TRENTON
-- The New Jersey Commission on Civil Rights
announced today the election of new officers
for 2008 and provided its schedule of regular
public meetings for the coming year.
Elected chairperson at the Commission’s
January 8 reorganization meeting was Paramus
resident Dr. Joan Rivitz, a private-practice
educational consultant who specializes in
matters of bias and prejudice. A member
of the Commission on Civil Rights since
2003, Rivitz chairs the Advisory Board of
the New Jersey Human Relations Council and
is a staff member of the New Jersey Commission
on Holocaust Education.
”I
am honored to have the opportunity to serve
as chairperson of the New Jersey Commission
on Civil Rights and thank my fellow commissioners
for placing their trust in me,” said
Rivitz. “I look forward to working
with my fellow commissioners, Division on
Civil Rights Director Frank Vespa-Papaleo
and his staff, as well as other state commissions
on collaborations that will forge good relationships
and keep New Jersey a respected leader in
the area civil rights."
Elected
vice-chairperson of the Commission was Nita
Raval of Lodi. A member of the Commission
since 2004, Raval is an attorney in private
practice in Hoboken. She has been with the
law firm of Sarkisian, Florio, & Kenny
since 1997. Raval has litigated various
claims involving civil rights and employment
issues. She is an active member of the Gujarati
community in northern New Jersey.
“It is my great honor to serve as
vice-chairperson of the Commission on Civil
Rights. As we have done in the last year,
I look forward to continuing the good work
that we all do on this most important public
body,” said Raval.
Elected
secretary of the Commission was Vineland
resident Richard T. Smith. A member since
2004, Smith is employed by the New Jersey
Department of Corrections and works at the
Southwoods State Prison in Bridgeton. Smith
is President of the NAACP, Greater Vineland
Branch No. 2115. He has also served as member
of the Vineland Board of Education and an
elected member of the Cumberland County
Democratic Executive Committee of the City
of Vineland.
“It
is and has been an honor to serve on the
Commission. I have a passion for fighting
the good fight for civil rights and social
justice and I look forward to continuing
to work with my colleagues in our joint
efforts to stay true to our mission and
our goals,” said Smith.
In
addition to the newly-elected officers,
Commission members include former Chairman
John C. Campbell, Salena Carroll, Clara
Fernandez, and Hany Mawla.
The New Jersey Commission on Civil Rights
is an advisory body comprised of seven members
appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation,
and advises the Governor, Attorney General
and Legislature regarding the work of the
Division on Civil Rights. Commission members
meet monthly with division executive staff.
The staff liaison to the Commission is Esther
Nevarez.
The Commission on Civil Rights is scheduled
to hold its next public meeting on March
11 at 11 a.m. in Newark. The meeting will
be held in the Senator Byron Baer Conference
Room of the Division on Civil Rights offices
at 31 Clinton Street, and will include a
presentation by Weysan Dun, Special Agent
in Charge of the Newark District of the
FBI.
Other public Commission meetings are scheduled
to be held on May 13, July 8, September
9 and November 12. Each meeting will be
held at 11 a.m., and each meeting will be
held in the Senator Baer conference room
at the Division on Civil Rights offices
in Newark. For additional information about
the New Jersey Commission on Civil Rights
visit www.NJCivilrights.org/commission.
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