AC Joseph Media

  AC JosepH Media TRENTON -- Former Atlantic City attorney and local NAACP executive officer Yolanda Melville was announced Friday as New Jersey's new director of the Division of Civil Rights, state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said on Friday, March 7. With the appointment, Melville becomes the highest-ranking African American in Platkin's office and only one with status of director. Melville, who was named FRNJ's 30 Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey in 2023, will officially take over the position March 19. READ the rest of the story here .

  BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media VINELAND -- When Robin Walton's name is heard virtually anywhere in South Jersey, it is often tied to leadership, someone who is making a positive impact on the life of others and/or using her power to benefit the region. That can be no truer than her current positions as senior vice president of external affairs and chief philanthropy officer at Inspira Health Network , or more recently becoming the first Black elected as chair of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey. READ the rest of the story here .

  ATLATNIC CITY -- The Hispanic Association of Atlantic County is looking for schools and youth to participate in the 2025 Hispanic Youth Leadership Summit that will be held on Friday, March 28 at Stockton University. The annual Hispanic Youth Leadership Summit will host up to 120 Latino students and provide them opportunities to explore possible careers. Workshops will be held on a variety of topics to encourage youth to pursue higher education and become leaders in the community.  Read the rest of the story here.

  BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media  ATLANTIC CITY -- While each of our 30 Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by Franklin Bank stands out in their own way, this particular group has really distinguished themselves -- from the political field, business arena, military, education and numerous points in between.  For our fourth edition of 30 Under 40, Front Runner New Jersey did an exhaustive search where we asked no less than 100 community leaders and influencers around the state over the past year to make recommendations. We also took your nominations as well.  We will be expanding on many of their stories in 2025 and beyond. If you follow Front Runner New Jersey, who will see some familiar faces of people who have already been featured in our regular news coverage. Two of them were already highlighted in our Newsmakers of the Year recognition last month.  They have all stood out in the communities and in their fields already at this...

  EDITOR's NOTE: This is the first in a new monthly column for Front Runner New Jersey called "Pressing Forward," authored by educator and renowned cultural commentor Rann Miller. The subject discussed by Miller will be his views. BY RANN MILLER | For AC JosepH Media Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion for justice; justice for Black people, the poor, and all marginalized and oppressed people worldwide. His work centered on fighting against the power structure to bring justice to society. Therefore, the Day of Service in “honor” of this work is utter bull. King worked to eradicate injustice caused by racism, capitalism, and militarism. He didn’t die so that we could volunteer one day out of the year. He did not die so that we could feel good about a one-day “activism.” That was not his legacy.   Read the rest of the column here .

  BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media PENNSVILLE — Aurelia Rodriguez is proud to be a naturalized citizen of the United States and wanted to share her journey of how the Puerto Rican Action Committee of Southern New Jersey’s Hispanic Women’s Resource Center helped her in her quest. For PRAC’s executive director Elliot Hernandez , Rodriguez’s story is one of the examples of how they are trying to make a difference in the lives of Latinos who feel they have few other places to go in today’s climate that can make the life of immigrants in the United States difficult. Read the rest of the story here .