[00:00:53]
KYLE, WE READY TO GO? GOOD TO GO.
WHEN THE MUSIC STOP AND THE GUY PUTS HIS GLASSES ON UP HERE, HE KNOW IT'S TIME TO GO.
AND TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, OUR HONOREES AND ALL WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY AND ALL WHO ARE WATCHING FOR OUR LIVE STREAM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS CARLOS POMA, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO THE INAUGURAL MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION.
I THINK THAT RESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AND FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, WE SHALL LOOK FORWARD EVERY YEAR TO CELEBRATING THIS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COUN, OUR COUNTY'S GREATEST STRENGTH, THE DIVERSITY OF OUR PEOPLE.
LAST SPRING, GOVERNOR MURPHY AND THE STATE LEGISLATOR DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF JANUARY IN NEW JERSEY AS MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH AND LAST WEEK.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS PROUD TO CONCUR AND COMMEMORATE THE MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF JANUARY EACH YEAR AS A MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
AND ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT EVERY DAY, NOT JUST JANUARY, MUSLIM AMERICANS WORK HARD IN MAKING A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN OUR COUNTRY THIS EVENING.
THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SELECTED VERY DESERVING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE JUST THAT.
AND WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HONORING HIM BY APOLOGIES FOR THE NAMES, BUT I'M GONNA WORK REAL HARD TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.
HASSAN ABDU S OF NEWARK, AND THE HBC SCHOLARSHIP BIKE RIDE.
EUNICE MOHI OF KING'S FAMILY RESTAURANT IN CATERING IN NEWARK, SIMA, ANNETTE BEASLEY, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE IRVINGTON DEMOCRATS AND JIMMY SMALL OF EAST ORANGE AND THE MUSLIM LEAGUE OF VOTERS.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL MEMORIAL FOR THE SUDDEN AND HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF IMAN HASSEIN, HASSAN SHAFI, UH, HERE OF NEWARK.
SO WE WILL, WILL DO, UH, PE HOMAGE AS WELL TO HIM, TO EACH HONOREE.
I PERSONALLY SALUTE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ESSEX COUNTY A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND TO RAISE A FAMILY.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE TALENTED JAZZ VOCALIST, ZAKIA ZIMA, TO PERFORM THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE WHAT, SO PROUD AT THE WHO'S BROUGHT STRIPES AND THE
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THANK YOU FOR THAT LOVELY RENDITION.GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ANOTHER PERFORMANCE COMING UP IN A LITTLE WHILE, SO WE'LL CERTAINLY, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE IMAN, UH, DEAN SHARIF OF, UH, MUJI WAR UDIN.
THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL, UM, FROM THE MOSQUE NOR, AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOM HIM TO THE PODIUM TO DELIVER AN OPENING PRAYER.
AND IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE QURAN, JOIN ME IN OFFERING WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE QURAN, THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE QURAN.
AND I THINK THAT'S BEFITTING FOR THIS OCCASION, THE OPENING CHAPTER CALLED AL FATIA.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS RECITE IT IN ARABIC, AND THEN ALSO GIVE A TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH, I MEAN, WITH GOD'S NAME, THE MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR, THE MERCIFUL REDEEMER.
ALL PRAISE BELONGS TO ALMIGHTY GOD, LORD, CHERISH AND SUSTAINER, GUARDIAN, AND EVOLVE OF ALL THE SYSTEMS OF KNOWLEDGE, THE MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR, THE MERCIFUL REDEEMER.
DO WE WORSHIP IN YOUR AID? DO WE SEEK, GUIDE US ON THE STRAIGHT PATH, THE PATH OF THOSE UPON WHOM YOUR EARTH BESTOWED YOUR GRACE, NOT OF THOSE WHO EARN YOUR PUNISHMENT, NOR OF THOSE WHO GO ASTRAY.
NO, CERTAINLY NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD AND TO ESSEX COUNTY.
I WANNA DEVIATE FROM THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT, UH, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE PRESIDENT, YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.
UH, BUT, UM, WE HAVE WITH US OUR ESTEEMED, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NOT ONLY FOR ESSEX HA BUT FOR THE STATE.
UH, NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD, BECAUSE HE SERVED HERE AS COMMISSIONER, THE ONE AND ONLY LEROY JONES.
WELL, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING THEM TO ADJUST THE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR ME.
UH, I HAVE A, I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT I HAVE TO GET TO.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT I WANTED TO BE HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL OF THE HONOREES, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS POSTHUMOUSLY FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, IMAN, WHO OUR SON SHARIF, UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE ALL KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT TRAGIC SITUATION OCCURRED.
AND I'M JUST GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IF WE CAN.
UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MY FRIEND, UH, YOU KNOW, IMAM DEAN SHARIF, WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS ON END SINCE, UH, YOU KNOW, HE WAS WAYNE TWO X, UH, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE FIRST
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ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, JOINING, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THOSE BIKE TOURS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WATCH, UH, YOU KNOW, ON VIDEO, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR SURROGATE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON A A, A VERY FREQUENT BASIS, UH, YOU KNOW, JONAS, UH, YOU KNOW, KINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M TYPICALLY THERE.I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN A LITTLE WHILE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M THERE WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR BARAKA, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE, THE WHOLE GREEN WHOLE GRAIN WAFFLES AND TURKEY SAUCES.
THEY'RE ALWAYS BANGING FOR ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, TO, UH, ZIMA, YOU KNOW, WHO GAVE US, UH, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL RENDITION OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO IS A FAMILY FRIEND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU KNOW, KNEW MY DAD, UH, YOU KNOW, VERY WELL, AND I'M CONNECTED AT THE HIP WITH HER SONS.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THE HOLIDAY SEASON WAS GOOD THIS YEAR, RIGHT?
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL AWARD, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE VINEYARD, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN A TIRELESS SERVANT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR VOTING RIGHTS, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE IN 3.9 SQUARE MILES, THEY CALL THE CITY OF EASTERN ORANGE, JIMMY SMALLS.
I HAD TO BE HERE FOR YOU, MY FRIEND AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ALL OF, UH, THE HONOREES, THE COMMISSIONERS FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE WHEREWITHAL, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SET THIS OFF THE FIRST TIME, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CELEBRATE, UH, YOU KNOW, MUSLIM HERITAGE AND MUSLIM HISTORY IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, IS, UH, YOU KNOW, A VISION THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WILL, YOU KNOW, LONG HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THE 2020 VISION THAT WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, PROSPER, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, THIS COUNTY AND THIS STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE.
UH, I HOPE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, AGAIN, TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, TO MAYOR VOSS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR SURROGATE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, GRACED, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS ATE WITH THEIR PRESENCE TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, OUR HISTORY.
MUSLIMS MEAN SO MUCH, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THIS COUNTY.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS, THE HISTORIES, THE BLOOD, THE SWEAT, AND THE TEARS THAT WE HAVE ALL SHARED TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, YOU KNOW, 22 MUNICIPALITIES, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, 500 AND SOME ODD, SOME ODD, UH, YOU KNOW, 60 SOME ODD MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND MUSLIM COMMITMENT AND MUSLIM INVOLVEMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, MUSLIM PARTICIPATION, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT.
AND FOR THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOW GOING TO JUST SAY, EXCUSE ME, AS I, AS I DART OUT TO ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP MOVE FORWARD, THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
GOOD ONE AND ONLY CHAIRMAN JONES.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, I WANNA BRING UP, UH, OUR, ONE OF OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
SHE HAS VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE THIS EVENING.
I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, OUR CHAIRMAN, AND OUR FIRST LADY.
I KNOW THEY HAD TO HEAD OUT, BUT TO A CHAIRMAN, NOT ONLY OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATS, BUT OF THE STATE DEMOCRATS, WHO WORKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US LOOK LIKE US, SOUND LIKE US, PRAY LIKE US ACROSS RELIGIONS, BACKGROUNDS, LANGUAGES.
WE, WE THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, UM, AND TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MY PART HERE IS JUST TO TAKE A MOMENT, UM, TO GIVE HONOR AND HOMAGE, UH, TO THE LOSS OF IMAM HASSAN.
SHARIF IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT ON JANUARY 3RD, AS WE CAME INTO THE NEW YEAR, WE LOST SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT ONLY SO CLOSE TO SO MANY OF US, UM, IN THIS ROOM, AND TO MY HONOREES HERE, WHO ALL KNOW I KNOW, AND I LOVE, EVEN IF I KNOW YOU UP CLOSE, I'M LOOKING AT YOU, MY BROTHER HASSAN, SO MANY OF YOU, MS. BEASLEY, WHO I KNOW FROM A DISTANCE, RIGHT? UM, ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY,
[00:15:01]
FROM THE ESS COUNTY COMMUNITY TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF IMAM HASSAN SHARIF.I ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE FAIRMOUNT HEIGHTS AREA, SO LIKE, I'M LIKE RIGHT OFF SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, MY MOTHER AND I, SO WE CAN'T GET TO WHERE WE'RE GOING WITHOUT DRIVING PAST THE MASJID.
UM, AND IF I COULD JUST SPEAK TO HOW DIFFERENT, UM, THAT ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD BEEN JUST UNDER HIS PRESENCE, JUST UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, IF ANYONE WHO'S FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE CHURCHES, YOU'VE GOT CHICKEN SHACKS, YOU GOT A LIQUOR STORE, AND YOU HAVE SCHOOLS.
AND SO WITH ALL THAT KIND OF HAPPENING WITHIN A TWO FOUR BLOCK RADIUS, A LOT CAN GO ON.
BUT TO HAVE HAD A LEADER LIKE A MOM, HASSAN SHARIF, WHO IS NOT JUST A LEADER WITHIN THE WALLS, BUT OUTSIDE THE WALLS, UM, IT'S IN A TREMENDOUS LOSS.
AND SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, JUST GIVE HONOR TO HIS LIFE, TO HIS LEGACY, TO HIS IMPACT, TO HIS STEADFAST COMMITMENT AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PEACE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT, NOT JUST WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY, NOT JUST WITHIN NEWARK, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
LIKE MANY PEOPLE, I ACTUALLY CAME TO KNOW THE MAST FIRST THROUGH HIS FAMILY.
UM, HIS SON WOULD HAVE A STAND ON, UP AND DOWN SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE.
SO I WOULD GET MY OILS, MY SOCKS, YOU KNOW, MY INCENSE, THE WHOLE NINE.
UM, AND I HAD ASKED HIM, I SAID, WELL, WHO'S THE NEW, THE NEW IMAM HERE? HE'S LIKE, THAT'S MY DAD.
AND, AND THAT WAS HOW I FIRST CAME TO KNOW IMAM HASSAN SHARIF.
AND SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A MAN WITH VISION WHOSE PLANS WAS TO REBUILD AND REOPEN THE SCHOOL AT THE MASS JAIL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A MAN WHO SPENT HIS TIME MAKING SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE OR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO WERE LOST TO VIOLENCE, THAT THEIR FAMILIES WERE CONSOLED, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A MAN WHO WOULD HAVE HONEST, ACCOUNT, ACCOUNTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH ME AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT I EXPECT OF YOU AS A YOUNG WOMAN RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD AS A YOUNG WOMAN RUNNING FOR ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WE CAN ALL SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF HIM, UH, BECAUSE OF, NOT JUST FOR WHAT HE'S DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR WHAT HE IS.
AND SO, I INVITE US TO TAKE A MOMENT.
I KNOW WE TOOK A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UM, BUT IF WE MIGHT JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE, IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT THE LIFE AND IMPACT OF IMAM HASSAN SHARIF.
AND IF FOR ANY REASON YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, THAT'S OKAY.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT AN ANCESTOR WHOSE LIFE OR WHOSE LEGACY HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED YOU.
AND IN THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE, I INVITE YOU TO GIVE THEM SOME RESPECT AND GIVE THEM HONOR IN THE WAY THAT THEY LIFE THEIR LIFE HAD POURED INTO US.
UH, MY GODMOTHER, WHO IS ALSO A MUSLIMA WOMAN FROM EASTWICK, ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, SHE WOULD TALK TO ME AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT ISLAM AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY.
SHE SAID, ANYONE WHO KNOWS AND LOVES AND BREATHES ISLAM UNDERSTAND THAT ALL GOOD THINGS THAT POOR OUT OF THEM IS NOT ABOUT THEM.
IT'S ABOUT THE GRACE AND THE GOODNESS OF THAT BEYOND THEM.
AND SO, I GIVE HONOR ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO A MAN WHOSE LIFE AND LEGACY WAS NOT ABOUT HIM.
IT WAS NOT ABOUT ENTITLEMENTS, ENTITLES.
IN FACT, HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN WANT SOME TYPE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LIKE THE, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND IT WAS JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING AND DOING WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO.
AND I, I ASK THAT WE ALL TO HONOR THAT LEGACY, CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART, TO GIVE UNTO OTHERS FREELY WITHOUT BOASTING, WITHOUT ANY NEED FOR SELF-CONGRATULATION.
ALL OF US HERE ON THE BOARD ARE KEEPING IMAM STAN SHARIF'S FRIENDS AND HIS FAMILIES, AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
IF YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE, WE'RE HERE,
THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO SILENCE YOUR PHONES AND YOUR NAVIGATION.
WE LIKE TO GO WITH THE FLOW HERE.
UM, GIVE ME A MOMENT, PLEASE, TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES AND, UH, ON THE BOARD AND SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND IF I APOLOGIZE, IF I MISS ANYBODY, I'LL DO MY BEST TO COME BACK OR MAKE SURE YOU FLAG ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS DOWN, BECAUSE I, I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING PASS HERE, UH, WITH THIS.
SO, UH, LET ME, UH, LET ME IMMEDIATELY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE IMMEDIATELY PASS PRESIDENT WAYNE RICHARDSON IS IN THE HOUSE, UH, COMMISSIONER
[00:20:01]
ROMAINE GRAHAM, THE LEGEND PAT SEABOLD, OUR VICE PRESIDENT, HAMMI COOPER.AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR NEW MEMBER OF DORIAN MARY THOMAS, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL OF US HERE.
ALRIGHT, AND, UH, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, I HOPE I DON'T MESS, WE'RE GONNA MESS THIS UP, BUT THEN YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HATE ME.
BUT WE HAVE, UH, MEA MEDINA MOHAMED WHO USED TO WORK HERE.
SHE IS BOARD MEMBER OF THE EAST ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEDINA.
SHE'S NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD.
UH, WE OF COURSE HEARD FROM ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATIC, UH, CHAIRMAN LEROY JONES AND JACKIE JONES, WHO'S HERE AS WELL, FROM IRVINGTON, COUNCILMAN JAMILAH BEASLEY.
WE HAVE, UH, THE, THE, THE MADMAN ON THE BICYCLE.
OUR ESSEX COUNTY SURROGATE AL KENNY
I KEEP ASKING IF I CAN JOIN IT, BUT IN AN OLD CAR, AND, YOU KNOW, HE LOOKS SO ME FUNNY, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.
AND I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY.
IF I DID, PLEASE FLAG ONE OF US DOWN AND I'LL, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU JOINING US FOR THIS INAUGURAL EVENT.
AND NOW LET'S GET TO THE MAIN ATTRACTION, RIGHT? THE PEOPLE THAT WE CAME TO HONOR, UM, HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP MY COLLEAGUE, VICE PRESIDENT TEMI COOPER, WHO WILL GET THINGS STARTED.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE WONDERFUL RESIDENTS AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS HERE TO THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO'S ATTENDING AND WATCHING US ON LIVESTREAM.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRINGING UP OUR FIRST HONOREE, MR. JIMMY SMALLS FROM THE GREAT CITY OF EAST ORANGE.
NOW, MR. SMALLS HERE IS THE EPITOME OF EAST ORANGE ALL THINGS.
EAST ORANGE IS MR. JIMMY SMALLS.
HE ATTENDED LINCOLN SCHOOL AND GRADUATED FROM EAST ORANGE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1971.
THEREAFTER, HE WENT TO RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, AND DURING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR, HE GOT A DRAFT NOTICE TO JOIN THE ARMY.
BUT HE SAID NO, HE JOINED THE NAVY INSTEAD.
HE SPENT FOUR YEARS IN ACTIVE DUTY AND REMAINED AS A NAVY RESERVE FROM 1983 TO 1992.
AND MOST OF HIS COMMANDS SERVED AS THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER TO ENSURE THAT ALL SAILORS WAS STILL TREATED FAIRLY.
AND YOU KNOW, MRS. SMALL IS STILL CONTINUING IN THAT SAME CAPACITY TODAY, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED FAIRLY.
FOUR YEARS AFTER THAT, HE RETURNED BACK TO RUTGERS AND COMPLETED HIS BA IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND CONTINUED ON TO GET A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
MR. SMALL WORKED SEVERAL JOBS IN AND AROUND, UM, ESSEX COUNTY.
HE EVENTUALLY BECAME A TEACHER AND WORKED FOR THE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
NOW, HE CALLED HIMSELF RETIRING IN 2018, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT MR. SMALLS THAT SAYS RETIREMENT AT ALL.
RIGHT? I SEE SOME HEAD SHAKING IN THE BACK.
HE CREATED A PROGRAM TO HELP BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECOME MORE ACCLIMATED IN SCIENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND BOLSTER THEIR GRADES.
AND IF YOU KNOW MR. SMALLS, HE DON'T PLAY, I WAS GONNA SAY SOME OTHER WORDS, BUT I FORGOT WHERE WE WERE.
FOR THE LONGEST TIME, HE SERVED AS A COACH FOR TRACK AND FIELD.
I'M HERE CONTRIBUTING TO COUNTLESS YOUTH WHO'VE GONE ON TO EARN SCHOLARSHIPS.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND TROPHIES THAT'S RIGHT.
AND HE ALSO SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EASTERN SCHOOL BOARD AND ON CITY COUNCIL.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WHEN I FIRST MET MR. SMALLS, THAT HE HAD SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL IN EAST ORANGE FOR TWO TERMS, AND NOW HE IS SERVING IN HIS RETIRED CAPACITY, BUT NOT SO TAUGHT, RETIRED AS PRESIDENT OF THE MUSLIM LEAGUE OF VOTERS IN NEW JERSEY.
SO, MR. SMALLS, IT'S FOR ALL THESE THINGS HERE.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE YOU, WE SALUTE YOU AND HONOR YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
THE BOARD HAS A PLAQUE AND A WONDERFUL ACCOMMODATION THAT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE TO YOU.
SO, MR. SMALL, THEY WANNA TAKE A PICTURE TO STEP OVER RIGHT HERE.
MRS. SMALLS, PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER COOPER, WHO SERVED AS A COUNCILWOMAN IN EAST ORANGE.
UM, BUT I'M, I HAVE TO GIVE SOME ACCOLADES TO A PERSON THAT HELPED TO BE MY MENTOR.
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AND HE WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONER, FIRST MUSLIM COMMISSIONER THAT WAS THE HONORABLE BILAL BEASLEY.HE WAS THE ONE, HE WAS THE ONE THAT STARTED THE MUSLIM LEAGUE OF VOTERS.
AND I JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I KEEP IT GOING.
ESSEX COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND ONE THING THAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS COUNTY IS THAT WE ALWAYS HONOR EVERYBODY.
SO MYSELF AND A DIVERSE GROUP OF MUSLIMS FROM AROUND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TOOK SEVEN YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO WHEN THE, WHEN THE HERITAGE MONTH CAME TO, UM, WE VOTED ON IN THE ASSEMBLY AND STATE SENATE, IT WAS VOTED, I THINK IT WAS 199 TO ZERO.
UM, 'CAUSE NOT ONE STATE SENATOR, WELL, NOT ONE STATE ASSEM ASSEMBLY PERSON VOTED IT DOWN.
AND I WILL CON AS, AS SHE SAID, I I'M RETIRED IN NAME ONLY
I AM, I, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE AS WE LIKE TO SAY, AS I WANT FOR MY BROTHER.
THE SAME THING I WANT FOR MYSELF, BROTHER.
NOT MEANING JUST MALE, IT MEANS HUMANITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA KEEP DOING.
THAT'S, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
UH, BEFORE I BRING UP OUR, MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BOARD VICE PRESIDENT OF IRVINGTON.
JANELLE LOWERING IS HERE AS WELL.
I TOLD YOU I'D DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE I GET EVERYBODY, SO I'LL DO THAT.
AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING IN COMMISSIONER ROMAINE GRAHAM, WHO WILL DO, INTRODUCE THE NEXT HONOREE, MY APOLOGIES.
OKAY, I NEED TO, TO SOUND A LITTLE MORE ALIVE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO YOU MR. SMALLS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
UM, MY NAME IS ROMAINE GRAHAM, COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
THIS STANDING NEXT TO ME IS PAT SIBO, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE AND THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE SPECIAL, NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
UM, MS. SIMA, ANNETTE BEASLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, SAY SOMETHING
SO I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING, EVEN THOUGH THEY WROTE SOMETHING FOR ME.
IT'S BETTER TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW THE PERSON.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
AND SHE'S NOT ONLY THE, UM, DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, BUT SHE'S ALSO, UM, MY, MY PARENTS ARE NO LONGER HERE.
SHE'S ALSO MY COUSIN, BUT I CALL HER AUNTIE COUSIN.
SO IF YOU HEAR ME SAY AUNTIE COUSIN, THIS IS WHO SHE IS TO ME.
BEFORE I START SPEAKING ABOUT SIMA BEASLEY'S BACKGROUND, LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT HOW I GOT TO KNOW HER.
BALA BEASLEY WAS A FREEHOLDER WITH ME FOR MANY YEARS, AND I BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH HIM.
AND THROUGH BALA BEASLEY, I MET BESIMA BEASLEY AND WE TOO BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S WHY I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT HONORING THIS WONDERFUL, REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL.
AND NOW I'LL TELL YOU A FEW THINGS ABOUT HER BESIMA.
ANNETTE BEASLEY WAS RAISED AND EDUCATED IN NEWARK.
SHE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO ATTENDED ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE.
SHE MET AND MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, THE LATE DE BEASLEY, AND, AND LATER MOVED TO THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON WHERE SHE HAS RESIDED FOR THE LAST 46 YEARS IN THE GREAT TOWN OF IRVINGTON WITH A GREAT MAYOR.
[00:30:02]
SIMI IS A RETIREE FROM HORIZON BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD.AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE IS CURRENTLY A DIRECTOR WITH MARY KAY COSMETICS.
SHORTLY, SHE DOESN'T GET TIRED EITHER.
DISTRICT THREE, A ROLE SHE HAS SERVED SINCE 1984.
UM, BESIMA HAS HELD MANY POSITIONS.
A TO FREEHOLDER LINDA KAVANAUGH, A TO ASSEMBLYMAN, RALPH CAPUTO, AND COMMISSIONER OF THE IRVINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
SHE IS CURRENTLY AN IRVINGTON BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER.
I TOLD YOU SHE DOESN'T GET TIRED.
THAT'S I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE AFFAIRS
AND AS FOUNDER OF THE SHAHEED F AND D BALA BEASLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND.
IT WAS STARTED IN 1991 WHEN HER YOUNGEST SON WAS KILLED AT 17.
AND SINCE THEN, THE FAMILY HAS AWARDED IRVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS WITH BOOK AND GIFT CERTIFICATES.
SHE WAS MARRIED TO LATE MR. BEASLEY FOR OVER 50 YEARS, IS THE MOTHER OF FIVE AT BAR OMAR, HAKEEM, JAMILA, AND SHAHEED GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF 15
YES, YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND VALUED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S COMMENDATIONS AND PLAQUE.
WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CROWD.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING JANUARY AS MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
I WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK COMMISSIONER GRAHAM AND COMMISSIONER SIBO FOR RECOGNIZING ME AS ONE OF THE FIRST 2024 RECIPIENTS IN ESSEX COUNTY.
TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY IRVINGTON FAMILY, MY MAYOR, TONY VOSS, AND MY FAMILY, FOR ALWAYS ENCOURAGING AND STANDING BY ME AS I WORK WITH AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
FOR OVER 50 YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND, THE LATE DEEP AL BEASLEY AND MYSELF SAW A NEED TO GET INVOLVED.
AND WE LIVED BY THAT PHILOSOPHY THAT TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD AND GROW.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, AND I CONTINUE TO DO.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES.
[00:35:02]
SO I HOPE YOU JUST LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY.UH, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES.
BEFORE I BRING UP OUR, UH, SINGER AGAIN, OUR PERFORMER THERE IS ALSO IN CON ALONG WITH, UM, OUR ACCOMMODATIONS FROM THE BOARD.
THERE'S ONE FROM, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN, UH, MIKEY CHERYL AS WELL.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, EACH ONE OF YOU GOT ONE.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ZAKIYA.
WELL, FIRST I WANNA SAY GOOD EVENING.
I'M COMMISSIONER AT LARGE WAYNE RICHARDSON.
AND COMING BEHIND, UH, UH, IT'S PRETTY FITTING BECAUSE WHEN YOUR HUSBAND RETIRED, UH, I WAS CHOSE BY HIM TO TAKE HIS SEAT IN DISTRICT TWO.
SO IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.
UH, AND NOW WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO TOOK MY PLACE, UH, WHO'S SITTING IN THAT SEAT, UH, THAT COVERS IRVINGTON.
SO ZAKIYA, UH, LIKES TO THINK OF HER SINGING STYLE AS A SOOTHING BOMB THAT HEALS THE SOUL.
HER VOCAL AND MUSICAL INFLUENCES RUN THE GAMUT.
FROM CARMEN LUNDY TO HERBIE HANCOCK, SHE HAS GIGGED AT THE ZINC BAR, TRUMPETS, BOGIES, THE JAZZ AT THE PLAZA SERIES.
CECILS, THE BRIGHTSIDE TAVERN, MOORE'S PLACE, DLV LOUNGE, LEONE'S, EAST ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARIES, LIVESTREAM CULTURAL CAFE, THE CRICKET CLUB, CLEMENTS, AND OTHERS TOO, TOO, TOO MANY THE NAME.
BUT SHE, SHE'S PERFORMED EVERYWHERE AND SHE'S FANTASTIC, AS WE ALL KNOW.
SO, ZAKIYA, UH, PERFORMED AS A GOSPEL CHOIR RINGER AT THE SALEM AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HARLEM, AND THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW ROCHELLE.
SHE HAS PERFORMED IN PRODUCTIONS AS WELL, STORMS WEATHER, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, AND FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOWS IS ENOUGH.
ZAKIA STUDIED VOCALS AT THE JAZZ MOBIL IN HARLEM.
SHE WAS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN A MASTERCLASS LED BY A GUEST ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, THE LATE GREAT JAZZ MASTER JOHN HENDRICKS, AND PERFORMED WITH HIM AT THE WORLD RENOWNED BLUE NOTE.
SHE HAS ALSO STUDIED JAZZ VOCALS AND PERFORMED AT KOBE NTAS UNIVERSAL JAZZ COALITION.
HER MUSICAL TASTES INCLUDE JAZZ, R AND B, FOLK, COUNTRY WESTERN.
WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR NONE OF THAT TONIGHT.
SEE, I, SHE HAS TWO UPCOMING GIGS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE GRILL, JAMAICA, ALTHOUGH I LIKE COUNTRY
WELL, KATHY ASKED ME TO SING A SONG THAT IS, UM, INSPIRATIONAL.
SO I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SONG 'CAUSE I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND IT'S ALWAYS TOUCHED ME.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY IT WILL TOUCH YOU TOO.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN OR SUNG.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, PLEASE SAY OR GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TOO, MR. BRANDON.
EW, THE WORLD AS YOUR SPINS ARE MOVING, HOLD ON TIGHT.
[00:41:09]
SO PEOPLE HOLD YOUR HEADS.LAY THE ING YOU KEEP GROWING, YOU'RE GROWING UP.
TAKE IT FROM ME SOMEDAY BE FREE.
SO IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR THIRD HONOREE OF THE NIGHT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. HASSAN ABDI.
THINK I CAN GET ONE OF THEM PENS.
NOW, UH, YOU GOTTA RIDE 200 MILES FROM, OH, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A PEN, MAN.
I GIVE YOU THE 50 MILE WHEN IT'S SMALL THOUGH,
SO ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ACCOMMODATION.
HASSAN IS A PROUD FOURTH GENERATION NEWARK, WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE WELLBEING AND PRO PROGRESS OF THE NEWARK COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
HE HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES.
HASSAN IS THE FOUNDER, PRESIDENT, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SO HE'LL LEAVE NO ROOM FOR NOBODY ELSE TOOK 'EM ALL.
UH, LET ME, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
UM, WHAT A NOBLE CAUSE, UH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND I'M GOING OFF RIGHT HERE, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN RAISING MONEY AND HELPING BLACK STUDENTS AT HBCUS, UH, HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE THING.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A ROUND APPLAUSE BEFORE I EVEN READ, READ THE REST OF THIS MAN.
UM, SO EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 25 WRITERS, INCLUDING OUR SURROGATE, UH, AL TARIQUE, HE'S USUALLY BRINGING UP THE REAR, THOUGH I SAW THE VIDEO
SO EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 25 WRITERS COMPLETE THE THREE DAY RIDE FROM NEWARK TO WASHINGTON DC INCEPTION IN 2020.
THE HBCU BIKE RIDE HAS SUCCESSFULLY RAISED OVER $250,000
[00:45:02]
FOR NEWARK STUDENTS, ASSISTING 35 STUDENTS TO MATRICULATE AT HBCUS.HAVING EXCEEDED ITS FUNDRAISING GOAL EACH YEAR, THE BIKE RIDE HAS SET A 2024 FUNDRAISING GOAL OF 250 K.
AND, AND LET, LET ME, LET ME SAY THIS RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, AND WE CAN GET THERE.
THEY CAN GET THERE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
SO PLEASE GIVE AND GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THIS WORTHY CAUSE.
I SIGNED SERVES AS, AS AN AIDE TO NEWARK MUNICIPAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT LAMONICA MACGYVER, A ROLE, UH, WHICH HAS ALLOWED HIS ADVOCACY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE TO BECOME MORE DEFINED.
HE'S A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE BELIEVE IN NEWARK FOUNDATION, A FORMER COMMISSIONER FOR THE NEWARK PARKING AUTHORITY, AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE NEWARK PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
HASSAN IS MARRIED TO FELICIA WALKER AND HE IS A FATHER OF FOUR SFI, AMIRA MADISON AND MALIK.
AND HE IS THE GRANDFATHER OF ZION.
DID I GET IT RIGHT? ZANE? ZANE.
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, HASSAN, AND TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION AND PLAQUE, PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS, GET A PICTURE.
SO, UNLIKE YOU, I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TO YOU.
YEAH, YOU BRING UP THAT TWO 50
SAY A FEW WORDS I'LL HOLD FOR YOU.
COMMISSIONER WAYNE RICHARDSON AND TONY AND COMMISSIONER DORIAN AND THE REST OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME, UM, ESPECIALLY BEING, YOU KNOW, A MUSLIM AND BEING RECOGNIZED BY MY COMMUNITY FOR DOING THE WORK.
SO, UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS WIFE, UH, MY CHILDREN, UH, ESPECIALLY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF COURSE IN MAYOR BARAKA BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES WITH COUNCILWOMAN, SHE IS ON ME 24 HOURS A DAY AND SHE SAID, IS THAT MY WORK? OR HBCU SCHOLARSHIP WORK,
SO WE, WE HAVE TO, THAT, THAT MAN IS COMPETITIVE.
SO, UM, I DO WANT TO THANK THE REST OF MY BOARD MEMBERS AND I'M GLAD THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UM, IMAM SHARIF.
I CAME TO KNOW IMAM SHARIF THROUGH HIS WORK, NOT THROUGH HIM BEING AN IMAM, BUT THROUGH HIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
HE LED OUR IFTARS FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
SO, UM, A LOT OF TIMES I DO WANT TO TAKE THAT OUT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE AS MUSLIMS IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF OUR SILO AND, AND, AND THE MAJI.
AND WE GOTTA GET BACK OUT HERE AND GIVE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE HAVE THIS CRAZINESS THAT GOES ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, UM, BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH EDUCATION AND WE WILL, UM, CHANGE A LOT OF THIS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I'M, I'M VERY GLAD TO, TO TO SEE THAT.
BUT THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT IMAM SHARIF IS RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY AND FOR ALL OF, UM, THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE.
AND I DID WANT TO, I DIDN'T SEE MY OMI OUT THERE.
I SEE MY FATHER, I BE OUT THERE AND, UM, I DID WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK MY MOTHER FOR RAISING ME.
UM, AND MY FATHER RAISING ME WITH THIS DEAN WE CALL ISLAM.
AND, UM, IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MOTHER, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE THE COMPASSION THAT I HAVE FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING, DOING THIS WORK.
MY MOTHER IS A, A BEAUTIFUL, COMPASSIONATE PERSON AND, UM, SHE ALWAYS INSTILLED THAT IN ME, YOU KNOW, BEING RAISED, UM, IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH SIX SISTERS, ME BEING THE ONLY BOY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ROUGH, BUT WAYNE SAID, DON'T MAKE IT LONG.
BUT I DID WANT TO ESPECIALLY GIVE MY, UM, A SHOUT OUT.
SO YES, I'M DEFINITELY WANNA RECOGNIZE MY UMI AND ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT RAISE THEIR KIDS WITH LOVE.
AND, UM, THE, THE ABILITY TO GIVE BACK, YOU KNOW, SHOOT
[00:50:01]
CRIME IN SALT EAGLE.SO BEING THAT YOU ARE THE
AND WE KNOW WE KNOW WHERE YOUR OFFICE IS TOO.
SO, UH, IT IS ALSO, UH, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING OUR FINAL HONOREE.
PLEASE WELCOME, UH, GIANNIS MOHSEN TO UP TO THE POLL, MY BROTHER.
SO GIANNIS IS THE OWNER OF KING'S FAMILY RESTAURANT AND CATERING, A FAMILY ORIENTED RESTAURANT THAT SPECIALIZES IN HALAL SOUTHERN STYLE CUISINE WITH ITS MOTTO, THE BEST ALLOWED FOOD IN TOWN.
LET ME TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEALS, UH, I'VE EATEN AT KING'S ON, UH, CLINTON AVENUE.
WE, WE, WE DID A SIX WEEK PROGRAM, UH, A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM LAST YEAR, AND WE GOT ALL OF THE FOOD.
EVERY MEAL WAS CATERED BY KINGS.
GIANNIS CAME TO AMERICA FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN JERUSALEM, PALESTINE OVER 41 YEARS AGO, AND TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN THE PATTERSON AREA.
HE IMMEDIATELY ENROLLED IN ENGLISH CLASSES AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SO THAT HE COULD LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF HIS ADOPTED HOME WHILE LEARNING ENGLISH.
HE ALSO STARTED TRAINING AS A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN AT A LOCAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO HELP PAY FOR HIS EDUCATION.
HE WORKED PART-TIME AT A RESTAURANT IN LIMOUSINE SERVICE BEFORE STARTING IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
GIANNIS FORMED HIS OWN LIMOUSINE COMPANY IN 1990.
HE CAME TO NEWARK AND OPENED A GROCERY STORE.
IN 1992, HE OPENED HIS FIRST RESTAURANT THAT CATERED TO HALAL SOUTHERN FOOD.
GIANNIS MARRIED HIS WIFE IN JORDAN IN 1993, AND THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN.
THE SECOND OLDEST DAUGHTER EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY.
AND THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER RECEIVED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY.
AS A BUSINESS LEADER, GIANNIS HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF NEWARK.
HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS AS A SPONSOR IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS, FEEDING THE HOMELESS PROJECTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HE WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HIGH HYEN AIDS FOUNDATION AT HIS CURRENT LOCATION WHERE HE SPONSORS FREE HIV TESTING EVERY THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH.
GIANNIS IS AN OUTSTANDING, OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY, WHOSE PERSONALITY AND GREAT FOOD HAS MADE KING'S FAMILY RESTAURANT IN CATERING A STAPLE IN THE SOUTH WARD OF THE CITY OF NEWARK.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR COMMUNITY ARE DESERVING OF GREAT PRAISE, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS BOARD ACCOMMODATION AND PLAQUE.
JANNIS, PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KU I SEE EVERYBODY.
I RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY WELL FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M HONORED TO BE HONORED BY THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSION IN THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, WHICH I'VE BEEN IN FOR 31 YEARS.
AND, UH, I CALL IT HOME MORE THAN WHERE I LIVE HOME BECAUSE I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME
[00:55:01]
IN NEWARK, IN ESSEX COUNTY HERE, MORE THAN WHERE I LIVE.AND I LOVE NEWARK MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, IRVINGTON, ALSO THE NEIGHBORS.
AND, UH, I ALWAYS WAS CLOSE WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE AND THE DORIS AND ALL THE CHILDREN FROM THE BISLEY FAMILY ALSO, AND THE WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, I APPRECIATE THIS HONOR AND I THANK YOU MR. UH, WAYNE FOR THAT CHOOSING ME, ONE OF THE HONORS FROM THE MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR HONOREES AND VICE PRESIDENT TO SHAMI COOPER
SO WE WANNA THANK YOU THE BOARD.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING TO COME OUT TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH.
THE GROWING THING AMONG ALL THE HONOREES TONIGHT WAS THE DEDICATION OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE.
AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TRULY FELT HERE IN THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, IF NOT THE NATION, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
SO, I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I WANNA THANK IMAN SHARIF FOR COMING TONIGHT AND PROVIDING US WITH YOUR WONDERFUL PRAYERS.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR YOU PRAY IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR PROGRAM.
I WANNA THANK ZAKIYA FOR BLESSING US WITH YOUR SONG AND YOUR MUSIC.
UM, BEFORE I, UM, FULLY CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, FOR US TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE HONORABLE BILAL BEASLEY.
IF HE WERE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING, HE WOULD BE SO PLEASED, SO EXCITED THAT WE HAD THIS PROGRAM AND HONORED ALL OF YOU TONIGHT.
SO JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR HIM AND ALL OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO BEFORE WE FULLY CONCLUDE WITH OUR CLOSING PRAYER, WE WANT ALL THE HONOREES TO PLEASE REMAIN HERE SO WE CAN TAKE PICTURES WITH YOU BEFORE YOU START EATING AND GET A LITTLE MESSY.
UM, AND SO WE WANNA CALL IMAN SHARIF BACK UP TO BLESS THE FOOD AND HAVE A CLOSING PRAYER FOR US.
FIRST, LET ME GIVE MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE HONOREES, CONGRAT, ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU, I HOPE, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDED FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
BEFORE I CLOSE OUT WITH A PRAYER, I JUST WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS MONTH, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KIND OF REFLECT ON THE MONTH OF MUSLIM HERITAGE, UM, EDUCATION AND APPRECIATION, OUR TWO ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF FAITH.
YOU CAN'T HAVE FAITH UNLESS YOU BEGIN TO NURTURE THE BRAIN THAT ALMIGHTY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU, WHICH IS THE FINEST GIFT THAT THE HUMAN BEING HAS.
AND ONCE YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND LIFE A LITTLE BIT, YOU START TO SHOW A LITTLE GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
THESE SHAPE THE CHARACTER OF PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITY AND ENHANCE OR HURT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THAT SOCIETY RISES OR FALLS.
HISTORY RECORDS THAT MUSLIMS FROM AFRICA BEGAN COMING TO AMERICA AS EARLY AS 1312.
THIRTEEN, TWELVE, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
IT IS ALSO KNOWN THAT MUSLIMS WERE ENSLAVED IN AMERICA.
AND FOR MANY OF US PERHAPS DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY MUSLIMS WHO WERE ENSLAVED RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.
THEY HAD LIVES RIGHT HERE IN NEW JERSEY THAT WERE DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY WERE IN FACT PRACTICING ISLAM AS A RELIGION.
AND THEY WORKED WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS TO BUILD THE WEALTH AND THE STRENGTH, NOT ONLY OF NEW JERSEY, BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, THE COUNCIL OF IMAMS IN NEW JERSEY AND MASTERED UDIN, WHICH IS INTENDING TO BUILD A NEW MAST IN IRVINGTON,
[01:00:01]
NEW JERSEY, WE HAVE GROUND THERE.AND MAYOR, WE INTEND TO BUILD THAT NEW MAST IN IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.
AND WE'D LIKE TO SAY TO THE ESS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMISSIONERS, WE GIVE OUR SINCERE THANKS AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO WORK, TO ESTABLISH HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS IN THE HEARTS, IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE, AND TO BRING FORWARD THE BEST SOCIAL EXPRESSIONS THAT ARE, AND REMAIN THE LEGACY OF ALL ISLAM AND ALL PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD AND BELIEVE IN BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY BELIEVE IN BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD.
AND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD, YOU ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE.
YES, THE RECOGNITION OF THIS HERITAGE HAS TO BE MORE THAN A REFLECTION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE FAR DISTANT PAST.
MUSLIMS PLEDGE TO BE DELIBERATE IN OUR OBSERVANCE OF THIS HERITAGE.
IN INTEND TO PLAN AND INVEST IN THE INITIATIVES THAT WILL EXTEND THE VALUE OF THIS HERITAGE TO BE IN THE FORM OF ESTABLISHMENTS FROM WHICH OUR CHILDREN WILL BENEFIT AND INHERIT.
WE ASK ALMIGHTY GOD TO GUIDE US, TO BLESS US, TO FORGIVE US, AND HAVE MERCY UPON US ALWAYS.
CAN WE HAVE THE HONOREES COME UP? UH, THE BEST.