April 24, 16
Youth-Led Debate Press Release
RADICAL: Orange’s youth-led Mayoral debate is happening Monday, April 25, 16 starting at 7:00p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Orange, New Jersey. Located on 35 Cleveland St, City of Orange, NJ 07050.
RADICAL: Orange is a group of young millennials from and living in Orange who after years of seeing the youth voice marginalized decided to create an organization that would not only provide youth with the avenue to voice their opinions concerning what goes on in the city but also devoted to providing social gatherings to foster a sense of community. We are Inspired by an overall lack of engagement with youth in the community. The majority of the time this apathy went on without any problem but any time something happened like someone we knew growing up getting shot and killed you would hear many of the young people from the community complain how Orange was dangerous now, yet they’d never try to do something to combat the issues facing our community. Also, we understood that the current power structure in the city benefited from the lack of youth engagement. This allowed many to perpetuate negative stereotypes about the youth being criminals, lazy, etc. because they didn’t talk or see all the youth making positive contributions to society. In other words, we wanted to provide youth with the chance to be change agents in the community and to challenge the stereotypes that exist about the youth in Orange.
Participating in the youth-led debate are all three Orange mayoral candidates, Jane Morrell,
Kerry Coley and Dwayne Warren.
Jane Morrell has owned a home in Orange for almost forty years. Having been involved with the Orange Citizens Budget Advisory Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment both as chairpersons. The manager, director of minority affairs and a special assistant to the Dean of Rutgers Business School in both Newark and New Brunswick and senior admissions office for the Rutgers’ Graduate and Professional Admissions Office in Newark.
Kerry Coley is a US Army veteran, husband, father, grandfather, and Bethel Baptist Church Trustee in Orange NJ. He’s been living and serving the city of Orange since he was 7 years old. Councilman Coley attended Park Avenue Elementary School, then Orange Middle School (now Orange Prep) and Orange High School. Upon graduation, Kerry enlisted in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Served as Sergeant and a Paratrooper with top Secret Service Clearance. Dedicated to protecting the youth of Orange with the Orange Police Department. As well as being involved with the Orange Democratic Committee, as chairman. The Orange Housing Authority as Treasurer and the Hampton Terrace Block Association.
Mayor Dwayne Warren received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his Juris Doctor Degree from Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, NJ. He earned the Certificate in Municipal Finances-Raising and Spending Money by Municipalities from the Center for Government Services Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University (topics included: Municipal Budgets, Bonding, Property Tax Assessments, Tax Lien Enforcement and Public Contracts Law). He also completed advanced training at the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
Mayor Warren is certified by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts as a Mediator for the Superior Court of New Jersey Special Civil Part.
In efforts to improve youth civic participation, we are planning this mayoral debate focusing on issues that are particularly pressing for young people in the City. Many youths from middle school aged children to young adults in their twenties feel disillusioned by the structure in the City claiming that their voices and concerns do not matter to many officials or other older residents. We feel a mayoral debate would provide all of the candidates the opportunity to sell their platform to the youth eligible to vote and help us educate middle and high school students about the political process. As we can see with the current presidential election and with the 2008 and 2012 elections, the youth vote can drastically affect a candidate’s chances. The candidates will address topics such as education, public safety, the economy, etc.
This youth-led debate follows in other events and more that have been a part of a surge in youth leadership, ORNG ink, the Just and Safe Orange panels, and networking events like The Takeover.
First Unitarian Church’s HUUB Room is located on HUUB – 35 Cleveland Street, Orange, New Jersey 07050. HUUB is a new outreach, community service, and advocacy organization and space at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County, in Orange, NJ. The mission of HUUB is a force that brings people together so that they can use their gifts to advance peace, economic justice, respect, and educational attainment.
For more information please go to http://www.facebook.com/radicalorange , https://masconsumption.com
Written by Patricia Rogers