New Jersey Regional Coalition -

NJRC MEETS WITH US SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ

gracely — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:52:11 -0700

Leaders of the New Jersey Regional Coalition and Building One NJ including Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, Mayor Jerry Fried of Montclair, Council President Sal Anderton of West Orange, Councilman Victor Cirilo of West Orange, and Roselle School Board Member Archange Antoine (pictured above) met with US Senator Robert Menendez at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Orange on November 4, 2011, to present details of NJRC's federal policy priorities. (Photo by Jewel Scott Jones).

NJRC Leaders Participate in White House Forum on Older Suburbs, Inclusion, Sustainability and Economic Growth

gracely — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:22:03 -0600

A delegation of twenty five NJRC leaders participated in the historic White House Forum on First Suburbs, Inclusion, Sustainability and Economic Growth on Monday, July 18, 2011.

This was a nationwide event -- 170 local elected officials, business, labor and civic leaders from 22 metropolitan regions from across the United States crowded into the White House South Court Auditorium to discuss the strengths and assets as well as the fiscal, social and environmental issues facing America’s first suburbs.

They were joined by some of the Obama Administration’s most important and influential officials including Counselor to President Obama Pete Rouse and Secretary of US DOT Ray LaHood, some of the nation's most respected policy experts and an exceptional group of inspired local leaders who served as our panel experts. NJRC’s New Jersey delegation included: Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, Mayor David DelVecchio of Lambertville, Mayor John Bencivengo of Hamilton in Mercer County, Mayor Joseph Florio of Union Township, Mayor Paul Medany of Deptford, Mayor Gail Cook of Beverly, Mayor Victor De Luca of Maplewood, Mayor Albert Kelly of Bridgeton, Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Jennings of Willingboro, Councilwoman Diane Stinney of Pemberton, Councilwoman Lizette Parker of Teaneck, Councilman Nicholas Lewis of Montclair, Member of Board of Education Archange Antoine of Roselle, Member of Board of Education of Hamilton Township Kim Melton of Atlantic County, Former NJ Commissioner of Banking and Insurance Neil Jasey, Dr. Roland Anglin of Rutgers University, Dr. David Trout of Rutgers University, Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo, Jr. of Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth, Marty Johnson of Isles, Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong of Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, and Kiki Jamieson of the Fund for New Jersey.

You can also read a number of local stories about the event. Here is a selection:

Bridgeton: http://www.njregionalequity.org/files/Bridgeton_White_House_2011_07_18.pdf
Burlington County: http://www.njregionalequity.org/files/BurlCo_White_House_2011_07_18.pdf
Essex:
http://www.njregionalequity.org/files/Jassey_White_House_2011_07_18.pdf
Teaneck: http://www.njregionalequity.org/files/Teaneck_White_House_2011_07_18.pdf

For full details about the event, visit the Building One America website at http://buildingoneamerica.org/content/white-house-event-report

Twenty NJ leaders attend summer Building One America weeklong leadership training

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:33:42 -0600

Twenty NJRC leaders attended the Building One America (www.buildingoneamerica.org) weeklong leadership training from August 14-19, 2011 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Attendees from NJ, MD, OH, NY and PA included elected officials such as councilpersons and members of boards of education, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim clergy and lay leaders, as well as a refugee from Darfur, Sudan who was imprisoned for a year for human rights work. NJRC attendees were from Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Union Counties. For information on upcoming weeklong leadership trainings in 2012, including scholarships, please email njrc@njregionalequity.org.

NJRC Annual State Leadership Assembly

gracely — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:40:06 -0700

The NJRC Statewide Leadership Assembly took place on Sunday, January 30, from 3 to 6 p.m., hosted by Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton. More than 80 leaders from across New Jersey gathered together for 2011 planning and leadership training.

Pictures: President Buffalo (L) and Paul Scully conducting leadership training (R).

Making Lemonade from a Lemon -- New Housing Legislation Deserves Support

gracely — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:18:58 -0700

By REV. R. LENTON BUFFALO JR.

Versions of the op-ed below by Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo Jr., President of the New Jersey Regional Coalition, were published during the week of 12/27/10 as an op-ed or a letter to the editor in The Daily Record (Morris County), Trenton Times, The Burlington County Times, and Press of Atlantic City.

Making Lemonade from a Lemon -- New Housing Legislation Deserves Support

While it’s not perfect, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan and Senate President Steve Sweeney deserve compliments and gratitude for turning a near disaster for fair housing into a very positive framework for a more progressive and fair system for affordable housing in New Jersey.

NJRC Third Annual Banquet

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:34:16 -0600

New Jersey Regional Coalition celebrated a brilliant 2010 fundraising dinner on November 4th! Close to 300 guests joined to salute our outstanding 2010 awardees. Pictured in this photo (from the left): NJRC leader Marlene Lao-Collins; Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, accepting awards for Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan; NJRC leader Luis Garcia, St. Mary's Church, Elizabeth; Reverend David Confer of Bethany Lutheran Church in Palmyra; Joseph McNamara of NJ Laborers Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Mayor Michael Powers of Lawrence Township; Rev. Dr. Robert Hargrove, accepting on behalf of the NJRC Southern District Council; Dr. Roland Anglin of the Initiative for Regional and Community Transformation at Rutgers University; and NJRC leader Nicole Plett. Not pictured: Awardee Sister Grace Nolan of Catholic Charities, Camden Diocese.

Building One New Jersey!

gracely — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:10:34 -0600

Building One New Jersey: State Planning for Inclusion, Sustainability, and Economic Growth" -- a powerful, dynamic summit meeting on equity and planning brought close to 400 people together in Princeton on July 23, 2010. Panelists and attendees made up an amazing array of Federal, State, municipal, corporate, civic, and clergy leaders who joined in a powerful discussion of regional equity and a NJ state plan.

See a summary of the ONE New Jersey policy platform.

Marty Johnson's excellent summary of the event for the Trenton Times is here. The Trenton Times own coverage of the event is here. A news story from NJ Spotlight is here. See pictures here.

Visit PlanSmart NJ's website for more information about NJRC's partner in this Building One New Jersey event.

Capitol District Screening of "The New Metropolis"

gracely — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:12:41 -0600

NJRC Capitol District hosted a successful screening and panel discussion of "The New Metropolis" on May 6, 2010, with honored guest panelist Mayor Michael Powers of Lawrence Township. More than 50 people came out to view the screening, participate in discussion, and prepare turnout commitments for NJRC's statewide summit on regional equity scheduled for July 23, 2010. PANELISTS (left to right): Adam M. Gordon Esq., Fair Share Housing Center, Cherry Hill; Mayor Michael Powers, Lawrence Township; Marlene Lao-Collins, St. Joseph’s Church, Trenton; Alex J. Allen III, Managing Director, Community Outreach & Education, Isles Inc., and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton

Camden County Screening of "The New Metropolis"

gracely — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:21:31 -0600

Another successful screening of the movie, with over 50 people in attendance on May 7, 2010. Panelists for this viewing were (from the left) Pastor Robert Hargrove of the Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Winslow Township; John Kendall, Haddon Township Board of Education and President of the Camden County School Boards Association; Pastor Joe Capella, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Lindenwold; Mayor John Gentless of Stratford; and Mayor Michael Blunt of Chesilhurst. At the podium is the moderator, Pastor Reggie Johnson, Grace Temple Baptist Church, Lawnside.

NJRC Annual Leadership Assembly Jan 24, 2010

gracely — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:24:48 -0700

Over 100 New Jersey Regional Coalition leaders gathered on Sunday, January 24, for a powerful annual statewide NJRC Leadership Assembly, hosted by Rev. Darrell Armstrong, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton.

Leading the meeting were NJRC President Rev. R. Lenton Buffalo, Jr., of Union Baptist Church in Elizabeth, and NJRC Vice President Marlene Lao-Collins of St. Joseph ’s Catholic Church in Trenton.

The picture shows attendees from a Local District Council in a caucus session to plan their Power Event for the spring of 2010 and to identify leaders to participate in the March 2010 Weeklong Leadership Training. Each Local District Council held a caucus session during the meeting.