ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders held its 2019 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Hall of Records. The ceremony commemorated the heritage, culture, resilience and spirit of the Hispanic community.
This year’s honorees included Josephine C. Garcia of Newark, Masiel Rodriquez-Vars of Montclair, the Naomy De Peña of Belleville; and Victor Cirilo of West Orange. Also recognized were Griselle Ponce of Newark, and the 2019 Royal Courts of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Dominican Parade and Festival, and the Mexican and Peruvian Queens.
On May 8, 2018, De Peña made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the township council in Belleville. Since her election, she has been working on expanding recreational and educational services to her community. She grew up in the Dominican Republic and migrated with her family to the United States when she was 16. She worked as a Belleville public school teacher, working with special needs students, for more than 15 years. Presently, she and her husband own Zentai Martial Arts and After-School Program, which is a child development center that focuses on the intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth of individuals. She is also is an ordained minister and has been a humanitarian aid mission leader in Mexico, Haiti, Ecuador and Dominican Republic.
Full article: https://essexnewsdaily.com/headlne-news/80468
