County of Union, New Jersey

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the launch of the new Office of LGBTQ Services. Established as part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’ 2018 Moving Union County Forward initiatives, the new LGBTQ office is the first County government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.

Operating under the new Division of Outreach and Advocacy in the Department of Human Services, Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Services will provide a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serve as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

“This Freeholder Board has a proud record of honoring Union County’s diversity,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “My commitment to the LGBTQ community, through a progressive directive working alongside my Freeholder colleagues has inspired us to establish the new Office of LGBTQ Services, charging the office with promoting equality, and advancing programs, resources and services to support LGBTQ individuals and their allies through inclusion and unity within our communities.”

The new LGBTQ office will work in collaboration with all County departments and in partnership with non-government ally and advocacy organizations to develop innovative strategies to help address the needs of the LGBTQ community on issues that include housing, education, health, public safety and community engagement.

“The Freeholder Board unwaveringly supports the rights of the LGBTQ community, and I am proud we are taking the progressive movement in leading County governments in the State of New Jersey to protect LGBTQ rights progress and resist discrimination, hate and division,” Chairman Granados added.

Through assessment, research, analysis and strategic collaboration, the Office of LGBTQ Services will work to support the LGBTQ community in Union County and beyond. The Office of LGBTQ Services will provide essential support that impacts the quality of life for LGBTQ people and allies through community building and human services.

“On the heels of historic progress for marriage equality by the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the new political reality in Washington has alarmed many,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, liaison to the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “As a Freeholder representing the interests of all Union County residents, I believe it is extremely important to lead our communities toward acceptance of all people and advocate for full equality. The new LGBTQ office will service an important role in LGBTQ civil rights awareness and advocacy.”

Several prominent New Jersey organizations that serve the LGBTQ community applaud Union County for establishing the first County government LGBTQ office in the State of New Jersey.

“Garden State Equality is proud to support the State’s first County government LGBTQ office. We commend Chairman Granados and the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders for establishing the office with a mission to advocate for and support LGBTQ and ally residents of Union County. As New Jersey’s largest LGBT organization, we feel such pride to see a growing number of establishments that share a similar mission to our own. GSE is thrilled to now have another ally in the fight for a more equal New Jersey,” said Christian Fuscarino, GSE Executive Director.

“As advocates for abused, neglected and abandoned youth removed from home and placed in foster care through no fault of their own, CASA of Union County believes that respect for the inherent dignity, worth and human rights of all individuals is fundamental. In our day-to-day work, we strive to ensure all foster youth find permanency in an environment in which they are safe, affirmed and supported — and this is especially true for those whose rights may be more easily unfulfilled or violated,” said Marla Higginbotham, CASA of Union County Executive Director.  “We applaud Chairman Granados for creating the state’s first county Office of LGTBQ Services, under the Department of Human Services’ Division of Outreach and Advocacy. LGBTQ issues are foster care issues too!”

“Hyacinth AIDS Foundation is thrilled the Freeholder Board of Union County has established an office for LGBTQ residents. Partnerships with local leaders afford us the opportunity to be a voice in the public debate surrounding HIV/AIDS and provide the services necessary to end this horrific epidemic,” said Kathy Ahearn-O’Brien, Executive Director of Hyacinth.

“LGBTQ equality saw great progress in the past decade with influence from many of New Jersey’s LGBTQ advocacy organizations, including the 2015 Supreme Court marriage equality ruling. The unfortunate reality is that 2017 saw significant reversals of LGBTQ rights. These recent developments challenge decades-long civil right protections from Washington, amplifying the urgency for local governments to provide nondiscrimination protections that are supported by the vast majority of Americans,” Freeholder Mirabella added. “The new Office of LGBTQ Services will be persistent and determined in our work to counter the atrocious actions of the current administration in Washington with programs and services that help ensure the rights and safety of LGBTQ individuals.”

Through the Union County Office of LGBTQ Services, the Freeholder Board will host community engagement events including the first Union County LGBTQ PRIDE flag raising ceremony to launch PRIDE Month and the second annual Union County Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic. The Office will also facilitate access to resources, information, and programs on LGBTQ awareness days, a resource directory of LGBTQ-friendly organizations and businesses, as well as a list of federal and state legislative decisions on LGBTQ issues, and other areas of interest to the LGBTQ community and their allies. In February, the Office of LGBTQ Services will host a roundtable for organizations that serve the LGBTQ community to discuss programs, services, issues and priorities for 2018.

For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Services, contact Danni Newbury, coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org.

CRANFORD, NJ – Do you like working with artists, teachers and students? The Union County Teen Arts Festival provides an opportunity for volunteers to get involved.

The Union County Teen Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of the arts. It is held annually at Union County College in Cranford and is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

This year’s Teen Arts Festival is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, March 15 and March 16. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County.

“Nearly 3,500 students participate in performances, critiquing seminars, master classes and workshops with a staff of 55 professional artists in every discipline – visual art, music, creative writing, theater and dance,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.

“Volunteers are needed to assist artists with workshops, manage performance sites and staff information stations,” said Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen, who serves as the Freeholder Liaison on the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “Volunteers get to experience the great creative work our kids are doing. It’s a lot of fun for everyone involved!”

If you are interested in any of these activities, contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202. Telephone: 908-558-2550; NJ Relay Users call 711. Or e-mail us at: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to welcome all residents and visitors to the 2018 Union County Black History Month Celebration event, featuring a screening of Men of Bronze, a rare 1977 documentary about the 369^th Regiment in World War I. Keynote speaker Dr. Jeffrey Sammons, Professor of History at New York University, will provide commentary on the film and present his book, Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the African American Quest for Equality, co-authored with John H. Morrow, Jr.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held on Wednesday February 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Development Building at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford. The program will last approximately two hours.

“Some of the veterans featured in this year’s Black History Month Celebration were from Union County,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “It is an honor to bring their stories home after so many years. Their experiences are a powerful reminder that the task of progress is never finished, and each new generation must renew the fight to ensure equality and dignity for all who call this great nation home.”

“At a time when our country is once again at the crossroads of freedom and oppression, it is all the more important to keep the lessons of history alive,” said Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh. “We hope that this year’s Black History Month celebration inspires all Union County residents to join together and keep working in the cause of justice and mutual respect.”

Dr. Sammons has taught at NYU since1989. A New Jersey native and a graduate of Rutgers University, he began his academic career at the University of Houston and as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Cape Town before being named, in 1987, a Henry Rutgers Research Fellow at Rutgers University – Camden where he completed his critically acclaimed book Beyond the Ring: The Role of Boxing in American Society.

Sammons has also taught at Princeton University and at Hollins University as a Jessie Ball du Pont Scholar. He is currently at work on a book about race and golf, and he is writing a dedicated treatment of regimental hero Henry Johnson, the second black recipient of the Medal of Honor from WWI.  

In 2001 Sammons was awarded a fellowship by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and History and soon after received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship in support of what became Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War.

Men of Bronze is the definitive story of the black American soldiers of the 369th combat regiment, who served with the French Army in World War I.  They called themselves the Rattlers and were known as the Harlem Hellfighters.

Although relegated to non-combat duty by the U.S. Command, the 369th was sent to France and spent more time in front-line trenches than any other American infantry unit.

Fighting alongside French, Moroccan and Senegalese soldiers at the campaigns of Champagne-Marne and Meuse-Argonne, the courageous men of the 369th distinguished themselves in some of the fiercest battles of the Great War.

Men of Bronze uses photographs, interviews with veterans, and film from the French and American National Archives to recount the sage of the Harlem Hellfighters, offering an inspiring tribute to these unsung heroes and an unforgettable look at World War I.

The 2018 Black History Month Celebration is sponsored by the Freeholder Board through the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

For more information on all Cultural and Heritage programs visit ucnj.org, email culturalinfo@ucnj.org or call 908-558-2550.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Angel G. Estrada watch Plainfield Public Library Director Mary Ellen Rogan and Janice People, Head of the Children’s Library, demonstrate a smart table that was made possible with a Library Support Grant from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The smart table provides customizable interactive learning opportunities for up to 8 children at a time. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County residents who are interested in tackling the environmental issues of today can join the Environmental Stewards program. Conveniently based in Westfield, the program is designed to help local residents design and execute environmental projects in their communities.

“The Environmental Stewards program brings the insights of scientists and researchers to Union County’s doorstep, and helps our citizens take effective action,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “If you working on environmental issues in your community, this program will help you gather the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals and make a real difference.”

Environmental Stewards is an award-winning program run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, a division of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station supported in part by the Freeholder Board.

Any Union County resident is welcome to join the program as an individual, or on behalf of their municipality, employer or group such as a non-profit organization, academic institution, civic association, religious institution, Scout troop or local environmental commission.

“Union County is fortunate to host some outstanding environmental citizens in the corporate world, so we would also like to see our business community get involved in the program,” said Granados.

Experts from Rutgers University, non-profit organizations and Union County government will guide the participants through topics including energy conservation, climate change, invasive species, open space management, soil health, water resource pollution, environmental policy, protecting pollinators, and habitat conservation.

Rutgers has previously offered the program in other counties. This is the first year it has been offered in Union County.

The Environmental Stewards program will hold classroom training sessions beginning Friday, January 26 at the Extension offices in Westfield, at the Colleen Fraser Building in the Union County complex, 300 North Avenue East.

Classes are held on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for 20 weeks. Applications are available online at envirostewards.rutgers.edu. A fee of $250.00 applies.

For more information, contact Michele Bakacs at bakacs@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-398-5274.

For information on all Extension programs offered in Union County, including 4-H, Master Gardeners and Master Tree Stewards, visit ucnj.org/rce.

Visit the Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connection for all Union County environmental programs and activities.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Retailer abruptly closes doors at numerous stores across nation, including Linden location

LINDEN, NJ—The Union County Freeholder Board through its social service and re-employment agencies is offering assistance to any Union County resident who was laid off by today’s Sam’s Club Store closings. Sam’s Club maintained a store in Linden, which abruptly closed,  laying off as many as an estimated 200 full-time and part-time employees.

“We offer our sympathies to our residents who were laid off by this abrupt and unexpected closing,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Christopher Hudak, a resident of Linden, in a joint statement. “We would like these former employees to know that the County stands prepared to immediately assist with employment services through our various agencies, and we urge all to take advantage of them.”

Freeholder Granados, a liaison to the Workforce Development Board, and Freeholder Hudak have already ensured these County offices have been notified of the closing and are available to assist (more information is available at https://ucnj.org/sams-club-closures/):

Union County Workforce Development Center

Union County One-Stop Career Centers

The American Job Center Operator manages the Union County American Job Centers, including the management and coordination of all workforce services with Union County workforce partners and the Freeholder Board, as required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  Services include career counseling, training, and career advancement for residents and employers. 

Elizabeth
921 Elizabeth Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908-558-8000

Plainfield
200 West Second Street
Plainfield, NJ 07060
908-757-9090

Weekly Updated Local Job Opportunities

Done in partnership between the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Union County College.

https://ucnj.org/wdb/job-fairs-and-opportunities/

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photography by Fred T. Rossi of Scotch Plains in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth.  A selection of his work entitled “Over There: A Photo Exhibit of Travels in Europe” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until March 31.  Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Rossi’s photographs on display,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The exhibit showcases Mr. Rossi’s skills as a fine travel photographer.”

Mr. Rossi says of his work, “I am mostly self-taught in photography, with a little help over the years from my mother and my brother-in-law.  Since I bought myself a good camera 10 years ago (and learned how to use more than just the shutter release button) I’ve been learning new techniques as I try to define my own personal style.”

He enjoys traveling, both in the U.S. and in Europe, with some of his favorites spots being the Jersey Shore, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, France and Iceland—and his hometown of Scotch Plains.  “Every time my plane heads down the runway toward take-off, I remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to travel to places I dreamt of seeing when I was younger.”

Mr. Rossi exhibited a wide array of his European photographs at the Scotch Plains Library in December 2016 and has another exhibition at the Library planned for July 2018.  His photographs of landmarks and other sites in Scotch Plains are on permanent display at the Scotch Plains Municipal Building.  While he works on building a better website for his works, Mr. Rossi’s photographs can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/jerzeyphoto/.

Union County artists (whose works can be hung on a wall) interested in exhibiting in the gallery space are welcome to apply. For more information about the Pearl Street Gallery or other programs, please contact the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl St., Elizabeth, NJ 07202. Telephone 908-558-2550. NJ Relay users can dial 711. E-mail to: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.