Honoring Northern New Jersey’s Diversity, Social Justice & Community Leaders

Sept. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- New Brunswick, NJ – The American Conference on Diversity Greater Bergen Chapter is pleased to announce the 2012 Humanitarian Awards honorees, who will be recognized at the Annual Humanitarian Awards Breakfast October 25 at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). The Humanitarian Awards Breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at FDU’s Metropolitan Campus in the Rutherford Room of the Student Union Building (860 SUB Lane, Teaneck, NJ 07666). Tickets are $60.

►Community Service Award
Nancy Boone, Founder and Market Manager, Ramsey Farmers’ Market
The market serves as a catalyst to bring diverse communities together with cultural food, music, crafts, and festivals. Boone provides market goers from Ramsey and surrounding communities with farm fresh and local produce/products from more than 35 multi-ethnic vendors. Last year, Boone launched an indoor market (December-March) at Eric Smith School. A community activist, Boone has served as president of the Ramsey Historical Association and the Old Stone House and continues to provide education about Ramsey’s history as a farming community. Boone also volunteers for Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels and Ramapo College Berrie Center.

►Diversity in Higher Education Award
Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF), Ramapo College of NJ
Lorne Weems, Director, and Deirdre Bright Foreman, Associate Director
The EOF program offers access to higher education and support for highly motivated students who exhibit the potential for success. Many of these students come from communities that are under-represented and face tremendous challenges in access to the quality education that would position them for greater academic success. The program provides these students full-time admission to the college and the support needed to maintain their continued enrollment through graduation. This support includes grants and scholarships, minimizing the financial burden of college attendance; and services designed to foster academic success and scholarship, promote social responsibility, and involve students in connecting their education to the world of work and graduate study.

►Humanitarian Award
Dr. Khyati Y. Joshi, Associate Professor of Education, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Dr. Joshi is a strong advocate and passionate leader for multicultural education and dedicates her career to making sure future leaders and educators understand the value of inclusive education. Prior to joining FDU’s faculty, Dr. Joshi was a visiting assistant professor at the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race at Columbia University. She also taught in the American Studies program at Princeton University. She is co-editor of Asian Americans Down South and Understanding Religious Oppression and Christian Privilege. She has co-authored chapters on religious oppression and immigration, racism, and globalization for the second editions of Readings for Diversity and Social Justice and Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, and contributed a chapter on second-generation Hindu Americans to Sustaining Faith Traditions. Dr. Joshi is the Religion, Schools, and Society section editor for the Encyclopedia on Diversity in Education. In New Jersey, Dr. Joshi testified before the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Immigration, was a member of the Governor’s Asian American Commission, and served on the New Jersey Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission.

►Humanitarian Award
Dr. Joan Rivitz, New Jersey Civil Rights Commissioner; Associate Director, New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education; Chairperson, New Jersey Human Relations Council Advisory Board
The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Dr. Rivitz has dedicated her life to fighting bias, prejudice, and bigotry through education. Dr. Rivitz is an educational consultant in private practice specializing in civil-rights issues, anti-bully, Internet safety, character education, and Holocaust and genocide education. She works with state agencies, the courts, law enforcement, as well as school districts, industry, and nonprofits. Sworn in as a New Jersey Commissioner of Civil Rights in June 2003, Dr. Rivitz is also chair of the Advisory Board of the New Jersey Human Relations Council and associate director of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education. Dr. Rivitz is a member of the New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention, serves on the Bergen/Passaic County Board of the American Conference on Diversity and the Board of Education of the Hovnanian School in New Milford, and is a board member of the FBI Newark Citizens Academy Alumni Association and vice president of Region II (entire Northeast) of the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association.

“The Greater Bergen Chapter Board is pleased to be honoring these recipients from vastly different backgrounds and areas of focus. From Dr. Joshi’s background in education and advocacy for religious tolerance, to Ms. Weems’ and Ms. Bright Foreman’s commitment to the students of Ramapo College’s Equal Opportunity Fund program, to Dr. Rivitz’s tireless work in the area of conflict resolution and bullying prevention, and to Ms. Boone’s promotion of respect through her work with the Ramsey Farmers Market, all of the honorees truly exemplify the mission of the organization,” says S. Craig Mourton, Chapter Chair and Assistant Provost at FDU’s Metropolitan Campus.

To attend or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call 732-745-9330 or visit http://2012greaterbergenawardsbreakfast.kintera.org.

About the American Conference on Diversity
The programs, services, and initiatives of the American Conference on Diversity are among the most important work focused on creating a more inclusive society. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse nation: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders; enhancing our workplaces; and helping to create inclusive communities. The American Conference on Diversity builds on a historic mission and creates programs and activities relevant and vital to 21st Century life.  It is a journey we can all take together. The American Conference on Diversity operates eight chapters to help us to educate and empower leaders and bring our messages of inclusion and respect to communities throughout New Jersey: Atlantic County Chapter, Bayonne Chapter, Central Jersey Chapter, Essex County Chapter, Greater Bergen Chapter, Hudson County Chapter, Jersey Shore Chapter, and Mercer County Chapter.  Visit www.AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org to learn more.

Contact
Gail Zoppo
Media Relations Consultant
109 Church Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
gail@AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org
732-745-9330