Hispanic Heritage Month In Essex County: See 2024 Honorees

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Board of County Commissioners recently held its annual Hispanic Heritage Month event, which celebrated the achievements of local residents for 2024.

This year, the board honored several people and groups who have made “unique contributions to the Essex community and society as a whole.” They include:

• State Assemblywoman Carmen Morales (NJ-34: Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley and Orange)
• The Arts High School Latin Jazz Band and band leader Kennis Fairfax (of Newark)
• Latinos of Montclair
• Maria Andrade (of Newark), a local educator and community advocate
• Mary Ellen Clyne, president and CEO of Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville

“Our honorees exemplify and reflect the outstanding people in our Hispanic community who have done great things here in Essex,” commissioner president Carlos Pomares said.

“Because of your contributions, we are all the better as a community,” Pomares told this year’s honorees. “We thank you for all you do, and we congratulate all of you on this honor.”

“As a Hispanic American, I am proud to take part in today’s ceremony,” added another commissioner, Robert Mercado. “It is impossible to imagine where Essex County, New Jersey, and the country would be without the work and contributions of Hispanic Americans and communities – congratulations to all our honorees!”

The commissioner board provided the following background about each of its 2024 honorees:

CARMEN MORALES - The Hon. Carmen Theresa Morales, presented by Commissioner Patricia Sebold, is a dedicated education professional currently serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Essex County Schools of Technology. She has a profound commitment to student success and a deep understanding of the challenges many youths face. Previously, Carmen served as Principal of Essex County Newark Tech High School, a place she fondly calls her alma mater, Class of 1995. She is the first in her family to attend college, earning a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University, followed by a master’s in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, then an Education Specialist degree from Seton Hall University, where she is currently a Doctoral Candidate. With over 22 years of experience in education, Carmen began her career teaching preschool at the North Ward Child Development Center in Newark, then moving up to Education Coordinator. She then transitioned to Newark Public Schools as an Adult Education Teacher. Carmen is deeply committed to connecting students and parents with the school. Her personal experiences, including growing up in public housing, have instilled in her a profound appreciation for family involvement, community, and mentorship in empowering students. She served as a Board of Trustee member at Essex County College, and is an active member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, where she has held various leadership positions. Carmen is a proud single mother to her daughter, Jocelyn. She currently serves in the New Jersey General Assembly as Assemblywoman for the 34th Legislative District. She is a member of the Education Committee, Commerce, Economic Development, and Agriculture Committee, Joint Committee on the Public Schools, and Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity. She made history as the first Puerto Rican Assemblywoman in Essex County, continuing her journey of advocating for education, community advancement, and empowering women.

KENNIS FAIRFAX - Kennis Fairfax, presented by Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas and sponsored by Commissioner Vice President Tyshammie Cooper, is the band leader of the Latin Jazz Band at Newark’s Arts High School, whose esteemed graduates include musicians and singers such as Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Melba Moore, Connie Francis, Andy Bey, Tyshawn Sorey, Seymour Rosenfeld, Mort Lindey, Charlie Calello, and others. The Latin jazz band was founded approximately 18 years ago by a group of Latino students at Arts High School (AHS) who wanted to hear and play more of the music important to them and their culture. AHS visual art teacher Kennis Fairfax was asked to advise and lead the band, and the rest was history. Over the years, alumni of the Latin jazz band have gone on to perform with the likes of Marc Anthony, Tito Nieves, Tony Succar, Romeo Santos, Christian McBride and many others. This current group is comprised of mostly freshman so the band’s legacy will live on and students will continue to play the music they enjoy and that matters to them. Newark Arts High School is the nation’s first public high school for the arts, founded in 1931, and aims to provide all students with the artistic and academic knowledge, skills, and exposure necessary to develop into accomplished creative artists and performers. The Latin Jazz Band exemplifies the school’s mission and its motto, “Mind, Body, and Spirit Unite in Art, and in Life”. Current band members include Joseph Garcia, Joshua Garcia, Camila Leger, Yeshua Santana, Yaxiel Nunez, Robert Leysa, Deeani Colon, Leah Crespo, Leerael Aviles, Dante Folson, Elani Ruiz, Miguel Rodriguez, Mia Monalou, Nyla Maldonado, Adrian Barrera, Neveah Jenkins, Nathan Matos, and Tatiana Fairfax. Betsy Bermudez-Crespo is the “band mom”, and AHS principal Regina Sharpe is a great supporter and frequent guest player for the band.

LATINOS OF MONTCLAIR - Latinos of Montclair, presented by Commissioner President Pomares and Commissioner Brendan Gill, began with 6 Latinos across 3 generations living in Montclair, who became increasingly aware of the lack of visibility the Latino community had in the fabric of Montclair - from cultural understanding and celebration to local representation. In 2022, Latinos of Montclair was founded with one simple goal: to host the first Latino Heritage Celebration in Montclair. They have since convened hundreds of Latino-identifying residents across New Jersey, promoting greater visibility and inclusivity, celebrating cultural diversity and solidarity, advancing education, and encouraging civic and community engagement. The mission of Latinos of Montclair is to create a more inclusive community by uplifting the varied experiences of American Latinos, advocating for Latino rights and representation, supporting professional and educational advancement, and promoting the awareness and preservation of Latino culture and history. Through their work, they hope to encourage structural change and build solidarity among communities while celebrating American Latino culture. They invite partners and allies to engage with and support their community-wide efforts towards a more inclusive New Jersey.

MARIA ANDRADE - Maria J. Andrade, presented by Commissioner Mercado, is fervently dedicated to social equality and its far-reaching implications. She has played a pivotal role in conceiving, leading, and coordinating impactful projects across New Jersey. Maria's professional journey spans many diverse roles, from an Autism Instructor in a self-contained Special Needs Program, to teaching biology in a Juvenile Detention setting. Presently, Maria is Site Director of NJ GEAR UP/College Bound at NJIT. As a first-generation Ecuadorian immigrant, woman of color, young mother, and advocate for social justice, Maria channels her passion into issues related to Social Justice, Equality, Minority Affairs, Criminal Justice Reform, and Education. She firmly believes in the transformative power of education, viewing it as the key to overcoming environmental challenges and paving the way for a brighter future. Beyond the classroom, Maria served as the immediate past president of the Roseville Community Charter School Board of Trustees, and holds several distinguished certifications. Maria has received the Distinguished “2023 Hazel Frank Cluck Award by NEW Leadership”, the "2023 LUPE Woman of Influence Award," and has been named one of the TOP 100 Statewide Latino Leaders in NJ for four consecutive years by the Latino Spirit Digital Annual Publication. Recently she was featured in the Latin American Heritage United Kingdom Global Initiative. In addition to her local involvement, Maria holds an appointed position in the Hispanic Commission for the Office of International Relations and Diaspora Affairs in Newark. Maria continues to be a driving force for positive change, exemplifying her philosophy through the mantra, "BE #Presente," in every community she engages with.

MARY ELLEN CLYNE - Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D., presented by Commissioner Mercado, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer, she was the Medical Center’s Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Earlier in her distinguished career, Dr. Clyne served as a nurse executive at Passaic General Hospital Center, and held various nursing leadership roles at the Hospital Center at Orange and Overlook Hospital. She is the first person to earn undergraduate, graduate and terminal degrees in nursing at Seton Hall University, where she has served as a clinical and adjunct professor. Dr. Clyne has led initiatives to improve patient safety, eliminate disparities in care, and promote diversity. Her work addressing health disparities includes the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Latino Health at Clara Mass. First of its kind in the area, the Center works to remove language barriers and cultural factors that place Latinos at a disadvantage and addresses Latinos' most pressing unmet healthcare needs, including primary, emergency, and preventive care, health information, and education on the healthcare system. The Center has also established a network to coordinate direct outreach, wellness education, and health screenings through its Community Advisory Board. Dr. Clyne served and continues to serve on multiple boards and professional organizations including but not limited to: Barnabas Health Accountable Care Organization; the American College of Health Care Executives; Ambassador to the NJ Re-Entry Program; New Jersey Nurses Association; American Nurses Association; Seton Hall University College of Nursing Advisory Council; and the Jersey City University College of Nursing Advisory Board.

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