Councilwoman Rhonda Wardlow Hurley's 2020
Borough of Lawnside
Committee on Recreation, Youth, Super Seniors and Special Events
Councilwoman Rhonda Wardlow Hurley
Year 2020
The year in review. 2020 was a very challenging year for the residents, employees of the Borough and
Mayor and Council, but the Team pulled together and we did it. We reinvented, recreated and thought outside of the box. What was once “normal” is no more. There is a “New Normal.”
Webinars andTrainings
Racial and Economic Justice Policy: The United Black Agenda
Call to Advocacy for communities affected by Covid-19
Call to Action for Police Reform
Cities at a crossroads during the Pandemic sponsored by NCRC
South Jersey Chamber of Commerce: State of Covid-19 sponsored by Senator Nilsa Cruz Perez
Support for Parents of Minority Children during the Pandemic
2020 Census Count Webinars held during the months of April through September)
2020 Census Complete Count (June/June/August)
“Good Trouble” John Lewis Roundtable Discussion Hosted by AA Chamber of Commerce
“Police Brutality: The need for Police reform and Social Justice” hosted by Philadelphia Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Dealing with the Pandemic and Quarantine through Healthy Coping Skills and Stress Reduction sponsored by National Association of Mental Institute
Virtual Meet the Policy Makers Workshop
Conferences (Virtual)
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Counseling (Two day mini-conference) Sponsored by NCRC
New Jersey 19: (Commissioners from across the state of NJ): Rise Up Black Agenda
New Jersey Virtual State of Affairs sponsored by South Jersey Chamber of Commerce
Opportunity Zones and Gentrification sponsored by NCRC
South Jersey Chamber of Commerce: Virtual Congressional Action
“Why are communities so segregated?” sponsored by Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
“Minorities: Money, Mental Health and Wealth: Overcoming the impact of Trauma” sponsored by NCRC
“Coping with Stress during the Pandemic” sponsored by Cooper University Health System
“Back to Business Leadership Summit (2) day mini-conference sponsored by Leadership Essentials
New Jersey Economic Development Association (NJEDA) Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program
“Covid-19 and Economic Relief” sponsored by the African American Chamber of Commerce
“Helping Others during the Pandemic” sponsored by the African American Chamber of Commerce
Social Media and its impact on Society sponsored by CCDC
Malcolm Bernard HBCU College and Scholarship Virtual Tour Event
Collecting information and data during the Pandemic sponsored by Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
“Understanding the Economic Outcomes of Covid-19 and the Stimulus Package for Black America” sponsored by Congressional Black Caucus
Race, Class and Gender: Intersectionality in Social Work and a Community Conversation
Monthly Meetings
Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholder Meetings
Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity Inc.
Lawnside School Board Meetings
Haddon Heights School Board Meetings
Zoning Board Meetings
Lawnside Golden Age Club Meetings
Planning Board Meetings
Governor Phil Murphy’s Weekly Covid-19 Updates
Camden County’s Town Hall on the Covid-19 Pandemic
Committee Meetings and Trainings
Golden Age Club Meetings
(Reorganization and Activity Planning)
New Jersey Health Initiative “Intergenerational Dream Team Training (2- day Training) sponsored by Robert Wood Johnson.
Dream Team Meetings with Team Members (Planning meeting)
Super Senior Meal Distribution meetings with Camden County Senior Services (Blackwood)
Bi-weekly conference call with the representatives of Camden County Senior Services and Ms. Gloria Crews Pitchford.
Meal/Food Distribution
Weekly distribution of meals to Super Seniors. Every Wednesday from March until September.
This was a Team endeavor led by Ms. Gloria Crews-Pitchford.
Weekly delivery of meals (Breakfasts and Lunches) to several families throughout Lawnside. The food was distributed from Lawnside School. Thank you to Dr. Johnson (Superintendent) and the ladies in the Food Service Department. (May to current)
Thanksgiving Basket distribution to several families in Lawnside. Sponsored by Mr. Ian Leonard (Former Camden County Freeholder), the NJ IBEW and Camden County Sheriff Whip Wilson.
Thanksgiving basket distribution to families in Lawnside in partnership with UPS Community Outreach Committee led by Mr. Russ Denny (UPS Chairperson).
Two (2) drive-through food distribution events of were held. One in July and one in September. One (1) 30 pound box of food was distributed per vehicle. The event was sponsored by the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Touch New Jersey. The Borough sponsored the location.
Borough employees, Borough Professionals, some Super Seniors and youth volunteered their time as well. Two hundred (200) cars were served at the first event in July and one hundred and fifty (150) cars at the second event in September.
Conferences
Congressional Black Caucus: “Now is our Time” Conference
This was a four (4) day virtual event.
Workshops
Emerging Leaders Series: Corporate Responsibility in the Era of Black Lives Matter
Evolution of the Revolution: From the Black Panther Party to Black Lives Matter
Sustaining Social Justice: How Black and Latina Women have paved the way to long term change.
Epicenter of the eviction crisis: Minority women fight for Health, Housing and Education.
Economic Justice: Examining the financial Burdens of Inequality and Striving for Equitable Distribution.
Economic Justice in Minority Communities.
Systematic Separation and Mass Incarceration of African American Families
Covid-19 amid Political Turmoil
The Future of E-mobility for Black and Brown Communities
Young, Gifted and Black: the future
HBCU’s Financing and investing in the future.
The realities of Covid-19 and the state of Minority Health.
Addressing and moving beyond medical distribution during the Pandemic in Minority Communities
Hip Hop and Politics: Response, Reform and Renewal
Lights, Camera and Social Justice
2020 Equity Movement
Covid-19 and Veteran’s the New Normal
“The Kaleidscope of Ethics”
Training sponsored by the New Jersey League of Municipalities. (Virtual)
New Jersey Conference of Mayor’s Midwinter Session, held in Trenton, NJ in person pre-Pandemic
2020 New Jersey League of Municipalities 105th Annual Conference
Virtual Workshops (NJLM Conference)
Laughter& Leadership: What We Need in a Time of Crisis
Safer Communities: New Jersey’s Roadmap to Collective Justice
Planning Post Pandemic
The Future for Urban Enterprises
Elected Officials Primer: Ethics, OPMA, OPRA and Civility
2020: A New Normal for Urban New Jersey
Roles & Powers of Government Officials in Dealing with Disputes among Governing Body Members
Economic Recovery in the wake of Covid-19 (CARES Funding and Covid Response)
Shared Services Updates with the Czars
Keynote Address by Governor Phil Murphy
School and Municipal Cooperation: Responding to Covid-19
Your Reputation Proceeds You: Public Service and Personal Integrity
Annual NJLM Business Meeting
Special Events, Programs and Activities
Hiram Lodge #5 and ArborVitae OES sponsored a Black Lives Matter Prayer Vigil
Lawnside Public School Town Hall Meeting
Zallies Shoprite: “Annual Bag for Hunger Event”
Lawnside 8th Grade Drive through Graduation
Lawnside Public School Black History Program (In person pre-Pandemic)
Super Seniors and Golden Age: Christmas Holiday Parade and Gift Giveaway (Cookies, poinsettias, calendars, hand sanitizer, socks, masks and books)
Lawnside Back to School Bonanza Drive Through
Lawnside Graduating High School Seniors Parade Event (The team delivered graduation gifts to the homes of every graduating High School Senior in the Borough)
Lawnside Town Watch Black History Program (In person pre-Pandemic in February)
Hiram Lodge #5 and Borough of Lawnside Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance (March 2020/In-person pre-Pandemic)
Camden County S.U.R.E. Youth Summit Conference (Virtual)
Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Donald Norcross (Living in the midst of a Pandemic) Virtual
Annual LOVE Luncheon sponsored by Lawnside School. It was a drive through event due to the Pandemic. I delivered dinners to The Meadows for the Seniors from the Love Luncheon Committee.
Hiram Lodge #5 Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway (Assisted with the event) Lots of families in Lawnside received baskets.
Families in Lawnside received Thanksgiving baskets, poinsettias and Shoprite gift cards from United Parcel Service (UPS) Community Outreach Committee (Chairs Russ Denny-UPS / Myself on behalf of the Borough)
Second Annual “Toys for Tots” Event Chaired by Coach Norm Alston. There were three drive-through locations. The children received an array of gifts and toys.
Assisted with the 2020 Complete Count Census Events. The residents were excited, the parade brought happiness to the town in the midst of the Pandemic.
1st Christmas Drive Through Parade. It was sponsored by Borough of Lawnside. The following organizations donated and participated in the event: Mayor Wardlow, Members of Council, United Parcel Service-UPS and Mr. Russ Denny and members of his Team; Earl’s Pearls;
Worshipful Master Eric Holmes and members of Hiram Lodge #5 and members of Oriental Lodge in Camden; Dr. Ron Johnson and family; School Board Members: Alexis Wilson, Nana Carthourne, Dajasia Gibson; Ms. Gloria Crews and Mr. Bruce; Our Special Secret Santas; PTA Representative Mrs. Lavinia Taylor and family; Bridget Kittles, Sharon Joyce and many more. Thank you to Mr. Rafiq Golphin (PW Supervisor); Lawnside Fire Department and Lawnside Police Department. The parade wound through the entire town. The young people who came to when they heard the sirens and horns received a present: Masks, hand sanitizers and a Gift card to Five & Below. IT WAS A JOYOUS EVENT
I had the honor of being the Co-Chair of the Planning Committee along with Mr. Ian Mosley (Committeeman – Lindenwold). Reverend Dr. Charles McNeil (Grace Temple Baptist Church) for Senator Bob Menendez’s 9th Annual “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” Black History Program. It was held in person pre-pandemic. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) was the guest speaker. Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young was the Master of Ceremonies. The event was held at Grace Temple Baptist Church and simulcast for Seniors at the Wayne R. Bryant Senior Community Center. The Program was phenomenal. Recipients of the award were: Our Honorable Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow, New Jersey Chapters of the Links Incorporated and State Senator Troy Singleton Dinner was served immediately following the Program.
This Pandemic revealed many things in different ways to me. It made the world stop and shut down. It made us listen. It made us appreciate the little things in life that some may have taken for granted. What was once “normal” is the gone forever. There are so many individuals and organizations that I want to thank. People stepped out of their comfort zone. People stepped up in various ways. They gave, they donated and sacrificed for others in ways that we may never know. We looked out for our Super Seniors, our veterans, our shut-ins, our sick, our youth and even strangers that we may not have known. It has been a very trying, difficult year for us all. But somehow as a Community we weathered the “storm” and will come through on the other side for the better. Looking forward to better days ahead.
Please keep in your prayers all those who are sick and especially the families who have lost Loved Ones to this ugly virus in your prayers.
Respectfully Submitted
Rhonda Wardlow Hurley