Thank you, Darlings!
There's no progress without our women! |
2017
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Welcome Address
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman
- 2017 Eleanor Roosevelt Volunteer Service Award Recipients -
Melissa A ProvostBernardsville
Bernardsville: Melissa A Provost
By day, Melissa is a labor and employment attorney at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Florham Park. By night (and days and weekends too), Melissa is mom to three wonderful and crazy kids: Bella (10), Alex (7), and Will (3). They are the three most fun kids any mom could ask for and are the absolute joy in life. She is happily married to Ricardo Solano, whom she met in law school and who makes her laugh every single day.
Melissa is also active in her community, where she serves on the Bernardsville Library Foundation Board of Trustees and is the Vice President of Somerset Hills Little League Softball. She also serves as coach for her daughter's softball team, which is the highlight of her resume.
Melissa is passionate about Democratic (big D and little d) causes and serves as the Campaign Chair for the Bernardsville Democrats Municipal Committee. She ran for Borough Council n 2015, which, while unsuccessful, sparked her interest in getting involved and making a difference.
By day, Melissa is a labor and employment attorney at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Florham Park. By night (and days and weekends too), Melissa is mom to three wonderful and crazy kids: Bella (10), Alex (7), and Will (3). They are the three most fun kids any mom could ask for and are the absolute joy in life. She is happily married to Ricardo Solano, whom she met in law school and who makes her laugh every single day.
Melissa is also active in her community, where she serves on the Bernardsville Library Foundation Board of Trustees and is the Vice President of Somerset Hills Little League Softball. She also serves as coach for her daughter's softball team, which is the highlight of her resume.
Melissa is passionate about Democratic (big D and little d) causes and serves as the Campaign Chair for the Bernardsville Democrats Municipal Committee. She ran for Borough Council n 2015, which, while unsuccessful, sparked her interest in getting involved and making a difference.
Nicole Epps
Bound Brook |
Bound Brook: Nicole Epps
Before joining the World Childhood Foundation as Managing Director of Programs & Advocacy, Nicole has been a non-profit leader in then anti-trafficking and street affected, vulnerable youth population, both domestically and internationally. Nicole is the former Associate Director of Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Morris & Sussex Counties, where she implemented and managed community outreach and the Fostering Futures program that provided life skills, HIV and STDI screenings for teens in foster care aging out of the system. Prior to CASA, Nicole led the US office of the anti-trafficking organization Apne Aap. She was charged with expanding Apne Aap's community programs to save the lives of human trafficking minority females throughout India where she led workshops, implemented anti-trafficking trainings and forged partnerships with public and private organizations, such as UNICEF, the UN and Morgan Stanley. At Safe Horizon, the largest victim services organization in New York, Nicole created, implemented and managed Team Horizon, the first grassroots initiative of Safe Horizon. She served as the primary relationship manager for community-based target accounts and constituents, responsible for leveraging those relationships to maximize engagement through major gifts, corporate initiatives, partnerships, and community relations. Nicole is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and earned her BA in Political Science and International Relations. She received her MBA in Management and Marketing from the University of Georgia, Terry School of Business. She studied International Law, Economics and Organization at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. |
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Bridgewater: Christine Lui-Chen
In March, Christine swept all the key County Democratic committee endorsements in Somerset, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties, and earned endorsements from Philipsburg Mayor Steven Ellis and Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach. Chen is qualified for State Senate because of her track record of fiscal responsibility and creating jobs as a healthcare executive. Previously, she was the Chief Operating Officer of NJ's largest Alzheimer's and dementia residential care provider and led a team of over 500 employees across five states. She has championed expanding healthcare access and affordability as a leader at Johnson & Johnson, Independence Blue Cross, and Quintiles IMS. For example, her work with the non-profit TB Alliance and the China Ministry of Health resulted in a published road map to bring new tuberculosis treatments to emerging markets. She studied neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University, earned a Master's from Columbia, and an MBA from Wharton. She is an alumnus of the Ready to Run program and She Should Run Incubator. Chen is a first generation Asian-American, born and raised in Monmouth County. She lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Kent, two children and a pug, Mia. |
Christine Chen
Bridgewater |
"Tina" Bauknight Jalloh
Franklin Twp |
Franklin Township: Bernice Martina Bauknight Jalloh, Esq
Bernice is a Partner at Jolloh & Jalloh, LLC. She is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of NJ and received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers. She is determined to make a difference in her community by speaking to high school students regularly. Her law practice concentrates on non-profit representation, contract negotiation and review, general civil litation, and other legal matters including personal injury, immigration, landlord/tenant, municipal court, matrimonial /domestic relations/family law, adoptions, workers comp, educationa nd special education law. She works on a volunteer basis with Legal Services of NJ representing clients gratis. She has been an Admin Director of Laboratories at University of Medicine & Dentistry, University Hospital and United Hospitals Medical Center. She was also the Director of Training and Development at United Healthcare Systems and has worked with young children for the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was the assistant coach of the girls basketball team for St Joseph the Carpenter School. She is currently the president of the Somerset County Democratic Committee Black Caucus on the Board of Directors of Egenof Early Childhood Learning Center in Elizabeth, and on the Board of Director of Civic Knights. She is also a member of the association of Black Women Lawyers. She is a daughter of Bernice and Clarence Bauknight, who have resided in Linden over 60 years. She is the wife of Chernor A Jolloh and has 4 children, Mohamed Sellu Jolloh, Abubakar Jalloh, Hawa Jalloh Bonds, Hassatu Jalloh Bah, and 9 grandchildren. |
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Hillsborough: Jane Staats
Jane has lived for over 30 years in Hillsborough Township where she and her husband raised their son. She is a retired public school teacher and taught mathematics for 32 years, 18 of which were at Hillsborough High School. Although she retired in 2013, Jane continues to tutor high school students in mathematics. Jane's passion for teaching grew from her desire to constribute to society, as well as her enjoyment of mathematics and literature. She received her bachelor's degree from La Salle University and her master's degree at Rutgers University. Jane also volunteers at Mary Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough High School Theatre and Somerset Valley Players. All her professional life, Jane has fought for policies and practices that she believed were best for the students, sometimes disagreeing with administrators and her colleagues. She continues to speak out at school board and township committee meetings. |
Jane Staats
Hillsborough |
Ida Ochoteco
Hillsborough |
Hillsborough: Ida Ochoteco
Ida was born in Hamburg, Germany, and with a father in the Uruguayan diplomatic service, she grew up in many countires. Her very first school experience was in Japan where she was exposed to a culture completely different from the occidental one she was born into. During the 1970s, she lived in Meixco and then Uruguay. She studied at the French AHaute Courture Institue of Uruguay and moved dto Paraguay where she did freelance work for several boutiques. During the 80s, while Ida lived in Paraguay, the country was going through many difficult yeaers of a dictatorial government that ended during the Perestoika. these experiences made her treasure the beautify of democracy and how important it is to participate. Ida moved to the US with her husband, Al Ojeda, in 1999. The both became American citizens in 2010. Their son came to the US in 2012 after a long green card process; he will become a US citizen this year. Ida and her husband operate Al Ojeda Photography in Central Jersey. Soon after becoming citizens, Ida and Al joined the Democratic Party, first in the town they live, Hillsborough, and then on the county level. They were Co-Chairs of the Somerset County Democratic Hispanic American Caucus for 2 years. In 2012, Ida was one of the 14 NJ Electoral ollege members casting their votes for the second term of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. In 2013, Ida ran unsuccessfully for the NJ 16th Legislative District. Ida is an active Hillsborough committee-woman. She says, "A strong democracy relies on the involvement of its citizens." Heartbroken after November 2016, more than ever she believes in the words of Ted Kennedy, "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." |
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Somerville: Gina Stravic
Gina grew up in Red Bank, graduating from Red Bank Regional HS as a scholar-athlete and later from Springfield College, MA, with a degree in Recreation Admin. Gina relocated to Somerville for proximity to employment after her marriage to Dan Swass in 1983. Dan and Gina are the proud parents of Thomas, John, and James Swass who have all graduated from Somerville HS, college, and now maintain professional careers and personal passions. They are blessed with a circle of family and friends with whom they enjoy good food, holidays, and special events, including Somerset Patriots baseball, the outdoors, and New Hampshire get-aways. Gina channels her energy and competitiveness into recreational sports, playing in 4 softball leagues, winter volleyball, and a golf league. At the Y, she swims and spins! Professionally, Ginas has served 4 YMCAs in 35 years, as a community program director and manager of YMCA camping, aquatics, and childcare programs. Currently serving as Executive Director of the Raritan Valley YMCA in East Brunswick, Gina embraces the core values of the YMCA, honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility and lives the Y's credo of spirit, mind, and body. Gina served as a soccer and basketball coach for Somerville Recreation for 17 years and served on the Somerville Recreation Commission for 5 years. As a community volunteer, Gina holds lifetime membership status with the Girls Scouts of the USA as an ongoing volunteer with over 50 years in scouting, including 30 years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader in Somerville. In support of safe and quality youth camping programs, Gina previously served as a Board Member of the NJ American Camp Association and now volunteers as a visitor in the national ACA accreditation system. Gina also currently chairs the Somerville Environmental Commission of which she has been a member for over 12 years. The Commission is a local leader in addressing environmental and street tree issues in the community and obtained the state bronze level status in the Sustainable NJ program. Gina joined the Somerville Rescue Squad Auxiliary in 2000 when her husband became Chief. As an auxiliary member, Gina contributes support for fundraising, education and family events for squad members and the community. Gina is a member of American Legion Star Post 127 for over 50 years, supporting our veterans and patriotic education for youth. Gina and her family are communicants, volunteers and supporters of St Joseph's Church in Raritan. |
Gina Stravic
Somerville |
Cynthia Starke
Somerset County Awardee |
Somerset County: Cynthia Starke
Cynthia is a resident of Republican-dominated Bernardsville where there's an opportunity to advance democratic values everyday! Cynthia invited herself into the County Democratic framework during the 2016 National election season when she noticed weakness in the County's digital platform. Allowed to build the Website and Facebook interface and goad municipalities to create their own Facebook pages, Cynthia enabled the County to capture the outrage and activism that spewed forth after the November 2016 election results. Cynthia currently curates the digital platforms of Somerset County Democrats, Somerset County Federation of Democratic Women, NJ State Federation of Democratic Women, Bernardsville Democrats, and a number of municipal Facebook pages. Cynthia runs an organization called Herding Cats that helps organizations organize in the digital world. Cynthia's dream is for all progressives to relocate to Republican-dominated towns, counties, and states, and VOTE for a fairer electoral process, including the National Popular Vote. |
