East Orange Community Members Earn Awards: Muslim Heritage Month 2025

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Two community members from East Orange recently earned an award as part of the Essex County Board of County Commissioners’ second annual Muslim Heritage Month celebration.

The event celebrates the accomplishments of Muslim men and women of Essex County for their “unique contributions to the Essex community and society as a whole.”

For 2025, the board recognized:

• Debra Jean Chandler of East Orange
• Cynthia Brown, city clerk of East Orange
• Saba Laeeq of Livingston

“Our Muslim friends and neighbors are an essential part of the Essex County community and have made incredible cultural, social, and economic contributions,” commissioner president Carlos Pomares said.

“They are also often on the frontlines for fostering prosperity, kindness, and a mutual understanding between religious groups and within our community,” Pomares added. “Thank you to our honorees for all you do, and congratulations.”

The commissioner board provided the following background about each honoree:

Debra Jean Chandler, presented by Commissioner A’Dorian Murry-Thomas, was raised in Newark’s Central Ward and is a graduate of Central High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University’s Douglass College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Atlanta University Graduate School of Business Administration (now Clark Atlanta University). Her professional career began in the corporate sector where she worked with JCPenny as an Assistant Buyer, the Xerox Corporation in Sales, and New Jersey Transit as Special Assistant for Planning Communications, before embarking on a rewarding career in public service with the City of East Orange. Debra retired from the City of East Orange in 2023, where during her 33-year tenure she served as a member of former Mayor Cardell Cooper’s Public Information Team, Special Assistant to the City Clerk and Senior Management Assistant to the East Orange Fire Chief. She is also a New Jersey State-licensed Registered Municipal Clerk. Debra has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for 50 years and has served as the Corresponding Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, Chair of the Social Action and International Awareness Committees of the Sorority’s North Jersey Alumnae Chapter. She is a Life Member of the NAACP’s Newark Branch, serving as the Vice Chair of the Civic Engagement Committee. She is also a member of the Freedom Fund Gala Committee and previously served as the Branch Secretary.

Saba Laeeq, presented by Commissioner Patricia Sebold, is a distinguished interfaith leader, community builder, and successful real estate entrepreneur who has dedicated more than a decade to fostering understanding, inclusion, and harmony among diverse communities. Her interfaith journey began in Scottsdale, AZ, where she served as President of the American Muslim Women's Association (AMWA), a grassroots organization empowering women from all racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds. For the past nine years, Saba has been a cornerstone of the Livingston Muslim Community, spearheading initiatives that bridge divides, promote unity, and cultivate mutual respect. She is an active member of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, the Livingston Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Livingston Interfaith Clergy. Currently, Saba leads the Interfaith Committee at the Islamic Community Cultural Center in Parsippany, NJ, where her visionary leadership inspires meaningful dialogue and collaboration among faith groups. In 2024, she spearheaded efforts to establish Muslim Heritage Month through a proclamation by the Livingston Town Council and organized the first-ever Crescent Moon lighting ceremony to celebrate Ramadan. Saba's unwavering commitment to interfaith work, coupled with her passion for building strong, inclusive communities, exemplifies her vision of a world enriched by diversity and shared understanding. Her exceptional leadership and tireless dedication make her a beacon of hope and an inspiring role model for people of all backgrounds.

Cynthia S. Brown, presented by Commissioner Vice President Tyshammie L, Cooper, was appointed City Clerk by the East Orange City Council in 1998 after a long and distinguished career in municipal government. Cynthia was born in Newark and educated in the Newark Public School System. She is a graduate of Weequahic High School. After graduation, she attended The Berkeley Secretarial School in East Orange and completed the Professional Secretarial Program. She also received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University. Cynthia joined the East Orange City Government in 1974 as a Clerk Stenographer in the City’s Department of Neighborhood Facilities. She rose steadily through the ranks, earning certification as a Principal Clerk Stenographer and an Administrative Clerk. Former Mayor John C. Hatcher Jr. appointed her Rent Leveling Administrator. She was then appointed by the East Orange City Council as the Director of the Administrative Office. Later, she became an Administrative Clerk for the City Clerk. Former Mayor Cardell Cooper appointed her Deputy City Clerk and she was re-appointed by former Mayor Robert L. Bowser. She earned certification as a Registered Municipal Clerk in New Jersey in 1997, and she became a Certified Municipal Clerk with the International Municipal Clerks’ Association in 2000. In 1998, she was appointed East Orange City Clerk. She has held various positions on the Executive Board of the Essex County Municipal Clerks Association and in 2004, served as the President. She is a Member of the NJ State Municipal Clerks’ Association and served on various committees and as Scholarship Chair. Cynthia Brown is the first Muslim appointed as a Municipal Clerk in the State of New Jersey. She is one of the founding members and past President of the Coalition of Muslims in Government. She is currently an Executive Board Member of The Council on American-Islamic Relations-NJ (CAIR). She is active in the Muslim Community in Essex County and at Masjid As’Haabul Yameen in East Orange. She is a past honoree of the League of Muslim Voters in Essex County, a recipient of Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver’s 2015 Shirley Chisholm Award, an Unsung Hero at the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner of the NAACP of the Oranges & Maplewood, and many others. Cynthia is the proud mother of daughter Najah H. Akbar and grandmother to Na’ilah and Halim.

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