WPCNJ Hosts First Virtual Annual Meeting
The Women's Political Caucus hosted its first virtual Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening.
Congratulations to WPCNJ Officers, Board of Directors and WPCNJ PAC Chairs who were re-elected for another term.
Special thanks to Jeralyn Lawrence, Esq., Founder, Lawrence Law & Pam Yuen, Government Relations Manager, YWCA
for sharing their professional wisdom and providing resources available to victims of domestic violence.
WPCNJ Expresses Condolences Regarding the Loss of Ruth B. Mandel
Ruth’s extraordinary life is detailed in her obituary in The New York Times.
WPCNJ To Offer "Ready to Run" Scholarships
Scholarships are limited and will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis.
WPCNJ Congratulates the 2020 Passion * Power * Progress Award Honorees
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We would like to extend our congratulations to our honorees and thank our friends, sponsors and event committee members for their generous support of WPC's 2020 Passion * Power * Progress Awards Reception!
![]() ![]() 2020 Honorees along with the WPCNJ Board of Directors Special Guest Speaker NJ Acting Governor Sheila Oliver
The Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey hosted its annual Passion * Power * Progress Awards reception on Thursday, February 6th at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. The spirited event was a great success, honoring those whose leadership, civic involvement and professional efforts have helped make New Jersey a better place for women.
This year WPCNJ was delighted to present the following awards to:
· Lori Grifa, Esq., Archer Law - Mary Philbrook Award
· Kris Kolluri, Cooper Ferry Partnership - Good Guy Award
· Matt McDermott, Kaufman Zita Group - Good Guy Award
· Virtua Health - Corporate Award
· BlueWaveNJ - Social Justice Award
"Congratulations to this year's honorees for your well-deserved recognition of hard work and dedication that have elevated women's roles throughout New Jersey," said WPCNJ Vice President of Finance Kelly Stewart Maer. "WPCNJ is thrilled to honor all you've achieved."
The evening was especially significant in light of the historic anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Special guest speaker Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver celebrated the contributions the evening's honorees have made to advancing women and expressed the need for greater representation of women in politics and government.
The event's Master of Ceremony was Jennifer Mancuso, President of WPCNJ along with Event Co-Chairs, Jayne O'Connor and Scarlett Rajski. The event drew many elected officials including; Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Assemblyman Daniel Benson and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli. Along with State lawmakers, several county and local elected officials attended the event.
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Special Guest - Acting Governor, Sheila Oliver at Tonight's Passion * Power * Progress Awards
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Passion * Power * Progress Awards
February 6, 2020
Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, NJ
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker
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Acting Governor, Sheila Oliver
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WPCNJ Congratulates Endorsed Candidates for 2019 Election
WPCNJ looks forward to working with these elected officials in the upcoming year to bolster their efforts to improve the lives of women and families in New Jersey.

Congratulations to WPCNJ Board members named on The 2019 Insider NJ OUT 100: The LGBT Power List
·Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey (WPCNJ) congratulates all the WPCNJ board members: Sonia Das, Eileen DellaVolle and Jeannine Frisby LaRue named on The 2019 Insider NJ OUT 100: The LGBT Power List! Also noted among the list, a special tribute to those who have gone to soon, former WPCNJ board member Babs Casbar Siperstein.
To view list: https://www.insidernj.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/LGBT%20Power%20List%202019.pdf
WPCNJ Announces Endorsement of 38 Women Assembly Candidates for 2019 Election
The Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey Political Action Committee has made significant contributions to candidates in the 2019 election cycle. The WPCNJ PAC supports candidates that align with the mission of the Women's Political Caucus.
WPCNJ Calls for the Removal of Judges Troiano and Silva
Trenton, NJ – The Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey (WPCNJ) calls for the removal of Superior Court Judges James Troiano of Monmouth County and Marcia Silva of Middlesex County from the bench for their mishandling of separate and unrelated teenage sexual assault allegations.
“Judges James Troiano and Marcia Silva failures to charge 16-year old alleged rapists as adults in unrelated sexual assaults cases involving minors are appalling. Troiano and Silva flagrantly disregarded the emotional and physical harm suffered by the victims in these cases, and instead appeared more concerned for the academic prospects of their attackers or the status of the attackers’ families.
Not only are their gross misjudgments an affront to the victims in these specific cases, but their decisions and comments send the worst possible message to victims of sexual assault – that your victimization may not be weighed as heavily as the good grades or good family of your attacker.
There is no place for Judges Troiano and Silva in New Jersey’s judicial system. We call for their immediate removal from the bench.
WPCNJ commends the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey for overturning the decisions of Judge James Troiano and Judge Marcia Silva.
WPCNJ also supports the recommendations put forth by New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA) Executive Director, and WPCNJ Board member, Patricia Teffenhart, which include training requirements for judges to ensure the unique trauma associated with sexual assaults is better understood and addressed within our judicial system.” (NJCASA Statement: Judicial Comments, the Justice System, & Responding to Sexual Violence | NJCASA)
WPCNJ, founded in 1972, is a chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, is a multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in elected and appointed positions in government, protecting reproductive freedom, and promoting equal rights for women.
WPCNJ Congratulates the US Women's National Soccer Team and Calls for Equal Pay
The Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey (WPCNJ) congratulates the US Women's National Team (USWNT) for their spectacular World Cup victory on Sunday. The Caucus extends an especially heartfelt congratulations to New Jersey players Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz.
"With hard work, refined skills and dedication to the game, the USWNT proved once again what exceptional players they are, and most importantly, underscored the glaring need to achieve equal pay for women. Despite their continued success and proven ability to generate substantial revenue and TV ratings, the USWNT are paid significantly less than the men's national team.
Much like the disparity in women's soccer, in 2019 women in the United States earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by men.The wage gaps for women of color are even worse.This figure is representative of the uncontrolled - or "raw" gender pay gap, which looks at the median salary for all men and women regardless of job type or worker seniority. (Source: payscale.com)
The WPCNJ calls for equitable treatment and pay for the USWNT players and for all women in the workplace. It's far past time to reward equal work with equal pay."
WPCNJ is dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political process, increasing the number of women in elected and appointed office, protecting reproductive freedom, and creating a women's political power base to achieve equality for ALL women.