Save the Date. Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council. Sponsored by Community Access Unlimited

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1 October 2014 Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council Sponsored by Community Access Unlimited Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council (UCICCC) Steering Committee Members Pastor E. Crawford, Chair Ebenezer AME Rahway Sidney Blanchard Executive Director Evangelist A. Brown Mount Teman AME Church Elizabeth Pastor D. Brown First Baptist Church, Elizabeth Pastor H. Bryant Townley Presbyterian Pastor C. Gibson Mount Teman AME Church Elizabeth Pastor C. Joseph CEA Church of God Elizabeth Rev David Mertz First United Methodist Westfield Sis. Michelle Mobley Director of Youth Service Residential Don Moore Darol Islam Mosque Elizabeth Sis. Evelyn Rolon Mount Teman AME Church UCICCC Honorary Steering Committee Members Pastor W. Ingram Shiloh Baptist Church Elizabeth Save the Date Thursday, October 23, 2014 Full UCICCC Meeting 10 am-12 noon Meets at Suburban Golf Club 1730 Morris Ave. Union, NJ Sister Mary Carrington, vice president of missions and effectiveness at Trinitas Regional Medical Center and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, speaks of the Golden Rule as part of a panel discussion that also featured (seated, left to right), Rev. L.L. DuBrevil of the Faith United Church of Christ in Union, Pastor William Ingram of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Elizabeth and Imam Ali Jaaber of Masjid Darul Islam Mosque in Elizabeth. (courtesy photo) See article on page 5. Mission Statement: Working to facilitate regular interfaith meetings in order to facilitate the building of bonds within the interfaith community. To respect the inclusion and welcoming of others regardless of faith, race or disability and to be proactive on social issues.

2 Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council Sponsored by Community Access Unlimited October 2014 The Suburban Golf Club Union NJ Agenda ~ October 23, 2014 Opening Welcome Invocation Elder Roderick Spearman Pastor E Crawford Report on Day of Prayer Rev Dr LL DuBrial Greetings/ Purpose Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director Community Access Unlimited of N.J. Resolution from Elected Officials Assembly Freeholder Program Question/Answers Announcements Closing Prayer End of Life Planning Don Moore, Lincoln Heritage James S LaCortte, Union County Surrogate Summer Youth Program, by Aleyah Lacey Update on Expungement, by John Ford Pastor Mike Howard Trinity United Methodist Church Advantages to the Interfaith Community: Develop interfaith solidarity Become active with increased publicity Build religious membership Build support to fundraising events with paid participants Create full and part time employment opportunities for congregation members Provide educational opportunities regarding entitlements, housing, and other services, to congregation members Assist individuals within the congregation to obtain services for example for people with disabilities; youth; people with physical disabilities; senior citizens.

3 Imam Ali Jaaber Masjid Darul Islam Mosque Imam Ali Jaaber of the Masjid Darul Islam Mosque in Elizabeth was born to his calling. His father, Imam Heshaam Jaaber, was the spiritual leader of the mosque and he had Ali Jaaber assisting with his duties at age 13. Ali Jaaber followed in his father's footsteps and became Imam in Yet Ali Jaaber learned much more than religious teachings from his father while growing up in Elizabeth. Heshaam Jaaber worked closely with Malcolm X, the Muslim minister and human rights activist, and was a leader in easing the racial unrest that griped Elizabeth in Ali Jaaber learned early in life about the importance of inclusion and embracing others who are different. "I didn t grow up seeing black and white," he said. "My father taught me to judge people on their character." Building character is a primary goal at the Masjid Darul Islam Mosque. "Our main focus is the youth giving them the necessary apparatus for the 21st century and restoring family," Ali Jaaber said. Commitment to the community also serves as an underpinning of Ali Jaaber's work. He works with the Union County Prosecutor's Office as an advocate of the court and in the area of refugee assistance. Now Ali Jaaber brings this commitment to inclusion, embracement and community to the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council as its newest member. "There's something basic about the Interfaith Council," he said. "We believe in God and we preach about moral propriety." Because all religions teach about caring for others, Ali Jaaber sees an opportunity for the council to let the public know how much work the religious community does for the wider community. "In all our holy books it emphasizes the care for humanity, especially our neighbors," he said. "I'm hopeful we can come together and solve our problems, getting back to borrowing a cup of sugar. It's up to the religious community to step forth to restore some solidarity in the community." Ali Jaaber believes post-9-11 feelings and current world events threaten to create an insurmountable abyss between Muslim and non-muslim Americans an abyss that when stoked by media coverage might morph into a vigilante society. "We as clergy have to link up with other religions and find common ground," he said. "Peace has to prevail or the whole thing is going to blow up. If the religious community stays together, there's a chance. If not, I fear for the future." Together with the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council, Imam Ali Jaaber hopes to shape that future for the better. Learn More About the Record Expungement Grant Program Thousands of individuals in Union County are trying to become contributing and productive citizens in the community. Their progress is impeded by minor past criminal records and outstanding fines. These individuals need financial assistance to enable them to clear up these fines and get a new start. Through the Record Expungement Grant Program, we can assist individuals negotiate the expunging of their criminal records. To refer an individual to the grant program, contact: Rod Spearman or Aleyah Lacey x324 Advertise in the UCICCC Newsletter! Got an exciting event or program happening? Reach out to members of the interfaith community in Union County by advertising in this newsletter! Please send all ready ads to Aleyah Lacey at alacey@caunj.org by the 15th of every month to save a space!

4 Meet Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director of Community Access Unlimited Sidney Blanchard is the founder and executive director of Community Access Unlimited. CAU began in 1979 from the back seat of Sid s Volkswagen beetle. Soon outgrowing the car, Sid oversaw the growth of the organization from its initial three staff and $90,000 budget to its current 1000 staff and $50 million budget. Sidney is a pioneer, leader and ardent advocate in providing community supports to people in need. In addition to founding and leading a multi-million dollar human services organization, he is a current member and active participant in many organizations including the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), NJ Chapter and Region IX, Association for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD), Families and Communities Together, Inc. (FACT), NJ Alliance of Children, Youth & Families, Inc., and the Human Service Advisory Council (HSAC). Sidney s vision and foresight led CAU to be one of the first nonprofits in the nation to pursue the federal low-income housing tax credit to acquire property. Today, he is the founder and chief executive officer of two real estate holding companies, Community Access Institute and Creative Property Management of New Jersey. In 2012, Sidney was appointed to the Union County Task Force on Homelessness by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the NJ Task Force on Homelessness by Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie. Sidney has authored numerous papers and led presentations on topics of affordable housing, at-risk youth, and individuals with disabilities. Reverend Aleyah Lacey is in her 30 th year of employed with CAU. As the Coordinator of Community Bridge Building she has organized programs such as Understand Religious Differences. Aleyah has connected CAU members to churches in their communities. Her passion for people has motivated her to serve as Information & Referral coordinator where numerous homeless, marginalized and disenfranchised, abused and neglected individuals have been successfully navigated through the systems of community supports. Rev. Lacey is an ordained Local Elder at Mt. Teman AME church in Elizabeth NJ. Meet Reverend Aleyah Lacey Meet Roderick (Rod) Spearman, Consultant As an innovative consultant, program coordinator or executive director, my goal is to promote collaborative leadership and action that address community development priorities and improves socio-economic sustainability. I m a strong communicator who is dedicated to promoting personal development and productivity in the social service arena.

5 Union County Day of Prayer draws hundreds to Westfield church Suburban News By Suburban News On September 21, 2014 at 11:19 AM, updated September 21, 2014 at 11:23AM It was a message of communication, inclusion and commitment to community for the good of the community of treating others with caring and holding those who do not accountable. The Union County Day of Prayer, held Thursday, Sept. 18, at the First United Methodist Church in Westfield, drew hundreds to hear those messages, as delivered by a slate of leaders from houses of worship from throughout Union County and the nonprofit community. The Day of Prayer, the first of a planned annual celebration, was an interfaith gathering of the faith-based, nonprofit and government communities to unite people from throughout the county regardless of race, religion or disability and to bring greater awareness of the support services available to them, according to Sid Blanchard, executive director of Community Access Unlimited (CAU). CAU provides support programs and services to people with disabilities and youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, in areas including housing, vocational and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation. The event was sponsored by the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council, an organization comprising 40 interfaith congregations and community-based nonprofits, including CAU, the driving force behind creation of the council. The council was formed to promote inclusion of all people within the community, without regard to race, religion or disability, and to create a clearing house of faith-based, nonprofit and government community services available to the public, according to Blanchard. "Being part of the community is a full-time job and the steering committee and members of the Interfaith Council are bringing important services to the community," said Blanchard, who sited information about employment opportunities, the entitlements including support for seniors, children and families with members with special needs and record expungement programs. "Our mission at Community Access is for our members to live fulfilling lives within the community," he said. "But in order for there to be a community, there needs to be a cohesive and caring community of people. We hope tonight inspires others to talk to each other and put their caring into action." The theme of the evening was "The Ethics of Reciprocity Your Faith, Your Golden Rule." Attendees heard multiple readings from the Bible and Koran and a panel discussion about what the reciprocity of faith, or Golden Rule, means within different faiths. The panel discussion featured Imam Ali Jaaber of Masjid Darul Islam Mosque in Elizabeth; Sister Mary Carrington, vice president of missions and effectiveness at Trinitas Regional Medical Center and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth; Pastor William Ingram of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Elizabeth; and Rev. L.L. DuBrevil of the Faith United Church of Christ in Union. Rev. Erica Crawford of the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Rahway served as the discussion facilitator. Imam Ali Jaaber quoted from the Koran, saying, "We have made you tribes so you may know one another." Sister Carrington said the Golden Rule "allows us to accept the process of change" for the better. Rev. Ingram said, "There is more that unites us than separates us" and quoted from Martin Luther King Jr., who said, "We will either dwell together as brothers and sisters or we will perish." Rev. DuBrevil said The Golden Rule Transcends all religions and cultures and that those who obey the rule must hold those who don't accountable for the good of the community. "As people of faith, we're the ones who have to hold their feet to the fire," using education, advocacy, activism, legislation and judicial action, as said. Community Access Unlimited, celebrating its 35th anniversary, supports people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community. For more information, contact them at , online at or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ

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8 BUILDING SUPPORTS FOR OUR KIDS 2nd Annual Union County Youth Services Networking Conference Sponsored by The Union County Youth Services Steering Committee October 21, :00 am - 4:00 pm L Affaire Fine Catering 1099 Route 22 East, Mountainside, NJ Registration opens September 8, 2014 For more info contact Tanya Johnson Community Access Unlimited (908) ext. 251 tjohnson@caunj.org

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12 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 225 Elizabeth, NJ 80 West Grand Street Elizabeth, NJ Phone: TTY/TTD: Fax: Community Access Unlimited s Mission: To provide community access through effective and comprehensive support services for people with disabilities and at-risk youth, giving them the opportunity to live independently and to lead normal and productive lives in the community. UCICCC & Steering Committee Upcoming Events October 23, 2014, Full UCICCC Meeting 10 am-12 noon Meets at Suburban Golf Club 1730 Morris Ave. Union November 20, 2014 Full UCICCC Meeting 10 am-2 noon Meets at Suburban Golf Club 1730 Morris Ave. Union Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee Council c/o Community Access Unlimited 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ Phone: (908) Fax:(908)