AC Joseph Media

    BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media  GALLOWAY -- Bert Lopez , the longtime president of the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County , said one of the most pleasing aspects of HAAC's Latino Youth Leadership Summit on March 28 was that two former participants returned as educators and mentors. HAAC welcomed more than 80 students from five South Jersey high schools to Stockton University for the day-long annual summit where the participants were asked to connect themselves and each other and then think about their futures.   Lopez and Latino leaders from around Atlantic County to provided guidance, encouragement and inspiration as mentors and instructors.  Read the full story here .

  BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media Front Runner New Jersey.com learned on Tuesday morning that Al Thomas , publisher of the South Jersey Journal and Bridgeton Journal and a longtime Black advertising executive with the Philadelphia Tribune died on Friday, March 7. Thomas was a friend of Front Runner New Jersey.com and our parent AC JosepH Media provided content for his publications for about two years. At the time of his death, Thomas was part of an organizing group of New Jersey Black news publishers. In that, he was helping gather information on New Jersey gubernatorial candidates in the 2025 race to address issues affecting the state's Black communities, among other issues. Read the full story here .

  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 .