JACKSON – The mission of the township’s Multicultural Committee is to celebrate diversity and to contribute to the production of a well informed and supportive community through hands-on involvement, and they are now well into their third year working toward that goal.
The committee was established as a condition of a religious bias lawsuit settlement between the township and Department of Justice. However, members agreed that the formation and purpose of the group shouldn’t have had to come from a legal action but simply an action to bring together the community’s diverse population which ranges from Hispanic, African-American, Orthodox Russian Christians, Lithuanians, Orthodox Jewish populations and many others.
The Jackson Times recently attended a meeting of that committee which is busy planning its presence at events like National Night Out, sponsored by the township police department in August and Jackson Day which will be held on August 23.
The Committee is also trying to reach its membership number of 34. Members have been meeting regularly to plan and host community events that connect residents from various religious, non-religious, and cultural backgrounds.
Members are also seeking to develop and implement a public education campaign to highlight the Township’s diversity and encourage cultural and religious sensitivity.
Brandon Rose serves as chairman of the citizen-based committee with Lynne Bradley as vice chair, Elizabeth Ramroop as the Board Secretary and Shaina Nemirousky as Secretary. Their meetings are a hybrid of in person at the town hall complex and virtual via Zoom.
Rose explained that regulations dictated from the settlement agreement called for “representation from each voting district in the town. There are 34 districts. We started this committee as part of the consent agreement and our first meeting was in January 2024. We have gone through some changes since then with personnel – some coming in, some leaving – but what we are trying to do is fulfill the requirements of the consent agreement and bring harmony in Jackson and enhance the sense of community.”
“We are trying to make sure that the communities within Jackson understand each other. Right now, we do not have 34 members,” Rose noted.
“We have 19 vacancies in the committee and 15 active,” Ramroop said. The resident worked for the township originally “and so I was approached to serve on the board.”
Bradley said she moved to Jackson in 1974 “and there was a short stint when I moved out and then I came back home and I wanted to get involved because when I moved here in 1974 it was a very different place. I was raised in a family that looked like the United Nations and I don’t understand why we can’t all get along. We should appreciate each other’s differences.”
“I got involved because I felt it would a worthwhile and be a benefit to the community. It has been challenging at times but it has been good and I’ve enjoyed working with all the people who are on the committee. There have been a lot of good ideas that have come up,” Rose added.
“One of the things we are working on right now that relates a lot to Jackson is the religious aspect. We are trying to develop a forum right now with different religious leaders of Orthodox Jewish, Christian, Muslim to form this forum and to talk about improving the community,” Rose said, noting that members have been part of the committee who along with representing their voting district also represent their faith.
Rose noted, “I’d like to see things implemented in Jackson that would make it better for everybody without all the animosity that people are seeing as well. We are trying to bring out the best in people and that we are all together and trying to continue to make Jackson great.”
“We’re also trying to work with other populations too to try and develop community. One thing we’re looking to do is an international food truck event just to have a good time to have people come out to and at the same time spread the message.”
Lori Iorio said “when I saw the posting for this, I didn’t realize it was a legal reason as I thought it was just a great idea. It is a little frightening to see what comes out from people.”
Nemirousky came to Jackson four years ago from New York. “I moved to the United States when I was 12 years old. I came to the United States for freedom to practice my religion and to give my children a chance to have peace. I joined this to see what was going on and to help make this a nice place to live for everyone.”
Jo Corbiscello is a 35-year resident of Jackson. “When I retired, I started volunteering. I enjoy the town and enjoy the cultural aspects and different religions and I think we are doing a lot of good for the town. Little by little, we are getting there.”
Ed Bannon lives in one of Jackson’s senior developments and he’s known for his talent as a neighborhood handyman. “I came here 28 years ago and as a handyman I got to know and get along with a lot of different kind of people. It doesn’t matter who you are; if people need something done, I try to help them but one thing I do have a problem with is the antisemitism being thrown around with everybody in town. Everything is antisemitic and I’d like to solve that because until we learn to live together the antisemitism issue isn’t going to go away.”
Those interested in joining or supporting the committee can call 732-928-1200 or email the group at officeofadministration@jacksontwpnj.net with your name, address, email, and phone number.
You can also apply on the town’s website at jacksontwpnj.net/formcenter/Commissions-and-Boards-19/Multicultural-Committee-117
