COUNTY — Two individuals severely burned in the 2000 Seton Hall dorm fire. A business owner who gives restored cars to disabled veterans. A group who gave voice to people of color in unmarked graves buried at the Old First Cemetery in Elizabeth. A student who embodies and encourages kindness.A local organization that provides immediate support for newlyarrived refugees to start them on the path to become valuable assets in their new communities.Acontemporary artist who created a mural honoring the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
These are only a few of the sixteen individuals and three organizations recognized by the Union County Human Relations Commission at the 21st annual Unity Achievement Award presentation held on May 13 at the Kean University STEM Center in Union Township. The award recipients were nominated and selected for fostering human rights, human relations, and human dignity among the people of Union County.
This year’s award categories include achievements by a corporate/business enterprise, community organization, nonprofit organization, faith-based organization, individuals, student, educator, veteran, public servant, and members of the clergy, media, healthcare, and law enforcement.
“The commission is proud to recognize our local role models who dedicate themselves to helping others and strengthening our communities,” Commission Co-Chair Linda Weissbrod said. “These regular people do extraordinary things to make others’ lives better, and the evening’s presentation highlights all of the good that is being accomplished in Union County.”
The mission of the Union County Human Relations Commission is to actively encourage, develop, promote, and strengthen respect for human rights and cultural diversity among the people of Union County, while working to eradicate prejudice, bias, and hate from our school, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Among the recipients of the 2024 Unity Achievement Awards are: Cranford: Joseph R. O’Neill, Jr. and Benner’s Auto Body, a pillar of the community both professionally and personally, engages in a wide variety of charity fundraising events, and has provided substantive assistance and support to those trying to better their situation and their lives, particularly disabled veterans, including providing countless individuals with newer refurbished cars of their own.
Eileen Leahey retired from PSE&G last year after a 39 year career. Her last position was as the Director of Public Affairs. She was honored for a lifetime of dedicated, empathetic, and compassionate service, in both her professional capacity and as a private citizen. Serving oftentimes as the face of PSE&G, Eileen linked the company’s departments with external businesses, agencies, and organizations to resolve service-related issues and foster a productive business environment. She played a key role in the company’s recent historic decision to allow New Jersey law enforcement agencies to place Automated License Plate Reader cameras on their network of utility poles, providing invaluable assistance to law enforcement to gather information to prevent and combat crime. She has also made significant contributions during her long-time work with other local organizations. As a long-standing board member serving Advocates for Children in New Jersey, she has worked on many issues, including getting more students enrolled in the free federal breakfast and lunch programs. Every month, she and her husband also bake and deliver meatloaves for St. Joseph Social Services in Elizabeth on behalf of their church, St. Michaels in Cranford.
The “313+ Ancestors Speak” project was initiated by Siloam Hope First Presbyterian Church pastor, Rev. Dr. Wanda Marie Lundy, when during a “Four Centuries In A Weekend” program, she learned that at least 313 enslaved and free African American ancestors were buried in the Old First Cemetery in unmarked graves. Working with many other individuals and organizations, including Nancy Jean Benz, whose six-great-grandfather, Steven Crane, who served on the First and Second Continental Congress, and other ancestors are buried there. The first goal of the project’s vision – a 21foot monument in the cemetery dedicated to these 313+ African American individuals – was dedicated during Elizabeth’s Juneteenth celebration on June 18, 2023.
Scotch Plains: Marilyn Gallman-Adams is like the Energizer Bunny – she just keeps going and going, smiling and laughing. She retired in 2005 after a thirty-year career with the Union County Department of Human Services, lastly serving as the Coordinator for Disadvantaged Youth Ages 14-21, providing them with education and job training. She then began a career with the Scotch Plains Police Department, first as a school crossing guard, but also worked as a Code Enforcement Officer. Ten years ago, she was trained as a Special Law Enforcement Class One Officer, continuing some of those duties, and also providing a police presence at special events.
Ricardo Gesualdo Roig is a talented and innovative contemporary fine artist with an international audience. He owns and operates multiple art galleries in Boston, Hoboken, and Westfield, and currently serves as Kean University’s Artist-in-Residence, helping to connect students to opportunity with art. He was honored for the full-scale mural he created for Kean University’s Human Rights Institute’s We Declare exhibit, honoring the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights. He was also honored for brightening our artistic landscape with creative, innovative, and meaningful expressions that capture our culture and lives today.
The Commission, created by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office in 1991, is comprised of diverse volunteers who represent the county community, who attend regular meetings held throughout the year, and participate in special public forums and events.
“Our 2024 honorees are as diverse as the target populations that they work with, for, and on behalf of,” said Union County First Assistant Prosecutor James Tansey, who serves as a Commissioner and advisor.
The Commission is actively seeking individuals who represent Union County’s 21 towns and our incredible diversity to serve as Commissioners. If you are interested in becoming a member, please email Karen.Positan@UCPO.org.
For more information about the Commission, past award recipients, or to submit a nomination, visit its website at www.ucnj.org/uchrc.
