LGBTQ Pride Month In Essex County: 3 Local Leaders Honored
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County honored three local community leaders at its 2024 LGBTQ Pride Month celebration.“Pride of Essex County Awards” were presented to Tamara Chambers, Monica Smith and Ronald Chaluisan at a ceremony on Wednesday.Reginald Bledsoe, director of the Essex County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, said the event is a chance to “recognize our community's strength, resilience and unity.”“We are working together to create a more inclusive and diverse society, where everyone can thrive, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Bledsoe said.Here’s what to know about this year’s awardees, according to a county news release:Tamara Chambers – Tamara V. Chambers, Esq., is a dedicated Assistant Prosecutor who has spent the last two decades serving the Essex County community. She began her legal career in Essex County as a law clerk with Superior Court Judge Harold W. Fullilove, Sr. Thereafter, she joined, what would turn out to be her life’s work, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. She began her tenure as a paralegal specialist writing motions for the Adult Trial Section and later became an Assistant Prosecutor. She has been assigned to the Adult Trial Section, Gun Strategy, Essex County Narcotics/Gang Task Force, Operation Ceasefire, the Drug Court Program, Community Liaison to the Rutgers Police Institute, working group member for Beyond Diversity Resource Center (LGBTQIA+ grants), Pre-Screening Unit and the Pre-Indictment Unit. During her tenure, she has tried several cases, notably State v. Saladin Thompson, a homicide and aggravated assault that occurred in a local restaurant. She currently serves as the Director for the Pre-Indictment Unit, a role she values and uses to guide new prosecutors as they acclimate to handling cases at the pre-indictment level and embark on their journey in the legal field. Assistant Prosecutor Chambers’ guiding tenets are leadership, mentorship, efficiency, honesty, and loyalty. She demonstrates these tenets while developing her mentees, as well as within the organizations with which she is currently involved, such as the Essex County Bar Association, Black Entertainment and Sports Law Association, the National Black Prosecutor’s Association and the Girl Scouts of America which she has been involved with since the second grade. She frequently teaches Continuing Legal Education classes for community organizations. She has volunteered with the Essex County Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs Office.Monica Smith – Monica C. Smith founded Marketsmith, Inc. in 1999, and it is now one of the country’s largest LGBTQIA+ independent media and marketing agencies owned and operated by a woman. Marketsmith’s operating philosophy is grounded in the idea that technology and humanity are inextricably linked when creating successful consumer-centric marketing. As CEO, Monica has recruited a winning team of extraordinary humans, actively recruiting, hiring, and promoting staff with diverse experiences, to enrich the corporate culture and enhance MSI’s ability to provide industry-best service to business partners. Over the past 25 years, she’s also been instrumental in driving creative and go-to-market design for some of the most extensive behavioral change campaigns in New Jersey history, like New Jersey’s ranking of the 5th highest in the nation for Affordable Care Act enrollments in 2023/2024, the 988 Crisis hotline campaign, and the opioid death rate in New Jersey being down 11 percent since 2022. With a keen appreciation for the value of close collaboration and creative innovation, Smtih has consistently delivered exceptional service and added value for her business partners, whether in creating direct-to-consumer/retail go-to-market strategies or behavioral channel expertise and success. As a corporate leader, Monica understands she has the power and responsibility to help local and global communities grow stronger, healthier, more resilient, and happier through her professional skills and personal talents. A devoted philanthropist, Monica, with her wife Amy, has established charitable organizations dedicated to wiping out hunger and helping needy animals. Monica enjoys spending time at her farmstead with her wife, their five children, and the many animals fortunate to have found their way into their care.Ronald Chaluisan – Ronald Chaluisán is a visionary leader and strategic innovator renowned for driving transformative change in the education sector. He expertly blends a deep understanding of educational systems with a strong commitment to social and emotional development, consistently advocating for equity, innovation, and community engagement. As the President and Founder of Bricolage Design Works, LLC, he currently oversees the implementation of the Studio Institute’s College Arts Intern Program across four cities. His tenure as Executive Director at Newark Trust for Education from September 2016 to September 2023 was marked by notable achievements. He was part of a team that helped transform 35 Newark Public Schools, implementing safe and supportive learning environments. Furthermore, he managed the Trust-ParentChild+ program, significantly improving early learning and parenting outcomes for 185 families, and led research initiatives to assess the program’s effectiveness, showcasing his commitment to data-driven educational policies. Chaluisan’s advocacy for the arts is evident in his role at the NYC Museum School, where he championed arts-focused learning, emphasizing the importance of the arts as an integral part of education. During his tenure as Vice President at New Visions for Public Schools from January 2004 to July 2016, he not only expanded high school seats, but achieved significant increases in graduation rates. Beyond traditional educational settings, Chaluisan has offered his expertise to various boards, including the Hispanic Coalition and The LOFT: LGBT Community Services Center in White Plains. His extensive experience in board service highlights his role as a strategic thinker and a staunch advocate for transformative change, poised to continue making a profound impact on the future of education.“Every year in Essex County, we celebrate Pride Month and our LGBTQ community,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “It is our opportunity to raise awareness about issues that affect this segment of the population and recognize outstanding members of our own LGBTQ community.”“Our three honorees have done difficult work in their respective fields of providing support, protecting human rights and promoting understanding,” he added.The Essex County LGBTQ Pride Month Celebration is the part of a yearlong cultural series created by County Executive DiVincenzo to highlight Essex County’s diversity. Other cultural heritage celebrations include African American History Month, Irish Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Italian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage, Portuguese Heritage and Latino Heritage.Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.The article LGBTQ Pride Month In Essex County: 3 Local Leaders Honored appeared first on Belleville-Nutley, NJ Patch.
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