayer—to deal with challenges like depression and anxiety instead of therapeutic services. As a pastor, I would never underestimate nor undervalue the power of prayer, but prayer alone cannot be the answer for those who suffer from serious mental illness. Just as prayer cannot be the sole source of healing for those who battle with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or even a broken leg, it cannot be viewed as the way to deal with mental illness. The difference is there is no

stigma attached to seeking health professionals to deal with physical illness.

What can churches do to address the mental health crisis in the African American community? First, clergy must normalize conversations around mental illness. This means that faith leaders must become more educated about mental health challenges to help destigmatize the narratives surrounding mental illness. This includes speaking about these challenges from the pulpit. In my case, it meant being transparent, from the pulpit, about my own battles with depression and anxiety. When I did this, it created a safe space in the church where congregants felt free to discuss their battles with mental health challenges.

Partner with mental health professionals to educate and offer training to congregations. At First Corinthian, we brought in mental health providers to offer first responder training, which helped identify signs of mental illness and mental crisis. All of our deacons were trained as mental health first responders. We went a step further in 2012, hiring a therapist as part of the church staff. I realize that all churches may not have the capacity to hire therapists, but we can engage in creative collaborations with community partners to address the mental health needs of our congregants and community. Our church formed partnerships with community organizations and schools such as Columbia University School of Social Work, Columbia University School of Psychiatry, and New York University School of Social Work.

Our work in Harlem led to the opening of First Corinthian Baptist Church H.O.P.E (Healing on Purpose and Evolving) Center in 2016, where we provide free mental health care for the community. The services must be free—one of the barriers to mental healthcare is limited financial resources. Though not easy, our journey was well worth it, especially when it comes to bringing healing to those who suffer in silence for far too long. James Baldwin was right; everything faced cannot be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

Building a more inclusive economy: Q&A with JPMorgan Chase’s Thelma Ferguson

All communities should have the resources they need to strengthen their economic futures. This Black History Month, JPMorgan Chase is affirming their commitment to breaking down barriers -- including the racial wealth gap -- and promoting opportunity for all.

In recognition of Black History Month, we connected with Thelma Ferguson, Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Vice Chair, Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, to get her insights on how she’s celebrating Black History Month, how JPMorgan Chase is advancing equity and inclusion and what she hopes to achieve in the year ahead.

Tell us a little about yourself and your role at JPMorgan Chase?

The majority of my 25-year tenure at JPMorgan Chase has been in Commercial Banking, providing clients with the financial solutions they need to grow their businesses. Yet, no matter what my role was, I have always been focused on driving inclusion and equity.

Today, as the Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I’m proud to look after our leading strategies to uplift employees, clients and the communities we serve as the bank for all. I also continue to serve as Vice Chair for Commercial Banking, building and managing key client relationships from coast to coast.

What does Black History Month mean to you and how are you celebrating?

Black History Month is an important opportunity to reflect on the achievements and struggles of our Black communities. To me, this means honoring the immense reach, depth and richness of Black communities’ global history, in addition to its connection and intersection with other communities. At JPMorgan Chase, we organize events and activities to honor the designation, highlight Black history and culture, and enable impactful conversations and opportunities to continue our commitment to help create more equitable pathways for all.

How is JPMorgan Chase working to advance a more inclusive economy?

We believe that we are only as strong as the communities we serve and the economies they support. We also understand that our company can play a role in helping communities grow, driving local economies, and helping people build their prosperity.

We’re helping to power economic growth by breaking down barriers and creating opportunities in communities across the globe. We do that through a focus on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our own workforce, as well as through business and community investments and policy advocacy.

Thelma Ferguson, Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Vice Chair, Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase

How has your company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy evolved over the past couple of years as the spotlight has been put on the country’s lingering racial inequality and social injustice issues?

We’re working to address inequities, including the racial wealth gap, in a meaningful way. Our efforts to support inclusive growth dates back decades. One more recent example is our $30 billion, five-year Racial Equity Commitment (REC) focused on advancing sustainable homeownership, driving small business growth, bolstering financial health and expanding access to banking. Through this commitment, we’re helping to create greater access to affordable home loans, low-cost checking accounts and financial health education workshops in the communities we serve and particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods. Our goal is to help close the racial wealth gap and ensure all members of communities – including our own employees – can access the resources they need to strengthen their economic futures.

How should other companies and individuals be thinking about diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to the growth of their business?

Inequity stifles economic growth. If you start with that

fact, it becomes clear how engaging more communities and helping to create more equitable opportunities is just smart business. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not buzzwords. Their tenets should be core ingredients in the design and execution of your business strategies and run with the same commitment and rigor as other parts of your business.

What are your goals for this year and what are you looking forward to in 2024?

This year, my goals include deepening our culture of inclusion for our 300,000 employees, across all backgrounds and geographies and perspectives. I’m also focused on further embedding inclusive practices and solutions within JPMorgan Chase to inform our business, gain efficiencies and deepen impact. I am optimistic about the road ahead and continued progress in helping to lift all.

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DRIVING DIVERSITY FORWARD

During Black History month, we applaud the efforts of all those in our communities working to improve the lives of underserved people everywhere. At Hackensack Meridian Health, we’re advancing a comprehensive strategy to eliminate disparities and ensure health equity and quality outcomes for all people.

For African Americans, this means providing comprehensive, culturally competent care that addresses their unique health needs. These include improving maternal health outcomes for Black women; participating in medical research and development that is providing a cure for sickle cell anemia, engaging with technology to enhance safety for our patients — designed with racial disparities in mind; addressing the social determinants that significantly impact the health of communities of color; and the success of our medical school to attract and educate a diverse next generation of physicians.

Ranked #1 in the nation on Fair360’s (formerly DiversityInc) 2023 Top Hospitals and Health Systems list, we are proud of all of our efforts to address disparities in health care. And with four hospitals; Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Palisades Medical Center and Ocean University Medical Center, having received the Joint Commission’s Health Care Equity Certification, we are driving diversity forward. To learn more, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

Woke Faith and the cauSe oF JuStice

By Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church President and CEO of Rainbow PUSH

Awar on wokeness is one of the latest iterations of white supremacy’s continued assault on Black and vulnerable lives and the moral health of the United States. “Woke” has become the new “four letter word” of choice for Christo-fascists (white evangelicals and politicians who use Jesus to baptize bigotry and pursue power). The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, declared that Florida is “the state where woke goes to die.” DeSantis passed into law what is known as the “Stop Woke Act,” which restricts how schools and businesses can address issues of race, equity, and gender. After a failed gubernatorial run, Daniel Cameron, the former Kentucky attorney general who presided over the case and was determined not to prosecute the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor, has become CEO of 1792 Exchange, an “anti-woke ideology” group focused on countering ESG (environmental, sustainability, and governance initiatives). Politicians and conservative political commentators use the term to incite fear and stir their audiences (predominantly white) into a frenzy.

Historicide

Historian Michael Harriot writes that the anti-woke warriors have summoned the resentment that produced the racial terrorism of Reconstruction, the pro-lynching Red Summer of 1919, and the pro-segregation states’ rights movement. Harriot says that the anti-woke forces are a “modern day mixture of McCarthyism and white grievance.” Woke has been repurposed and weaponized, distorting a positive term to justify restricting reproductive rights in the name of being “pro-life” (while hypocritically not addressing the Black maternal mortality rate); handcuffing gender freedom and sexual identity; justifying what Jacob Carruthers called “historicide” in our nation’s schools (especially in Black History Studies and the portrayal of the role of white supremacy and terror in the history of a nation “conceived in liberty”); the making less appreciable or vilifying of the poor and immigrants of color; and, through greed, accelerating climate change and environmental racism in the name of “White Jesus.” With our planet experiencing a “slow burn” and the trauma and unresolved grief from the mass death caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-woke forces are the latest morphing of anti-Black racism and white supremacy committed to the systemic and structural extermination of the gains from the Second Reconstruction, the civil rights movement.

cont’d on next page

If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.

—Toni Morrison

FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Woke Faith

Despite the war on wokeness that infects the politics of the nation while thinly disguising the racism, xenophobia, and misogynoir that fuels it, I posit that a woke faith is what is needed in the cause of justice. It must be noted that the blues singer, Leadbelly, was probably the first to use the phrase “stay woke” in the face of injustice. In 1931 the Scottsboro Boys—nine Black teenagers—were falsely accused of raping two white women and he sang, “I advise everybody, be a little careful when they go along through there—best stay woke, keep their eyes open.” Other playwrights, poets, and artists have portrayed staying woke as being self-aware and critiquing the lies of white supremacy while committed to creating a better world. I define woke faith as being conscious of the systemic and structural sin we live in while working for its’ abolition and reimagining and working for a new earth characterized by justice for all of God’s children and creations. I have served as pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas for over 40 years and I have recently been appointed to succeed the legendary prophet and freedom fighter, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, as president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH, a venerable civil rights organization. A woke faith has informed my ministerial call, prophetic witness, and pastoral ministry and is a part of the justice legacy of Rainbow PUSH. A woke faith reunites in “holy wedlock” Jesus and justice, is tailored

by an abolitionist theology and liberating hermeneutic that critiques and corrects oppressive systems, and recognizes we are spiritually anointed to make an emancipating and empowering difference in the lives of the most vulnerable. With this woke faith, Rainbow PUSH will continue to fight for economic justice, engage and empower the least of these in the political process, push for educational equity and cultural responsiveness in our schools, and combat environmental injustice.

My woke faith is inspired by a God who is woke and said to Moses, “I’ve seen the affliction of my people and have heard their cry...and I am coming down to liberate them.” A woke faith stands on the shoulders of the Hebrew prophets who spoke truth to power on behalf of the powerless. A woke faith follows in the footsteps of a dark-skinned Palestinian Jew—Jesus, the Christ—who was born homeless, escaped as a refugee to Egypt fleeing the death-dealing policy of Herod, grew up in the ‘hood in notorious Nazareth, majored in ministry to the most marginalized while challenging systems of oppression, led a march on Jerusalem and disrupted those engaged in economic exploitation, and was lynched on a Roman cross but emerged in resurrection victory on Sunday. The liberating God of history and the Carpenter from Galilee inform my fight in the cause for justice not merely to stay woke, but to faith woke.

JuStice & Food For children

By Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson President of Auburn Theological Seminary

The scriptural texts held sacred by so many Christians acknowledge God identifies with poor people. The prophets command justice and compassion for poor and vulnerable people. Those who act with compassion toward poor people honor God. Those who oppress and disregard the needs of poor and vulnerable people show contempt for God. (Psalm 146:59; Proverbs 19:17; 14:31)

While God may empathize with the poor, fifteen U.S. governors have neglected the basic needs of their 8 million children, denying them access to a federally funded summer food program. The reasons they give seem particularly cruel and heartless as the nation sees a doubling of the number of children living in poverty as meaningful pandemic aid and supports ends.

In Nebraska, where about 13.5% of children experience food insecurity, Governor Jim Pillien said, “I don’t believe in the welfare state.” Though demand at food pantries

is soaring in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds said, “An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.” With the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation at 22.6%, Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi finds it more important to stop “attempts to expand the welfare state” than to make resources available to his constituents to feed their families.

None of the reasons given by these well-fed legislators will fill the hungry stomachs of growing children who have only one childhood and are being penalized for being poor. As the governors disregard the needs of millions of vulnerable people, they are not just playing partisan political games, they also demonstrate contempt for God.

Unemployment is at a historic low, but the celebrations on Wall Street over the news of a robust economy have not translated into good news for poor people. Food insecurity combined with housing insecurity spells misery for parents who, even if they work full-time, still struggle to keep food on their tables.

I grew up in poverty in Newark, New Jersey. Having access to a federally-funded program like Head Start, I had breakfast and lunch — an advantage not afforded to my older siblings — and a solid start in education. My family needed public assistance. I depended on a patchwork of programs for support. When I

qualified for free lunch at school, my mother could stretch her meager income further to cover family needs. Summers, I walked to the local public school for lunch with other children in my neighborhood. I do not know where I would be but for the support of the programs that prevented my poverty from being a judgement against my worthiness or well-being.

There is no reason for any child to suffer because of the plans for millions of children and families this summer. That they will suffer although solutions exist is a clear moral choice to tolerate hunger. The injustice, however, is not just confined within the borders of those 15 states. This injustice implicates all of us wherever we live. Not all of us consider ourselves responsible for all children. Lawmakers regularly voted into office and re-elected campaign on platforms that bring hardship to the children of many of their constituents. Justice, in this case, is not only for these governors to reverse course and make the resources promised by the federal program available to their constituents. They must do that, but I hope people—voters— living in the affected states demand they do.

Justice for children requires those of us who do not live in these states to expand our concern beyond ourselves. The prophet James Baldwin said, we must “see all of these children as ours,” and if we cannot, we are incapable of morality.

the PoWer oF PoSSiBility in our StudentS

By David C. Banks, Chancellor New York City Public Schools

Our world is in trouble. Spend five minutes skimming the front page of any newspaper or news site, and that much becomes obvious. Climate change, gun violence, the conflict in the Middle East— the list goes on. None of these issues are a simple fix. These are complex, intractable, and in some cases, existential problems.

As Chancellor of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS)—the largest school system in the nation—I often think about my role and our schools’ roles in addressing these challenges. Our mission at NYCPS is to “ensure that each student graduates on a pathway to a rewarding career and long-term economic security, equipped to be a positive force for change.” That last phrase—equipped to be a positive force for change—rings truer now than ever.

Our children did not create climate change. They did not cause poverty or disease or war. Yet they will be the ones to inherit these problems—and, I believe, to solve them. Young people have always yearned for the opportunity to do meaningful things out in the world, and they don’t want

We have a right to protest for what is right. That’s all we can do. There are people hurting, there are people suffering, so we have an obligation, a mandate, to do something

—John Lewis

to wait until they graduate to get started. If students feel that school is “busywork,” if it seems disconnected from their lived realities, then we are failing our students and losing out as a society. With their idealism, creativity, and fresh perspectives, our children represent what I call “the power of possibility.”

Our job, as educators, is to unlock that power. We must prepare our kids to be active citizens, to navigate the world with their eyes open to the issues of the day. This starts with teaching every child to read—the number one focus of my administration—and continues through robust, meaningful pathways to college and careers. Along the way, we need to lean into tough topics and conversations. We need to expose our students to a diversity of perspectives. And we need to provide real-world, project-based learning and opportunities to make change.

I can attest firsthand to the impact of these experiences, both as a student and as an educator. Decades ago, at Hillcrest High School in Queens, I served as vice president of my senior class. I learned the value of leadership and supporting others, and it set me up for a lifetime of public service and activism.

Now, as chancellor, I see the “power of possibility” in action almost every day. In October, Muslim and Jewish students from Millennium Brooklyn High School co-wrote a solidarity statement in response to the Israel-Hamas war and rising hate crimes. To combat climate change, students across the city participated in our first-ever Climate Action Day on December 6. And since the spring of 2022, our children have welcomed thousands of new classmates, our newest New Yorkers, with open arms and open hearts.

We need more of these examples, both in New York City and across the country. It is our responsibility to meet the moment and reimagine learning—so that our kids, and the “power of possibility,” can reimagine the world.

it takeS a Village to moVe the needle

By Vivian Cox Fraser President & CEO, Urban League of Essex County

The Urban League of Essex County (ULEC) has served African Americans and other disadvantaged populations for over 100 years. Black History Month inspires me to think about how we can move the proverbial needle toward greater racial and economic justice. To explain how I do this, I’ll reference another proverb, said to have originated in Africa: “It takes a village.” Once specifically related to raising a child, the proverb is now used more broadly to describe solving a problem with the participation of various stakeholders.

ULEC began its work in 1917, focused on helping Black people migrating from the agricultural south to the industrial north, seeking jobs and entrance into the economic mainstream. After years of effort by countless nonprofits, the unemployment rate for African Americans remains twice that of the nation. ULEC addresses this through a robust workforce development program that successfully trains and places hundreds of individuals in jobs each year. It remains the cornerstone of our work.

However, employment is one piece of a complex puzzle needed to uplift and empower disadvantaged communities. That’s why we have purposefully expanded ULEC’s portfolio of services to ensure that we address the myriad systemic failures impacting Black people at every stage of our lives.

We offer pre-k classes to ensure the young have the best educational preparation early and so working parents have somewhere safe to leave their children. Unfortunately,

many children of color, especially after the pandemic, are not thriving and succeeding in school. Third grade reading scores are used to predict future outcomes for children and communities. ULEC attempts to mitigate this by supplementing what schools provide and preparing young people for 21st century careers in industries that pay a decent salary. IT is one such industry—and coding, specifically, has the potential to level the playing field for current and future generations. Through Tech House, we instruct youth (and adults) in an array of digital and computer technologies.

New Jersey is reported to have the worst racial disparities around incarceration in the nation. An African American is 12 times more likely to be incarcerated than a white person. Even though Blacks make up only 15% of the population of NJ, they make up 59% of the state’s prison population. ULEC offers reentry programs to ensure individuals coming home from incarceration stay home

cont’d on next page

changing the traJectory oF health care in america

By Michellene Davis, Esq. President and CEO National Medical Fellowships

This Black History Month, I am compelled to reflect on the pivotal moments that have shaped racial and ethnic health disparities in this country. I am pleased to share my thoughts once again with The Positive Community family, a beacon for the Black Church and community and a force for good that we so desperately need right now.

Tracing the Timeline of Inequities

The historical timeline, meticulously curated by the Kaiser Family Foundation, unveils the deep-seated impact of deliberate policies to proliferate and deepen health care disparities. I have long referred to these as the political determinants of health. From the harrowing days of chattel slavery to the relentless struggles of segregation to monumental civil rights legislation and the present-day backlash, each juncture has etched its mark on the landscape of health care access and outcomes that have real impacts in the lives of our families and loved ones.

FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

by training and placing them in jobs. Employment is the number one factor in preventing recidivism.

As a nation we are gradually recognizing and admitting to the racial wealth gap. Homeownership creates intergenerational wealth and ULEC is leading the way in making it a reality for disadvantaged residents of Essex County. We are developing over 100 units of affordable housing and preparing individuals to become homeowners through financial literacy and a housing counseling program. ULEC improves not only the lives of community residents, but the community as well by transforming blighted, high-crime areas into thriving neighborhoods.

When I think of the proverb “it takes a village,” I think about the cross-sector of stakeholders needed to move the needle toward social justice for our community: residents of the community, nonprofit organizations like ULEC, elected officials, faith leaders, businesses, and

philanthropists. I also think about how we motivate this cross-sector of stakeholders to get involved.

I recently visited South Africa, where I heard a great deal about the concept “ubuntu.” In the Xhosa and Zulu languages, ubuntu translates to “a person is a person because of other people.” In other words, we are interconnected, and our humanity is realized by our interactions with other humans.

This Black History month, and in this issue of The Positive Community focusing on social justice, I propose we come together as a village to address injustice and inequity. That, as individuals, we enhance our own humanity by connecting with and helping those in need. ULEC needs your participation and support. Please visit us; see our programs firsthand, volunteer, and support our work with your time and resources. Together, let’s turn proverbs into action

An Unyielding Commitment to Health Equity

National Medical Fellowships (NMF) recognizes the persistent challenges stemming from historical and present-day health disparities. We know that no one who has built and benefits from a health care system with a racist foundation will ‘save us’. This is why it is so important to grow and nurture healers from our own communities capable of reimagining a health care system that delivers better health outcomes for all.

How NMF Does It

• Breaking down financial barriers, NMF provides scholarships and support for chronically underrepresented students in medicine, cultivating the growth of diverse medical professionals.

• Offering hands-on opportunities, NMF’s servicelearning programs empower medical students to enhance health care delivery. Students focus on critical clinical and public health needs in community health centers across the country and how to improve upon the status quo.

• Actively promoting mentorship between NMF scholars and alumni, the organization creates pathways for

aspiring health care professionals, fostering guidance, support, community, and the presence of role models.

• Equipping diverse physicians to lead clinical research, NMF affords graduated physicians to become clinical research emerging investigators. Diversifying clinical research improves medicinal efficacy so that everyone benefits equally from the amazing advances of medical science.

Join NMF in Celebrating Black Excellence

I believe Black history is American history. Let us take the time this month to especially celebrate the resilience, brilliance, and contributions of aspiring and practicing Black health care leaders. If you would like to learn more about the NMF community and how you can help, please visit our website at nmfonline.org.

Join us in our unwavering dedication to creating a future where everyone, regardless of background, enjoys equal access to high-quality and culturally competent health care. There is room for all in The Positive Community—our churches, community, small businesses, corporations, and concerned individuals—to build a healthier future.

In Faith, Health, and Justice!

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT:

CHECK OUT ART CLASS WITH MR. B. AT KIPP THRIVE ACADEMY!

Enter Anietie Udo-Bassey’s classroom (his students call him ‘Mr. B.’) at KIPP THRIVE Academy in Newark you’ll find yourself surrounded by colorful still-lifes, selfportraits, geometric sketches on the walls — and students deeply engaged in their work.

During Black History Month last year, Mr. B. launched a unit on African history and identity, asking students what African pride meant to them. Students were asked to reflect on an image on the board and use it as a model to inspire their artwork that day.

The topic was close to Udo-Bassey’s heart. Born and raised in Nigeria, Mr. B. has taught art for six years. “I intended to be a medical doctor, that’s what my parents wanted. But during high school, I discovered a passion for drawing, and my teacher would always encourage me by having me draw for other students on the chalkboard,” said Mr. B.

Today, Mr. B aims to be that same role model for his students. THRIVE third grader Zy’Asia Gonzalez is an avid artist. “I really like Mr. B and making art. He teaches me to be creative and I like to take that home and make art there. I got a painting kit for Christmas and I even sell art to my family sometimes,” said Gonzalez.

Even if students don’t make a career in art, Mr. B knows that the lessons they learn in his classroom will serve them well as they define who they are and go on to world-changing careers.

“Parents came in for an exhibition we hosted and they saw their children’s art. As a result, some of them bought their children paint and drawing pads and asked for lists of items they could get at home. Through art, you can learn to be disciplined, patient, and self-controlled. Many of my students tell me they want to be artists, and I encourage them. But I also tell them they can do whatever they want as a career and continue to be artists, you can be a doctor or a lawyer and still paint.” -- Anietie Udo-Basseyd

OPEN HOUSE MARCH 23

Celebrate Black History Month

Students come to Kean University to get the world-class education they need to climb higher in life. They acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the classroom, in the workplace and in the world. Find your passion and a path to success that lasts a lifetime.

FREE TUITION for qualified NJ students kean.edu/ktp

Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D.

The 18th president of Kean University

“As the state’s urban research university, Kean supports the growth and progress of urban communities statewide. Our faculty and students engage in meaningful research that promises a brighter future for everyone in New Jersey.”

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What it takeS: Bold ViSion and commitment to SolutionS

By Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, Senior Pastor of Greater Mt. Zion AME Church Founder/Executive Director of Salvation and Social Justice

Questions regarding why Black America has failed to take responsibility for cleaning up our own communities intend to absolve structurally racist systems of accountability while indicting the very communities that have been subjected to decades of government neglect, divestments, and punitive policies, causing their current conditions. It demonstrates a gross miseducation of how structural racism permeates every aspect of Black life in this country and ignores that Black people have always been at the forefront of community-led solutions. Whether it be the Black Church, which developed our own theology, schools, and underground railroad networks; Black midwives, who literally birthed and nursed this nation; or the work of The Black Panthers, responsible for establishing free breakfast programs and advocating for free universal health care, Black folks have always been at the helm of the public health conversation assessing, advocating for, and providing aide and support… often at considerable risk and while fending off state opposition to our efforts.

On January 12, in a victory for racial justice and public health, Governor Murphy signed the “SeabrooksWashington Community-Led Crisis Response Act” into law, investing $12 million to establish community-led crisis response teams as an alternative to police for nonviolent, substance use, mental and behavioral health calls across the state.

As this nation experiences a rise in police killings of unarmed, Black people, research shows that most 911 calls do not require a police response and their presence

on the scene of a substance use or mental health crisis is often unnecessary, inappropriate, and may increase the chance of police violence, particularly among Black communities.

My wife, Rosalee, and I started Salvation and Social Justice as a direct response to the structurally racist institutions that perpetuate existing disparities by centering voices of impacted communities allowing them to inform and advance community-led solutions. In 2019, SandSJ held a series of public hearings in Black churches in response to the Force Report, a 16-month investigation on police use of force in the state, marking the beginning of a larger conversation around policing while reimagining what public safety should and could look like.

This bill, named after Najee Seabrooks, a Black crisis responder killed by Paterson police during a mental health crisis; and Andrew Washington, a Jersey City Black man killed under similar circumstances, emerged from the pain and trauma experienced by families, advocates, and communities across the state. This model of public health and safety response will save lives while honoring those needlessly lost.

The Seabrooks-Washington Act signifies a shift away from increased policing to a public health response led by neighbors and trusted community members. Acknowledging that punitive interventions cause widespread harm, this groundbreaking bill recognizes credible messengers as critical tools for community repair and holistic care. This legislation is a victory for those who believe in community-controlled public safety, supporting the work of community-led crisis response teams, and reducing the likelihood of police violence in New Jersey. It serves as a potential model for community-controlled public safety nationwide, emphasizing that collective action, care, and compassion—not criminalization—are the paths forward to collective liberation.

FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Our work extends beyond the criminal legal space to include education, economic and health equity with a bold vision and commitment to centering community voices and solutions. We have always had the will, ability, and self-determination to be stewards of our own health and overall wellness. SandSJ’s advocacy calls for a commitment on the part of the state to invest in that wellness.

“Reverend Charles F. Boyer is the in Trenton, NJ and serves as the founder and Executive Director of Salvation and Social Justice (SandSJ). SandSJ is a Black led, faith rooted social justice nonprofit organization based in Trenton, NJ that led the effort to pass the Seabrooks-Washington Community Led Crisis Response Act and heads up the Trenton Restorative Street Team.”

a doSe oF medicine

By Stevanie Rhim, Montclair State University Business Major, Senior Student

Aguiding principle I live by is to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I firmly believe that my generation, Generation Z., represents the dose of medicine the world truly needs. We embody qualities of bravery, defiance, empathy, creativity, brilliance, determination, and a resounding passion for change. We are not just individuals; we are change-makers, world leaders, social justice seekers, and fighters. Despite being labeled as weak, stubborn, or sensitive by some, I prefer to describe us as noble. We identify problems and actively seek solutions. We speak up and raise our voices. We are bold like lions, compassionate like elephants, and we soar like eagles. We are majestic creatures who protect one another in ways never seen before. In essence, we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.

Reflecting on my experiences, I recall the moment during my freshman year of high school when I became quickly aware that in this country, I was often defined more by the color of my brown skin than the content of my amiable character. Constantly surrounded by people who looked nothing like me, I found myself serving as a stepping stool for their white privilege to stand tall. Instead of viewing each other as assets, we saw one another as threats. Faced with challenging decisions, I grappled with the choice of conforming to the “angry Black girl” stereotype or standing tall and resilient in the face of constant unfair treatment endured by people who shared my background. These decisions mirrored the choices my community confronts daily. I decided to do both, channeling my “Black girl anger” while maintaining my dignity and turning

it into positive action that could make a difference for us all.

I initiated conversations between white, Black, Latinx, and Asian students, addressing topics often deemed impossible to discuss openly: race, bias, stereotypes, societal pressures, politics, and protests. We refused to adhere to the norm of silence and instead, we put it all on blast. This was at a time when our country was truly divided, politically and socially. With the support of a few courageous teachers, we professionally conducted large interview-styled conversations, ensuring everyone had a seat at the table. These recorded conversations were shared on social media titled “Conversation Matters.” The response was varied, ranging from naysayers stuck in old-century thinking to our community members who admired our courage. We earned props for how we respected each other, openly shared, and reflected on our stories and opinions, even when we didn’t see eye to eye. We learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, bridging the gaps between races, cultures, genders, and sexualities—labels that often pull us apart.

This was my turning point of knowing and understanding that WE are the true dose of medicine this world truly needs. Fast forward to college, I continue to share these stories with others, encouraging them to see me and be seen, even when the sight isn’t always pretty. Now, let’s be clear. I am not anything special, countless GenZ’s are making a difference every single day. What I learned from my peers is that the only way we can evolve as a country and world is if we listen to one another, see one another, and extend any form of our privilege in order to be a more diversified, equitable and inclusive world. We share so much more than we differ. Our power is so much greater when we stand together. It is my life mission and goal to continue to fight the good fight, not just for me or for my peers, but for future generations to come. It is our job to be the change we wish to see in the world

educate. organize. moBilize

By Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization for Progress

Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) is an independent, grassroots, community-based, volunteer, politically progressive association of citizens working for racial equality, social justice, economic prosperity, peace, and unity in the community. Since its beginning in 1982, more than four decades ago, Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) has been at the forefront of the struggle for social justice. Established due to worsening conditions in urban areas in general and the Black community in particular at that time, we knew that organizations able to actively educate, organize, and most importantly, mobilize the people in the streets at the grassroots level were necessary in order to make progress.

A strictly volunteer organization, our goals are simple to recite but most difficult to achieve: the elimination of racism, inequality, poverty, sexism, unjust economic exploitation, all forms of social oppression, degradation, human misery, suffering, and injustice. Our members are working people from all walks of life. Most live and work in New Jersey, but there are many members from other parts of the United States. Most are African-American men and women, but there are many from other racial and ethnic groups.

We define ourselves as a protest group organizing marches, demonstrations, vigils, rallies, public meetings, petition drives, letter writing campaigns, and press conferences around various social justice issues. We conduct voter registration drives, hold conferences and educational forums, sponsor cultural activities.

We have actively sought an end to police brutality, locally and throughout the U.S. since our beginnings. We waged a vigorous fight for justice for Earl Faison who died within forty-five minutes after being wrongfully taken into custody by police in Orange, NJ. Every Monday for the past five years POP has held “Justice Monday” protests in front of the Federal Building in Newark demanding the US Attorney for New Jersey launch civil rights investigations into the deaths of Abdul Kamal, Jerome Reid, Kashad Ashford, and the shooting of Radazz Hearns. They were all unarmed when they were shot by police.

POP continues to organize around many other issues including quality education and better schools; affordable day care; safe neighborhoods; affirmative action laws; human rights; civil rights; worker rights; consumer rights; a fairer, progressive, and more equitable system of taxation; lower property taxes for home owners; lower prices for gasoline and home heating oil; and lower utility bills.

Anyone who supports the guiding principles, aims and purposes, demands, goals, and activities of the People’s Organization For Progress can become a member. Do you want justice? If you want justice then you should join the People’s Organization for Progress. POP has a Zoom meeting every Thursday at 7:00pm. The link to the meeting is sent to members via text and email. Dues are $25.00 annually

For further information contact the People’s Organization for Progress at (973) 801-0001.

National Black Writers Conference

Booked for Brooklyn in March

BY FERN GILLESPIE

Because of the movie, American Fiction, Black lit is in the limelight. Author Percival Everett’s hilarious, satirical, award-winning novel Erasure has been transformed into a critical hit on the big screen. It’s about Monk, a Black college professor and author who, frustrated with publisher rejects, pens an outrageous street story filled with Black stereotypes. It becomes a bestseller. American Fiction is a multi-Oscar-nominated major motion picture that scooped up nominations for Jeffrey Wright as Best Actor, Sterling K. Brown as Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Soundtrack, and Best Motion Picture.

In March, Everett will come to Brooklyn to be honored at the 17th National Black Writers Conference. Titled “All That We Carry, Where Do We Go From Here?” the conference, at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, March 20—March 23, 2024 is presented by the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College. The conference features some of the country’s most influential Black writers and scholars. Originally founded by literary legend John Oliver Killens, the conference is an onsite and online experience.

Dr. Brenda M. Greene

Director, National Black Writers Conference

In addition to Everett, honorees include publisher Paul Coates, historian Peniel Joseph and novelist Bernice McFadden. A special ceremony will be hosted by awardwinning author Jacqueline Woodson with opening remarks from Medgar Evers President Patricia Ramsey.

To Brenda Greene, founder and executive director of the Center for Black Literature, Everett’s book, Erasure, and the film American Fiction reflect the creative frustration many Black writers face in the publishing industry. “Publishers often have stereotyped expectations of the types of books they think will sell,” she said. “They are often more concerned with limited and narrow perceptions of the breadth and depth of the Black experience. It impacts how many books by Black writers may be published and consequently, the difficulty that Black writers face in publishing.”

Conference highlights include the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series. There’s a conversation between Farah Jasmine Griffin and Michael Eric Dyson on moving forward by confronting environmental racism, social injustice, and domestic violence. The Dr. Edith Rock Writing Workshop for Elders will have seniors act dramatic readings of their writing. The Cave Canem poets will present a “call and response” reading with Medgar Evers student poets. Novella Ford hosts a conversation between Tiya Miles and Brenda M. Greene exploring Miles’ challenges of using fiction to recreate history with All That She Carried, The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake. Jelani Cobb examines Technology, Social Media, and the Fight for Racial Justice with Marc Lamont Hill, Bettina Love, Wesley Lowery, and Emily Raboteau. Patricia S. Jones, Kalisha Buchanan, Marita Golden, and Kevin Powell tune into The Healing Power of Literature. Donna Hill moderates a panel analyzing how Black writers’ texts may be viewed as letters that chronicle the history of America with Victoria Christopher Murray, Pamela Newkirk, Thabiti Lewis, and Khalil Gibran Muhammad. Exploration of the African Diaspora with Black Writers Crossing Boundaries and Borders features Edwidge Danticat, Stéphanie Martelly, Kwame Dawes, and Patrick Nganang. It’s moderated by Jasmine Claude Narcisse.

The Power of Historical Narratives with A.J. Verdelle, Ayana Mathis, and W.B. Garvey is moderated by Diane Richards. Myth and Reality: The World of Publishing for the Black Writer spotlights Regina Brooks, Karen Hunter, Christopher Jackson, Lisa Lucas, and Jamia Wilson with moderator Yahdon Israel.

Attendees both onsite and online will have the opportunity to interact with the CBL Talkshops. These literary workshops on writing and publishing will feature publishing editor Tracy Sherrod, literary agent Regina Brooks, poet Darrel Alejandro Holnes Psalms, fiction writer Kalisha Buchanon, and memoir writer Patrick Dougher. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall and Wallace Ford host a special presentation for conference honorees.

Walker held at the Schomburg Center for Research on Black Culture in Harlem.

Today, Black authors must confront the conservative movement’s book banning, anti-affirmative action, and anti-woke culture. Conference youth literature panelists Wade Hudson and Cheryl Hudson, publishers of Blackowned Just Us Books, have experienced their children and young adult books banned. “One of our titles, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, has been banned by school districts. Other titles as well and some have been challenged,” said Wade. “I am well aware, historically, there has always been a push back when progress is being made.”

Honoree Paul Coates is the publisher of Black Classic Press (established in 1978), one of the country’s oldest, Black-owned publishing companies, and the founder of the independent book printing company BCP Digital Printing. He is also the father of award-winning author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates. “Book banning is not going to have any impact on self-publishing or Black legacy publishers. It will have an impact on publishers of a book that will be too hot for them that they are not going to touch it,” said Coates. “But it’s always been that way. Even Carter G. Woodson could not get published. J.A. Rogers could not get published. Those are people we still appreciate today and hold them in high esteem.”

For more information, check out:

John Oliver Killens

PHEN Church Partnership Educational Outreach

All churches are invited to join PHEN in the fight against prostate cancer

Our efforts will touch and save many lives!

PHEN Partnership Key Features and Benefits

• PHENChurch.org provides a customized online portal for church partners with a video message or quote from the pastor advocating for prostate cancer awareness.

• Church members utilize the church portal for “EverPresent” access to prostate cancer educational resources.

• Churches use the portal for communications, to order PHEN materials, and to print flyers for distributions.

To see live church portals and to join PHEN’s church partnership initiative please visit: PHENChurch.org or email jerryg@prostatehealthed.org

PHEN uses technology to provide “ever-present” educational resources for churches to raise prostate cancer knowledge and awareness among its members and community

PHEN partnership services and materials are FREE to churches and their members.

Knowledge is the Best Defense Against Prostate Cancer!

The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN), founded in 2003, is the nation’s leading prostate cancer patient eucation and advocacy organization focused on the needs of Black men.

By

No one plans for heart disease. But everyone should have a plan for it.

Choose the network that handles all aspects of heart health.

From state-of-the-art technology to the most specialized team in New Jersey, our network offers the most complete heart and vascular care. Whether you have hypertension, heart disease or a child with a heart issue, our team of nurses, cardiologists and heart surgeons deliver comprehensive, compassionate care. Our highly coordinated approach to patient care ensures that you can focus on improved health and wellness – and get your heart off your mind. Make a plan at rwjbh.org/heart

Pastor Albert L. Morgan Retires

The 2023 year ended with the most culturally magnificent celebration honoring the pastoral retirement of Rev. Dr. Albert L. Morgan (lovingly known as God’s Mailman) of Union Baptist Temple (UBT), Bridgeton, NJ. The breathtaking, royalty inspired, tribal Wakanda accented event took place on Saturday, November, 18, 2023 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.

This grand celebration honoring Pastor Morgan’s 37 years of faithful pastoral service began with the UBT children; Universal African Troupe of Camden, NJ dancers; and drummers dressed in tribal garments

announcing the arrival of the elders, ministry sons and daughters, followed by the entrance of the guest of honor.

Comedian Karlton “Not Carlton Banks” Humes served as master of ceremony. Edward “Busta” Fields and Friends, Bubby Fann, M.I.A Live mimes, the phenomenal Maurette Brown Clark, and Kathy Taylor rendered uplifting, favorite spiritual songs and awesome mime articulation.

More than 600 elegantly draped ministers, supporters, family, and friends witnessed this elegant expression of love. The Union Baptist Temple congregation, ministry, family, and all he’s known will always know Pastor Albert L. Morgan as “God’s Mailman” forever.

Pastor Morgan with UBT kids after their performance

L-R: Lorraine Fauntleroy, Pastor Morgan, and Rev. William J. Turner

Pastor Morgan with Guests

Kathy Taylor

Beyond Bias: Building a Compassionate Future in Health

By Lynn St. Hilaire Vice President of Clinical Services for MetroPlusHealth

At the age of 10, my world was shaken when my father, behind the wheel on the way home, clutched his chest in agony. Unable to drive, I wrestled the steering wheel from his hands and guided the car into the emergency driveway at New York Presbyterian Queens. Panic set in as a swarm of medical professionals rushed to my father’s aid. In that frigid emergency room, a compassionate nurse emerged. She sat with me, offering reassurance throughout the ordeal. However, this isn’t always everyone’s experience. This was a pivotal moment for me that set the stage for a broader discussion on the disparities in healthcare. While circumstances such as mine are universally distressing, the anxiety is heightened when the care received fails to address or, worse yet, exacerbates the pain. To be overlooked in the system and feel misunderstood by your care provider is a reality that people experience every day.

This is the reality for countless Black people navigating our healthcare system. From inconsistent care standards to the haunting figures of Black maternal mortality, these disparities are not faceless statistics. They are an urgent call to action we need to answer as care professionals. Here are three steps that providers can take to build an equitable future in healthcare:

Pre-Empt Distrust

A visit to the doctor can evoke a sense of apprehension. For Black individuals, however, there is an additional layer of concern—being mindful of one’s appearance in the hope of avoiding unfair treatment. According to a recent KFF survey, a staggering 55% of Black adults express the need to meticulously manage their appearance to ensure fair treatment from providers. This heightened awareness reflects a broader societal issue, wherein individuals may feel compelled to manage not only their health concerns but also the potential biases they might encounter based on their racial identity. Other patients of color may opt to have someone on the phone during medical visits which reveals a deeper issue—systemic distrust.

Healthcare professionals should be aware of their patients’ skepticism, actively seeking to understand their experiences and what they bring to the bedside. To alleviate this skepticism, practitioners should prioritize building familiarity and make it the cornerstone of how they provide care.

Care

Listen to Understand

Few in healthcare have the intention of mistreating others. But, the environment

sometimes ingrains certain beliefs. In interactions with patients, these unconscious biases can lead to neglect or downplaying of concerns. It is essential to prioritize listening and acknowledging individual experiences, especially within the broader context of cultural nuances. Patients, particularly from marginalized communities, crave treatment for symptoms as well as understanding of their unique concerns. The key lies in recognizing the depth of these experiences and ensuring that healthcare also consider the impact on an individual’s life experiences to establish a care model that conveys the sentiment of acknowledging, listening, and understanding each individual’s perspective.

Dismantle Barriers

The key to dismantling systemic barriers lies in everyday actions. We must ensure that information reaches the communities that need it most through their own messengers. At MetroPlusHealth, taking a local approach is how we connect with residents from diverse neighborhoods throughout New York City via community events, non-traditional advertising methods, and embedding it into how we serve our members. Many years ago, when that nurse extended compassionate care to me, it not only served as the catalyst for my journey into healthcare but also ignited a commitment to dismantle health inequities. Closing the gap in health insurance coverage, rectifying uneven access to services, and addressing poorer health outcomes among marginalized populations requires a boots-on-the-ground management model, along with a reprogramming of the implicit biases that permeate our healthcare system. As I reflect on those experiences, I invite us all to write a new narrative in healthcare - one that listens intently and seeks to understand diverse perspectives. The future of healthcare should echo with equality, understanding, and

a shared commitment to transformative change.

The media referred to him as a “controversial figure,” “race baiter,” “charlatan,” and more since the 1980s. When he began organizing protests and protesters around New York City, they had a field day mocking and criticizing his weight; wardrobe; and long, wavy hair. They questioned his motives and attempted to paint him as a man possessing neither style nor substance—but they failed. Forty years later, Rev Al Sharpton is, arguably, the country’s most influential civil rights leader, with access to the White House and the ears of the last three Democratic presidents.

The Boy Preacher

He delivered his first sermon at the age of four and was licensed and ordained as a minister by Bishop F. D. Washington when he was nine or ten. Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. lived in a middle-class home in Hollis, Queens. “My father and mother had a grocery store on the corner and owned some buildings,” he recalled. “Daddy left when I was ten, and Mama couldn’t keep the bills up. They cut the lights and gas off in the big house, so we moved to the ‘hood. And so, I didn’t know ‘hood living. I learned it at ten.”

By the time he was 12, he was interested in politics. “For whatever reason I wanted to get into social justice.

The Man:

Rev. Al Sharpton

Civil Rights, Social Justice, + Much More

BY R.L. WITTER

I would watch Adam Clayton Powell on television, and I loved that,” Sharpton said. Concerned about her son’s love of politics, his mother, Ada, enlisted the help of Bishop Washington. “He lived on President Street and all the big preachers in Brooklyn—you had Sandy Ray on that block, Gardner Taylor on the corner; you had Thomas Boyd in the middle of the block, Bishop Washington was near the corner on other side of the street. The next block was Bill Jones, W.J. Hall—Shirley Chisholm bought house,” said Sharpton. “I had no idea I grew up around such greatness.”

Bishop Washington got young Sharpton involved with Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). There, he met Rev. Jesse Jackson. “The rest was history,” said Sharpton. “I never wanted to pastor because Jesse didn’t pastor. I wanted to be free to do whatever… So, Jesse became a roadmap for me.”

The Man and NAN

By his late 20s and early 30s, Sharpton was a well-known figure in and around New York City. Known as a figure in “Godfather of Soul” James Brown’s orbit, the two were especially close, Sharpton saying he saw Brown as a real father figure. Media continued to often paint him as a questionable character, but Sharpton founded the National Action Network (NAN) and expanded his social justice work. With NAN, Rev. Al works toward criminal justice reform, police accountability, crisis intake and victim assistance, voting rights, and other issues plaguing not just the Black community, but all underserved communities. Through NAN, he has brought national attention to the deaths of Black citizens killed by law enforcement officers.

NAN has paid for many of the funerals of these people and provides scholarships for the education of their children. In addition to protesting these deaths, a direct line can

be drawn from Sharpton and NAN’s work to the passing of legislation aimed at ending Stop and Frisk policing and racial profiling.

Won’t He Do It!

Sharpton will tell you, everything he does is because of his calling and God—and he does plenty! “I always thought I would be something in the movement and be able to make a contribution,” he explained. “I never dreamed that I’d be hosting a national TV show (MSNBC’s PoliticsNation) and radio show (Keepin’ It Real with Al Sharpton). I just wanted to be in the front lines of the movement and all these other things just happened.” It’s as if God gave Sharpton

Rev. Al Sharpton is, arguably, the country’s most influential civil rights leader, with access to the White House and the ears of the last three Democratic presidents.

more than 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. “I get up every morning at four o’clock, I meditate. I’m in the gym at five. I run a 16-hour work day, and I don’t get tired. I don’t take naps,” he said. “Most weeks I do, maybe, two cities a week, three cities some weeks. I’ve just been blessed with a lot of energy…if you believe in something bigger than you, it’ll drive you and I think a lot of people look for how they can get away from work. I look for more work.” Some questioned if his TV and radio shows would affect his time devoted to the social justice work. “I stay at rallies… I’m there (NAN headquarters in Harlem) every Saturday morning,” he continued. “And I do my radio shows

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L–R: Gwen Carr (Eric Garner’s mother), Rev. Alvin Ponter, Kadiatou Diallo (Amadou Diallo’s mother), NYS Gov. Kathy Hocule and Rev. Sharpton at NAN’ s House of Justice

Rev. Al Sharpton

cont’d from previous page

five days a week because I see them as an outgrowth of my calling. They’re not my calling, and I still believe in that scripture ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness and all these other things will be added to it.’ They’re the additions. They’re not the core of who I am.”

The Future

Who Sharpton is besides his social justice and broadcast work is a proud father and grandfather. Daughters, Dominique and Ashley, have followed his footsteps into activism. “They’ve really proven to be true activists. And it makes me proud,” he said.

At a recent youth group huddle led by his daughters, 5-year-old Marcus led the crowd in chanting, “No justice, no peace!” Rev. Al’s voice softened as he spoke about, Marcus, his grandson. “The best part is that he does not know who I’m supposed to be in society. He just knows I’m ‘Papa Al’ and loves me for being me. One thing about becoming known is you always, in the back of your head, wonder, ‘Would these people be treating me like this if I wasn’t whatever?’ Marcus has no idea about anything other than I’m ‘Papa Al’ and I’m supposed to stop and watch his toys and gadgets, and that’s all. And it makes you, it makes you, you.”

Still Going

Although he rarely takes downtime, Sharpton enjoys listening to gospel music and is a voracious reader. “If

I’m on an airplane, we could have been rolling all day, 16 hours—and people say, ‘Get some sleep on the plane.’ I’ll be up reading. I read at least three or four books a month, mostly non-fiction.”

If he could go back and give his 15-year-old self some advice, “I would say don’t live in the moment, live for the long term. You’re going to have victories; you might have disappointments. But your calling is that you ought to keep fighting no matter what. And don’t get too happy when you win, but don’t get too discouraged when you lose because in every battle you have to keep fighting.”

In addition to his TV and radio shows, Rev. Sharpton has made cameo appearances in several movies and television shows, and is the subject of the 2022 documentary Loudmouth. He had no editorial control; it was directed by a young, white man; and he had no choice or input on the title. “Some of the ministers I had at the premiere couldn’t believe it,” he chuckled. “They said, ‘Man, this is a high pinnacle.’ I said, ‘Yeah but be at the rally Saturday, that’s where I’m going be. Don’t ever get out of your calling. No matter how much they pat you on the back, they’re going to slap you the next day. Keep going.”

I felt I had to ask about retirement. He answered without hesitation. “When you hear them singing ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ and rolling my body down the aisle, that means I’ve retired.” We pray it will be a long while before Rev. Sharpton retires and we salute and thank him for his tireless work for all of us.

Al Sharpton proudly poses with daughters (L–R) Ashley Sharpton, Dominique Sharpton Bright, and grandson Marcus Al Sharpton Bright.

Honors Reverend Al Sharpton

Thank you for your unwavering leadership in advancing freedom, equity and opportunity for all.

As we celebrate Black History Month,

millions of Black Americans remain disenfranchised and denied access to the most basic freedoms taken for granted by others simply because of their race.

Just as our ancestors answered the call for justice, so must we.

Learn more by scanning the QR code to download and share FPWA’s data analysis "A Look at the March on Washington 60 years Later: Dreams and Promises Yet to be Realized"

We are proud to support The Positive Community on your 5th Annual Great American Emancipation Awards Banquet

Congratulations to this year’s Honoree Rev. Al Sharpton and a Special Tribute to the late Social Justice Leader Sheila Oliver

SPecial commemorati V e Section

Sheila Oliver

Reflections R Family

DAUGHTER

As a daughter and first-born child, Sheila was the mother and told me what to do. By all means, my baby girl was an amazing daughter. I miss her more than words can explain. I was blessed to give birth to such a tremendous woman and bear witness to her greatness and all of the history she made. She broke so many barriers and changed thousands of lives, including mine. Sheila always took such amazing care of me as her mother, especially as I got older. Nothing was ever too good for me; Sheila would make sure I was well provided for and had what I needed. Sheila is my pride and joy. I find solace in knowing that my late husband, Charles Oliver, and Sheila are reunited in heaven at once and at peace. To the best daughter a mother could ask for, I love you deeply, always.—Jennie Belle Oliver

SISTER

As a sister, Sheila was out of this world. As a big sister (and sister-in-law) I could always, always depend on Sheila to offer advice, support, and guidance—no matter what. She was the most selfless, kind, loving person I ever met. Through childhood to adulthood, Sheila or “She” as I affectionately called her, carried herself with so much integrity, class, grace, and compassion. Sheila was a protector and the definition of a leader. She didn’t miss a beat. She always looked out for her family, pouring her love into my children (her nieces and nephew) as if they were her own. I’m very thankful to have had Sheila in my life as a sister for so many years. Sheila’s impact on our family was bigger than anyone could ever imagine. As we try to muster up the strength and try our best to adjust to no longer having her here with us earthside, her voice, love, and presence are missed more and more each day. Sheila was given a mission and she well exceeded anyone’s expectations, including her own. She achieved the highest of achievements and is now an angel in heaven watching over us. We all will miss her dearly, but God has another mission for her. —Charles Oliver Sr. (brother) and Sylvia Oliver (sister-in-law)

Left to right: Renee Oliver, Sylvia Oliver, Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Charles Oliver Sr., Monet Webb, Charles Oliver Jr., Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, and family celebrating her 70th birthday on Thursday, July 14, 2022.

AUNT

An aunt and second mother figure, Aunt Sheila was the best of the best. Her genuine kindness, overflowing compassion, and unconditional love were like no other. It brought us such an immense amount of joy to be front-row witnesses to her ascension from Assemblywoman, to Speaker, to Lt. Governor—becoming the first Black woman to win a statewide election in New Jersey. We are beyond proud to call her “Auntie” and be inspired by the history she made. Words truly cannot describe how blessed we feel to have experienced her knowledge and love in this lifetime. There will never be anyone else like her in our lives. Life as we know it would not be the same without having had Aunt Sheila involved in our lives every step of the way, from birth to becoming young adults. As we move forward, birthdays, holidays, vacations, and family gatherings will never be the same without her physical presence.

However, her legacy, essence, and spirit will live on through us, our children, and future Oliver generations. Aunt Sheila IS Black history. She will be remembered, celebrated, and uplifted for her years of service and commitment to those in need. We love you more than words can explain, Auntie. We promise to keep making you proud. —Leah Oliver (niece), Charles Oliver Jr. (nephew), and Renee Oliver (niece)

COUSIN

As cousins, we shared a unique and special bond. We had so much genuine love for one another. My cousin always helped me navigate through life’s ups and downs. To me, my cousin was not only a family member, she was one of my closest friends. She was my confidant. I was free in expressing my life challenges and achievements to her with no judgments. We not only shared a common heritage, we often shared many memories of our family gatherings at our grandparents’ (the late William and Racheal Nelson) home. Through thick and thin, my cousin was always ready to lend an ear to provide me with guidance to overcome any obstacles I may have been facing. All I had to do was start the conversation with “Lordy! Lordy!” Sheila would then say, “Oh boy! What’s going on?” She often told me how proud she was of me. The greatest thing about my cousin? She was never too famous nor too important to remember the value of family LOVE. I am truly going to miss vacationing with her, celebrating milestones, and hearing her laughing at life’s finest adventures.—Monet Webb (Cousin)

“To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.”

Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver being sworn in for her second term in the presence of her family on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

Left to right: Charles Oliver Jr., Leah Oliver, Charles Oliver Sr., and Jennie Belle Oliver look on.

the PoSiti V e c ommunity SPecial Section

Honoring Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver

When Sheila Oliver agreed to join our first campaign together, I knew I had found my perfect partner in government.

But what I didn’t know—at least, yet—was that I had also found a sister.

That became fully apparent on July 24, 2017—the day that Sheila and I met for the first time as running mates. That evening, Sheila joined me, Tammy, and our kids in Newark’s historic Ironbound, to break bread and celebrate the beginning of our journey together. It was the moment she became an honorary member of the Murphy Family.

And every day since that dinner, I relied on Sheila. I leaned on her legislative expertise, I followed her moral compass, and I tried my best to live up to the gold standard she set every day as the rockin’-est member of my cabinet—which, wasn’t easy, given her flawless sense of style.

By now, almost everybody knows about Sheila the trailblazer. Throughout her more than five decades of service to New Jersey, she broke one glass ceiling after another—as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, the first woman of color elected to statewide office in our state’s history, and the highest-ranking Black woman to ever serve the people of New Jersey.

But I want to tell you a little bit about Sheila the changemaker.

Because, more than anything, Sheila was a daughter of Newark. Her journey into public service began on the eve of her 15th birthday—when her city erupted into flames after years of being neglected, hollowed out, and disregarded by generations of leaders.

It was in the pain of that communal outcry—which we now remember as the Newark Rebellion—that Sheila discovered purpose. And from then on, she dedicated herself to mastering the ins and outs of government—to become the champion she believed her community sorely needed.

Sheila trained herself to become a five-tool athlete— making any progress she could, in any position she could reach. From the East Orange School Board, to the General Assembly, to her role in my administration as lieutenant

By New Jersey Governor Hon. Phil Murphy

governor and commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. No matter the role, Sheila poured herself into forging relationships—and learning the complexities of legislating—to better the lives of the forgotten families throughout our state.

So, by the time Sheila and I joined forces, she not only brought her vital, lived experience to the table—she also brought decades of expertise and a proven track-record in making government work for the people. And during our six years of partnership, Sheila was the mastermind behind some of our greatest accomplishments, like revitalizing our cities, expanding affordable housing, supporting our neighbors in need, and more.

I cannot adequately express how grateful I am that Sheila agreed to join me as my partner in government all those years ago.

She was one of the finest public servants our state—and if I may be so bold, our nation—has ever known.

And I believe that sentiment is shared by New Jerseyans all across our state. Just look at the scenes from that Thursday in our State House, where mourners lined up for hours to pay their respects to Sheila as she laid in state—a first for any public official in modern history.

The people of our state showed up because they knew that, even if they did not know Sheila personally, they could always trust that she was fighting for them.

I cannot adequately express how grateful I am that Sheila agreed to join me as my partner in government all those years ago. She was one of the finest public servants our state— and if I may be so bold, our nation—has ever known.

“Sheila Oliver broke gender and racial barriers in New Jersey to become our first African American Assembly Speaker and our first African American elected to a statewide position as Lieutenant Governor. More importantly, Sheila pursued a career in government and politics because she cared about helping people and making the lives of those in need better. It’s fitting that we keep her memory alive so future generations are Inspired to follow her example.”

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., EssexCountyExecutive And The Board of County Commissioners

HonortheLifeandLegacyof

Lt. Governor

Sheila Y. Oliver

Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center

We first honored Sheila Oliver in 2013 by naming our Conference Center as the “Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center” after she became Assembly Speaker. We renamed the room as the “Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Conference Center” in 2018 when she became the first African American elected to statewide office.

Essex County

Sheila Y. Oliver Division of Family Assistance and Benefits Building

Later this year, we will rename our Division of Family Assistance and Benefits Building at 320-321 University Avenue after Sheila Oliver. In addition, a bronze bust of our Lieutenant Governor will be installed in the lobby of the Essex County Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building.

Remembering Ms. Oliver

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs United

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ).

TSheila Oliver: Champion of Change

he late, great Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was not only a mentor, but also a colleague, a friend, and a great leader for the people of the State of New Jersey and the country

Sheila forged a legacy of championing change and made impactful systemic change for civil rights. Her dedication to equity, social justice, and the betterment of her community will be remembered for generations to come May her impact inspire and guide others in pursuing a more just and compassionate society.

Her advocacy for women and people of color in government, in leadership, and in public service will never be forgotten as we continue her fight for social justice and equality in all spaces. She was an inspiring model of Black leadership, excellence, and achievement for all Black women and girls

It has been an honor to serve alongside her in the Legislature Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was a shining example of exemplary leadership with compassion and grace and was always fervent and fearless in any fight important to our communities. We will miss her knowledge, encouragement, and steadfast guidance

Sheila Oliver: Champion of Change

Our sincerest condolences and prayers to her family, colleagues, and friends May your memories of her provide comfort in this time of great loss.

Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was not only a mentor, but also a colleague, a friend, and a great leader for the people of the State of New Jersey and the country.

Shavonda E Sumter Chair, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent, hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

Sheila forged a legacy of championing change and made impactful systemic change for civil rights. Her dedication to equity, social justice, and the betterment of her community will be remembered for generations to come. May her impact inspire and guide others in pursuing a more just and compassionate society.

were given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

Her advocacy for women and people of color in government, in leadership, and in public service will never be forgotten as we continue her fight for social justice and equality in all spaces. She was an inspiring model of Black leadership, excellence, and achievement for all Black women and girls.

It has been an honor to serve alongside her in the Legislature. Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was a shining example of exemplary leadership with compassion and grace and was always fervent and fearless in any fight important to our communities. We will miss her knowledge, encouragement, and steadfast guidance.

Our sincerest condolences and prayers to her family, colleagues, and friends. May your memories of her provide comfort in this time of great loss.

Shavonda E. Sumter Chair, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was—a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives.

Remembering Ms. Oliver

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs United

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ).

The late, great Lt. Governor

Sheila Y. Oliver: Trailblazer and Icon

Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

Swere given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

heila Oliver was a trailblazer and a true icon for representation, diversity and progress. As our state’s first Black woman to serve as Assembly Speaker and as Lt. Governor Sheila leaves behind a legacy of breaking barriers that will never be forgotten.

Sheila was a graceful and genuine woman with a vision for tomorrow. She was a crusader in her own right. She did it quietly, with dignity, and she did it in her own way. She was a believer of when you get knocked down, it’s how you get up, and she always got up in fine fashion. Individuals that oftentimes did not have a voice, she was their voice; she was their tomorrow, she was their being, she was their substance, she was their friend.

Sheila has run her race, and our worthy and purposeful servant has given her life. Sheila leaves us with the spirit of hope. She leaves us in our hearts the spirit of perseverance. She leaves us in our hearts the desire to make tomorrow better. It is our responsibility to make sure Sheila’s legacy never fades away, never dies. It is all of us who now take the mantle of leadership in the name of Sheila Oliver.

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent, hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. Chairman

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was—a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives.

Remembering Ms. Oliver

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs United

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ).

LTMy Tribute to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver

ieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver dedicated her life to the betterment of New Jersey and lived a life filled with accomplishments as an activist and trailblazer. She served with distinction in the New Jersey General Assembly and eventually became the first Black woman to be Assembly Speaker in New Jersey history. In addition, she was only the second Black woman elected to lead a legislative chamber in American history.

he late, great Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

But her legacy was really established in the work she did for so many in our state. Lt. Gov. Oliver was a constant crusader for low-income housing. When she led the Department of Community Affairs, she helped revitalize cities, created more affordable housing, and lowered the rates of homelessness across New Jersey. When she wasn’t in that role, she co-founded the Newark Coalition for Low Income Housing and used that organization to save and build more low-income housing. Her organization sued the Newark Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to block the demolition of low-income housing in Newark. She won and the Newark Housing Authority had to build new low-income housing in the city.

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent, hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

Another one of Lt. Gov. Oliver’s crusades was her battle against corruption. She was one of the people responsible for uncovering the Bridgegate scandal. Before she was Lieutenant Governor, Oliver supported the Assembly’s Transportation Committee in its work to discover that

lane closures on the George Washington Bridge to Fort Lee were politically motivated.

were given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was—a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives.

On a personal note, I’ve known the Lieutenant Governor for most of my life. As youngsters, we grew up on the same street in Newark on Bock Avenue. As we grew older, I continued to follow her career and leadership at the Newark Leaguers. She became my mentor, my friend, and someone I wanted to emulate in public life. Her oratory skills were second to none and most people did not want to follow her at speaking events. Although, you did appreciate it when she spoke on your behalf. She’s one of the people that had a major impact on my career and she was like family. In fact, it was Sheila Oliver’s endorsement for me for the 10th Congressional District seat in Congress that was the difference in making my candidacy a serious one. The fact that she became the first African-American Speaker of the Assembly and then the first African-American Lieutenant Governor for the State of New Jersey demonstrated her leadership and care for the people of New Jersey. I was devastated when I heard she passed away last August. I still have days when I find myself thinking of her and my sister, Wanda, who passed away in August two years ago.

Sheila Oliver leaves a void in our hearts and I will miss my neighbor, my mentor, my big sister, and my friend from Bock Avenue. She made New Jersey and our community a better place.

Sheila

Honoring the Late Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey

With profound respect and admiration, members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association honor the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, a distinguished leader and cherished member of our communities.

With a keen insight into the challenges faced by citizens, particularly in urban areas, Lieutenant Governor Oliver tirelessly championed policies that advanced opportunity, equity, and social justice. Her steadfast dedication to urban centers across the State of New Jersey not only transformed lives but also shaped the trajectory of communities for the better. Through her compassionate leadership style, she inspired others to action, catalyzing positive change and progress for all New Jerseyans. As we reflect on her remarkable contributions, we recognize the enduring impact she made on the State of New Jersey and beyond.

With much appreciation, Members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association

Remembering Ms. Oliver

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs United

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ).

LThe late, great Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the executive director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

Sheila Y. Oliver: A Phenomenal Woman

ieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was one of the greatest trailblazers the State of New Jersey has ever known. A phenomenal woman, she inspired us with her passion, knowledge, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. Her love for East Orange, Essex County, and New Jersey was second to none; and her accomplishments made us extremely proud to call her one of our own.

Not only was Sheila Oliver a political giant, she was a personal friend who guided me and one of the first people to endorse me as the 14th mayor of East Orange. I will always remember how she used to tell me that if I didn’t get invited to the table, then I needed to bring my own seat. And that’s just what she did—she brought her seat to the table and made the table bigger for everyone.

Her legacy cannot be overstated. She gave a voice to the voiceless and she did it with passion, authenticity, eloquence, and respect. Social justice, education, and equality were the pillars of her platform and she was the epitome of a person who understood how to help and nurture people. A true servant leader and a fierce champion of rights, she will live in our hearts forever and we will continue to honor her by building upon her extraordinary legacy of service in our communities.

Mayor Ted R. Green

City of East Orange

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent, hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

were given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was—a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives

REMEMBERING SHEILA Y. OLIVER

BY: JOHN E. HARMON,

SR., IOM

When Dr Carter G Woodson envisioned Black History Week, he saw it as an opportunity to showcase the talent that existed within the black demographic throughout the United States. Dr Woodson realized that blacks had contributed significantly to all that gave the United States of America a competitive advantage over other countries around the world and he wanted others to also recognize that fact Subsequently, it was President Gerald Ford, in 1976 during the Bicentennial Celebration in Philadelphia who expanded upon Dr. Woodson’s vision in taking the acknowledgement of Blacks from a week to Black History Month Therefore, in keeping with the tradition of Dr Woodson and President Ford we pause to recognize New Jersey’s First Black Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y Oliver

Lt Governor Oliver was born in Northern New Jersey, and I hail from Central New Jersey; Trenton to be specific Notwithstanding that we originated miles apart, I came to know and respect her as a woman of and for the people. She embraced education at an early age and continued pursuing various degrees, realizing their significance and how it could be used to achieve her personal and professional goals Our beloved Lt Governor held elected office at the municipal, county, and state levels In public, she was a woman that spoke with brevity, focus and intentionality. Her advocacy on behalf of those she represented was steadfast and at times probably not fully appreciated given the level of deliberation she endured behind closed doors As the Founder, President & CEO, of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) I had many opportunities to engage the Lt Gov on issues representing members of, or proposed programs for, the AACCNJ; we concluded with a mutual understanding of the request and its potential impact It was always reassuring to me that our Lt Governor did not equivocate and always wanted to be of value where she could, but especially for black people

I was saddened to hear about her passing, realizing that Senator Rice had preceded her, another strong voice for equality for blacks in New Jersey, who was also from the Northern quadrant of New Jersey. The departure of both these wise and courageous leaders leaves a tremendous void to address the inequities that face the 1 2 million black residents and the over 88,000 black businesses Recently we were provided access to the long-awaited State Disparity Study which gave us an in-depth analysis of procurement from 61 state agencies The over 200-page report confirmed throughout the minuscule participation of Black businesses in some cases less than 50 percent versus Caucasian men over 80 percent in most instances As a tribute to our beloved Lt Governor and our trusted advocate let us unite and put forth the appropriate policies and strategies recommendations to the Murphy Administration that will mitigate the systemic underperformance that has led to our marginal socioeconomic standing and will place blacks on a pathway of a better co-existence with others while simultaneously improving the competitiveness of our State Our Lt Governor, Sheila Oliver, would appreciate that

The Leaguers, Inc.

Dynamic

RReflection

Reflection

Sisters in Heart

By Dr. Diane Hill and Family

eflecting on over fortyfive years of sisterhood, I remember all the amazing times Sheila and I had together planning to change the world. Beginning with the youth in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) and Pre-College Programs to her work in public policy that reflected her wisdom and insight led her to be a trailblazer in affecting real change from local municipalities to the highest office of the state. A regular Jersey homegirl raised to embrace an unwavering commitment to justice and equality, God sent her to knock down barriers and doors to create new opportunities for so many. And Sheila always gladly stepped up to the task.

to her legacy left behind. She gave her time, heart, and soul to the true mission.

I will always cherish the journey of our friendship. What resonates for me is her commitment to remain grounded, she always found time to celebrate with friends and family. The family and friends’ birthday parties, cookouts, trips, and just hanging out with the girls impacted our lives forever. Her infectious smile, thoughtful check-ins, and long conversations about important decisions in our lives often ended with a tear, which turned into laughter. Her inspirational words of advice will remain in our hearts forever. Yes, Sheila helped me to realize and pursue my dreams.

The essence of her work will always leave footprints that will impact this great state. Words cannot do justice

Thank you, GOD, for bringing us together as sisters; my guardian angel; I know you will always be by my side

Remembering Ms. Oliver

By Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate & Government Affairs United

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ).

The late, great Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who I called, “Ms. Oliver,” fully embodied this scripture. We met for the first time when I was 12 years old. At that time, she was the Executive Director of The Leaguers, Inc., the renowned Newark community center. She was establishing and overseeing programming at the Leaguers while securing grants that would change the course of the lives of students there. My mother was her executive assistant, so my sister and I would often enthusiastically travel on the bus after school to the Leaguers to participate in its after-school programs, dance, and drama classes. Even then, Ms. Oliver, the woman who would go on to become the first Black woman Speaker of the NJ General Assembly and ultimately our beloved Lt. Governor, was a visionary and an extraordinary force with a steady hand.

My mother explained to me back then that Ms. Oliver was a diligent hard worker and leader who inspired her. As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of that statement. What had struck me most was how kind and caring Ms. Oliver was to my mother. She was also so approachable, even with her youngest program participants. Throughout her career, she was on a mission to open doors of opportunity. Specifically, she ensured that children at the Leaguers were fed after school, tutored, and gained access to arts and culture through Leaguers-developed programs. Most notable for me, was her securing grants that allowed a few dozen Leaguers children, including my sister and me, to attend sleepaway camp for two weeks at Frost Valley in Upstate NY. Thanks to Ms. Oliver’s unrelenting commitment, my sister and I

were given an unforgettable experience which, in some ways, helped shape us.

Ms. Oliver continued to be there for me over the course of my career. My story, which is a tiny snippet of all she had touched, isn’t rare or unusual. There are so many like mine. I’m convinced that it will take many years to peel back the layers of all she has done over the arc of her exemplary life. What a wonderful and humble person she was - a giant who walked among us and who in many ways was an unsung hero, much like the many women she herself honored. She was an anointed, kind, and generous soul who understood and honored her divine assignment throughout the course of her career. My reverence for her started when I was young, and I will continue to cherish the memory of her and what she brought to my, and so many others’ lives

Missing Sheila

By Bessie Walker Essex County NJ Federation of Democratic Women

“Nothing will work unless you do.”—Maya Angelou

In considering our individual and collective friendships, comraderies, conversations, and hours that we shared with our Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, we must acknowledge and appreciate the different facets of her life. The longevities of our individual friendships vary. Individual parts of our lives intersected with various points of her career and her life. The one constant that we—as the Essex County NJ Federation of Democratic Women—all share with the residents of our State is knowing that she wanted the best for all residents of New Jersey, irrespective of one’s geographical location. She worked tirelessly for New Jersey and her residents. We sometimes wondered whether Sheila slept. She frequently telephoned or exchanged e-mails and texts during nonworking hours and sometimes during the middle of the night. Amid a late-hour grocery shopping excursion with her mother, after exchanging pleasantries and receiving assurance that family members were doing all right, she might have posed a question about some issue brewing in Trenton or a local municipality. She wanted and valued constituencies’ opinions and suggestions.

Crafting effective policy and legislation meant nothing to her if it did not produce positive change or improvement for residents. Sheila listened to the complaints and heard the hardships of residents. She knew the effect and planned to revisit residents’ issues and circumstances sooner rather than later. She made sure that her—and our collective voices – were heard and the ones with the power and authority listened. The result did not always please her. However, in some cases, her activities staved off economic hardships for large numbers of residents.

Her capacity to listen was unparalleled. People would crowd around or line up to her to say a few words or recite a litany. No matter how busy she was or being rushed to exit an event, she stopped and listened. Sheila retained the gist of the conversation. If she could not contact you directly, she had one of her staff members contact you with needed information. The next time she saw you—no matter how much time had elapsed—she would refer to your last conversation and inquire about your level of satisfaction and whether she could do more.

We miss Sheila, her ethics, devotion to public service, and the times we were able to break bread, and simply enjoy some music and each other’s company.

The Legend and My Trusted Friend

By: Jeannine Frisby Larue

I’ve been a New Jersey lobbyist since 1981 and have had the honor of working with scores of magnificent lawmakers. I can truly say that our beloved, late Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver was a rarity in the political world. Like many other persons in the public arena, I considered her a close friend. It’s almost inconceivable that so many folks in the political world could equate the word “friend” with an elected official. But that’s who Sheila Oliver was: unassuming, gracious, and kindhearted.

When she allowed you to enter her space and develop a relationship, all the titles went out the window. She would make you feel that you were the only one in the room. Sheila Oliver ‘saw you.’

During the late 90s and early 2000s, she and I lived in the same building. I found myself in the untenable situation of having to raise my six- and eight-year-old grandkids. In my 50s and with a really fast-paced executive career, I just couldn’t imagine where to start to find the services these youngsters would need to help piece their lives back together. I bumped into Sheila on the elevator with my grands in tow. She saw I was distraught.

Thanks to her assistance with services and contacts to make this emergency event work for me and my grands, those youngsters are now successful young adults—28 and 30 years old.

From then on, I counted this kind, thoughtful woman as a trusted friend. She never acted like Chair of the Freeholder Board, Speaker of Assembly, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, or Lt. Governor of New Jersey. To me she was just Sheila Oliver—a woman whose identity was not made by politics—but one who made politics better because she showed up.

So many policy and legislative victories can be cited because Sheila Oliver stepped into public life. Yes—there are far too many to recount in this brief tribute to her. Yet, there is one that sticks out in my mind and will stay with me for as long as my memory serves me well.

During the very contentious debate about whether same-sex persons should be legally married, thenSpeaker Sheila Oliver was determined to move the Marriage Equality bill through the Assembly. The vote in her caucus was very close. In a rare move, Speaker Oliver removed herself from the Speaker’s podium and addressed the Assembly Chamber from the floor. Her speech was powerful and memorable—and courageous for that moment in history.

How often do we hear political figures referred to as legends because they were the first in various offices or seemed to suck the oxygen out of the room when they appeared? That was not our Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. She was stately, classy, and so empathetic. It was her quiet, authentic manner that caused her to stand out. Today very few people will disagree that Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver is truly a legend.

“Sistahs Healing Sistahs” takes Aruba by Storm

Oranjestad, Aruba - October 2023 - For women of color looking for relaxation, respite, and a reunion with friends and family, "Sistahs Healing Sistahs” was just that. The five-day retreat for women to Aruba was a celebration of life. Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver had been slated as keynote speaker for the event. Trip organizer Kim Nesbitt Good, owner of Nesbitt Funeral Home in Elizabeth, New Jersey, dedicated the trip to the memory of her dear friend, Sheila, and her spirit of uplifting women, a passion they shared.

One hundred and nineteen women and men from one to 84 years of age traveled from various parts of the U.S. to “One Happy Island," as Aruba is known. The retreat planning actually began in February of 2023 by Good, her daughter Leah and Lt. Gov. Oliver. In Aruba, attendees enjoyed not only the sun, sand, and island trade winds, but also a beautiful hotel and friendly staff.

There was plenty of time to enjoy the island and all there is to do in Aruba, including parasailing, tours, shopping and sunset cruises, not to mention casino hopping. A tribute to the woman who would have addressed them took place at the scheduled luncheon. Over 90 women came together to eat, pray and love. Rev. Dr. Iola E. Williams, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Milton, Delaware, led a moving praise and uplifting worship service.

Plans are already in the works to expand the retreat to formally include men next year. Good says it will be called "Sistahs Healing Brothers.”

Mrs. Jennie Oliver with the crocheted blanket designed by her daughterk, Sheila, and made by Monica Pogue. L-R: Charles Oliver, Barbara Hayes, Monica Pogue, Jennie Oliver, Kim Nesbitt Good and Renee Oliver.

A Seat at Her Table

By Terry Tucker

Former Chief of Staff for Sheila Oliver

At a time when genuine listening and understanding are rare in public discourse, Sheila Oliver embodied humility and demonstrated a genuine love and compassion that truly set her apart. Throughout a life and career spent fighting for her seat at the table and advocating for those without a voice, she understood, perhaps better than anyone, the loudest voice isn’t necessarily right.

Maybe that understanding developed during her early days. She began working to address injustice by placing a “Tell it to Sheila” box in her 5th-grade class. Or perhaps it came from her forays into community organizing with The Leaguers or the many non-profit organizations she led.

Whenever it was, it educated her lifelong work to address issues as varied as affordable housing, food insecurity, economic inequity, public education, and voting rights, among many others. She connected the threads from the individual or community in need to the resources and legal structures that could offer a

resolution. For Sheila, wasn’t just about getting new laws passed, but about ensuring the spirit of those laws became foundational to the next stage of the work. Standing up for gay rights, early childhood education, protecting senior citizens’ rights—I could go on.

It’s understandable to miss Sheila’s presence and leadership during a time as significant as Black History Month— after all, she made history (Although she would say “Every month is Black history month”). We all feel her loss acutely, but can take comfort and inspiration from the reality that her legacy lives on: Sheila continues to inspire and be a guide for future generations.

I feel truly blessed that I had 20 years to work with Sheila, the last 6 up-close. Through my actions, I lived my love for her. I know I am not alone in this. It was impossible not to empathize with and care for a woman who gave so much of herself to the state and to each person fortunate enough to find themself within her orbit.

Sheila was always up on pop culture. One morning she came out wearing bright red patent leather Cardi B sneakers —we laughed all the way to Trenton. She kept us up on the latest escapist TV, too. She enjoyed Cheaters and the Housewives of Atlanta. The part of Sheila that many did not see was her sense of humor. Not a day went by that we did not laugh about something.

As we carry her torch forward, her legacy will be evident not only in the lives she touched and doors she opened, but in our continuation of her work to ensure that everyone has their seat at the table. Sheila will forever live on in my heart and mind. Sheila’s spirit of humility, humanity, love, and passion will forever be a part of me. I thank God for my seat at her table.

The Power of Her Spirit

By Reverend Derrick L. Green, Founder, Interfaith Action Movement (IAM), Former Senior Advisor Governor Phil Murphy

Iwas introduced to the politics of Essex County, which includes Newark, East Orange, Irvington, and Orange. The rich, historic culture and the politics of these cities in one of the nation’s oldest states, taught me so many valuable lessons I apply today. A few years later, I would meet someone from Essex County who would become a transformational figure in my life. I did not know Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, or Barbara Jordan. But I did know Sheila Oliver.

Each generation has the responsibility to preserve and build on the advancements prior generations have made. Sheila was one who understood this mandate. She would say to me, “Rev! We are culture busters!” and then she would smile. She understood the intersectionality of racism and discrimination in housing, education, wages, wealth creation, healthcare, procurement, etc. She taught the value of showing the benefits of changing systems whether in government, corporate, non profit, education, or health care. Sheila understood that in order to rid our systems of racism and discrimination, diversity, inclusion, fairness, and equity must be embedded in the culture.

She taught us how to systemically change these cultures and that cultures don’t change overnight. Systems are determined by people’s actions. Sheila understood that those of us she called culture busters were the antitheses

of those who want the status quo. Whether she was on the school board, speaker of the assembly, or Lieutenant Governor—Sheila, in the spirit of Charles Hamilton Houston, was a social engineer building systems of equity and inclusion for generations to come. This is why the best decision Governor Murphy made was selecting Sheila Y Oliver as his running mate and commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

Sheila understood power. I remember being on a conference call with her and someone was expressing emphatically to the Governor that “Sheila needed to be at the table. Sheila needs to be in the room.” I thought to myself, Sheila is the table. She was the room. She was and set the agenda. She was the most knowledgeable person in the room on any issue. When Sheila walked in the room or showed up on Zoom, the atmosphere changed. Sheila Oliver was one of the most powerful people in the State of New Jersey. I am not talking about something I heard. I saw it and experienced for myself.

I was always amazed by how she had a point of reference wherever she visited. From the scenic boardwalk towns on the shore to the beautiful mountains of Sussex County or from the historic river towns with their peaceful, calming views of the Delaware River to the beautiful, culturally diverse neighborhoods of Hudson County—she knew and loved New Jersey.

But what stood out most was her inner spirit. Dr. Howard Thurman, the great Morehouse professor, often talks about the spirit of a man or a woman. I call it the power of the human spirit. The power of perseverance. The power of faith. The power of resilience and of grace. The power of forgiveness. Sheila was self-actualized. She was humble and approachable. She was elegant and majestic, all at the same time.

She was the epitome of the human spirit God gave us for a time to make humanity better. Job well done, Madame Lieutenant Governor.

133 Glenridge Ave, Montclair NJ 07042

Sheila Oliver Four Ways to Remember:

• The Warrior Queen:

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, the first Black woman to serve as the state’s assembly speaker, became the first Black woman in New Jersey’s history to be elected to statewide office. In 2017, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy chose Oliver to be his running mate; both were re-elected in 2021.

• A Queen Mother:

As a public servant and community leader, the dignity of Sheila Oliver’s presence commanded respect from strangers, friends, and enemies alike. Her nurturing, humble spirit and wisdom that extended far beyond her years inspired the best in many souls.

• Our Sister Friend:

Sheila Oliver truly loved her people; and her people really loved her. She was approachable and down-to-earth. She would always return our calls to her office! A friend and encourager to The Positive Community, Shelia would never hesitate to publicly praise our publication and encourage community support of our community-owned media company. She would often quote from articles in our magazine in her speeches.

• Soul Sister:

Sheila Oliver was always about the business of the future! A former educator, Sheila embraced the ideals of a quality education. She fully understood that knowledge of and appreciation for past challenges and triumphs is the springboard to collective prosperity and happiness! Cultural literacy is key to the success of present and future generations.

Lt. Governor Oliver led the Murphy administration’s initiative to make Juneteenth a state holiday. The Juneteenth movement was supported by community leaders like Kim Nesbitt Good, The Positive Community, Activist Larry Ham, clergy groups, educators and many, many others. In June 2020, the bill was signed into law by the Governor Murphy, two full years before Juneteenth became a national holiday.

A community activist, Shelia supported many freedom and social justice causes. She also embraced TPC’s Annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet in recognition of the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1,1863. Each year she would purchase tickets and tables to give to young people, senior citizens, and dignitaries. And she believed in The African American Cultural Narrative as an effective learning tool for young people.

Back in the times of the civil rights struggle, of the 50s and 60s the word “soul” meant so much. We ate Soul Food, and danced and marched to Soul Music. Our top artists were Soul Brother #1, The Godfather of Soul (James Brown) and the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin). Indeed it was people that got things done in the interest of the people who were proudly designated Soul Brother or Soul Sister.

Sheila Oliver certainly fit that description. She was in spirit and in truth, a Soul Sister, The impact of her efforts to promote progress and positive change will be felt for many years to come. We join the community in honoring the memory of this great leader.

Adrian Council, Sr. Publisher

Jean Nash Wells Editor-in-Chief

Hon. Sheila Oliver with former Newark City Council President Hon. Mildred C. Crump at TPC’s annual Emancipation Day Awards Banquet.

Kwanzaa Family Fun at NJPAC

Hundreds of families made the free 2023 Kwanzaa Family Festival at NJPAC part of their annual celebrations. The December 23, 2023 event included a full day of uplifting programs based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Those who came enjoyed holiday-infused activities including dance classes, arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting, and a candle lighting ceremony. Energetic performances—with audience participation—by Umoja Dance Company and Zawadi African Dance & Drum, Inc. honored the spirit and joy of the week-long holiday.

The Kwanzaa Marketplace took place over two floors of

the Arts Center. Shoppers found one-of-a-kind items from local crafters and artisans such as custom and cultural clothing, handcrafted jewelry and accessories, bath and body products, crystals, artwork, books, and more.

Live entertainment with free performances in the Prudential Hall Lobby happened every hour from 10AM – 9PM, in addition to The Hip Hop Nutcracker ticketed shows at 2PM and 7:30PM and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Kwanzaa Celebration at 3PM. If you missed NJPAC’s Kwanzaa celebration last year, mark your calendar for 2024’s Kwanzaa Family Festival.

Source: Newark Arts

Photos by: Raymond Hagans

Batman in Concert  with New Jersey Symphony

Sat, Mar 2 @ 8PM

Watch Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) on the big screen as the New Jersey Symphony plays Danny Elfman’s score, live.

musiq souldchild & eric benét

Fri, Apr 12 @ 8PM

Neo-soul star Musiq Soulchild and R&B crooner Eric Benét bring powerhouse vocals and deep emotions to every song.

@NJPAC

ledisi

blippi

The Wonderful World Tour

Sat, Mar 16 @ 3PM

Blippi returns to NJPAC for The Wonderful World Tour! Kids will have a blast dancing and singing along.

alvin ailey american

mar 7 with special guest raheem devaughn dance theater

Fri, May 10 @ 8PM; Sat, May 11 @ 8PM; Sun, May 12 @ 3PM

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to NJPAC with three performances on Mother’s Day weekend.

ali wong

Apr 1 @ 8PM

Comedian Ali Wong says the unsayable — busting open taboos about sex, marriage, motherhood and so much more.

samara joy

Sun, Jun 23 @ 7PM

Two-time GRAMMY® winner

Samara Joy — breakout star of the Sassy Awards vocal jazz competition — returns to NJPAC.

Generous support for Classical performances provided by the Smart Family Foundation/David S. Stone, Esq., Stone & Magnanini

Fifth Annual “Kings Who Read” At Roseville Community Charter School

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr’s Legacy

For the past five years, Roseville Community Charter School (RCCS) in Newark, NJ has honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by inviting male role-models to be “King Readers” for its elementary school scholars! RCCS Executive Director and Superintendent and King Readers Creator Dr. Dionne Ledford explained, “When I began my tenure

at RCCS, one of my primary goals was to increase the literacy skills of every scholar. This literacy initiative was started because our scholars need to see that the male leaders of our community understand the importance of reading and enjoy reading too We host this event during the month of Dr. King’s birthday because he was a “King” who loved to read!”

L-R: Dr. John Harmon and Dr. Ledford

L-R: Saxophonist Bradford Hayes, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens, Former NFL player AB Whitfield, Dr. Dionne Ledford, PSEG Foundation President and Director of PSEG Corporate Social Responsibility Calvin Ledford Jr.

Rev. Dr. David Jefferson reads to scholars

Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr Speaks at Harlem’s Abyssinian Men’s Day

Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church welcomed Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr.,one of the finest speakers and public scholars of our times, as their 71st annual Men’s Day Speaker. The Morehouse graduate currently serves as the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University. A best selling author, and frequent MSNBC commentator, his books include Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent, Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.

In his introduction of Dr. Glaude, the award-winning reporter and TV anchor, Randall Pinkston said, "Dr. Glaude is one of America's most influential thought leaders at a time when there are so many vexing social, political, and moral issues that shock the spirit and demand a response from God-fearing people committed to social justice as a religious scholar."

Dr. Glaude’s biblically-sound message challenged listeners to keep the faith and never forget that we are standing on the shoulders of the congregation’s past spiritual leaders.

Photos and text by Bob Gore

Second Annual Pre-Watch Night Prayer Walk

Are you aware that January 1st is one of the most important dates on the American calendar, especially for African Americans? On that day in 1863, as the Civil War raged on, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. Freedom came to 3.5 million of our ancestors held in brutal bondage in the Confederate states.

On that very day, 200,000 Negro troops were mobilized to fight on the side of the Union Army. And yes, on January 1st, it went from being called a “War to Save the Union” to the “War to End Slavery.” The civil war cost more than 700,000 American lives.

This was the first step that eventually led to the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, forever abolishing slavery in the USA. At The Positive Community, we view these historic times as a profound spiritual and cultural

event—the season of the Great American Emancipation!

On Friday, December 29th, the City of Newark and The Positive Community hosted the 2nd annual Pre-Watch Night Candlelight Prayer Walk. The event highlights the importance of the Great American Emancipation of 1863. Those assembled walked along Broad St. from Lincoln Park to the steps of City Hall, extending prayers of thanksgiving for our ancestors who sacrificed and those who continue in the freedom struggle of our times!

Thank you to the 2023 Prayer Walk Chair Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Slaughter, pastor St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ. Special thanks to keynote speaker Larry Hamm of People’s Organization for Progress (POP), Councilwoman Rev. Louise Rountree, and Newark Mayor Ras. J Baraka.

L-R: Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Slaughter and TPC Publisher Adrian Council Sr. Keynote Speaker Larry Hamm of POP

L-R: Councilwoman Rev. Louise Rountree and Newark NAACP President Deborah Smith Gregory

Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Slaughter

Photos by: Vincent Bryant

The Jessie Banks Foundation Hosted Its

19th Annual Scholarship Awards Gala Fundraiser

Established as a living tribute to the life of the beloved Jessie Banks by her daughter, Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams, the Jessie Banks Foundation's annual gala fundraiser once again earned hight marks. True to their purpose of enhancing the lives of others through empowerment, health awareness, mentoring, and counseling, JBF also provides tuition assistance to deserving young men and women. For nineteen years, JBF has awarded scholarships to high school seniors and college freshmen. The young recipients have demonstrated strong academic achievement and give back to their communities through volunteerism and pursuit of youth development.

Members of Bergen County (NJ) Chapter of the Links, Inc.

Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams, Congressman Jamaal Boman, Dr. Mendes, Ottis Anderson, and Kevin Liles

Front Row L-R: Nina Jeffries-El, Emily Kim, Kamila Polanco, Natalie Benalcazar, Brianna Bundick, Ria Vij. Back Row L-R: Dwight Clark, Gabriel Beildlemand and Myles

L-R: John Webb; Muhammad Bell; Sharon Mahn, Esq.; Dr. Sharon Banks-Williams; Mary Tate Lee; and Dr. Cheriese Pemberton

Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) Annual National Consultation

The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) 2023 Annual National Consultation brought together leadership of the largest historically Black denominations in America. Led by CNBC Chairman Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and President Dr. Jacqui Burton, the event joined pastors, laity, the leaders of mainstream religious bodies, business, non-profit and thought leaders, policy makers, community activists, and social justice advocates.

The Orlando, Florida gathering on December 12-13 addressed some of the country’s most significant crises related to the impact of the pandemic, health disparities, mental health, and racism. Keynote speaker Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy K. Cohen also toured CNBC’s Healing & Hope Health Pavilion with Drs. Richardson and Burton.

The CNBC Board announced their adoption of the Ten Black Faith and Justice Ideals on the first night of the consultation, sounding a call to action around principles proposing a united national plan of intervention to organize, strategize, and mobilize for justice, equity, and liberation in 2024. CNBC also announced a joint 2024 Get Out the Vote campaign with Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, building on their past work to activate voters and get communities vaccinated during the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes (L) with HBCU presidents

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson and Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump, Esq.

L-R: Rev. Nelson Rivers III receives the John Lewis Freedom Award from Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson

Rev. Al Sharpton

Proposed Toll Rate Schedule for the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP)

Public Hearing

The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), doing business as MTA Bridges and Tunnels, will hold hybrid public hearings to solicit comments on the proposed toll rate schedule for the Central Business District Tolling Program (CDBTP). The hearings will be held in a hybrid format with options to participate in-person as well as virtually via Zoom’s online platform and conference call feature, with a livestream available on the MTA YouTube channel.

Under the MTA Reform and Traffic Mobility Act of 2019 (the “Act”), TBTA will establish the CBDTP and collect tolls from vehicles entering the Manhattan Central Business District, an area defined by statute as south of and inclusive of 60th Street but excluding the FDR Drive, New York State Route 9A (including the Battery Park Underpass), and any surface roadway portion of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street. The purpose of the Program is to reduce traffic congestion and generate revenue to fund $15 billion in improvements to subway, bus, and commuter rail systems under MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan and successor plans.

The Act established a Traffic Mobility Review Board and tasked it with issuing recommendations for a toll rate schedule within the parameters of the Act, including toll amounts and any credits, discounts, and/or exemptions. These recommendations were published on November 30, 2023. On December 6, 2023, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority Board voted to proceed with the administrative procedure required to establish and adopt a toll rate schedule.

Accordingly, a public comment period is underway and hybrid public hearings will be held in order for TBTA to receive feedback on the proposed toll rate schedule. The public comment period began December 27, 2023 and will continue through March 11, 2024. The proposed toll rate schedule can be viewed at: https://new.mta.info/ document/129191. The proposal in summary includes the following:

n Passenger vehicles and passenger-type vehicles with commercial license plates would be charged a $15 peak period E-ZPass toll for entering the CBD, no more than once per day.

n Trucks would be charged a $24 or $36 peak period E-ZPass toll for entering the CBD, depending on their size.

n Buses providing transit or commuter services would be exempted from the toll. Other buses would be charged a $24 or $36 peak period E-ZPass toll for entering the CBD, depending on their type.

n Motorcycles would be charged half the respective passenger vehicle toll, no more than once per day.

n Tolls would be charged to vehicles only as they enter the CBD – not if they remain in or leave the zone.

n Peak period toll rates would apply during the most congested times of the day – from 5am to 9pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 9pm on weekends. Toll rates would be 75% lower in the overnight period.

n A tunnel credit against a portion of the peak period CBD toll rate would be provided to vehicles with E-ZPass entering through the four tolled entries that lead directly into the CBD: the Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland, and Lincoln Tunnels. No crossing credits would be in effect in the overnight period, when CBD toll rates are already 75% lower than in the peak period.

n NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) taxis, green cabs, and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) would be exempted from the daily system toll on vehicles. Instead, a per-trip CBD toll would be added to each paid passenger trip fare for trips made to, from, or within the CBD at the toll rate of $1.25 per-trip for taxis, green cabs and FHVs, and $2.50 per-trip for FHVs on trips dispatched by a high-volume for-hire service (HVFHS).

n Specialized government vehicles would be exempted from the CBD toll (in addition to qualifying authorized emergency vehicles and qualifying vehicles transporting persons with disabilities, as required by the Act).

n Low-income vehicle owners who qualify and register with TBTA for the Low-Income Discount Plan would receive a peak period E-ZPass toll rate that is 50% less than the passenger vehicle peak period E-ZPass toll rate, on their eligible vehicle’s 11th trip and trips thereafter in a calendar month.

n Generally, CBD toll rates for vehicles using fare media other than E-ZPass, commonly referred to as Tolls by Mail, would be 50% higher than that of E-ZPass customers. Complete details of the proposed toll rate schedule can be found at https://new.mta.info/document/129191.

DATES AND TIMES OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS

Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) Public Hearings

Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 6:00 PM

Friday, March 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM

Monday, March 4, 2024, at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM

Hybrid public hearings will include both in-person and virtual platforms.

Location of the Hearings (In-Person)

The hearings will be held at MTA Headquarters, 2 Broadway, 20th Floor – William J. Ronan Board Room, New York, NY 10004.

Joining the Public Hearing (Virtually)

If you are registered to speak, you may join in person, online, or by phone by following these instructions:

Join Zoom Webinar Online: To access the Zoom webinar online, go to https://mta.zoom.us/j/82624594335

Join Zoom Webinar by Telephone: To access the Zoom webinar by telephone, please call (929) 436-2866 (local) or (833) 548-0282 (US toll free). Then enter Webinar ID 826 2459 4335, followed by the pound (#) sign.

Public Hearing Format

This will be a hybrid hearing format with in-person participation as well as via Zoom’s online platform and conference call feature, with a livestream available on the MTA YouTube site. Those interested in speaking must register to speak at the public hearing. Each registered speaker will have two (2) minutes to speak. Public comments will be limited to a total of 240 minutes per hearing, or approximately 120 speakers. Speakers who have not already spoken at a CBDTP toll rate schedule hearing will be given priority over those who have previously spoken at a hearing. All comments will be transcribed and made part of the permanent record for these hearings.

Registering for the Public Hearing

To register, please go to: https://new.mta.info/agency/bridges-and-tunnels/cbd-tolling-hearing, or call the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777. Telephone agents are available daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. Registration will begin one week in advance of each hearing, and will close 30 minutes following the start of each hearing.

To Submit Comments

You may submit comments online at https://new.mta.info/project/CBDTP, by e-mail to cbdtp.feedback@mtabt.org, or by postal mail to Central Business District Tolling Program, 2 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10004. You may also call the CBDTP comment line at 646-252-7440.

All comments must be received no later than 11:59 PM on March 11, 2024. Comments received after that date and time will not be considered.

Accessibility and Language Assistance Services

American Sign Language and CART Captioning Services will be available. Members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or the free 711 relay service, and then ask to be connected to the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777 to speak with an agent.

Members of the public who do not have access to a computer or who do not have access to the Internet can listen to each of the hearings by calling the Zoom meeting at (929) 436-2866 (local) or (833) 548-0282 (US toll free). Then enter Meeting ID 826 2459 4335, followed by the pound (#) sign.

If language assistance or any other accommodations are required, please submit a request at least five (5) business days before the scheduled hearing date in one of the following ways: by e-mail to cbdtp.feedback@mtabt.org, by telephone by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777, or send a letter via postal mail to MTA Government & Community Relations, Attn: Central Business District Tolling Program Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

www.mta.info

Plan for a healthy heart at all stages of life.

Taking preventative measures now–no matter your age–has the power to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Checkups

Visits at ages 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Annual visits from ages 2 to 17, including a visit at age 30 months; screen for healthy weight.

Birth to 17

18 to 39

AGES

40 to 49

50 to 74

75 and older

Wellness Check

Check blood pressure, screen for healthy weight and assess overall health.

Wellness Check

Check blood pressure, screen for healthy weight and assess overall health.

Wellness Check

Check blood pressure, screen for healthy weight and assess overall health.

Wellness Check

Check blood pressure, screen for healthy weight and assess overall health.

Additional Heart Diagnostics

EKG, Stress Test, Calcium Scoring, CTFFR

These recommendations can change depending on your risk for heart disease, including family history.

Screening Tests

Obesity: Monitor starting at age 6.

Blood Pressure: Check annually age 3+.

Screening Tests

Cholesterol: Check every five years.

Obesity: Monitor periodically throughout adulthood.

Blood Pressure: Check every 3 to 5 years (annual if risk factors).

Diabetes: Discuss with your provider; screen individuals ages 35–70 who are overweight.

Screening Tests

Calcium Score: Depending on risk for heart disease (your MD will make this determination)

If no risk, can consider this test in the next decade.

Cholesterol: Check every two years.

Obesity: Monitor periodically throughout adulthood.

Blood Pressure: Check annually.

Diabetes: Discuss with your provider; screen individuals ages 35–70 who are overweight.

Screening Tests

Cholesterol: Check every one to two years.

Obesity: Monitor periodically throughout adulthood.

Blood Pressure: Check annually.

Diabetes: Discuss with your provider; screen individuals ages 35–70 who are overweight.

Screening Tests

Cholesterol: Check yearly.

Obesity: Monitor periodically throughout adulthood.

Blood Pressure: Check annually.

THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CELEBRATES THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND LEGACY OF BLACK NEW JERSEY BUSINESS LEADERS.

We pay tribute to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y Oliver’s everlasting impact, as her passion and foresight helped shape our state’s future.

BAM Hosts 38th Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

On January 15, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) proudly hosted the 38th Annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a deeply cherished event honoring the legacy of the civil rights leader. The event at the Howard Gilman Opera House was also accessible worldwide through a live-streamed broadcast.

Presented by BAM and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, this year’s event featured an empowering keynote speech by Freedom Reads founder Reginald Dwayne Betts. Also featured was a beautiful music performance by singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin. The awardwinning Sing Harlem choir, under the direction of Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson, paid tribute to King through uplifting melodies, including soul-stirring performances of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice,” and “We Shall Overcome.”

Photos by: Raymond Hagans

NYC Mayor Eric Adams

Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir directed by Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson

Reginald Dwayne Betts, keynote speaker

New York Senator Chuck Schumer

NY Attorney General Letitia James

L-R: BAM President Gina Duncan and Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez

Madison McFerrin

The Best Soul Train Ever

Ilaugh to myself, sometimes, when I think about some of the cool things I experienced way back when I was a happy, carefree kid and some of the ritualized things that helped mark that period with fondness – like Saturday mornings. Saturday mornings were fun. The sights and sounds going on in our West Bronx apartment were like those of most other Black families we knew back then in the ‘70s. The smells of a good, home-cooked breakfast would just be vanishing as the sharp tang of bleach spread through the house as Mom did her morning cleaning. I can still hear the tapping of Dad’s clunky shaver on the rim of his shaving cup coming from the bathroom before he hurriedly popped out like a mad banshee hollering that Soul Train was on. “Quick! Turn the channel!” he’d yell. “Soul Train’s on! I said Soul Train’s on!”

My sister and I were still in our house slippers and pink and yellow gowns with the puppies on them. We’d be full of pancakes and Parks Sausages, our hair half-hanging out, the other half still in cornrows, excited to see the animated, psychedelic, smoke-spewing, “choo-choo train” careening across the screen to lyrics about it being “time to get down!”

Back then, Saturdays weren’t Saturday without Don Cornelius. Soul Train was where it was at and “the hippest trip in America.” Where else could a kid see a sea of afros, curvy-shaped sisters, and bell-bottomed brothers dancing to music my dad and his musician brothers thought genius? I’m convinced that what Bach did for classical music, Don Cornelius did for R&B. Soul Train is where I first heard Chaka Khan sing about Jamaica, saw a cowboy-hat clad Teddy Pendergrass, heard the O’Jays warn about Backstabbers, heard the Isleys’ haunt about Footsteps, and watched the Jackson Five spin and sing and talk about a girl who was a “dancing machine.” I was still watching Soul Train years later when show host dusk was just beginning to set on the debonair Don Cornelius while a slew of itinerant hosts took the helm. They introduced newer, contemporary acts like Whitney Houston, Alexander O’Neal, Pebbles, Al B Sure!, and a group of fellas I went to school with in Philly called Boyz II Men.

Gospel music is the form of music I now primarily prize as my sentiments and lifestyle have changed. But I must

admit there’s no nostalgia as memorable and sweet as a slice of my grandmother’s Southern-styled sweet potato pie, or cornrows, or Converse sneakers and a classic Soul Train episode replete with the “Soul Train Dance Line.” My notions regarding soul go much, much further now. I’m a grown woman, and that’s the way it should be. My most important conceptions of soul now are substantially defined by my faith. Soul now is more about that glorious “nephesh,” (Hebrew for “God-breathed life”) that inestimable, unique distinguisher of every living being and the portal through which Christ fellowships.

A missionary friend named Abigail’s works confirm this notion and my picturesque vision of heaven with its “soul” brimming populace. Abigail was a few years younger than me and had marked her life for the mission field. She travelled to Africa, Israel, and Russia in her quest to aid the lost. Abigail thought her globe-trotting no huge sacrifice. She likes people, loves the Lord, and was actually fulfilling the “Great Commission.” Folks like Abby helped develop my modern-day musings about grace, redemption, saved souls, their value, and what it takes to win one.

My goal now is to consider the soul notion in this context more seriously. Me being able to lead a veritable line of souls to the Lord Jesus, would be by far, the best Soul Train line ever.

Sonja D. Gracy, author, playwright, and NYC public school teacher is currently working on her next book,God and the Girls.

Publisher

Adrian A. Council, Sr.

Editor-in-Chief

Jean Nash Wells

Guest Editor

Jennifer Jones Austin

Associate Editor

R. L. Witter

Executive Assistant

Leslie Nash

Sales

Angela Ridenour

Adrian Council, Jr.

Lea Council

Marc Williams

Satori MPR

Cheryl Saunders

Austin Fenner

Contributing Writers

Glenda Cadogan

Fern Gillespie

Consultant

Caryl Lucas

Photographers

Vincent Bryant

Ryan Council

Regina Flemming

Bob Gore

Raymond Hagans

Bruce Moore

Wali Amin Muhammad

Seitu Oronde

Brian Branch Price

Karen Waters

Art Direction & Layout

Penguin Design Group

Raymond Hagans

The Positive Community Corp.

133 Glenridge Avenue

Montclair, NJ 07042

973-233-9200

Email: info@thepositivecommunity.com

Website: thepositivecommunity.com

The Last Word

BY R.L. WITTER

SOCIAL JUSTICE IS PART OF MAKING FRESH BLACK HISTORY DAILY

Ialways loved Black History Month as a child. I looked forward to the posters and filmstrips that featured people who looked like us. I was mesmerized by the ingenuity and genius of our ancestors, who learned to navigate the dangerous existence that was and still is being Black in America.

I often pondered how. How did they survive the brutal Middle Passage? How did our people survive the cruelty and inhumane conditions of slavery? How did Harriet et al conduct the Underground Railroad? How did Malcolm, Medgar, and Martin have the strength to not just join the fight, but continue it despite the consequences they knew they faced? How did Betty, Myrlie, and Coretta soldier on with such grace while deep in grief, mourning, and anger?

History has shown us people aren’t always aware of the gravity of their situations and/or accomplishments. Many were just doing what they needed to do to survive, unaware of the historical significance of their brilliance, courage, or sacrifice. I suspect it is quite similar to today’s Black history heroes. They’re not doing what they do for fame, glory, clout, or money. They’re doing it because it’s their calling.

I believe if Rev. Al Sharpton were a fifth-grade teacher and not a social justice warrior, he’d still be up early every morning and stay late with the students who need him every afternoon. He’d speak life and success into each and every one of those students because it’s simply who he is and what he was born to do.

Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver was a fifth-grade teacher. She poured into her students the compassion and kindness of her heart. Seeing that she

needed to affect more children, she expanded her work into the Leaguers, the East Orange Board of Education, then the NJ State General Assembly, and finally the Governor’s office. It was in her DNA to fight for education, fair housing, and the people of New Jersey in general.

Jennifer Jones Austin came from a family of fighters and philanthropists. The ideas of fairness and equity are ingrained in her psyche and determination courses like blood through her veins. After leadership roles with the City of New York and the United Way, she is bringing the mountain to Muhammad so to speak by leveraging the resources of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies to improve life for all. She once told me, “It is a social responsibility to look out for your neighbor and lift up your brothers and sisters. It becomes part of who you are.”

To think, these are just a few of the incredible people in this month’s issue who are working hard and living their truths, striving for all of us to do more than just survive. And there are plenty more, like the honorees being recognized at TPC’s Great American Emancipation Day Awards Celebration! Whether they one day appear on a poster, in a history book, or a documentary—they are all social justice warriors and a part of Black history. We thank them for their service and sacrifice.

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