Award recipients Art Taylor and Fred Profeta
The South Orange Civic Organization hosted its 42nd celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the longest running commemorations in the area. Each year, the organization presents their Beloved Community Award to community members with a track record of community service. This year the honorees were Art Taylor, former South Orange Village Trustee, and Fred Profeta, former mayor of Maplewood. Both men have been on the Coalition on Race’s Board of Trustees and have been on-going supporters of integration. Marlon Brownlee, Maplewood Township Committee member, presented Mr. Profeta with his award and noted that Fred was someone who demonstrated his commitment to integration in words and deeds. Former South Orange Village President Bill Calabrese presented Art Taylor with his award and remarked that Art’s success in getting people to work on being an inclusive community is evident in what we see in our towns today.
Art Taylor, Carol Barry-Austin, Fred Profeta, Phylis Peterman, Robert A. Marchman
Robert A. Marchman was the keynote speaker. He is the Executive Vice President at FINRA, a former recipent of the Beloved Community Award, and a founding member of the Coalition on Race. He praised the award recipients, the South Orange Civic Organization, and the Community Coalition on Race for the work they have done to make a diverse community inclusive. He reminded everyone that the work isn’t over, that we continue to face obstacles to true inclusion, and that to build on our successes and further the legacy of Dr. King we need to be intentional in our efforts.
Carol Barry Austin, Anthony Greene, Art Taylor, Nancy Gagnier, Fred Profeta, Phylis Peterman
