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GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.APPLAUSE TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HONOREES AND ALL THAT'S WATCHING THIS PROGRAM.
TODAY I AM TU FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD PRESIDENT CARLOS PRIMERO'S.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD AN EMERGENCY THIS EVENING, SO HE'S NOT GOING TO BE WITH US.
BUT IN OUR TRADITION HERE IN COUNTY, WE LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR, AND WE SO HONORS DURING BLACK HISTORY WEEK, MONTH WHEN WE CELEBRATE OUR ANCESTORS PAST AND PRESENT CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE ONE OF OUR HONOREES TO PITS OF, OF FASHION AND DESIGN.
EL BARRICK, COMMUNITY LEADER IN MONTCLAIR TOWN, TALIA YOUNG, AN EMERGENCY.
SO SHE'S NOT WITH HER, WITH US HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, A REPRESENTATIVE WILL COME.
SO WE'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON HER BEHALF.
AND, UM, LAST, NOT LEAST, SHE, EDDIE BROWN AND LEADER IN NEWARK TODAY.
WE HONOR ALL THESE HONOREES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO ESSEX COUNTY AND THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, THANK OUR MUSICAL GUESTS.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME BY MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
AWE, THAT'S IT THAT THEY GAVE TO US.
AND SO I'M GONNA CALL THEM UP TO THE FRONT AND ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE STAND IF WE HEAR THEIR RENDITION OF THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.
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RING WITH THE, THE SEE FULL OF THE FATE THAT THE DARK HAS TALL, THE OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT NEW LET ON COMMISSIONER.SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT SINCE I HERE YET, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA DO SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
IF I OVERLOOK YOU, PLEASE GRAB, UM, ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GIVE YOU ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
SO I'M GOING TO GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD AND NOT MY HEART.
SO FIRST UP, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
TONIGHT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER AT LARGE, PATRICIA SIEBEL AT LARGE, VIRGIN GILL AT LARGE, ROMAINE GRAHAM, ANO, COMMISSIONER RANDY RICHARDSON, WAYNE RICHARDSON, AND COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS ALSO HERE.
UM, WE HAVE, HE IS NO LONGER AN ACTING PROSECUTOR.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR MAYOR TONY BOSTON, THE GREAT CITY OF B ROBERT RUSSO, JUDY, UNION COUNTY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE DELLI FORD.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EASTERN YMCA.
OR YOU GUYS JUST CHANGED YOUR NAME.
JUST THE Y NOW, RIGHT? OH, THE YMCA.
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OH, OH, JULIA.MY, ANY ACCIDENTS TO MY HEAD AND NOT MY HEART.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ALL GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE LOOK A RIGHT LOOK ALIKE.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT I'M MISSING? NO.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE PROGRAM ALONG UP.
FIRST, OUR FIRST HONOREE WILL BE SINA PITS.
AND, UM, COMMISSIONER MECADO, SINCE HIS REGARDS AND ASKED ME TO FILL IN FOR HIM, SUBPOENA PITTS HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND A CHANGE AGENT FOR STUDENT IN HER HOMETOWN OF NEWARK FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
PIT APPOINTED PRINCIPAL OF THE NEWARK SCHOOL OF FASHION AND DESIGN.
PRIOR TO THAT APPOINTMENT, SHE SERVED AS PRINCIPAL OF CHANCELLOR AVENUE SCHOOL, WHERE SHE ALSO HAPPENED TO ACCOMPLISHMENT.
IMAGINE THOSE KIDS IN THE MESSAGE THAT YOU SENT THAT I WAS ONCE A LITTLE GIRL HERE JUST LIKE YOU AND WHAT YOU CAN'T BE IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND WORK HARD.
YOU KNOW, QUIA EARNED HER BS AND BUSINESS AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, A NATIONAL TREASURE IN HBCU INSTITUTION.
SHE WENT ON TO EARN HER MASTER'S DEGREE FROM SETON HALL UNIVERSITY IN EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND POLICY.
EVEN WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL AND TEACHING AND ATTENDING TO SO MANY OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, SHE STILL FOUND THE TIME TO MENTOR COUNTLESS CHILDREN HERE IN NEWARK AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN HER ROLE AS PRINCIPAL.
SHE DEAL WITH THE DAILY STUDENT LIFE, THE CULTURAL CHANGES AND DISCIPLINE.
YOU KNOW, THAT ISN'T ALWAYS A FRONT TASK FOR US TO DO WITH IT, BUT SHE DOES A FINE JOB AT IT.
AS A MEMBER OF ALL SCHOOL GROUNDS EDUCATION COALITION, SHE HAS COLLABORATED WITH MANY LIKE-MINDED SCHOOL LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT'S DEDICATED TO CLOSING THE EQUITY GAPS AND EFFECTUATING CHANGE IN SCHOOLWIDE COMMUNITIES.
ZAKIA IS AN ENGAGING PUBLIC SPEAKER WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ACCUSING HIP HOP CULTURE INTO EDUCATION.
SHE CAN BE SEEN AROUND THE SCHOOL IN HER EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUMS, MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, CONNECTING HER STUDENTS TO EDUCATION BY DROPPING LINES.
SO ON THIS DAY, WE, WE SALUTE YOU MR. KEENA, FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL WORK LEADERSHIP AS PRINCIPAL AND ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF NEWARK.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION AND AN AWARD HERE JUST FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR YOU EMBODYING THE SERIC AND PRIDE OF ESSEX COUNTY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
UM, I, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK VICE PRINCIPAL, UH, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, I WANNA GIVE THANKS TO, UH, ALL OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UH, COMMISSIONER MERCADO, WHO IS NOT WITH US TODAY, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHO I RECEIVED THE NOMINEE FROM.
I WANNA GIVE, UH, PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COMMISSIONER, UM, MURRAY THOMAS, RIGHT? FOR ALL THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS MY TIME.
BUT, UM, SHE HAS EARNED HER SPOT HERE.
SHE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR, UM, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS FOR HER ORGANIZATION.
SHE HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK AS A BOARD MEMBER, UM, FOR THE NORTH COURT OF ED FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I FOLLOWED HER WORK.
I HONOR YOU, UM, THIS EVENING.
I SEE YOU, I SEE HOW HARD YOU ALSO VOTE FOR, UH, FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
UH, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO, TO MYSELF, UM, IS THAT, UM, AS A PRINCIPAL HERE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, THIS GREAT CITY, UM, THAT, THAT I WAS REARED IN, BORN AND
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BRED, UM, THIS MONTH MEANS A LOT.BLACK HISTORY IS EVERY DAY TO ME.
UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST A TIME FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, BUT A TIME FOR US TO CELEBRATE BLACK PEOPLE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TO LOVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, ONE THING THAT I AM PERSONALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS CLOSING EQUITY GAPS FOR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS.
47% OF MY STUDENTS ARE, UM, HISPANIC, LATINO, AND LATINA.
UM, AND IT IS VERY HARD IN THE PASSION INDUSTRY, UH, FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
AND SO MY WORK IS DEDICATED TO REMOVING ALL BARRIERS.
IF THAT MEANS GETTING A SEWING MACHINE FOR EVERY STUDENT TO HAVE, NOT JUST IN THE SCHOOL, BUT IN THEIR HOUSES.
UM, ANY BARRIER, RIGHT? THAT IS MY JOB.
UM, YOU KNOW, CURATING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR MY STUDENTS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO COME BEFORE US.
I, UM, I, UH, ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY I HAD, I HAD A BRAIN TAKE YOUR TIME.
BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THIS IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF, UM, AFRICAN AMERICANS ACROSS THE DIASPORA.
UM, AND HERE, EVEN JUST IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALONE, SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE LIKE AMIR BARAKA, LIKE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, LIKE THE MICHAEL B JORDANS OF THE WORLD, LIKE LAUREN HILL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE WORKED IN, UH, THE INDUSTRY OF ENTERTAINMENT ADVOCACY, UM, AND SO MUCH MORE.
AND SO I AM HONORED TO, UM, RECEIVE THIS AWARD.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, ESPECIALLY IN A WORLD WHERE, UM, OUR HISTORY IS BEING ERASED.
UM, LET'S, LET'S SPEAK ABOUT IT, RIGHT? YES.
WE WANT TO DIMINISH THE BLACK STRUGGLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THESE THINGS CAN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, CULTURAL RELEVANCE STARTS WITH US.
YES, OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO SEE THEIR REPRESENTATION OF THEM IN THE MIRROR.
IT IS IN WHO SITS BEFORE THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, TO SHARE IN THAT MINDSET.
AND SO I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WHEN, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER 15TH COMES BECAUSE OF WHO SITS BEFORE ME.
AND SO, IN THE SAME VEIN, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, JUNETEENTH, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, UM, YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
UM, AGAIN, UH, IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY HEARTWARMING.
UM, AND I AM HONORED TO BE, TO HAVE BEEN HONORED, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY OF NEWARK, MY CITY, THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN, THE CITY THAT REARED ME.
AND SO I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND APPLAUSE.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE ASSEMBLYWOMAN COMMISSIONER.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COOPER.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, STILL MY THUNDER.
THERE WAS THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
UM, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THERE'S ALSO A COUPLE OF OTHER, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER YOU, A COUPLE OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT BEEN ON, UM, JUST DOING VERY QUICKLY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE HERE TONIGHT FROM THE MONTAIR BOARD OF WELLER, WHO IS JOINED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF, UH, THE MONTCLAIR, UH, HEAD START PROGRAM.
UH, AS WELL AS, UH, THE VICE CHAIR OF OUR, UH, LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, UH, IN MONTCLAIR, UH, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR, UH, I KNOW HE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AS A MEMBER OF OUR COUNCIL.
I KNOW WE MENTIONED COUNCILMAN,
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BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE THAT OUT, UH, TO HIS WIFE, CHRISTINE, WHO DOES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE COMMUNITY TODAY.CHRISTINA, UM, BEFORE I, AND, AND CONGRATS TO ALL OF THE, UH, HONOREES, IT'S A TREMENDOUS, UH, HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU, UH, TO OUR PAST PRESIDENT, UH, WAYNE RICHARDSON, UH, WHO I THINK DESERVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
AND OF COURSE, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER FOR KEEPING THIS TRADITION GOING UNDER THEIR LEADERSHIP.
AND I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE, UM, PRINCIPLE FITZ, THAT THIS IS, UM, THIS IS AMERICAN HISTORY.
UH, IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT, UH, WE ARE IN 2023.
I ACTUALLY, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.
I CAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I, THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL EVENT.
AND WE'RE HERE TO JUST NOT ONLY CELEBRATE THE HONOREES, TO CELEBRATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT, UH, WE JUST CAME OFF OF A WEEKEND WHERE WE HAD A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, QUESTION PUBLICLY, PUBLICLY WHY THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS BEING SUNG DURING THE SUPER BOWL AND ADVOCATED FOR THE GAME TO BE BOYCOTTED AS A RESULT.
AND HAD SCARY STUFF, FOLKS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHO LIKED THE POST, WHO ADHERED TO WHAT WAS SAID, AND WHO ADHERED TO THIS IDEA THAT WHERE'S THE WHITE NATIONAL ANTHEM, WHICH IS, THAT'S NOT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THAT.
SO, SO I, I, I SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OF NOT ONLY THE ASSEMBLY WOMAN, BUT ALSO MY WIFE.
MY WIFE IS FIRST GENERATION IN THIS COUNTRY, COLUMBIAN AND MY KIDS ARE, ARE MULTIRACIAL.
YES, YES, THEY IDENTIFY WITH MULTIPLE BACKGROUNDS AND HERITAGES, BUT I WANT THEM TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE IT SHOULD BE SIGHT UNSEEN, WHERE IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS WHY THAT NATIONAL ANTHEM IS BEING SO AT THAT EVENT.
AND THAT COMES, UH, FROM THE WORK AND THAT COMES FROM WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO.
SO FOR ME, ALTHOUGH THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES, I GET REJUVENATED AT EVENTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME HEAVYWEIGHTS, UH, NAMES THAT WERE JUST MENTIONED THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.
BUT THE NAMES THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING TONIGHT ARE HEAVYWEIGHTS TOO.
SO I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS CEREMONY, UH, EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND HONORED TONIGHT, UH, TO BRING UP OUR NEXT HONOREE.
SO WITH THAT, LET'S BRING UP MS. LC PERRY.
SO ALLOW ME TO SHARE FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM, UH, ELSIE'S ACCOMMODATION.
UH, ELSIE IS A SECOND GENERATION MONTCLAIR RESIDENT.
UH, A GRADUATE OF MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN COLLEGE IN GREENBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, A PRIVATE HBCU.
SHE BEGAN HER REAL ESTATE CAREER IN 1986.
AFTER COMPLETING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HER ECONOMICS AT MONTCLAIR STATE.
HE HAS WORKED AN ARRAY OF ROLES IN HER REAL ESTATE CAREER.
FULL-TIME SALES AGENT, LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER, CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST.
SHE'S AN ACCREDITED BUYER'S REPRESENTATIVE, A SELLER'S REPRESENTATIVE SPECIALIST SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST, A LICENSED REAL ESTATE INSTRUCTOR, AND THE BROKER MANAGER OF THE LER OFFICE OF BROWN, PARIS AND STEVE.
IN 2017, SHE WAS NAMED THE AGENT OF THE YEAR BY THE WEST S SIX POOL REALTORS.
BEYOND, UH, HER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHE'S PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FIRST LAW FAIR HOUSE, WHICH IS A P SUBSIDIZED SENIOR HOUSING APARTMENT BUILDING, WHICH IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MONTCLAIR SENIOR HOUSING AND HERSELF AND GARDENS, A LEGACY LIFE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, UH, AN ORGANIZATION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENLIGHTENS, INSPIRES AND CONNECTS MORE THAN 2 MILLION WOMEN, AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MONTCLAIR SECTION.
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SHE'S A MEMBER OF DEACON AT THE TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN MONTCLAIR.SHE'S THE PROUD MOTHER OF JASON AND JILLIAN, WHO WILL JOIN HER HERE, UH, TONIGHT AND FUTURE SON-IN-LAW, THE ONE SPOT
BUT HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB, RIGHT? HE'S IN THE FRONT ROW.
UH, OF COURSE, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S CONGREGATION.
WE ALSO FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, UH, MIKE, CHERYL, AND I WOULD ALSO JUST SAY, UM, EL ONE RULES, IT WASN'T MENTIONED, UH, IS ALSO OUR CORRESPONDING, UH, SECRETARY FOR MANY YEARS RECORDING, I'M SORRY, DEMOCRAT.
UH, SO SHE HAS ALSO DONE ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR PARTY, OUR ORGANIZATION TIME.
UH, BUT BEYOND THAT, UM, SHE IS ALSO A STEADY VOICE, UH, AMONG ALL THINGS THAT, UH, TOUCH, UH, I KNOW ALLISON IN OUR LIVES TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FRIENDS, MY ASSOCIATES, AND, UH, IT'S WONDERFUL AND IT'S GREAT TO BE AND SUCH AND MORE AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT ESSEX, YOU KNOW, AFTER YOU'VE BEEN ON A LONG TRIP AND YOU'VE COME INTO THE AIRPORT AND YOU'RE IN ESSEX COUNTY, AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU PROBABLY WILL BE HOME WITHIN HOUR.
YOU FEEL AT HOME AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THAT IS, THAT IS I WORK WITH SENIORS.
I WORK WITH, UM, CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE HERE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE ESSENCE COUNTY WONDERFUL.
YOU CAN WALK TO JERSEY CITY PRETTY SOON.
BUT YOU, YOU CAN SEE A GIRAFFE, WEST ORANGE.
YOU CAN GET THERE FROM ANYWHERE, OKAY? BUT WHEN YOU COME FRIENDS, THAT'S BECAUSE ESSEX COUNTY, THE WELCOMING MIXTURE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU REALLY DON'T.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
ON ONE HAND, YES, YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE IN BECAUSE YOU'RE JOINED.
YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME TO ESSEX COUNTY, THEY MEET FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NICE TO ONE.
WE KIND OF FORGET THAT SOMETIMES.
WE HAVE CITY, WE HAVE PARK, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON THAT MAKE US, THERE IS NO OTHER COUNTY.
AND I THINK THE COMMISSIONER ALLOWING ME TO RAG COMMISSIONERS FOR JUST MAKING ME AWARE THAT I DOING SOMETHING.
UM, I'M ALSO GOING TO INVITE THE RWE ENSEMBLE BACK UP HERE FOR ANOTHER PERFORMANCE.
UH, AND AS THEY DO THAT, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM AND ALL THEY DO, UH, FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, BOTH HERE IN
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THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND FOR ESSEX COUNTY, UH, RWE IS A NETWORK OF EMERGING AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT, PRESENTATION, AND CREATION OF ART, HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, CREATE SPACE FOR ARTISTS AND VIEWERS ALIKE TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE ON PRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES, IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.WHILE EXPERIENCING AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO ART MAKING THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE.
I WANT TO MAKE, I GOTTA MAKE SURE I DO THIS CORRECTLY.
SO FOR, FOR, FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME, A-U-R-W-A Y.ORG ON R ON SOCIAL MEDIA, FOR THE FULL BREADTH OF WHAT THEY DO, IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
SO WE'RE RELATED TO PAT FEEDBACK AND WITH THAT, YES, WE
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.WE NEED TO HEAR MORE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU GOING FORWARD.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO HONOR TALIA YOUNG.
TALIA YOUNG PLANNED TO BE HERE, BUT AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, AN INCIDENT CAUSED HER TO STOP JOINING US.
SO I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE PRESENTATION WITHOUT HER, AND I HOPE YOU WILL APPRECIATE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE WONDERFUL PERSON THAT SHE IS.
TALIA YOUNG IS A BUSINESSWOMAN AND CAREER PROFESSIONAL.
WITH NEARLY 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVES, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY, TALIA HAS EMERGED AS A BOLD AND UNCONVENTIONAL CREATIVE VISIONARY, FORGING A SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL IMPACT FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY'S LARGEST BLACK LEAD ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS INSTITUTION, NEWARK SYMPHONY HALL.
NOW JUST A BIT ABOUT NEWARK SYMPHONY HALL.
I GREW UP IN HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY, AND I LIVED RIGHT NEAR BROAD STREET AND, AND I LIVED RIGHT NEAR NORTH BROAD STREET, AS IT WAS CALLED, WHICH LED INTO BROAD STREET IN NEWARK.
AND THAT'S WHERE SYMPHONY HALL WAS.
AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY FAMOUS PLACE AT THAT TIME.
AND TALIA IS WORKING ON CREATING A WONDERFUL SYMPHONY HALL, REESTABLISHING WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
IN 2020, SHE FOUNDED SPACE TWO, CREATE SOCIAL IMPACT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, S TWO C WITH A MISSION TO OPEN DOORS TO ECONOMIC EQUITY AND SUSTAIN SUSTAINABILITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
ITALIA HAS SERVED AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR CITY NATIONAL BANK OF NEW JERSEY.
NEW JERSEY'S FIRST BLACK OWNED AND OPERATING BANK.
DURING HER TENURE IN THIS INSTITUTION, RECEIVED THE NEW JERSEY BANKERS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FOR SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVES.
TALLY ALSO SERVED AS A SENIOR PROJECT AND POLICY MANAGER UNDER THE LATE US SENATOR FRANK LAUPER, WHERE SHE OVERSAW A POLICY PORTFOLIO THAT COVERED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, BANKING, FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES IN URBAN COMMUNITIES.
IN 2022, SHE LAUNCHED JUNE TA FULL DAY EXPERIENCE FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES WITH PANELS, SOCIALLY EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS AND CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH AND BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
SO, TALIA, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR.
SO IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT HER WITH THE BOARD'S, ACCOMMODATIONS AND PLAQUE AND A CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE OF CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY SHOW.
SO LET'S APPLAUSE TALIA YOUNG.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO MY FRIEND TALIA, WHO I MET WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AT CITY NATIONAL QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
CHARETTE FRIC COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE FROM THE CITY OF IRVINGTON.
AND ALLISON BRYANT, NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
WHERE ARE YOU? LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.
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HERE YOU GO.ANYWAY,
I'M TRYING TO HOLD THIS UP FOR HIM 'CAUSE UH, MATTER OF FACT, I'M GONNA HOLD THIS UP FOR HIM.
HOW YOU DOING, BROTHER? GOOD, GOOD.
HEY, BUT IT WHAT A WONDERFUL, UM, ENSEMBLE.
ARE WE, LISTEN, WE GOT ANOTHER PERFORMANCE COMING TONIGHT, SO YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, GRACE WITH ANOTHER PERFORMANCE FROM YOU GUYS AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
AND IF HE'S NOT BACK IN THE NEXT MINUTE, WE MIGHT HAVE YOU GUYS GO.
YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU, UH, LET'S DO THAT.
RIGHT? GIVE IT UP FOR OUR WAY.
OH, HERE WE IS,
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MY SOUL, MY SOUL.IT IS WELL, IT'S WELL WITH MY SOUL.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR WAY.
I TOOK SOME SINGING LESSONS BACK IN THE DAY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT ANY TODAY
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE EXTENT OF IT.
WELL, SO MY NAME IS WAYNE RICHARDSON.
I'M THE COMMISSIONER AT LARGE AND, UM, IT'S OUR FINAL HONOREE OF THE NIGHT.
BUT, UH, HE'S LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UH, HE'S A GOOD FRIEND AND, AND MY BROTHER, UH, THIS IS THE CHIEF COME ON UP HERE.
SO I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, JUST READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
YOU RAN OUT ON ME A MINUTE AGO.
SO, FUQUAS FEDERATION OF MARTIAL ARTS WAS FOUNDED IN 1993 BY EDDIE FUQUA BROWN, AKA CHIEF.
THE FEDERATION HAS A REPUTATION FOR INTENSE TRAINING, DEMANDING HARD WORK, BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
THE INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS HAVE WON STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
EDDIE STARTED TRAINING AT SEVEN YEARS OLD UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF HIS BROTHER JOHN H. BROWN, A BROWN BELT AT THE TIME.
HE TRAINED IN THE BACKYARD IN PUBLIC PARKS BEFORE MOVING ON TO AN ACCREDITED MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL WHERE HE RECEIVED A BLACK BELT FROM GRAND MASTER BRUCE MARSHALL.
TODAY HE HOLDS THE RANK OF GRAND MASTER EIGHTH DEGREE BLACK BELT.
HE HAD STUDIED VARIOUS FORMS OF MARTIAL ARTS, INCLUDING KUNG FU, JUDO AND TAI KON DO.
EDDIE CREATED HIS OWN STYLE BY TAKING THE BEST TECHNIQUES FROM EACH OF THESE CALLED THE HARDCORE MARTIAL ARTS SYSTEM.
IT HAS PROVEN TO BE A DOMINANT AND COMPETITIVE FORM OF MARTIAL ARTS THAT RANKS WITH THE BEST STYLES IN THE WORLD.
EDDIE HAS INTRODUCED, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WORLD, WORLD
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KARATE UNION HALL OF FAME IN 1996, THE NORTH AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MARTIAL ARTS KARATE HALL OF FAME IN 19, IN 2008, AND WAS PRESENTED WITH THE NATIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL AWARD IN 2013.YEAH, WITH ALL OF THOSE MARTIAL ARTS ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD HE RECEIVED WAS IN 20, IS IN 2002.
AND THAT WAS THE ROSA PARKS WALL OF TOLERANCE AWARD.
HE WORKS AS AN EXECUTIVE AND SHE, IT WAS SIGNED BY ROSA PARKS PRESENTED BY, SHE PRESENTED THE AWARD.
I'M WORKING ON IT, IT'S A LOT HERE.
HE WORKS AS EXECUTIVE SECURITY FOR DON KING DK PRODUCTIONS AND IRON MIKE TYSON.
SO THAT TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO HE IS IF HE'S BODYGUARD.
MIKE TYSON RIGHT? TELLS YOU ABOUT HIS SKILLS AND ABILITIES.
EDDIE ALSO RETIRED FROM THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE OF NEWARK.
HE WAS ALSO THE HEAD KARATE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PLAS NO MORE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, THEY USED TO HAVE THOSE.
YOU ARE A TREASURED MEMBER OF THE NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU DO.
IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE BOARD'S, ACCOMMODATION AND PLAQUE AND A CERTIFICATE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, CONGRATULATIONS.
SO FIRST I WANT TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD.
YOU KNOW, I HAD A LONG JOURNEY WHEN I WAS A KID, BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
I USED TO WALK BY THIS BUILDING, JUST LOOK UP.
WOW, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
A LOT OF THINGS GO ON IN THAT BUILDING THE LAWS TO THE COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES, JUST THE GENRE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COMES AND GOES THROUGH THIS BUILDING.
THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS NEVER DID I THINK OF MY WILDEST DREAM THAT I'D BE SITTING HERE DOING AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH BEING PRESENTED WITH ANYTHING.
I LOST MY MOTHER AT A VERY, VERY EARLY AGE.
NO FATHER, YOU KNOW, SAD STORY, BUT A STRONG STORY.
IT'S NOT HOW I BEGAN THE STORY, IT'S HOW I END THE STORY.
THIS IS, THIS HERE I HOLD IN MY HAND IS THE LARGEST MAG MARTIAL ART MAGAZINE IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, ONLY THING I WANTED TO DO WAS MARTIAL ARTS BECAUSE OF BRUCE LEE.
CHUCK NORRIS NEVER THOUGHT OF MY WILDEST DREAM THAT I'LL SIT DOWN AND MEET THESE PEOPLE.
BILL WALLACE NEVER THOUGHT THAT I'LL BE HEAD OF SECURITY FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST BOXING PROMOTERS EVER.
DON KING NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS THAT I BE PROTECTING CRAZY MIKE TYSON.
SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO PROTECT MIKE TYSON, I HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY MYSELF,
BUT, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER WAYNE.
I TOLD HIM, UH, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.
HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY.
IT'S AN HONOR TO GET ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY.
IT'S A BLESSING TO BE AMONG YOU GREAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE PRINCIPAL, THE YOUNG LADY, JUST TO BE IN YOUR COMPANY.
SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T MENTION MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE.
CAN YOU PLEASE STAND? THAT WAS REAL QUICK.
AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO MAY BE LATE.
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AND MY WONDERFUL SISTER, SHEILA BROWN AND THE REST OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, IT'S, IT'S A BLESSING.WE COULD BE IN SOMEBODY'S COURTHOUSE TRYING TO GET OUR KIDS OUT.
WE COULD BE IN SOMEBODY'S JAILHOUSE TRYING TO GET OUR KIDS OUT.
BUT WE HERE CELEBRATING THE GREAT HONOREES AND THE GREAT ESSEX COUNTY.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
AND WHATEVER I CAN DO FOR ANYBODY, JUST LET ME KNOW.
LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY, THIS IS GONNA BE CRAZY.
I TAUGHT OVER 5,000 CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, 5,000.
WE HAVE BROKE EVERY RECORD IN THE MARTIAL ARTS FIELD.
WE HAVE WON THE MOST GOLD MEDALS IN THE AU JUNIOR OLYMPICS.
WE WAS A NATIONAL CHAMPION FOR FIVE YEARS IN A ROW.
I AM THE UNITED STATES KARATE COACH FOR THE USA KARATE TEAM.
SO WAYNE COMMISSIONER LEFT OUT A FEW THINGS.
IN 21, I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL KARATE HALL OF FAME, HALL OF HONORS.
AND 2022 I GOT THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM FLOYD MONEY MAYWEATHER.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND LET'S GIVE THE THE PROSECUTOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR NOW BEING THE PROSECUTOR, NOT ACTING ANYMORE.
AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE COUNTY THAT I CAN DO, THAT WE CAN HAVE A MARRIAGE TOGETHER BECAUSE I TRULY LOVE KIDS.
I TAUGHT IN THE NORTH STAR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 14 YEARS.
I, I'M NOW TEACHING IN THE LEGACY GREATER CHARTER, UH, LEGACY OAKS GREATER CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS.
SO WHATEVER I CAN DO FOR YOU, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF ALL YOU GREAT PEOPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE HONOREES.
UM, A AS WE START TO BRING THIS TO A CLOSE.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY HONOREE WELL DESERVED.
I WANNA THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SUPPORT YOU.
WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE.
GREAT STORIES, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, THE PRINCIPAL, I LOVE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAD TO SAY AND, UM, VERY ENCOURAGING.
WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF NEWARK AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE DEFINITELY IN GOOD HANDS BECAUSE LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US IN THE COUNTY.
YOU CALL US THE REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE WE'RE ELECTED.
BUT NO, YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
WE REPRESENT YOU, BUT YOU REPRESENT US AND YOU MAKE US LOOK GOOD AND WE APPRECIATE AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL MY COLLEAGUE DORIAN MARY THOMAS TO INTRODUCE PASTOR.
MAKE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE WITH IT.
SO THE SONG THAT OUR WAY SUNG IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE GREW UP IN A CHURCH OR ANY KIND OF SPIRITUAL SPACE, BUT THOSE AREN'T SMALL WORDS.
AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, CHIEF EDDIE FUQUA BROWN SPOKE ABOUT WALKING PAST THIS BUILDING AS A KID AND WONDERING THE, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN HERE, IT BROUGHT ME BACK TO MY MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN THIS BUILDING BEFORE GETTING SWORN IN.
AND THAT WAS SEEING PEOPLE, MY GOD BROTHER AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS FROM CHILDHOOD IN COURT, TRY TO GET LESS TIME AS THEY GOT TRIED AS JUVENILES.
AND I WONDER HOW DIFFERENT THEIR LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN IF THEIR SCHOOLS HAD GIVEN THEM COUNSELING INSTEAD OF SUSPENSIONS,
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IF THEIR CITIES HAD GIVEN THEM MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF COURT DATES.AND SO WHEN WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE GIVE EACH OTHER OUR FLOWERS AS WE'RE GIVING TO THE HONOREES TONIGHT BECAUSE WE KNOW, KNOW THAT FLOWERS MATTER.
WE KNOW THAT BLACK JOY IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE CALL OUR CHILDREN, I SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
I SEE DR ON THE FLAG, I SEE YOUR SHIRT, SHOUT OUT TO, UH, MY NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE CALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BY THEIR NAME, BRILLIANT, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL, CAPABLE, TALENTED ARTIST, WE KNOW THAT GREAT THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
AND BLACK HISTORY DOESN'T BECOME A PAST THING.
AND WE CREATE BETTER FUTURES WHEN WE CALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR COUNTY BY ITS NAME.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF.
SO I'M JUST HONORED TO BE IN THE ROOM, TO BE IN THE PRESENCE AS WE HONOR FOUR PEOPLE.
MS. PITTS, MS. BARRICK, MS. YOUNG AND CHIEF BROWN, FOR THEIR WORK.
AS I PREPARE TO BRING UP THE PASTOR, I WOULD BE REMISSED IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE SISTER PRINCIPAL PITTS, WHO I KNOW ACTUALLY FROM BEFORE THE FASHION SCHOOL WHEN YOU WERE THE PRINCIPAL AT CHANCELLOR.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CALLING OUT YOUNG PEOPLE BY THEIR NAME, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN IN A BUILDING WHERE CHILDREN ARE LOVED MAYOR, BUT WHEN YOU ENTER A BUILDING WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOVED AND ARE HELD TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND WHO ARE AFFIRMED, IT SHIFTS SOMETHING IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
AND PRINCIPAL PITTS, I WANNA SAY TO YOU, I SEE YOU, WE SEE YOU, AND WE THANK YOU FOR SEEING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE SEE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO SEE THEMSELVES.
AND SO TO OUR WAY, JUST CAN WE MAKE SOME MORE NOISE TOO, FOR THE OUR WAY ENSEMBLE WHO ALLOW SPIRIT TO MOVE THROUGH THEM INTERGENERATIONALLY, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THEIR PLAY, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO OR RATHER MONTHS AGO.
UH, SOMETHING LIKE A FAIRYTALE.
UM, SO SHOUT OUT TO MARCUS JUST FOR YOUR HEART AND YOUR WORK AND JUST FOR INCORPORATING ME.
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MUST LOOK LIKE CELEBRATING BLACK YOUTH AND BLACK FUTURES.
AND SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT'S OUR HONOR TO JUST RECOGNIZE AS WE BEGIN TO CLOSE, UM, OUR WAY OF CLOSING OUT THE CELEBRATION MINISTER BRANSON, UM, HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION, REDEMPTION, REFORMATION, AND SECOND CHANCES, WHICH IS WHY HE SPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF HIS TIME IN THE PRISON MINISTRY.
HE IS AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST ORANGE.
AND, UM, WE ARE JUST HONORED TO RECOGNIZE HIM.
SO I'M ADORE MURRAY THOMAS, COMMISSIONER OF DISTRICT TWO HERE, BORN AND RAISED IN THE GREAT CITY OF NEWARK, HONORED TO REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT TWO.
AND WE WOULD NOT END THIS EVENING WITHOUT ENDING IT IN A WORD OF SERVICE AND HUMILITY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S BRING UP MINISTER BRANSON TO THE PODIUM TO CLOSE US IN A WORD OF PRAYER.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN ROAD TRIPS AND BACKSEAT PASSENGERS.
THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED, ARE WE THERE YET? WELL, ARE WE THERE? YET? IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT YOU ASK WHEN YOU JUST HEAD OUT.
IT'S A QUESTION THAT BECOMES A REASONABLE REQUEST AFTER YOU'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR A MIGHTY LONG WAY AND YOU'VE HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXIT.
AND YET THE DESTINATION IS ALWAYS IN THE FOREGROUND.
AND SO AS AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY, AS WE'VE BEEN BACKSEAT PASSENGERS FOR FAR TOO LONG IN THIS MINIVAN ACROSS AMERICA, IT IS REASONABLE TO ASK THE QUESTION, ARE WE THERE YET? BUT WE COME ON THIS OCCASION IN PART FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
FROM 1776 WHEN WE WERE FOUNDED TO 1863, WHEN WE WERE EMANCIPATED TO 2009 WHEN WE WERE INAUGURATED.
AND AS WE'VE LOOKED ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE, THERE HAVE BEEN OBVIOUSLY LOW MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY THAT WOULD MAKE OUR HEARTS ACHE.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD MOUNTAINTOP MOMENTS THAT LEFT US FULL OF JOY.
AND WHILE WE ALSO REMEMBER HOW FAR WE'VE COME, WE TAKE THIS OP OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR CONTEMPORARY LEADERS, OUR SERVANT LEADERS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO HELP TO DRIVE US TOWARDS OUR GREAT DESTINATION.
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SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK, FOR ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND FOR YOUR FANTASTIC FAITHFULNESS, BOTH TO ESSEX AND TO AMERICA.WOULD YOU TAKE A POSTURE OF PRAYER WITH ME, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, FATHER OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, THE ONE WHO LOVES US ALL EQUALLY AND ALSO UNCONDITIONALLY.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU BECAUSE AS WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED, YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL IN YOUR KEEPING OF US AND YOUR PROLONGING OF OUR GOLDEN MOMENTS.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE SMALL PRIVILEGES OF RUNNING WATER AND HEAT IN OUR HOMES.
WE THANK YOU THAT WE GET TO LIVE IN SUCH A GLORIOUS STATE THAT WE HAVE FOUR SEASONS.
WE THANK YOU THAT WE'RE SPARED FROM SOME OF THE DISASTERS OF MUDSLIDES AND FOREST FIRES IN HURRICANES AND EARTHQUAKES.
WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT IT IS TO BE A RESIDENT IN NEW JERSEY IN THE GREAT YEAR OF 2024.
WE THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LEADERS, LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND WE ASK A SPECIAL COVERING FOR THEIR WISDOM AND THEIR GUIDANCE AS THEY CONTINUE, CONTINUE TO USHER US FORWARD.
WE PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN THIS EVENING.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO CONTINUE TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT NOURISHES AND NURTURES AND AFFIRMS THE GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.
WE PRAY FOR OUR PARENTS AND OUR SENIORS, OUR VETERANS AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, AN INTEGRAL STITCH IN THE FABRIC THAT WE CALL OUR HOME.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY LIFE AND EVERY FAMILY THAT'S IN THIS ROOM.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERS AND MOST ESPECIALLY THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO LEAD US IN THE PATH THAT IS PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.
AND SO AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, BUT NOT YOUR PRESENCE, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT US ALL SAFE TRAVELING MERCIES, THAT WE WOULD FIND OUR HOMES AS WE LEFT THEM, AND THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ORDER OUR STEPS AND OUR STOPS UNTIL WE CAN CONVENE AGAIN.
AND IT'S IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME THAT WE DO PRAY AND THE CHILDREN OF GOD SAID, AMEN.
CAN WE GIVE EACH OTHER A HAND TO PLAY? THANK YOU.
THUS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PROGRAM.
HONOREES AND FAMILIES DON'T LEAVE.
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME PICTURES AND DINNER AND WE GOT FOOD.
WE HAVE DINNER RIGHT DOWN THE HALL.