Democratic gubernatorial candidates headline a list of speakers for an upcoming Capital City Area Black Caucus event.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11th), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, NJEA President Sean Spiller, former N.J. Sen. Steve Sweeney, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, plan comments for a candidate forum set for March 29 at Greater Mount Zion AME Church in Trenton.
The 11 a.m. candidate forum joins a 9 a.m. -12 noon meeting hosted by John Harmon, founder, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, the Mercer County Black Business Alliance chaired by former Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, and Trenton NAACP President Austin Edwards.
A Women’s History Month ceremony will acknowledge contributions and accomplishments by:
- Honorable Tennille McCoy, NJ Assembly, LD#14,
- Honorable Nina Melker, Mercer County Commissioner,
- Honorable Patricia Hendricks Farmer, Mayor, Lawrence Township,
- Honorable Yazminelly Gonzalez, Trenton City Council President,
- Honorable Jasi Edwards, Trenton City Council Vice President,
- Honorable Olympia I’liou – Perry, Member, Lawrence Township Council,
- Honorable Cordelia Staton, Former Trenton City Council Member & Trenton City Clerk,
- Dr. Diane Campbell, Former Higher Education Administrator, MCCC & Member, Board of Trustees,Thomas Edison College,
- Dr. Pamela Pruitt, Former Higher Education Administrator, Rider College & Manager, Community Connections, Capital Health Institute For Urban Care,
- Beverly Ann Smith, Educator, Trenton Public Schools & President of the Board, Henry J. Austin Health Center,
- Joan Williams, Senior Associate, Greater Mt. Zion AME Church,
- Cheri Syphax, CEO, Phax Marketing Solutions & Business Woman – Restaurant Owner,
- LaTarsha Burke, CE0 & Executive Director, The African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County,
- Jacqueline Baptiste, Executive Advisor to Founder, President & CEO, & Brand Ambassador, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey,
- Grace Little, Nationally Recognized Recording Artist & Trenton Songstress, New Jersey Black Women’s Collective, First comprehensive advocacy organization solely dedicated to an increase in the numbers of Black Women Leaders in New Jersey.
- Attendees include Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Mercer County Commissioners Sam Frisby, Kristin McLaughlin(Chair), and Nina Melker, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, Trenton City Council President Yazminelly Gonzalez and Vice President Jasi Edwards, NJ Assembly Members McCoy, Anthony Verrelli (D-15) and Roy Freiman and Trenton Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Channing Conway.
Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM EDT
