The Birthday Committee

The observance of the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began in Teaneck, New Jersey, as a Candlelight Ceremony upon his assassination on April 4, 1968. In subsequent years, the Committee evolved to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday in January. When a national holiday emerged, the observance has been held on the third Monday of January. This annual observance, held in various houses of worship, churches, and temples, is an inclusive, racial, religious, and equitable service that attempts to remember Dr. King’s life and raise awareness of human rights issues. In addition, recognition is given to community organizations that best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King and awards scholarships to high school students who excel academically and make significant contributions to their community through volunteerism. Our purpose is also to raise awareness of human rights issues by supporting organizations that best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King. This Bergen County Committee’s true mission is to address Dr. King’s Question:

“What have you done for others?”

In addition, we:

• Donate funds to support non-profit community-based service organizations, e.g. Food Banks, Shelters, and Women’s Service organisations.

• Support the maintenance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, NJ, through the sponsorship of special programs and events held at the site, including the annual event held in August to commemorate the March on Washington, DC.

• Partner with Teaneck Public Library to create and hold programs during February, highlighting Black History Month.

• Co-sponsor Juneteenth celebration with the Teaneck Juneteenth Committee.

MLK Jr. Birthday Committee Members

Dr. Theodora S. Lacey, Chair

Toniette H. Duncan, Treasurer

Libby Klein, Recording Secretary

Barbara Shapiro, Correspondence Secretary

Mike Rideau, Project/Program Coordinator

Craig Cannon & Jessica Monaco-Copell, Social Media Chairs

Raymond Addison

Juanita Brown

Lois Katz Brown

Rev. Joann Pearson Collins

Jeannette Curtis-Rideau

Dr. Joyce Dais

Rev. Dr. Edna Dismus

Elaine Fondiller

Quron Gee

Cheryl Hall

Wayne Hamer

Joseph Harris

Tama Harris-McPhatter

Roswell Jackson

Lisa-Monet Jefferson

Anthony Johnson

JJ Johnson

Reshma Khan

Annette Machac

Giovanni Martinez-Gonzalez

Dr. Marion McClary

Dr. Donna Mendes

Reggie Pittman

Eleanor Riley

Dr. Anita Rivers

Melanie Stokes

Vera Stokes

Staci Tackie

Barbara Taylor Rosser

Willie Thorton

Levonne Turner

Charles Warren

Shelley Claude Washington

Patricia White

Clara Mitchell Williams

Seleene Lewis Wong

MEMBERS EMERITUS

Gwendolyn Ash, The Beer Family, Arnold Brown, June Donohue,

Rabbi Cathy Felix, Lois Ferrell, Arthur Gardner*, Hedy Geller*, Barbara Giarmo, 

Stephanie Harper, Maggie Jones, Luis Merlo*,

Barbara Landberg, Gerald Mohammed*, Jackie McLeod,

Issac and Gladys McNatt*, Peggy Monges, Lee Porter*, Lee Reid*,

Katherine Reddick*, Jeanne Reidel*, Elizabeth Rochester*,

Lou Schwartz*, Al Stawsky*, Ernestine Tilman*, Deidra Waddington,

Imogene Washington*

Deceased*