NEWARK GAY AND LESBIAN GROUP TO RAISE GAY PRIDE FLAG AT CITY HALL
NEWARK, NJ (June 7, 2010)- Newark-Essex Pride Coalition (NEPC) announced today that on Monday June 8, 2010 at 5:00p.m., it will host its annual Flag Raising Ceremony on the steps of Newark City Hall. The rainbow flag, a universal symbol of gay pride, will fly outside City Hall for the duration of the fifth annual Newark-Essex Pride Week.
The ceremony will include a short program featuring Councilman Ron Rice, James Credle Executive Director of Newark Pride Alliance, Rev. Janyce Jackson of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Sabre Burroughs student and member of Science Park High School's lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and straight student alliance.
"Raising the rainbow flag in our city is phenomenal way to empower lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender Newarkers," explained Perris Straughter, Executive Director of NEPC. "When we see that we know that our city is supporting us and working toward total equality and freedom."
"The true greatness of Newark lies in the incredible diversity, resilience and strength of its residents," said Mayor Booker in a statement. "To this rich mixture we proudly add the LGBTQ community, whose struggles for equality and acceptance mirror many of the struggles of our own city. I am proud to join them as we celebrate Pride Week in Newark."
The Flag Raising Ceremony is the beginning of a week-long celebration that includes, among other events, Tea Talk, a discussion with famed LGBT authors, The Pride Parade in downtown Newark and Pride Jam, a day-long festival in Washington Park. The week will also feature collaborations with organizations such as ACLU-NJ, RUPride and Aljira Center for Contemporary Arts.
"The week is going to be a combination of social, political and educational events all centered around one theme--Love + Freedom=Pride", explained Straughter. "From the Flag Raising to Pride Jam we hope to unite an entire community with this LGBT celebration."
Newark-Essex Pride Coalition (NEPC) is a 501c3 organization working to ensure the social and cultural needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) constituents in the City of Newark and Essex County are supported. The organization examines, exhibits and advances the socio-cultural environment of the LGBTIQ constituents in the City of Newark and surrounding metropolitan area. To learn more about NEPC visit www.newarkessexpride.org.
NEWARK SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS TO HOST SAFE SPACES IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE
NEWARK, NJ (May 28, 2009)- Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) announced today that it will collaborate with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, American Civil Liberties Union and RUPride, Rutgers-Newark�s gay & lesbian student organization, to host the second annual Creating Safe Spaces Conference held at the University's Paul Robeson Campus Center.
On June 11, 2009 local and regional educators, gay & lesbian allies, and students will join Mayor Cory Booker and keynote speakers NJ Commission on Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, Margot Saltzman and Rutgers University student Brayan Zambrano for a full day conversation aimed to empower educators to effectively handle gay/lesbian bullying in schools. Creating Safe Spaces begins at 8a.m and is a Newark-Essex Pride Week celebration signature event.
"The Creating Safe Spaces Conference is designed to be a forum for gay, lesbian and heterosexual community members to participate in the difficult conversations surrounding gay/straight alliances", explained Dean James Credle, Executive Director of NPA. "These conversations lend themselves to the creation of stronger, safer community for all of us."
Creating Safe Spaces is free and open to all, with a focus on para-professionals, social service professionals as well as school administrators working in all sectors within the Newark educational system. The conference will feature a film viewing, morning and lunch keynote, a youth panel and break-out sessions lead by academic professionals as well as gay and lesbian professionals.
"This year's theme of empowering today's educators to be tomorrow's heroes is exactly what HMI strives to do everyday", explained Thomas Krever, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. "We can't assume teachers and staff know how to defuse bullying and abusive situations among gay, lesbian and straight students. We have to teach them."
Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) is an advocacy group founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Sakia Gunn, an LGBT youth. NPA aims to make Newark, NJ a safe city for LGBT residents and visitors. In recent years, the number of LGBT youth victims of violence and murder has increased. Through Creating Safe Spaces NPA provides an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Visit NPA online for more information on our programs or to make a donation.
For more information contact: Dinean Robinson | email: nepcpress@gmail.com | Phone: 862-279-1753 or Newark Press Information Office | email: pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us | Phone: 973-733-8004.
Yolanda Hamilton, Chair, Newark Essex Pride Week Coalition, Inc | email: newarkessexpride@gmail.com
| Phone: 732-688-7953
The ceremony will include a short program featuring Councilman Ron Rice, James Credle Executive Director of Newark Pride Alliance, Rev. Janyce Jackson of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Sabre Burroughs student and member of Science Park High School's lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and straight student alliance.
"Raising the rainbow flag in our city is phenomenal way to empower lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender Newarkers," explained Perris Straughter, Executive Director of NEPC. "When we see that we know that our city is supporting us and working toward total equality and freedom."
"The true greatness of Newark lies in the incredible diversity, resilience and strength of its residents," said Mayor Booker in a statement. "To this rich mixture we proudly add the LGBTQ community, whose struggles for equality and acceptance mirror many of the struggles of our own city. I am proud to join them as we celebrate Pride Week in Newark."
The Flag Raising Ceremony is the beginning of a week-long celebration that includes, among other events, Tea Talk, a discussion with famed LGBT authors, The Pride Parade in downtown Newark and Pride Jam, a day-long festival in Washington Park. The week will also feature collaborations with organizations such as ACLU-NJ, RUPride and Aljira Center for Contemporary Arts.
"The week is going to be a combination of social, political and educational events all centered around one theme--Love + Freedom=Pride", explained Straughter. "From the Flag Raising to Pride Jam we hope to unite an entire community with this LGBT celebration."
Newark-Essex Pride Coalition (NEPC) is a 501c3 organization working to ensure the social and cultural needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) constituents in the City of Newark and Essex County are supported. The organization examines, exhibits and advances the socio-cultural environment of the LGBTIQ constituents in the City of Newark and surrounding metropolitan area. To learn more about NEPC visit www.newarkessexpride.org.
NEWARK, NJ (May 28, 2009)- Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) announced today that it will collaborate with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, American Civil Liberties Union and RUPride, Rutgers-Newark�s gay & lesbian student organization, to host the second annual Creating Safe Spaces Conference held at the University's Paul Robeson Campus Center.
On June 11, 2009 local and regional educators, gay & lesbian allies, and students will join Mayor Cory Booker and keynote speakers NJ Commission on Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, Margot Saltzman and Rutgers University student Brayan Zambrano for a full day conversation aimed to empower educators to effectively handle gay/lesbian bullying in schools. Creating Safe Spaces begins at 8a.m and is a Newark-Essex Pride Week celebration signature event.
"The Creating Safe Spaces Conference is designed to be a forum for gay, lesbian and heterosexual community members to participate in the difficult conversations surrounding gay/straight alliances", explained Dean James Credle, Executive Director of NPA. "These conversations lend themselves to the creation of stronger, safer community for all of us."
Creating Safe Spaces is free and open to all, with a focus on para-professionals, social service professionals as well as school administrators working in all sectors within the Newark educational system. The conference will feature a film viewing, morning and lunch keynote, a youth panel and break-out sessions lead by academic professionals as well as gay and lesbian professionals.
"This year's theme of empowering today's educators to be tomorrow's heroes is exactly what HMI strives to do everyday", explained Thomas Krever, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. "We can't assume teachers and staff know how to defuse bullying and abusive situations among gay, lesbian and straight students. We have to teach them."
Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) is an advocacy group founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Sakia Gunn, an LGBT youth. NPA aims to make Newark, NJ a safe city for LGBT residents and visitors. In recent years, the number of LGBT youth victims of violence and murder has increased. Through Creating Safe Spaces NPA provides an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Visit NPA online for more information on our programs or to make a donation.
For more information contact: Dinean Robinson | email: nepcpress@gmail.com | Phone: 862-279-1753 or Newark Press Information Office | email: pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us | Phone: 973-733-8004.
Yolanda Hamilton, Chair, Newark Essex Pride Week Coalition, Inc | email: newarkessexpride@gmail.com
| Phone: 732-688-7953
On June 11, 2009 local and regional educators, gay & lesbian allies, and students will join Mayor Cory Booker and keynote speakers NJ Commission on Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, Margot Saltzman and Rutgers University student Brayan Zambrano for a full day conversation aimed to empower educators to effectively handle gay/lesbian bullying in schools. Creating Safe Spaces begins at 8a.m and is a Newark-Essex Pride Week celebration signature event.
"The Creating Safe Spaces Conference is designed to be a forum for gay, lesbian and heterosexual community members to participate in the difficult conversations surrounding gay/straight alliances", explained Dean James Credle, Executive Director of NPA. "These conversations lend themselves to the creation of stronger, safer community for all of us."
Creating Safe Spaces is free and open to all, with a focus on para-professionals, social service professionals as well as school administrators working in all sectors within the Newark educational system. The conference will feature a film viewing, morning and lunch keynote, a youth panel and break-out sessions lead by academic professionals as well as gay and lesbian professionals.
"This year's theme of empowering today's educators to be tomorrow's heroes is exactly what HMI strives to do everyday", explained Thomas Krever, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. "We can't assume teachers and staff know how to defuse bullying and abusive situations among gay, lesbian and straight students. We have to teach them."
Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) is an advocacy group founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Sakia Gunn, an LGBT youth. NPA aims to make Newark, NJ a safe city for LGBT residents and visitors. In recent years, the number of LGBT youth victims of violence and murder has increased. Through Creating Safe Spaces NPA provides an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Visit NPA online for more information on our programs or to make a donation.
For more information contact: Dinean Robinson | email: nepcpress@gmail.com | Phone: 862-279-1753 or Newark Press Information Office | email: pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us | Phone: 973-733-8004.
Yolanda Hamilton, Chair, Newark Essex Pride Week Coalition, Inc | email: newarkessexpride@gmail.com
| Phone: 732-688-7953