Category: Community Activists

Rebecca “Becky” Andrade Doggett

Feb 24, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Community Activists, Education, Museums and Libraries, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1941- Rebecca Doggett has had a long varied career in community organizing, social services, government, education and corporate. She was a founder of Tri City Citizens Union for Progress in 1966 and in the 1970s. In 1965, she was first President and later Executive Director of the Newark Preschool Council. In 1979, she was appointed…
Mollie Dawkins

Feb 23, 2022

in 1890-1909 (Born), African Americans, Community Activists, Politics & Government, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1908-1984 Mollie Dawkins was co-organizer of the Dawkins Civic Association, worked for the Housing Authority, and coordinated the Sunshine Teleservice for senior citizens. She was also founder of Community Preservation Service, to improve her neighborhood around Leslie and Schley Street, for which she was honored in 1966. Mollie and her husband founded the South Side…
Melinda Scott

Feb 23, 2022

in 1870-1889 (Born), Community Activists, Immigrant (born outside the Continental US), Politics & Government, Suffrage

1876-1954 Melinda Scott was an English immigrant and President of a Hat Trimmers Union in Newark & worked for suffrage including being part of a delegation to President Wilson. She was also a key figure in the labor movement and later was a Newark tax commissioner, the first woman on the Newark Tax Board and…
Amelia (Berndt) Moorfield

Feb 23, 2022

in 1870-1889 (Born), Community Activists, Suffrage

1876-1950 Amelia (Berndt) Moorfield (1876-1950), was a suffragette from Newark, with the Women’s Political Union. She was financial secretary of the WPU, recruited by Mina Van Winkle. In this role, she raised money for the suffrage cause, helping to achieve the passage of the 19th Amendment. Amelia’s parents were German immigrants. Born in Kentucky, she…
Maria DeCastro Blake

Feb 23, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), Community Activists, Education, Museums and Libraries, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Immigrant (born outside the Continental US), Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1911-2001 Maria DeCastro Blake was a dean of admissions at Rutgers and recruited hundreds of Hispanic students. She was one of the founders of ASPIRA, a founding member of the Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey, founder and president of the Association for Professional Education of Puerto Ricans, a founding member of FOCUS and involved…
Louise Epperson

Feb 23, 2022

in 1890-1909 (Born), African Americans, Community Activists

1908-2002 Louise Epperson was key in the protests against UMDNJ in the 1960s & helped negotiate the Medical School Agreements. The Star Ledger stated she was credited with saving the neighborhood from demolition. Louise was also the first African American appointed to the Board of Health & helped elect Mayor Gibson and Irvine Turner. Mayor…
Hilda Hidalgo

Feb 23, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), Community Activists, Education, Museums and Libraries, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Immigrant (born outside the Continental US), LGBT+

1928-2009 Hilda Hidalgo was a Newark activist. In Newark, she co-founded Aspira of New Jersey, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Puerto Rican Congress and worked with numerous other community organizations. Hilda came to Newark in 1960 and worked as district director for the Girl Scouts, then director of Child Services, until 1970. She…
Jennie Levell Lemon

Feb 23, 2022

in 1910-1929 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Community Activists, Featured, Politics & Government, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1913-1982 Jennie Lemon ran for city council in 1969. She founded the Jennie Lemon Civic Association. She served as president of Zion Towers tenants association, advocating for tenants. She was active in the NAACP, serving in many roles, including as the county’s membership and political action chairman. She advocated for minorities, senior citizens, and the…