Front Runner New Jersey

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve New Jersey as its director of the Division on Civil Rights and thank Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Melville said in a statement released by the Attorney General’s office. ———————————— TRENTON — Former Atlantic City attorney and local NAACP executive officer Yolanda Melville was announced Friday as New Jersey’s new director of the Division of Civil Rights, state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Friday, March 7. With the appointment, Melville becomes the highest-ranking African American in Platkin’s office and only one with status of director. Melville, who was named FRNJ’s 30 Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey in 2023, will officially take over the position March 19. To read more visit ?? Front Runner New Jersey | ???? AC JosepH Media

WESTVILLE — In 1921, Louis Grossman, the owner of an oil and gas store in North Woodbury, initially organized the Helping Hand Fire Company. Founded in 1922, the Helping Hand Fire Company’s legacy has stood the test of time as one of the oldest African American volunteer fire companies in the state of New Jersey. The fire company was incorporated in 1924, and during that time, the core members serving were John Long (President), Loen Corsey (Chief), Harrison Tull (Treasurer), Ed Bonds (Secretary), Oscar Brown, Riley Davis, John Fletcher, George Corsey, Herb Corsey, and Dennis Huffington. For firefighter and historian Bryant Fiddler, the Helping Hand Fire Company is a generational legacy of service and sacrifice. To read more, visit ??Front Runner New Jersey ? Monique Howard | South Jersey Information Equity Project

OPINION -- As president of the Atlantic City NAACP and a lifelong advocate for human rights here in my hometown and across the country, I am appalled and unequivocally opposed to President Trump’s arbitrary, capricious, and unacceptable effort to abruptly stop Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) government funding and programs. To read further, visit ?? Front Runner New Jersey ? Kaleem Shabazz | Atlantic City NAACP President

WHITESBORO — Retired educator and author Janis Washington White keynote speech at the upcoming Cape May County NAACP Freedom Fund Gala on Saturday, March 15 at the Wildwood Convention Center will be relevant to one of the hottest topics of the day — DEI. A veteran of diversity in the education field, the West Cape May native, is an expert on diversity topics, and her recent book “Erasing Bias from the Classroom: A Guide to Fostering Self-awareness, Open Dialogue, and Advocacy,” delves into eliminating those discriminatory factors. To read the full article, visit ?? Front Runner New Jersey ? AC JosepH Media

ATLANTIC CITY — Frank Minor, mayor of Logan Township and chair of the South Jersey Black Political Caucus, and national political organizer?Stephenine Dixon?informed FRNJ of a contingent of more than 30 Democratic Party elected officials and influencers who have thrown their support for?Newark Mayor Ras Baraka?to be New Jersey’s next governor on Friday. The announcement comes ahead of important South Jersey county conventions in Atlantic and Burlington County. Dixon, who has worked on political campaigns across the country, was recently named Baraka’s South Jersey director for his gubernatorial campaign. To read further, visit ?? Front Runner New Jersey https://lnkd.in/e4WKdW9G ? Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media

Move over, March Madness! It’s time for March Mortgages! As you craft your winning basketball bracket, practice your knowledge of game-changing mortgage options to help you find your home-buying champion! To read the latest FRNJ Ask The Expert with Annemarie Shinn of 1166 Federal Credit Union, visit ?? Front Runner New Jersey. https://lnkd.in/epX-_cfp #FrontRunnerNewJersey #AtlanticCityNJ #FRNJ #SouthJersey #1166FederalCreditUnion #FRNJAskTheExpert #SwedesboroNJ

VINELAND?— When?Robin Walton’s?name is heard virtually anywhere in South Jersey, it is often tied to leadership, someone who is making a positive impact on the life of others and/or using her power to benefit the region. That can be no truer than her current positions as senior vice president of external affairs and chief philanthropy officer at?Inspira Health Network, or more recently becoming the first Black elected as chair of the executive committee of the?Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey. To read further, visit Front Runner New Jersey https://lnkd.in/eXPBiEaZ ? Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media

** Black History Month | Today, we?highlight six more Front Runner New Jersey’s 30?Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey! *** ATLANTIC CITY — While each of our 30 Under 40?Top Black Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by?Franklin Bank stands out in their own way, this?particular group has really distinguished themselves — from the political field, business arena, military,?education and numerous points in between. For our fourth edition of 30 Under 40, Front Runner?New Jersey did an exhaustive search where we asked?no less than 100 community leaders and influencers? around the state over the past year to make?recommendations. We also took your nominations as?well. We will be expanding on many of their stories in 2025?and beyond. If you follow Front Runner New Jersey,?you will see some familiar faces of people who have? already been featured in our regular news coverage.?Two of them were already highlighted in our?Newsmakers of the Year recognition last month. ???? Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media To learn more about the individual honorees, visit ???Front Runner New Jersey https://lnkd.in/dcGUfgMX #FrontRunnerNewJersey #FRNJ #BlackHistoryMonth? #ClydeHughes?#30Under40TopYoungeLeadersOfSouthJersey

** Black History Month | Today, we?highlight six more Front Runner New Jersey’s 30?Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey! *** ATLANTIC CITY — While each of our 30 Under 40?Top Black Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by?Franklin Bank stands out in their own way, this?particular group has really distinguished themselves — from the political field, business arena, military,?education and numerous points in between. For our fourth edition of 30 Under 40, Front Runner?New Jersey did an exhaustive search where we asked?no less than 100 community leaders and influencers? around the state over the past year to make?recommendations. We also took your nominations as?well. We will be expanding on many of their stories in 2025?and beyond. If you follow Front Runner New Jersey,?you will see some familiar faces of people who have? already been featured in our regular news coverage.?Two of them were already highlighted in our?Newsmakers of the Year recognition last month. ???? Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media To learn more about the individual honorees, visit ???Front Runner New Jersey https://lnkd.in/dcGUfgMX #FrontRunnerNewJersey #FRNJ #BlackHistoryMonth? #ClydeHughes?#30Under40TopYoungeLeadersOfSouthJersey

** Black History Month | Today, we?highlight six more Front Runner New Jersey’s 30?Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey! *** ATLANTIC CITY — While each of our 30 Under 40?Top Black Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by?Franklin Bank stands out in their own way, this?particular group has really distinguished themselves — from the political field, business arena, military,?education and numerous points in between. For our fourth edition of 30 Under 40, Front Runner?New Jersey did an exhaustive search where we asked?no less than 100 community leaders and influencers? around the state over the past year to make?recommendations. We also took your nominations as?well. We will be expanding on many of their stories in 2025?and beyond. If you follow Front Runner New Jersey,?you will see some familiar faces of people who have? already been featured in our regular news coverage.?Two of them were already highlighted in our?Newsmakers of the Year recognition last month. ???? Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media To learn more about the individual honorees, visit ???Front Runner New Jersey https://lnkd.in/dcGUfgMX #FrontRunnerNewJersey #FRNJ #BlackHistoryMonth? #ClydeHughes?#30Under40TopYoungeLeadersOfSouthJersey