AACCNJ Supports BLM

NJ Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy PSE&G Senior Vice President-Corporate Citizenship Rick Thigpen AACCNJ Chief Executive Officer John Harmon, Sr.

Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, senior pastor, Saint James AME Church, Newark, NJ

AACCNJ VP Member Relations Mary Griffin

Black Lives Matter

L–R: Rev. Steffie Bartley, senior pastor, New Hope Memorial Bapist Church, Elizabeth, NJ

For New Jersey Black-Owned Businesses

The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) received approval from the City of Trenton, to construct a “Black Lives Matter” mural in front of their headquarters at 379 West State Street, Trenton, NJ, on Saturday, September 26.

As the vanguard for the more than 80,000 Black-owned businesses across the state of New Jersey, AACCNJ President/ CEO John Harmon thought it important to join the support for the Black Lives Matter movement happening nationwide. The mural in front of their headquarters demonstrates AACCNJ’s validation of the merits and messaging of the effort.

Harmon was named to a national steering committee as part of an initiative of the United States Chamber of Commerce. “I plan to share my insights, perspectives, and the painful stories that I have witnessed from individuals and businesses in their quest to obtain their equitable stake of all the good our country has to offer,” he said. “The United States Chamber of Commerce has access to the appropriate constituencies to have this conversation and I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity to make a difference."

As a member of Governor Murphy’s Recovery Council and the Main Street Committee, the AACCNJ will have the opportunity to shape policy as it relates to a reopening and long-term recovery strategy for the state. Harmon, also a board member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signifying their joint efforts to address the effects of systemic racism on the economic well-being of African Americans in the State of New Jersey. —TPC Staff

L–R: AACCNJ President/CEO John Harmon; Pastor Ronald Slaughter, St. James AME Church, Newark; Pastor Steffie Bartley, New Hope B.C., Elizabeth; N.J. Chamber President/CEO Tom Bracken; NJBIA President/CEO Michele Sierkerka; and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora Rev. Derrick Green, senior advisor to NJ Governor Phil Murphy