Public Advocacy

The Public Advocacy Committee (PAC) focuses on the local, state and national political areas, through voter education, registration and research. PAC also encourages general membership to become actively involved in the political process on every level.

Members attend local and national conferences such as, but not limited to, the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., National NCBW 100 Annual Legislative Days in Washington, D.C. and the New Jersey Black Issues Conference.

Activities & Accomplishments:

TRAILBLAZER'S LUNCHEON 2007

PAC took the lead in organizing the first Trailblazer's Awards Luncheon in 2005. The second Trailblazer's Awards Luncheon was held on February 25, 2007 at the Fiesta in Wood-Ridge, and seven dynamic women were honored for blazing the trails in the following areas: Angela Martin (Education), Mayra Suero-Wade, D.D.S., M.P.H. (Health), Baraka Sele (Arts & Culture), Barbara Fitzgerald (Economic Development), Angela Martin (Role Model), Althea Avery (Membership) and Pamela T. Miller, Esq. (Advocacy). The keynote speaker was NCBW Member Merlyn LaPaix, who delivered a presentation on stroke prevention. The American Heart Association sponsored this portion of the luncheon. Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League provided closing remarks.

2005 Honorees:
Dr. Meridia D.L. Warren
Adrian Bickham
Elease Evans, Freeholder Director, Passaic County
Jane Johnson
Rena Glasco

Event photos:



Read the Bergen Record's article about this event - click here.

MEDICARE PART D - 

PAC committee focused on the dire need to educate communities of color of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Law ("Medicare Part D" and/or "Medicare Modernization Act") that was instituted by the Bush Administration. Medicare Part D is a new law that added a prescription drug benefit to Medicare coverage as of January 1, 2006. Since all recipients were under stringent deadlines to register for Medicare Part D or else face a lifetime penalty, the PAC committee sought the assistance from the Department of Health and Senior Services and opened its doors to the community and to other like minded organizations and held the workshop early last year. We then hosted a workshop for the seniors at the MLK Center in Hackensack. Most, if not all seniors in attendance, had met the required deadline in order to receive benefits. 

MINORITY WOMEN AND THE LAW: VARYING PERSPECTIVES 

PAC assisted the chapter in hosting a seminar where the following attorneys gave their perspectives on the law in March of 2005 to a standing room only crowd: The Honorable Sandra Robinson, Former Attorney General Zulima Farber, Public Defender Yvonne Segars, Pamela Miller, Esq., Vivian Sanks-King, Esq. and PAC Chair, Kimberly Holmes, Esq., who served as moderator for the event.