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WRONG SEX, THE WRONG AGE, THE WRONG SKINS.AND SUPPOSE IT WAS NOT HERE IN A CITY, BUT DOWN ON THE BEACH OR FAR INTO THE WOODS.
AND I WANTED TO GO THERE BY MYSELF THINKING ABOUT GOD, OR THINKING ABOUT CHILDREN, OR THINKING ABOUT THE WORLD.
ALL OF IT DISCLOSED BY THE STARS AND THE SILENCE.
I COULD NOT GO AND I COULD NOT THINK, AND I COULD NOT STAY THERE ALONE.
JUNE JORDAN, WHO ASKS FURTHER IN THIS POEM, WHO IN THE HELL SET THINGS UP LIKE THIS? JUNE JORDAN LEAVES US BEFORE 2002, BUT STILL IN 2024, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE AT RISK.
JUST LIKE WOMEN'S BODIES, WE ARE WITNESS TO A REIGN OF ABORTION, BANS ATTACKS ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE STATE, STRIVING TO LEGISLATIVELY AND JUDICIALLY STRIP WOMEN OF THEIR BODILY AUTONOMY AND RESTRICT PAID LEAVE.
WE ARE WITNESS TO A MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.
WE ARE WITNESS TO AN INCREASE OF VIOLENT CRIME LEVEL TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR.
AND ACROSS THE NATION, WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE WEAK, WHERE WOMEN ARE POLITICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED.
WHY DOES IT MATTER TO GATHER WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN? WHY? BECAUSE WE CANNOT MAKE IT ALONE.
HERE WE ARE AS WE ARE, A MIX ON OUR BEST AIMS, A MIX OF TRUE PROPHETS AND WAYWARD VOICES.
A PEOPLE OF IMAGINATION AND A PEOPLE OF FEAR.
A PEOPLE COMMITTED AND A PEOPLE COMPROMISED, A PEOPLE ANXIOUS AND A PEOPLE DEVOTED.
CAN I SAY THAT WE ARE TONIGHT DEVOTED TO YOU, DEVOTED TO THE HOLY OF OUR UNDERSTANDING, AND TO THE LIBERTY, THE FREEDOM AND THE EQUITY THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD AND ALWAYS NEEDED.
USE US, KNIT US TOGETHER, KEEP US BOUND TO ONE ANOTHER SO THAT WE MIGHT, SO THAT THIS EVENING WE MIGHT USE THIS EVENING TO DO MORE TOGETHER, TO FURTHER THE LIBERTY, THE FREEDOM, AND THE EQUITY THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD AND ALWAYS NEEDED.
WE CAN CLAP FOR THE INDICATION.
THANK YOU REVEREND ANYA, FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY JUST READING FROM JORDANIAN YESTERDAY, SO THIS IS SO TIMELY.
AND SHE WENT TO MY HIGH SCHOOL, SO HEARD LOT OF THAT, UH, BUT REALLY, REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE.
I'M A JORDANIAN MARIE THOMAS, YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY? VOICE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.
BUT TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE, UH, FIRST AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR ESSEX COUNTY DISTRICT TWO.
UH, SECOND, AS A DAUGHTER AND ALWAYS REALLY OF WORK AND AN INCREDIBLE WOMEN WHO MADE MY LIFE POSSIBLE.
SO IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO CELEBRATE WOMEN TODAY ON WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
CAN YOU MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE WOMEN IN EUROPE? FOR THE WOMEN RUNNING INCREDIBLE TOWNS AND CITIES AND CHURCHES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.
FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE CELEBRATING TONIGHT, FOR THE WOMEN OF THE GLENRIDGE CLUB FOR WOMEN, THEIR INCREDIBLE PRESIDENT, SANDRA FEELS QUITE GOOD TO BE HERE.
AS WE CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE THE WOMEN OF OUR FAMILIES, OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WOMEN WHO REPRESENT THE VALUES OF HARD WORK SACRIFICING JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE WITH THE WOMEN OF TODAY, WE ALSO HAVE TO CELEBRATE THE WOMEN OF PAST TO HELP GET US HERE.
SO I WANNA SHARE FIVE QUICK FACTS BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR NEXT, UH, MUSICAL GUEST TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN POLITICS.
LET'S START WITH 1848, WHERE THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION, THE FIRST ONE IN SAL FALLS, TOOK PLACE IN NEW YORK.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF THINGS HAPPENING IN PLACES LIKE HERE IN GLEN RIDGE IN 1905, WHERE YOU FORMED THE GLEN RIDGE CLUB FOR WOMEN, WHERE YOU FORM CLUBS LIKE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE COLORED FEMALE RELIGIOUS VOTERS OF, OF MORAL SOCIETY IN 1818, ACTUALLY IN MASSACHUSETTS, TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN TO, TO 1920, WHERE YOU HAVE TWO YEARS OF STRUGGLE, WOMEN FINALLY GETTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE US.
BUT HOW MANY OF US KNEW THAT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, ACTUALLY BEFORE 1920, WOMEN WERE VOTING,
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WOMEN WERE VOTING IN NEW JERSEY? DO YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? I SEE A NOD THERE, RIGHT? ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WOMEN WERE VOTING IS BECAUSE IN 1776, AROUND THE TIME WHEN WE HAD NEW JERSEY STATE CONSTITUTION RATIFIED, THERE WAS A LOOPHOLE.AND THE LOOPHOLE DIDN'T SAY THAT WOMEN COULDN'T VOTE.
IT JUST SAID THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO COULD VOTE WERE ORLANDO, ET CETERA, ALSO OF A CERTAIN COLOR, ET CETERA.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WOMEN WERE VOTING IN NEW JERSEY, YEARS, ACTUALLY CENTURIES BEFORE WOMEN GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WHY DOES THIS MATTER? WELL, IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREDIBLE WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM WHO ARE CELEBRATING TODAY, MANY OF WHOM THAT WE KNOW, LIKE THE LAONA WHITMANS AND THE MIKEY.
WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN WHO ARE CELEBRATING TODAY, WHOSE NAMES WE KNOW AND WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE THEM.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO WOMEN WHOSE NAMES WE MAY NOT KNOW, WOMEN WHO BAKED FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE COFFEE CLUTCH THAT WAS HAPPENING TO HIRE OR TO ELECT THE NEXT MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL PERSON IN THEIR TOWN.
WOMEN WHO ORGANIZED AND KNOCKED ON DOORS AND MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE DID PRAYER CIRCLES AND WORSHIPED IN THEIR TEMPLES AND IN THEIR MOSQUES AND IN THEIR CHURCHES, SO THAT THE NEXT PERSON WHO WOULD GET ELECTED WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO WOULD PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDRENS.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHOSE NAMES WE KNOW, WHOSE NAMES WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF WOMEN WHO VOTED AND WORKED THROUGH LOOPHOLES SO THAT THIS PROJECT, THIS EXPERIMENT CALLED DEMOCRACY, COULD ACTUALLY BE REAL.
I'M LOOKING IN THE AUDIENCE AND I SEE SO MANY YOUNG GIRLS, AND I'LL SAY THAT'S, THAT'S MY BIAS BEFORE I WAS ELECTED INTO OFFICE.
IN FACT, WHAT I STILL DO OUTSIDE OF BEING ELECTED IS I WORK WITH YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CITY OF NEWARK THROUGH MY ORGANIZATION SHE WINS AND THROUGH BROADLY, THROUGH ESSEX COUNTY.
AND WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG GENDER EXPANSIVE OF TODAY, THEY ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.
AND SO WHEN WE VOTE, WHEN WE ORGANIZE AND WE COME TOGETHER ON DAYS LIKE THIS, WE'RE NOT JUST DOING IT FOR US, WE'RE DOING IT FOR THEM TO BE THE NEXT YOUNGEST WOMAN LIKE ME, ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, TO BE THE NEXT LEADER OF THEIR CHURCHES, TO BE THE NEXT, UH, MUSICAL ARTIST, TO BE THE NEXT HISTORY HERSTORY MAKER IN RIDGE IN ESSEX, AND ACROSS THE SAVIOR NEW JERSEY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BRING UP SOMEONE WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
A WOMAN WHO IS KNOWN FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH SHE SHOWS UP FOR WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS STATE NEW JERSEY, ACROSS ESSENCE THROUGH HER ART.
IT IS MY HONOR, AND TO BRING UP NONE OTHER THAN BRANDI SIOBHAN.
MACY DISSING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM MAKES SOME NOISE.
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THEY PLAYED SUPER BOWLGIL SAID, WE'RE READY FOR THE SUPER BOWL AFTER.
SOME OF US ARE STILL A LITTLE, LITTLE SOUR ABOUT THE RESULTS.
SHOUT OUT TO SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE ELSE.
MAKE SOME MORE FOR, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE DIGNITARIES AND LEADERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND SO FIRST TO ASSEMBLYWOMAN CARMEN MORALES, TO, TO ASSEMBLY WOMAN ALEX AND KAZA.
YOU UNDERSTAND? RIGHT? GO AHEAD.
SO WE COULD ALL SEE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE LEADER WOMEN TO OUR FORMER ASSEMBLYWOMAN.
JACKIE, YOU STEIN TO MICHAELO OUR COMMISSIONER COUNCIL TO OUR MILBURN COMMITTEE MEMBER MR. MICHAEL COHEN.
SO OUR OTHER MILLBURN COMMITTEE MEMBER, MR. BEN STALLER.
WOO, TO ASSEMBLE IN MICHAEL BENICIA, MAYOR TO CYNTHIA HOLLAND, OUR VERONA COUNCILWOMAN TO ANOTHER COUNCILWOMAN OF BLOOMFIELD, MONICA CARIS, AND A COUNCILWOMAN OF BLOOMFIELD IN MY FORMER NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL.
WE ALSO HAVE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR, MR. RAMESH STECKO.
SO WE'RE SO HONORED TO HAVE ALL THESE INCREDIBLE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DIGNITARIES WITH US.
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY AND OTHER LEADERS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE IN THIS SPACE AS WELL.
NOW, BACK TO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MR. SHE'S THE BOARD.
UH, SO LISTEN, I, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO REALLY, UH, HAVE TOO MANY SPEECHES, BUT WE'RE IN THE 34TH DISTRICT.
I DO WANNA ASK MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE 34TH REPRESENTING THE STATE ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE KINESIA AND CARMEN MORALES TO COME UP HERE JUST TO SAY A FEW WORDS REAL QUICK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHO WE ARE, UM, TO OUR GLEN RIDGE FAMILY HERE, SINCE WE REPRESENT THE 34TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES GLEN RIDGE.
I'M THE NEWLY ELECTED ASSEMBLYWOMAN HERE AT THE 34TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE HERE ON WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND I SO APPRECIATE OUR COMMISSIONER DORIAN, WHO ACTUALLY GAVE US A HISTORY ABOUT WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND ANYTIME I SPEAK, I'D LOVE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AS WELL.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WAS NOT WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND THEY FOUGHT FOR ONE WEEK, A WEEK OF HONORING WOMEN WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO OUR COUNTRY.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 1988 WHEN THAT WEEK BECAME A MONTH, YOU KNOW, 1988, THAT WAS ONLY 20 YEARS AGO, RIGHT? FOR MANY OF US WHO 20 YEARS AGO, 1988.
AND TO AMPLIFY WOMEN VOICES HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHT FOR WOMEN.
AND FOR US, HAVING A MONTH TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY THE WOMEN WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED
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SO MUCH, NOT ONLY TO THIS COUNTRY, BUT LOCALLY TO OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.WE GET A MONTH, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE, RIGHT? WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE HAVE COME AS FAR AS LEADERSHIP WISE, I AM ONE FEMALE ASSEMBLY WOMAN OUT OF 10 IN ESSEX COUNTY, WHICH ACTUALLY THERE'S ONLY 12 LEGISLATORS AND THE STATE LEGISLATOR IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND OUT OF THAT 12, 10 OF US ARE WINNING.
SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, YES, BUT IT IS TIME FOR OUR YOUNG GIRLS TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THESE ROLES.
AND IT'S ABOUT REPRESENTATION, REPRESENTATION THAT MATTERS, THAT SPEAKS TO WHAT WE CARE ABOUT AS WOMEN, AS OUR, UM, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE HER NAME, BUT SHE SPOKE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT US AREN'T EVEN WOMEN.
SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A STAND, CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY WOMEN'S VOICES AND TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THE WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE WENT FIRST
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE IN GLENRIDGE REPRESENTING GLENRIDGE.
I, I DO HAVE TO SAY LIVING IN BLOOMFIELD MY WHOLE LIFE.
I PROBABLY DROVE BY THIS PLACE 10,000 TIMES AND I NEVER KNEW WHAT ACTUALLY WAS HERE.
SO, BUT I'M VERY HAPPY TO ACTUALLY BE IN HERE AND NOW I KNOW.
BUT, SO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE THREE HONOREES.
UM, TWO OF THEM I KNOW PERSONALLY, AND, UH, THEY ARE TWO OF THE STRONGEST HARDWORKING, UM, AND DEDICATED WOMEN TO, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BANGING THEIR HANDS AND MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF MILL VERNON AND THE PEOPLE OF BLOOMFIELD.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YOU KNOW, TO ME, EVERY DAY IS, UM, A PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
I AM A, UH, A FATHER OF TWO GIRLS, TWO STRONG-MINDED, SASSY LITTLE GIRLS,
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY DECISION I MAKE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THEM AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BECOME, WHETHER IT'S A STATE SENATOR, A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, A STATE ASSEMBLY PERSON PRESIDENT, US SENATOR, OR US CON.
UM, SO WE NEED TO DO MORE LIKE CARMEN SAID.
UM, IN ESSEX COUNTY HERE WE HAVE 10 OUT OF OUR 12 LEGISLATORS ARE WOMEN, AND ACTUALLY NINE OUT OF THOSE 10 ARE WOMEN OF COLOR.
SO, YOU KNOW, HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, WE ARE GONNA MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION TO ADVANCE AN AGENDA, UM, AND JUST KEEP ON MOVING THE WOMEN'S AGENDA FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
ALRIGHT, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, COMMISSIONER LENNY LUCIANO, WHO IS NOT PRESENTING TONIGHT, UH, BUT HE'S, UH, HAVING A SEAT AT THE AUDIENCE SERVED.
PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMMISSIONER.
WE MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OR TWO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, BUT WE'LL GET HER ON IT.
SO, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ON WITH THE PROGRAM AND, UH, LET'S BRING UP OUR FIRST HONOREE.
AND THAT IS, I HAVE A GREAT PLEASURE, YOU A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE TO INTRODUCE BLOOMFIELD COUNCILWOMAN, JENNY MUNDELL, PLEASE COME ON.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME READ A FEW, UH, HIGHLIGHTS ON THE COMMENDATION.
SO THE HONORABLE JENNY MONDELL HAS SERVED ON THE BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL WITH ME, WITH US, UH, SINCE 2017.
AND SHE'S ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AT, AT RWJ BARNABAS.
NOW SHE HAS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE LEADING BOARDS, UH, ENSURING GOOD GOVERNANCE, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND WORKING HARD IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS.
JENNY'S ESPECIALLY PROUD OF BEING PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WAS CRUCIAL IN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF BLUTO THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HER TIME IN THE OFFICE INCLUDE INITIATING THE CARES UNIT IN THE BLOOMFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT, CREATING THE BLOOMFIELD COMMUNITY FARMER'S MARKET, SECURING FUNDING FOR UPGRADES FOR THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARY, LAUNCHING THE BIANNUAL TOWN WIDE CLEANUP, FACILITATING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER, CHALK ON, UH, CHALK THE STREET EVENT IN 2020,
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RECLAIMING THE UPSIDE MANSION OF THE PUBLIC SPACE AND CULTURAL ASSET FOR THE BULL, UH, FOR BLOOMFIELD, PUSHING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER TOWN WIDE COMMUNICATION.AND FOR INTRODUCING ORDINANCE CHANGES TO ALLOW FOR MORE DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS.
IN A ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT WITH RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, JENNY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION'S ASSETS AND FUNDRAISING STRATEGY TO SUPPORT ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.
SHE HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FUNDRAISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS WELL.
SHE HAS ALSO HELD ROLES WITH COGO UNIVERSITY, MY ALMA MATER WHERE WE MET.
SHE HIT ME UP FOR MONEY AS AN ALUMNI IF SHE WON.
AND SHE ALSO WORKED AT, UH, MONT PLACE STATE UNIVERSITY.
JENNY RECEIVED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ENGLISH FROM PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENGLISH FROM MONT PLACE STATE UNIVERSITY.
SHE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN SCHOOL FIELD WITH A HUSBAND, A AND CYNTHIA WHO'S HERE AS WELL.
SO, JENNY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF BLOOMFIELD AND BY EXTENSION MANY, UH, TIMES OVER.
AND I'M PROUD TO CALL YOU A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU THE BOARD FLAG ACCOMMODATION.
CONGRAT, TAKE A QUICK PICTURE HERE, THEN WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, UH, PRESIDENT RAMEZ FOR THOSE KIND WORDS ABOUT ME.
UM, I THINK AS, UH, MANY WOMEN WHO GROW INTO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, UH, EXPERIENCE, I WAS QUITE USED TO BEING BEHIND THE SCENES AND FACILITATING THE WORK OF OTHERS.
SO I, AND WE HAVE HAD TO COME MORE ACCUSTOMED TO TAKING SOME CREDIT FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO IN OUR OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO START BY, UM, ASKING ALL THE WOMEN IN THIS ROOM TO PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND APPLAUSE.
THIS IS WHY OF COURSE, WE CELEBRATE THINGS LIKE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, BLACK HISTORY, HUNT, LATIN INHERITS NOT IN OTHERS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL OUR VOICES AND STORIES JUST BECOME PART OF THE GENERAL NARRATIVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR HISTORY.
I'LL START OF COURSE, TOO, BY THANKING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS GRAND HONOR.
UH, IT'S SPINNING TO STAND HERE WITH CARLOS BECAUSE, UH, HE SAYS, ACTUALLY, WE MET AT CALWELL UNIVERSITY, BUT I'D LIKE TO TELL A LITTLE STORY ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND I BLAME HIM, OF COURSE, ALONG WITH, UH, ASSEMBLY WITH VEIA FOR PUTTING ME ON TRACK FOR WHERE I AM TODAY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I FIRST MET CARLOS WHEN HE CAME TO MY DOOR, CANVASSING FOR A SEAT ON THE
AT THE TIME I WAS ON MATERNITY LEAVE WITH MY SON THEO, WHO'S
AND WHEN WE GOT TO TALKING, HE TOLD ME HE WAS AN ALUMNUS.
SO I OF COURSE TOOK HIS INFORMATION AND I AS A GOOD FUNDRAISER, I TOLD HIM I'D BE CALLING HIM AND ASKING HIM FOR DONATION, WHICH I DID.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO RETURN THE FAVOR AND CONVINCE MIKE VANIA TO INVITE ME INTO THIS SPACE.
SO, UM, OR MIKE REMEMBERED THAT CARLOS IS AT FAULT
UM, BUT ALL JOKES ASIDE, UH, WHILE WE'RE CELEBRATING THE BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN THIS MONTH, AND ALWAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS NEVER JUST THE WORK OF ONE GROUP, BUT THE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT OF ALL OF US AT THE LEADERSHIP TABLE TO NOT ONLY BRING DIVERSE VOICES TO THE THAT TABLE, BUT TO CONTINUALLY EVALUATE WHAT THE TABLE LOOKS LIKE.
AND IT IS SUITED TO TRUE INCLUSIVITY.
AND THAT'S TO SAY THAT WE DON'T JUST BRING DIFFERENT VOICES, BUT WE MAKE THE SPACE CONDUCIVE FOR EVERYONE TO SPEAK AND FOR OTHERS TO HEAR THEM.
RIGHT? I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE EXAMPLE BEFORE US TODAY OF THE DIVERSE GROUP ON THE COMMISSIONER BOARD AND THE COMMITMENT OF OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE ZO AND OUR LEADERS LIKE STATE COMMITTEE CHAIR LEROY JONES, WHO CONTINUE TO ENSURE OUR GOVERNING BODIES REFLECT THOSE WHO WE SERVE.
THANK YOU, OF COURSE, TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN SARAH CRUZ AND COUNCILWOMAN MONICA TARA WOMEN, I AM SO PROUD TO SERVE WITH AND ALONGSIDE YOU BOTH BRING SUCH AN IMPORTANT SPIRIT AND ENERGY TO OUR COMMUNITY, LEADING IN YOUR OWN RIGHT AS INFORMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO BRINGING EVENTS LIKE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN SIESTA LATINO TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMAN VEIA AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN CARMEN MORALES FROM THE 34TH DISTRICT WHO CONTINUE TO CHEER, LEAD, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES YOU REPRESENT IN TRENTON.
AND TO CONGRESSWOMAN MIKE CHERYL AND HER TEAM I KNOW REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, WHO, WHO MAKE SURE THAT NEW JERSEY IS REPRESENTED BY STRONG VOICES IN WASHINGTON.
ALL OF YOU WILL BE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE, LIKE, UH, UH, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MORALE
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HAS SAID THAT, UH, THINGS LIKE WOOD WOMEN'S HEALTH IS PROTECTED AND THAT THE PEOPLE OUT WHOM WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ARE AT THE TABLE AND BEING INCURRED WHEN THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE.THANK YOU TO MY RJ BARN HEALTH FAMILY WHO ARE ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF ADVANCING WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND WHO SUPPORT ME PERSONALLY IN MY PROFESSIONAL AND POLITICAL CAREERS.
THANK YOU, OF COURSE, TO A NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE.
IF YOU GUYS CAN GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TOO, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY WHO ARE HERE TODAY WITH ME.
UH, OFTEN WE HEAR ABOUT WOMEN BEHIND THE SCENES WHO SUPPORT MEN, BUT WHAT I WANNA BE SURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT PARTNERSHIPS DON'T ALWAYS FALL ALONG GENDER LINES AND THE WORK OF FAMILY IS THE WORK THAT WE ALL DO.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR OUR DAUGHTER, BUT IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR OURSELVES.
FINALLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW HONOREES.
YOU'RE ALSO IMPRESSIVE, AND I'M JUST BESIDE MYSELF WITH GRATITUDE TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED ON THE LEVEL.
OF COURSE, THE COUNCILWOMAN IS SO BUSY.
SHE HAS AN EVENT THAT SHE CREATED ON THIS NIGHT BEFORE WE INVITED HER TO COME HERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE JUST A QUICK PICTURE WITH HER.
SO WE'RE GONNA INVITE HER FAMILY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONGRESSWOMAN MIKE CHERYL, WHO HAS SENT, UH, COMMENDATIONS FOR ALL THE HONOREES TONIGHT.
LET'S COME FOR THE, TO PUT A PHOTO ON THIS
ALRIGHT, I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER THE WRONG ONE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL OUS YOU TAKE THEM BACK, WE'LL BE TAKE THEM BACK.
LIFE UNDER ELECTED OFFICIALS, NEVER DONE OFF.
THEY GO TO THE NEXT EVENT AND WE SHALL CONTINUE.
SO NOW I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE OUR SECOND HONOREE OF THE NIGHT, AND IT IS OUR WONDERFUL HOST, THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF GLEN RIDGE.
SO I'M GONNA ASK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE.
THE CLUB IS REPRESENTED BY ITS OFFICERS PRESIDENT SANDRA LEITZ, VICE PRESIDENT, DR. MURRAY LOUIS, UH, MILUK FINANCE CHAIR, KATHLEEN WEISENBERGER, TREASURER MARIE JEAN BOTSO AND RECORDING SECRETARY DR.
SUSANNA, UH, CHANDRA, I APOLOGIZE, IRA, THEY DON'T SPELL IT PHONETICALLY FOR DOES ANYONE YOU, YOU REPRESENTING HERE TONIGHT? OKAY, SO LET ME, LET ME SHARE A FEW OF THE DETAILS FROM THE COMMENDATION.
HONORING THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF GLEN RIDGE, WHICH HAS BEEN A LOCAL INSTITUTION FOR OVER A CENTURY.
ITS MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF WOMEN IN AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHO FRIENDSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM, EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP ENGAGE IN CIVIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO SERVE THE CLUB.
THE GLEN RIDGE COMMUNITY AND ITS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL WOMEN AND MEN AS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.
THIS WHOLE US
THE WOMEN'S CLUB WAS FOUNDED IN MARCH, 1905, AND IT VERY MUCH, AND IT'S VERY MONTH, AND THE CLUB MUST HAVE DEDICATED ON MARCH 30TH, 1925.
WHAT PARTY SHOULD 98 YEARS LATER, IT'S STILL THRIVING.
GIFTED TO THE WOMEN OF GLEN RID BY PHILANTHROPIST, MR. HENRY STANTON CHAPMAN TO COMMEMORATE HIS WIFE EMILY.
THE JORDAN BRICK CLUBHOUSE IS A ONE OF A KIND TREASURE CHARITY, FUNDRAISING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE CORNERSTONES OF THE CLUB.
THEY ORGANIZE SEVERAL MAJOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS, INCLUDING THE SPRING FAVORITE DOTY, THE POPULAR HOUSE TOUR IN MAY, FUNDS FOR NEEDS AND OTHER EVENTS, SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE GIFTS OF THE CLUB PASSES ON TO THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY HAVE BEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE IN THE BOROUGH, AND PRIDE THEMSELVES ON RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
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AS, AND A HOST OF A MYRIAD OF CO-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNIZATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.THE WOMEN'S CLUB IS A VITAL PART OF THE GLEN RIDGE COMMUNITY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR BUILDING A SPACE AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER IN SO MANY WAYS AND INCLUDING THIS CELEBRATION TONIGHT.
SO IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT WITH YOU THE BOARD'S BLOCKING COMMENDATION.
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO OUR WONDERFUL CLUBHOUSE.
UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT ON THE LEFT OF IT.
SO UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE BOARD ARE RATHER, THE OFFICES ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME HERE AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FIRST.
WE HAVE KIM
CERTAINLY BY NO MEANS WE HAVE JACKIE HOUSTON, WHO'S A MEMBER, A LONG TIME MEMBER ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND THE MEMBERS OF THE GLENRIDGE, THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF GLENRIDGE.
I'M ACTUALLY HUMBLED AND ACTUALLY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, UM, FOR THE CLUB.
WE ARE INDEED A SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.
IT WAS GIFTED TO US AS YOU LEARN BY MR. CHAPMAN IN HONOR OF HIS WIFE, EMILY, WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, HER BEST FRIEND, ACTUALLY, THEY WERE THINKING AND CONTEMPLATING BUILDING A CLUBHOUSE.
AND HER BEST FRIEND CONVINCED HIM TO DO IT.
HE OVERSAW THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND THEN GIFTED IT TO US.
SO WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HIM AND LIKE OUR PREDECESSORS OR MEMBERS IN THE PAST, AND THE OFFICERS IN THE PAST, WE ACTUALLY STRIVE TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN.
OH, AND WE'VE GOT CHRISTIE OVER HERE WHO IS ALL
AND, UM, WE STRIVE TO CONTINUE TO PRESERVE THE BUILDING, NOT ONLY FOR THE MEMBERSHIP, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ENJOY THE REST OF, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, OH, WELL, BEFORE WE DO THAT, I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, WE HAVE SOME DUMB THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
I'M NOT YOUNG, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY JAIN AL AND AT THIS TIME I THINK IT'S MY GOOD FRIEND BRENDAN, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL AT LARGE, WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR IN MONTCLAIR WHO WILL TAKE OVER AT THIS POINT? YAY.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, UH, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN CONTINUING HIS GREAT TRADITION.
OUR, UM, VICE CHAIR, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER, UH, FOR ALSO, UM, ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE THIS GREAT TRADITION IN HER LEADERSHIP ROLE.
UM, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UH, WITH YOU AS ALWAYS.
YOU ALWAYS BRING THE FIRE, THERE'S NOTES, NOT ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND, UH, YOU'RE ALSO THE ONLY PERSON WHEN THEY REFERENCED 1988, WHO KIND OF LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, LOOK, THAT'S NOT A LONG TIME AGO,
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UH, YOUR FUTURE.
ONE OTHER, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I SEE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT.
UH, OUR FORMER MONTCLAIR BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT AND ALSO REPRESENTING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LATIFA JOHN IN THE HOUSE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, REPRESENTATIVE MONTCLAIR, GIVING A SHOUT OUT TO THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, ALWAYS.
UM, AND IT'S MY GREAT PRIVILEGE AT THIS POINT TO BRING BACK, UH, OUR VERY TALENTED, UH, PERFORMER TONIGHT, UH, BRANDI CHONE MACY FOR OUR PERFORMANCE.
UH, BUT BEFORE I CALL HER UP, I WOULD, UH, ALLOW YOU TO PLEASE SHARE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IT IS IMPRESSIVE.
AND WE ARE HONORED, HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, WITH US TONIGHT.
UH, HAILING FROM A LONG LINE OF GOSPEL SINGERS.
UH, BRANDI BECAME THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO EXPLORE MUSIC OUTSIDE OF THEIR GOSPEL ROOTS.
SHE ATTENDED CINCINNATI SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE AND PERFORMING PARTS, STUDYING VOCAL MUSIC, DRAMA, MUSICAL THEATER, AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.
SHE HAD ALREADY BEGUN SINGING HER UNCLE'S GOSPEL GROUP AND STARRED IN ROLES SUCH AS CINDERELLA AND CINDERELLA, MARY EASTERN TOYLAND AND JOANN AND GODSPEED IN HEOP.
[00:35:03]
ALONGSIDE THE LEGENDARY MEL TORME, SHE STUDIED MUSICAL THEATER AT THE AMERICAN MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC ACADEMY IN NEW YORK CITY.PERFORMING WITH THE LIKES OF MARY J BLIGE AND OPERA SINGER JESSE NORMAN.
SHE HAS STARRED IN BROADWAY LEADING ROLES IN SHOWS SUCH AS THE COLOR PURPLE WICKED, UH, THE RADIO, THE LION KING.
SHE'S THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO PLAY LUCY AND JEKYLL AND HYDE.
WE GIVE THAT A ROUND APPLAUSE.
SHE, UH, REGIONALLY SHE HAS PERFORMED AS MARY AND JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR DOROTHY IN THE WIZ.
I WAS IN THE WIZ IN MAY SCHOOL.
THAT WAS
I FOUND ANOTHER FALLING, UH, AND LRE AND DREAM GIRLS.
UH, SHE ALSO SPENT TIME IN LOS ANGELES WITH ROLES IN THE TELEVISION SHOWS.
GRAY'S ANATOMY MEDIUM IN THE MOVIE HONEY TWO, UH, SHE RESIDES IN THE GREAT TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR WHILE TOURING AROUND THE WORLD AND TEACHING SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND PRIVATE LESSONS, UH, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
PLEASE, LET'S GIVE IT UP IN ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THAT WAS, YOU WERE HANDING THE MICROPHONE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING.
BEFORE WE, UH, BRING UP OUR THIRD HONOREE, UM, TONIGHT, JUST A, A FEW QUICK REMARKS AND WAS STRUCK BY COMMISSIONER YOUR COMMENTS, UH, BOTH ABOUT HISTORY, UH, AND ABOUT WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
UH, I WAS, SHE UNFORTUNATELY LEFT, SO SHE'S NOT GONNA HEAR IT.
MY DAUGHTER WAS HERE TO SHOW YOU HOW IMPORTANT I AM TO HER
MY 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS HERE, BUT SHE HAD TO GO.
UM, BUT WAS THINKING NOT ONLY SO MUCH ABOUT, UM, THE WOMEN THAT YOU LEARN ABOUT, UM, IN HISTORY, BUT THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND I KNOW AS A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP, UM, SHE WAS MENTIONED, BUT, UH, A FORMER ASSEMBLYWOMAN JACKIE STEIN, WHEN I WAS A 20 AND 21-YEAR-OLD, UM, PERSON WORKING ON MY FIRST CAMPAIGN, UH, THE FIRST PERSON I WAS ASKED TO GO SEE WAS JACKIE HOUSTON
AND AND YOU CAN GIVE THAT, YOU COULD GIVE THAT ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[00:40:01]
AND SHE WAS SURROUNDED, UH, IN THIS COMMUNITY LANGUAGE, IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY BY GREAT WOMEN LEADERS THAT MAYBE YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF OR DON'T READ ABOUT, LIKE THE LATE BARBARA SMITH, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL WITH US, BUT MAYBE NOT AS ACTIVE.BOBBY RILEY, AUDREY FLETCHER, JERRY LAVNER, UH, THE LATE SENATOR, WYOMING LIPMAN.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
AND I MENTIONED THAT, UH, BECAUSE WHAT IT DOES FOR YOUNG MEN IS IT NORMALIZES THE IDEA THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE IN THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES.
YEAH, EVEN YOU DON'T EVEN BEGIN, UH, TO QUESTION IT.
QUICK STORY ABOUT MY NOW 15-YEAR-OLD AND 12-YEAR-OLD.
AND THIS IS A, A NONPARTISAN EVENT.
SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS.
UH, BUT THE, UM, THE NIGHT, UM, THAT, UH, THEN, UH, SENATOR AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY CLINTON BECAME THE NOMINATION, UH, OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO RUN, UH, FOR PRESIDENT, MY SON, UM, AND MY DAUGHTER AND I AND MY WIFE, UH, WERE WATCHING THE EVENT.
UH, AND MY SON STARTED TO CRY A LITTLE BIT AND WE WERE LIKE, WHY ARE YOU UPSET AT THIS POINT? MAYBE THEY WERE LIKE SIX AND THREE.
AND I SAID, WELL, GABRIEL, WHY ARE YOU UPSET? AND HE LOOKED AT KRISTEN AND HE LOOKED AT ALEX AND I AND HE SAID, I ALWAYS WANTED KRISTEN TO BE THE FIRST ONE PRESIDENT
AND, UM, BUT IT, IT STRUCK ME, UM, AT THAT TIME AGAIN, AND THAT'S WHY, UM, I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT ALEX, I KNOW SHE HAD TO LEAVE TOO.
BUT WHAT ALEX IS NOW DOING, UH, IN THIS SPACE.
SO NOT ONLY FOR THANK YOU, NOT ONLY AGAIN FOR MY DAUGHTER, BUT FOR MY SON.
SO, UH, SO WITH THAT, UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING UP OUR THIRD HONOREE TONIGHT.
LESLIE INGRAM, LEWIS, LESLIE, THANK YOU.
SHARE, UH, SOME OF LESLIE'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS ACCOMMODATION.
AND THAT'S RIGHT
UH, AND PRE-LAW STUDENT, LESLIE IS A REGISTERED AND CERTIFIED FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, PERSONAL TRAINER, WELLNESS COACH AND ENTREPRENEUR.
AS THE OWNER OPERATOR OF MIND, BODY, SPIRIT PERSONAL TRAINING IN BLOOMFIELD.
SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT AND COMMITTED TO APPROVING THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OTHERS.
LESLIE EARNED HER PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS AND IS A CERTIFIED PILATES YOGA SPIN AND AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR.
I HOPE YOU BROUGHT YOUR MATH TONIGHT,
WITH OVER 40 YEARS IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY, LESLIE TAYLOR'S HER APPROACH TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES FOCUSING ON NUTRITION, STRENGTH TRAINING, AND OVERALL HEALTH.
AND WE WELLNESS HER MISSION IN LIFE IS TO HELP HER COMMUNITY BETTER TAKE CARE OF THEIR HEALTH.
FROM EIGHT YEARS OLD TO 80, SHE BEGAN HER CAREER MANAGING AND COACHING OWNERS ON DEVELOPING THEIR FITNESS OPERATION AND SALES STRATEGIES.
SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS FOR SEVERAL FITNESS CHAINS, INCLUDING SPA LADY IN LINDHURST, GOLD GYM IN TOWA, THE FITNESS CENTER IN RUTHERFORD AND THE FITNESS CENTER IN BLOOMFIELD.
IN 1989, LESLIE OPENED HER OWN PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO IN THE TOWNSHIP.
LESLIE IS A DEDICATED PHILANTHROPIST WHO SPEARHEADS HOLIDAY COAT, INCLUDING DRIVES DURING THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE, THE SHAQUILLE SCHOOL OF MARSHALL ARTS IN BLOOMFIELD AND IS THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNSTOPPABLE GIRLS FOUNDATION.
SHE'S AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CHRIST CHURCH IN MONTCLAIR, WHERE SHE VOLUNTEERS RUNNING PRAYER GROUPS AND SHARES HER MINISTRY OF WELLNESS OF WITH MEMBERS AND STRANGERS.
SO LESLIE, YOU ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF JOY AND HOPE FOR YOUR CLIENTS.
UH, YOU'RE DEFINITELY GONNA PICK UP SOME IN OUR OFFICE TONIGHT,
WHEN I READ THAT, I'M LIKE, WOW, I DID NOT GO TO THE GYM TODAY.
UH, AND A TREASURED MEMBER OF THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, COMMUNITY, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S PLAQUE ACCOMMODATION.
AND AGAIN, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE JOINED YOU HERE TONIGHT.
SO, AND UM, BEFORE I TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER, ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE ARE, UM, CERTIFICATES FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN,
[00:45:02]
MY GOOD FRIEND MAYOR ROMANO, AND I KNOW SHE HAS LEFT, BUT JANET, GREAT MENDEL COUNCILMAN FROM LOCAL, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AS WELL.WITH THAT, THE MICROPHONE, CONGRATULATIONS.
I LOVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO CAME TO REPRESENT.
WE ALL BRING DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE TABLE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN HEALTH AND FITNESS AND WELLNESS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE MINORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OR THE BROWNING PEOPLE.
SO MY WHOLE PURPOSE OF OPENING A GYM IS TO EDUCATE US, TO TELL US, EVEN SOME OF MY NON BROWNING PEOPLE, THAT WITHOUT HELP THERE'S NO WEALTH.
SO YOU MESS, YOU HAVE TO MASTER TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY, YOUR MIND, AND YOUR SPIRIT.
AND SPEARHEAD ANY ORGANIZATION THAT'S ON BOARD FOR THAT.
'CAUSE A LOT OF US ARE DYING TOO YOUNG AND SOMETIMES TOO OLD.
SO WE GOTTA GET ON BOARD TO HELP EACH OTHER.
I DO PROGRAMS IN THE SUMMER FEE WORKOUT.
I DO PROGRAMS AT URBAN LEAGUE.
I DO PROGRAMS. I USED TO BE AN ORGANIZATION, JULIE GRIFFIN WAS THE PRESIDENT AND SHE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE, RENAISSANCE HOUSE.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WAS NO GREATER JOY THAN HELPING YOUNG, BLACK, BLACK HISPANIC KIDS GET EDUCATED, NOT ONLY HELP FOR FITNESS, BUT USED TO TEACH EDUCATED IN YORK, TELL 'EM HOW TO INTERVIEW, HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS, HOW TO SIT IN A CHAIR, HOW TO ENTER A ROOM.
SO IT'S ALL RELEVANT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT ANYWHERE.
SO IN ORDER FOR US TO SPEARHEAD ORGANIZATIONS POLITICALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND MENTALLY, WE HAVE TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT INVOLVED.
I THINK EVERYBODY HERE, COMMISSIONER, AS YOU KNOW, KNOW, AND ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE, BUT ONE I THINK THE MOST IS GOD.
'CAUSE THESE DOORS WOULDN'T BE OPEN WITHOUT THEM.
YES, THEY WOULDN'T SELECTED THEM COMING OUT.
I THINK YOU FOR SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, WE HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES WE AGAINST EACH OTHER.
WE GOTTA STICK TOGETHER AND UNITE AS WOMEN SO WE CAN GET INVOLVED THAT MORE POLITICS ON A HIGHER LEVEL.
I'M WANNA MAKE THIS MORGAN TORN OUT AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL THE HONOREES THIS EVENING.
I AM VICE PRESIDENT TMI COOPER, AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR FINAL HONOREE FOR TONIGHT.
PLEASE JOIN ME ON A STAGE MAYOR OF BILL BYRNE, ANNETTE ROMAN.
SO MEGAN, I'M GONNA BRAG ON YOU
SO MAYOR GR IS A FIRST GENERATION ITALIAN AND SHE GRADUATED FROM MILBURN HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE ATTENDED COLLEGE LATER IN LIFE AND GRADUATED IN 2021 WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN APPLIED SCIENCE, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION.
LET'S GIVE HER ROUND APPLAUSE.
THAT MEANS, AND THEN DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND, AND FOCUS ON WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO AT THAT TIME.
ANNETTE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AS THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
PRIOR TO JOINING NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, SHE SERVES AS THE PTO OF THE KIDS SCHOOL.
AND SHE CHAIRED COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHERE SHE DID TOY DRIVES AND FOOD DRIVES.
UM, AND, UM, COLLECTED TURKEYS FOR THANKSGIVING.
AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH, ANNETTE BECAME INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE MILLBURN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
AND LATER SHE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTOR.
AFTER THE MILLBURN RED CROSS CHAPTER GOES, SHE DIDN'T SIT DOWN AND DO NOTHING.
SHE STARTED A FOOD PANTRY IN MELBOURNE AND IN 2019 SHE WORKED WITH THE TOWNSHIP TO FIND A NEW PLACE FOR THE PANTRY.
AND THE PANTRY IS STILL GROWING AND THRIVING TODAY, WHERE IT PROVIDES FOOD DONATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP TO ANYBODY IN NEED.
AND THAT IS CURRENTLY IN HER SECOND YEAR ON THE MILLBURN TOWNSHIP.
AND THIS YEAR SHE IS SERVING AS THE MAYOR.
SHE HAS SERVED ON THE MILLBURN HILLSIDE, UH, MILLBURN SHORT HILLS DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AS THE CHAIRWOMAN.
SHE SERVED AS THE, A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL ASSISTANCE BOARD, SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSION.
ANNETTE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO THE LOVE OF HER LIFE FOR 35 YEARS, NICK, AND THEY HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, CHRISTINA, JESSICA, AND NICK.
ANNETTE, YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE MILL BAR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHY TONIGHT WE ARE CONGRATULATING YOU, RECOGNIZING YOU FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
[00:50:01]
FROM THE BOARD AND A, UM, ACCOMMODATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL'S OFFICE.SO PLEASE, MAYOR, SAY A FEW WORDS.
UH, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, BOARD PRESIDENT, PALM MARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, AND THE ENTIRE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
I'D LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK VICE PRESIDENT COOPER AND COMMISSIONER GRAHAM FOR HIS RECOGNITION.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK MY FELLOW TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE, COMMITTEE MEMBER MICHAEL COHEN AND COMMITTEE MEMBER BEN STOLLER.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR MIL DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, MICHAEL BOLT FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MY FELLOW RECIPIENTS ON BEING HONORED AND RECOGNIZED WITH TWO AMAZING WOMEN.
OF COURSE, MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND, NICK, YOU'RE MY ROCK, MY CHILDREN, YOU ARE THE REASON I AM WHO I AM.
YOU MAKE ME A STRONGER WOMAN, WIFE AND MOM.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN MY SUPPORT TEAM.
MARGARET THATCHER FAMOUSLY SAID THAT IN POLITICS, IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DONE, ASK A MAN.
IF YOU WANT ANYTHING, ASK A MAN.
IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DONE, ASK A WOMAN THAT KNEW I WAS, WHO WAS GONNA TAKE THIS.
IF YOU WERE TO ASK MY 9-YEAR-OLD SELF SITTING IN A CLASSROOM AT WASHINGTON SCHOOL IN MILBURN LISTENING TO A MALE MAYOR TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT, IF SOMEDAY I WOULD BE MAYOR OF MY HOMETOWN, MY ANSWER WOULD'VE BEEN NO WAY
BUT MY MOM, AN IMMIGRANT TO THE UNITED STATES WOULD SAY TO ME, WHY NOT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, A GROUNDBREAKER FOR WOMEN IN ESSEX COUNTY.
POLITICS IS LOOKING RIGHT DOWN ON ME RIGHT NOW SAYING WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?
MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID, IF IT'S NOT RIGHT, CHANGING BEHIND EVERY GREAT WOMAN IS ANOTHER GREAT WOMAN.
WITH THAT IN MIND, EVERY DAY I STRIVE TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO MY GIRLS AND ALL THE WOMEN THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE SIX FEMALE MAYORS IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND ONLY TWO YEARS AGO THERE WERE TWO.
AND HOPEFULLY IN A FEW MONTHS THERE MIGHT BE SEVEN.
IN CONCLUSION, AS ROSA PARK SAID, STAND FOR SOMETHING OR YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING.
TODAY'S MIGHTY OAK IS YESTERDAY'S NUT THAT HELD ITS GROUND.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR INCREDIBLE.
BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, NICOLE WALKER.
WE SHOULD HELLO AND TO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE GRACE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO HELP US CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF WOMEN AND ALL OF OUR INCREDIBLE HONOREES.
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I WAS WITH MY IN-LAWS UP IN ENGLAND AND WE WERE HAVING A VERY LIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT POLITICS AND A COUPLE OTHER TOPICS.
AND I OVERHEARD ONE OF MY IN-LAWS SAY TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, WOW, SHE REALLY HAS SOME REAL STRONG OPINIONS.
BUT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SAID TO THE PERSON, WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A JERSEY GIRL.
NOW FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT EXPRESSION IS OFFENSIVE.
'CAUSE WHY BEING A JERSEY GIRL MEAN THAT WE FIGHT FOR THE VOICELESS, WE STAND UP FOR THE WEEK, WE ORGANIZE FOOD DRIVES WHENEVER THERE'S SOMETHING WE ALL OF OUR HONOR AND ALL OF THE OTHER WOMEN HERE TONIGHT, WE'RE ALL JERSEY GIRLS.
SO GET YOU A SHIRT AND WEAR IT WITH HONOR.
YOU KNOW, AND ALSO TONIGHT, AS WE CELEBRATE ALL OF THESE INCREDIBLE WOMEN AND ALL OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE MADE FOR WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY, LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT THAT WOMEN ARE STILL LAGGING.
MA BEHIND THE AVERAGE WOMAN HERE IN THIS COUNTRY MAKES 84 CENTS TO EVERY DOLLAR THAT A A MAN MEETS.
AND IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHO ARE YOU KNOW OF LATINO AND BLACK, THAT'S ONLY 56 CENTS.
[00:55:01]
SO WE STILL GOT A WHOLE LOT OF WORK TO WORK TO GO.ASSEMBLYWOMAN TOLD US TONIGHT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF JOINT, THE ESS COUNTY DELEGATION, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AND OUR CHAIRMAN LEERO JOINS FOR ADDING MORE WOMEN TO THAT DELEGATION BECAUSE STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN MORE WOMEN LEAD COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES DO BETTER, SO WE WANNA KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE WOMEN TO BECOME ELECTED.
AND WHY NOT? WE ARE 50.5% OF THE POPULATION AND MEN ARE ONLY 49.5.
SO WE ARE SO SOME MORE WOMEN IN THESE SEATS AND YOU NEVER KNOW WE MIGHT HAVE A PRESIDENT SOONER.
RIGHT? SO ON THAT NOTE, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TO SUPPORT US AND CELEBRATING WITH US.
I WANNA THANK OUR FELLOW, UM, COMMISSIONERS FOR HONORING WOMEN TONIGHT AND KEEPING THIS PROGRAM GOING.
I WANNA STATE THE STAFF FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND FOR THE GLEN RIGGS WOMEN'S CLUB FOR SUPPORTING US.
PASTOR REVEREND, I'M GONNA HAVE YOU COME BACK UP FOR AN IMPLICATION.
SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL HAPPENED WHEN MS. MACY WAS INTRODUCED.
IT WAS STATED THAT SHE COMES FROM A LINE OF GOSPEL SINGERS.
AND I FELT THIS COLLECTIVE, UH,
THAT NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT THE ANCESTORS.
THAT, THAT THE ACORNS, THAT THAT HELD THEIR OWN AND HELPED US BECOME MIGHTY OAKS.
SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOMENT WHERE WE JUST LIFT UP THE NAMES OF THE WOMEN ANCESTORS FROM OUR OWN LIVES RIGHT HERE INTO THIS SPACE.
JUST SHARE THE NAMES OF THOSE WITHOUT WHOM YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
TO ALL OF THESE, WE LIFT UP PRAISE AND THANKS.
AND TO CLOSE, I WANNA LIFT UP ONE MORE NAME.
DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF BELINDA SUTTON? DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF BELINDA SUTTON? BELINDA SUTTON PETITIONED THE GOVERNMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS 240 YEARS AGO FOR REPARATIONS FOR HER WORK AS A SLAVE.
BELINDA SUTTON WAS ACTUALLY PAID REPARATIONS, ONE OF THE ONLY INSTANCES OF SOMEONE BEING PAID WHAT SHE DESERVED FOR HER UNPAID LABOR OF SLAVERY.
I LIFT UP BELINDA SUTTON BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TODAY TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT LOOKING BACK AND RECOGNIZING THE STRENGTH OF SO MANY WITHOUT WHOM WE WOULD NOT KNOW THE STRENGTH THAT HOLDS US TODAY AS WOMEN WHO COME BEFORE ONE ANOTHER TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING WE DESERVE.
AND IT'S NOT HERE YET, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
SO IN THE SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY AND COMMITMENT THAT COMES BETWEEN A PEOPLE WHEN WE ARE GIFTED WITH THE REMINDER OF OUR ANCESTORS AND THE BLESSING OF OUR FUTURE, MAY WE MOVE FORWARD IN ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE MOVE, CHANGING THE WORLD WITH FAITH IN WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WALK IN THE WAYS OF GOD AND HELP US TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD.
IT'S TIME NOW TO ENJOY NICOLE WALKER.
NICOLE, LET'S, LET'S BRING YOU UP IF YOU LIKE.
I'M GONNA PUT HER ON THE SPOT.
THE PROGRAM IS ENDING, BUT WE'RE GONNA HIGHLIGHT A LOCAL BUSINESS FOR MY HOMETOWN OF BLUEFIELD.
IF YOU DON'T MIND IF I BRAG A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY HOMETOWN, I'M VERY PROUD OF.
IT'S OKAY IF I, I GET SPECIAL DISPENSATION 'CAUSE MY WIFE IS A GLEN RIDGE ORIGINALLY.
SO HERE NICOLE, TELL 'EM ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
I AM A CHEF AND UH, MY COMPANY'S CALLED LOVE AND PLATES.
WE ARE A LOCALLY SOURCED, SUSTAINABLY PREPARED PERSONAL CHEF AND BEDS COMPANY.
WE DO WEEKLY FAMILY STYLE MENUS EVERY WEEK, UH, FOR TWO, FOR FOUR.
[01:00:01]
MEAL PLANNING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPECIFIC DIETARY NEEDS.AND THEN WE DO BOUTIQUE CATERING.
WE CAN DO DINNER PARTIES, UH, SMALL BUFFET, BUFFET, COCKTAIL PARTIES, UP HUNDRED COOKING PAST, ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S ENJOY SOME FOOD.
CAN WE JUST HAVE THE HONOREES COME UP JUST FOR A MOMENT TO TAKE A GROUP PICTURE? UH, CHIEF, UH, ELIJAH, CAN YOU JOIN US WITH, JOIN US FOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND SPECIAL GUEST.
SO THESE, THE TALENT, CAN YOU JOIN US? I MEAN, WE'RE IN A MIDST OF CELEBRITIES HERE, SO HONOREE PLEASE COME TO, WE'LL GO DOWN THERE ON THAT PART OF THE STAGE.