SHE’S ALL THAT: Lauretta Freeman

This active octogenarian and mother of two grown sons has changed the face of Montclair, and continues to do so, fitting in her volunteer work and advocacy between working, dancing, and traveling the world.

IN HER WORDS. . .

MOVED TO MONTCLAIR: 1953, from the Bronx by way of South Jersey. 

KIDS: 2 grown sons, 2 grown grandchildren.  One son lives in Nevada and one in NYC.  The oldest went halfway through the high school, and then went to private school.  There was a great mix up in town in the 60s, and a lot of problems, so a private school was better for him at that time.  My second son went right through the school system.  He went to Watchung, which went up to 8^th grade back then, and then to the high school.  There were no specialized schools back then; Watchung was our neighborhood school. 

EXERCISE ROUTINE: I’m an international folk dancer.  I dance Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  

VOLUNTEER: I’m on the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, appointed by the town counsel. We meet the second Monday of the month, and work on a variety of things, like the free bus for senior citizens.  We helped to put it on a more regular schedule, helped to make sure it was equipped with a GPS, and generally improved the service.  It’s much more reliable than it used to be.  I’m also the producer of a show on Channel 34 called News and Views.  It’s by, for, and about senior citizens and it airs every morning at 9:30 and is also streaming on the web.  We were recently awarded three grants, and we just finished a series on addiction – we covered pills, alcohol, and gambling.  Being the producer of this show is the most fun thing I’ve done lately.  

I also work with Seniorama, and we plan and organize an annual one-day conference on a specific theme relating to seniors.  This year our theme is based on grandparents raising grandchildren.  There’s a country in Africa that is partnering with a sister city in the Bronx on this issue, and we’ll be celebrating that this fall in a full day event. 

And, for more than 50 years, I’ve been working with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in the Essex County Chapter.  The organization was started in 1915, and we’ve protested the Vietnam War, and now do a number of things including creating scholarship for kids in the names of women in the group who have died.  We also go and register kids to vote at the high school and we go outside the post office on tax day to educate people about where their tax monies are going – toward peace or war. We meet every Wednesday morning in the Rose Café at the library from 11-12 to discuss issues and send letters to congress people. 

THE INTEGRATION OF STEPHEN STREET: In the 1960s, the realtors tried to get us to move out.  We live adjacent to Gray Street, where the help from the Glen Ridge Country Club lived.  We moved in in the 50s, and

when they tried to get us to move out, I went up and down block with a red umbrella to tell people not to move.  Nothing bad was going to happen, there was no reason to move.  I told them that if they stayed, the housing prices would go up.  The realtors were trying to get them to move by saying the prices would drop if black families moved in, and that’s ridiculous.  Now our street pretty much mirrors the town and is very integrated, maybe 60/40.  That campaign is one of the highlights of my life. 

WORK:  I do staff development.  I have a partner, and we’re consultants and we have an agency that works with us and feeds us jobs.  We consult on education for infants and children from birth through eight years of age.  I’m on the board of the Association for the Education of Young Children, Essex/Hudson Chapter.  We go to educational meetings, have board meetings once a month, and attend public policy committee meetings and national and state meetings.  I drive everywhere for meetings and events – now that I have a GPS, I work all over the state.

MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL.  In 1963, I was one of the founders, and the first Director of the Montclair Coop.  We made an effort to admit children from families representing racial or gender-based or any type of minority.  I was there for 23 years as director and as a teacher, and as both together some years.  I taught the preschool classes.  People tried other schools, but they always said there was more love in our school.

HOW YOU KEEP IT ALL STRAIGHT: I try to keep on track by doing one thing at a time. I have a separate tote bag with a label for each thing I do.  I don’t feel overwhelmed.  I can say no to anything, but I don’t too often.   Oh, and we’re doing something else very important -- instead of ‘get out the vote,’ we’re trying to give out 2000 stickers to give out to parents and children and to get the kids to take their parents to vote.  So they go together.  I’m working on that right now, developing cards and talking to voting centers.

WHAT YOU’RE READING: I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna and also struggling through the Emotional Intelligence book.

PET PEEVE: No, I don’t think I have one.

BIGGEST HELPER: I do it all myself.  Maybe my business partner. 

BEST TRIPS: In 2001 I went on a folk dance cruise with my husband to Alaska.  I danced in the hallways, the elevators, everywhere.  While we were on that cruise, I heard about Semester at Sea – so my husband went on Semester at Sea in 2002.  I was teaching college then, so I couldn’t go.  I went alone in 2003. We saw thirteen countries in 100 days.  The highlights were probably Cuba, South Africa, and Japan.  People say that it was brave for me to go alone.  I don’t think it was brave.  The people on the ship were taking care of so many college students, and they needed a lot more care than I did!  I figured if they were taking good care of them, I’d be fine!

FAVORITE NIGHT OUT: I love to go dance. My husband is a singer. I’m the dancer.

WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT MONTCLAIR: The wonderful diversity.  It’s a little New York.  You can always find a group here.  There were battles at the high school, but what I love is that right away, the telephones started ringing, committees formed, people were active.  We have maybe 100 religions in town – and politically left to right you can always find a spot.  It’s a wonderful thing.

My son is an attorney now and he’s always comfortable with every kind of person.  He got that from growing up here.  This is also a very special block.  People do our raking, mowing, shoveling for us.  We can count on each other for everything. We have a block party every summer.  

ADVICE FOR OTHER BUSY MOMS: MY biggest philosophy is to say yes to life.  I was so scared when I left the Coop.  What was I going to do?  But everywhere you turn, there are concerts, dances, things to do. Grow your soul.  I also think it’s important to value taking care of your kids and being an advocate for your kids in school.