Marc H. Morial, President of the National Urban League, and Robert A. Marchman, Coalition Honoree
Over 140 supporters attended the Celebrating Integration: Living Our Commitment To Diversity & Inclusion dinner to benefit the pro-integrative work of the Coalition and to honor Robert A. Marchman, a founding member and past chair of the board.
It was our great privilege to honor Robert A. Marchman for his commitment to the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race and its work toward establishing our towns as models of racial integration. After receiving his award, Mr. Marchman praised the Coalition for its 15 year commitment to integration and its success in establishing a commitment to diversity and inclusion. He noted that our country is at a critical cross-roads: we can take the path of fear or the path of hope. We travel the path of fear when we fear the ‘other’–a different race, gender, sexual preference, religion, or economic status. “We take the path of hope in South Orange and Maplewood by working together to make substantive changes. There’s a real return on investment in supporting the Coalition.” Mr. Marchman also articulated a call to action: there’s a greater good derived by all when we commit ourselves to integration and inclusion.
We were also fortunate that President & CEO of the National Urban League Mark H. Morial came to honor our pro-integrative work. His speech argued on behalf of integration efforts at the local level for the health of the nation and the importance of dedicating resources to this critical goal. “My work takes me across the nation to cities big and small. These two towns should be quite proud: there’s a welcoming atmosphere that has been developed because of the focus on inclusion and integration. I congratulate the Coalition on Race.” Mr. Morial also noted that integration “is not serendipitous. It happens through intentional effort and hard work. I want to encourage your work and encourage local leadership to support it.”
In addition to attracting Coalition supporters, this year’s benefit attracted corporate and individual sponsors who came to honor Robert and who support diversity and inclusion causes. We heartily thank them for their support:
Edward Jones: Making Sense of Investing
Edwards, Angell, Palmer, and Dodge
Fred and Susan Profeta
Investors Bank of South Orange
Herbert L. Jameson & Co., L.L.C.
Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Carmen J. Lawrence and Deryk Palmer
We would also like to thank Jina McGriff for donating her professional graphics design services; Abigail and Don Cotler, Kevin Sheridan of Rutgers Paint, Ulysses Dietz, Sue Willis, Chip Madsen, Alice Baldwin-Jones, Nancy Solomon, and Ridgewood Tire of South Orange for donations of goods and services to our live auction; Fred Profeta, Art Taylor, Chip Madsen, Anthony Greene, Mary Beth Ciccone, John Henry Dolisca, and Julie Martini of the Development Committee for organizing the event.
For more pictures of the dinner, click here.
