Amboy Guardian 4_6_22

08.04.2022 Views
10. The Amboy Guardian *April 6, 2022One Day to be Inspired: Woman's Day Panel, Perth Amboy Free Public Library 3/26/22By: Katherine MassopustPERTH AMBOY – The PerthAmboy Free Public LibraryBoard of Trustees held a Woman’sHistory Month Panel at thelibrary. Featured on the panelwere six successful women,each with their own story whoshared their experiences withthe community.Board of Trustees SecretaryBrenda Delgadillo introducedeach panel member.Municipal Judge Michelle Roman:I used to come home fromschool and watch “The People’sCourt,” and “LA Law,” whenI was 8 years old. I grew up ina single parent household inpublic housing – The StocktonBuilding and Delaney Homes.I wanted to be an attorney andI realized in order to do so, youhad to have an education. I graduated9 th in my class in 1991. Iwas the first person in my familyto go to college. I attendedDouglas College and was in thePhi Beta Kappa Honor Society.I went to Rutgers Law School inNewark and graduated in 1998.I loved being an attorney. I dofamily law and divorces. I hadthe honor of being appointed aMunicipal Court Judge in 2017.I was the City Public Defenderfor 14 years. I volunteer for theCharter School. I knew I wantedto become an attorney since8 th Grade. I worked for CentralJersey Internal Services in NewBrunswick. I learned familylaw. I helped people who do nothave any resources. It gives youa sense of purpose. As a MunicipalCourt Judge, I feel that youmust judge a person with fairnessand justice. I love being aMunicipal Court Judge. The diversityin the Judiciary Professionis important. In 1998 I wasthe only Latina Attorney. Often,I was confused as an interpreter.Your job is to advocate for yourclient as a woman and an attorney.Things are changing slowly.Perth Amboy has so much togive to the community.Sgt. Jessica DeJesus PAPD: Iam Dominican American. Myparents came in 1972 from theDominican Republic. I wasborn in 1982. In 1985 my parentsbought there first home onState Street where they raisedme, my brother, and sister there.Our basis, our foundation wasthere. I went to Ukrainian AssumptionCatholic School andthen went to Perth Amboy HighSchool. I went to Rutgers tostudy the criminal justice systemand sociology with hopesto be a Federal Agent. I took acourse with my sister, Wandaand it was amazing. I prefer myboots on the ground. In 2004 Itook the Civil Test and in 2005joined the Perth Amboy PoliceDepartment. This is the bestcareer. I wouldn't change it forthe world. In 2009 I left thePAPD for a while and went toMiami for 6-7 months. It wasawesome. I came back to thePAPD. I did 2 years on patrol,but most of the time I spent inthe Detective Bureau. Duringlast year, I was promoted to Sergeant.Initially I was asked whatI really want to do. Years later,everyone is proud I became aPerth Amboy Police Officer.It is a male dominated field. In2007 I rode in the Police UnityTour (A bicycle tour from NewYork to Washington D.C.). OneLieutenant bet a case of beer Iwould not make it. He had toThe Panel Members were given citations from the City of PerthAmboy *Photos by Katherine Massopusteat that beer. One time on a jobmyself and another female officerhad issues when a male officerwouldn’t deal with me. Weare all very important. We cando the job just the same. I have2 children. One officer said,“She’s not the same after havingchildren.” That is not true.Always maintain that positivity.Always make sure we leave alittle piece of yourself along theway.Firefighter Ariele BonillaPAFD: I was born and raisedin Perth Amboy. After highschool, I decided I was not acollege person, so I focused onthe military. At age 18 I divedin headfirst. My parents werenot too happy. My grandfatherwas in the Vietnam War, theonly person in my family thatwas ever in the military. I realizedI was a shy person. I madeit there from 2011-2015. In themilitary, you eat or get eaten. Iwas promoted to 3 rd Class PettyOfficer in charge of people atage 19. The military helped mecome out of my shell. I did threedeployments overseas. I spentmore time on sea than on land.It is a male dominated field andI was one of two females on thejob. I had to learn to be as goodas the guys. In the military, youhave to reapply for an appointment.You have 8 times to getreappointed to the same position.I reapplied 4 times and wasrejected. My rank was maxedout – so you would have to goback to school and go where theNavy puts you. So, I came backhome and took the civil servicetest to be a firefighter in thePerth Amboy Fire Department.I left taking the test thinking Ididn’t do well when my brothercalled and told me I had gottenthe #1 spot. I was in shock. Iwould go through the process ofgetting into another male dominatedjob. Another obstacle andnerve racking. My parents areproud of me. I just took the captain’stest.Councilwoman Milady Tejeda:This reminds me of SaturdayMorning Classes. I reallymiss that time. A lot of peoplesaid,"You were a mother and fatherfor those kids." Neither onecan do the job of the other one.You can do part of it, but thosekids need that parental fatherfigure in their life like they needthe mother figure. I know wehave it hard. We have to workharder. What in the world in1962 made my parents feel theyneeded to migrate to the UnitedStates? In 1962 they picked upand left the Dominican Republiclooking for the United Statefor a better life. The boys stayedwith the paternal grandparentsand the girls stayed with thematernal grandparents. At thattime, it was something that theyhad to deal with. My grandparentssent the oldest girl andthe oldest boy to the universitybecause that is what they couldafford. You sit as a child wondering.Now, as an adult youcan’t judge them, but you haveto be in that same situation tounderstand. My parents camehere, and I stayed behind. At 15years old, I came to the UnitedStates with a desire that I onlywould stay for 2 years – andthat was it. I came to Perth AmboyHigh School. Most studentsthere were mainly Puerto Rican.I was a Junior at that time notknowing the language. You goto high school and get used toit. I was a Straight A Student.I felt lost. I have to appreciateeveryone that was around me.Obi Gonzalez was my GuidanceCounselor. She said I needto go to college. My dream wasto become a pediatrician. I sawthe reality - how will my parentspay for medical school?So I went for something in thatdirection. I went for MedicalLab Technician. I did an internshipat Rahway Hospital. Ialready made my fusion of theDominican Republic and theUnited States – no more thinkingand looking back. I got tolove this country and love myDominican Heritage. By thattime, I am very settled. I finishedMiddlesex County College,I changed the way I wasthinking. I got a job at RahwayHospital, and from there I paidfor my education at Kean University.I got married, had twokids, then unfortunately I gotdivorced. My kids did not haveto struggle like I did. They supportthemselves and they havejobs. During the time they werein school, there were fights goingon in the schools. A groupof parents got together - over400 people in my church. I wasthere for my kids. No one wantedto go up and speak so guesswho they threw me under thebus – they forced me to go upand speak. I did not know howmuch an impact that I had. I wasappointed to the Board of Educationwhen Mr. Gumbs retiredfrom the Board. I became so involvedwith the Board of Education.A lot needed to be done.We had a united Board. We hadobstacles – we hired the wrongperson. We dealt with that theway that we could. From thenon, we found another personand worked with the community– the place I will never leave.Later on, I was asked to run forCity Council, and I won. To me,it's the experience of alwaysworking for the community.Special Education TeacherLoris Welch: I teach Englishat Perth Amboy High School.The Library Board of Trustees along with the Panel MembersAs a teacher, I feel as I am thatpart of my lesson, my studentsask me where do I start? I saystart anywhere. I came from Jamaicain 1982 straight to PerthAmboy. I had a friend from highschool who lived in Perth Amboywho was a social worker. Icame one summer, and I didn’twant to come back to Jamaica.I worked to get my citizenship,which I ultimately did 7 yearsafter I came My first job waswith the Board of Education. Igot a job as a secretary. I had noidea I wanted to have a career inteaching, but it is the most fulfillingexperience I ever had. Igot an apartment with no furniturefor more than a year. Someonegave me a bed, but I neverused it. My kids went to ShullSchool. My house was packedwith kids every day. When mykids got to the high school,They played sports includingfootball. My neighbor gave mea Chevy Malibu Classic, thishuge car so I would take all thekids home. Things continued tobe tight so I moved to DelaneyHomes for 17 years. I was atmy job at the Board of Educationwhen Gloria Harzold, theHead of Curriculum said youneed to be a teacher. I said Idon’t have a high school diploma.She kept saying, you needto go to school to be a teacher.One day, she walked me over tothe adult school and said I needto take the GED exam. I didn’twant to take the GED because Iwas afraid of failure. Gloria wasthere and pushed me to go, so Iwent. I took off two days fromwork. All the kids that were takingthe test left. I was close to 40years old. I passed the GED andimmediately applied and wasaccepted to Kean University. Ittook me 8 years to get my bachelors.I wanted to be a specialeducation teacher. I wanted toteach the hardest, most difficultkids to teach at the high school.They offered me a job in LindenHigh School, but I wanted a jobin my hometown, son I cameback to my secretary job in theBoard of Education in May aftergraduation. A special educationteacher either retired or resigned.I applied and got the job– my dream job. I at no pointfelt that this job was not for meto this day. I wanted to give alittle bit more to the community.The motivation is to give backare where you got your lessonsfrom. I went to teach at the adultschool, and I started to teachhigh school to kids that didn’thave their diplomas. I love tohear their stories. I had the distincthonor to channel people todo what they want. This is Amboy.This is your town. I wantedto get kids to feel like they arepart of the community. I founda community outreach programto give community awareness.I feel complete without an urgeto go back to Jamaica. Wen Igot my citizenship, the judgethanked us for being so brave.Don’t forget where you camefrom. I really don’t miss Jamaica.We all do the same things inall countries. Your job is everywhereyou do everything. Mydream is to see more involvement- more community spirit.It matter - a little like the librariesin the parks. We are all oneand have the same dream – thesame inspiration.Woman’s Club Art & HistoryDirector and Art TeacherMarcella Massopust: I am alifelong resident of Perth Amboy.I graduated from NewYork University and ParsonsSchool of Design. I taught artfor 44 years in the Perth AmboySchool System. My journeybegan with my grandmothersitting at the kitchen table. Sheasked me to read a letter to her.I was 7 years old. “Baba, whydid you ask me to read this?”I asked her. She answered, “Ican’t read.” I was shocked.“There was no school in my villagein Ukraine,” she stated, “Ican write my name.” She wasproud of that. I learned howimportant it is to learn to read.Once I wrote to my uncle inFrance where he was stationedduring WWII. It was Christmasand I was excited by all theChristmas presents I received.He wrote back, “The childrenof France have nothing.Everything is destroyed. Youshouldn't just think of yourself.”You learn from your family. Mygrandparents were immigrants.My grandmother wanted to becomea citizen. Her two sonsserved in WWII and third sonserved in Germany post war, sothe judge let her become a citizen.I started in No. 5 School,then Shull School, and then Iwent on to Perth Amboy HighSchool where I was a good studentand became a member ofthe National Honor Society. Iwas a member of 3 clubs: theArt Club, President of the JuniorRed Cross, and the JuniorHospital Guild where I did volunteerwork for the Hospital."What you are to be, you arenow becoming," said my guidancecounselor. I advised theChurch Sodality in UkrainianAssumption Church where Iam a member. I wanted eitheran art career or to be a teacher.I worked in New York for apublishing company and I decidedI wanted to leave, so Icould become a teacher. I metmy husband, Tony (I knew himfrom high school) on my way*Continued on Page 11

April 6, 2022 * The Amboy Guardian .11Irish Flag Raising, City Hall Circle and the Hibernians, Perth Amboy 3/17/22*Photos by Paul W. Wang & R.J. KawkaPERTH AMBOY – The wreath is dedicated to all the men and womenwho belonged to the Organization for the past 137+ years, especiallythe four they lost recently: Michael Seman, Robert Goodwin PAFD,Charlie (Mav) Logan (RJ’s uncle) and oldest Ladies Auxiliary MaryLogan (RJ's grandma). Always be remembered, thank you to the bagpipersfirst time in a long time. An Irish Prayer: May the roads rise tomeet you. May the winds be always at your back. May the sunshinewarm upon your face the rains fall soft upon your fields until we meetagain. May God hold you in the hollow all of his hand.Slovakian Flag Raising, City Hall Circle s, Perth Amboy 4/2/22*Photos by Paul W. WangOne Day to be Inspired: Woman's Day Panel,Perth Amboy Free Public Library 3/26/22*Continued from Page 10to class. I was waiting in frontof the hospital for a bus to goto New Brunswick to go toRutgers for education courseswhere he was also going. Hegave me a ride and we startedto go out. I started teaching inShull School, then (after havingtwo children) I went to teach inthe high school. I loved it fromthe beginning. My studentspainted murals in the hospitalevery Christmas and the muralfor the Veterans in the CityHall Council Chambers. I wasPresident of the Ernest HansenAuxiliary for 12 years. Icontinue my work with theWoman's Club. I will now talka little about the Woman’s Club.It was founded in 1910 withthe support of the TemperanceMovement. There was a lot ofdomestic abuse (due to alcoholabuse). In 1916 during WWI,the Woman’s Club sent bandagesto soldiers and made themsweaters. During WWII, theyacted as hostesses at the USOCanteen. They purchased an airambulance which was called,"Perth Amboy Woman's Club".They promoted awareness forthe blind with Helen Keller andher Teacher, Anne Sullivan whoappeared at Perth Amboy HighSchool. They began a schoolmilk program for children (beforethe government did). Theysaved the Proprietary Houseand saved the Perth Amboy CitySeal. I was interested becausethe Woman's Club ran competitionsand gave out scholarshipsto Perth Amboy students. Myhusband’s mother belonged tothe Woman’s Club and had anArt Scholarship for children.I’ve been a member for over 55years. The Woman's Club continuesto support the Perth AmboyFree Public Library. Theyhelped restore the Statue ofLiberty and helped out the AnimalShelter. They donated foodfor the hospital workers duringthe pandemic. Recently, theWoman’s Club donated moneyfor the people of Ukraine. I retiredfrom teaching in the HighSchool, but I still continue myvolunteer work with the Woman'sClub and the hospital until Iam unable to do so.There was a brief intermission,and two questions wereasked of the panel when theprogram resumed.Question #1) To Judge MichelleRoman: How do you navigatethe male dominated world oflaw?Judge Michelle Roman: Youhave to be assertive. You can’tlet that hold you down and interferewith your goals. Youhave to believe in yourself. Dailyaffirmations help.Question #2) I have autismalong with other disabilities.What are your most significantchallenges?Loris Welch: As a teacher ofspecial education, the challengefor me is going to school, I hadcertain speech. One professor incollege accused me of plagiarismbecause I would use certainwords. She stated that’s shehad students from other countries,and they didn’t use wordslike this. I think her expectationsof me were so low. Oftenthe smartest kids need support.A woman in the audiencespoke up, “I work at Verizon.We all have different challenges.One of our employees is a quadriplegic.It is difficult for him todo what he does. He can thinkand has so many great qualities.Focus on our strengths.”The Library Board of Trusteesthanked the panel and everyonewho attended the event. Eachpanelist was also presented withflowers from the Library Board,and a citation from MayorCaba, which was given out bythe Mayor’s Aid, Miguel Arocho.

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