COMMUNITY LIAISONS

Jill Sobule (BRCSJ MUSICIAN-in-RESIDENCE) is a self-professed “two-hit wonder”, but has actually released over a dozen of albums spanning three decades, tackling such topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQIA issues, & the Christian Right, to name a few - with her trademark wit & aplomb. No sloganeering flag-and-fist waving therein, but rather portrait-&-story songs about human beings, real & imagined, which allow us to step back from the issues they tackle, be they individual or societal, & to relate to them as we would to a close friend.
She has been a very welcome & even more fabulous staple on our Bayard Rustin Cener for Social Justice Power Hour virtual stage whereupon she entertains, amuses, provokes, & more often than not, takes our viewers on an emotional roller coaster, from comedy to pathos in a few bars of music, often within the same song.
Jill’s recording career has brought her mainstream commercial & critical success with the two aforementioned hit singles~  the satirical gem “Supermodel” from the movie Clueless & “I Kissed A Girl” (the original & by far the best!), the first ever openly queer-themed Billboard Top 20 record & allowed her to performed with Neil Young, Billy Bragg, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Morello,  Lloyd Cole, DEbby Boone, Warren Zevon, & John Doe. She also regularly co-stars with comedian/actress/author/SNL alumni/dead “American God” Julia Sweeney in their “Jill & Julia Show”, an unusual & mesmerizing combination of song and storytelling, & sang a song as herself on an episode of “The Simpsons”. Most recently, Jill premiered a critically-acclaimed empowering & entertaining autobiographical show directed by two-time Obie-winner Lisa Petersen titled “Fuck 7th Grade!”
Best of all, you can find the delightful Jill Sobule singin’ & strummin’ in her regular appearances on our Social Justice Power Hour, so do tune in, true believers!

Harmonica Sunbeam (BRCSJ Drag Queen in Residence) has been delighting audiences at nightclubs, cabarets, fundraising events, & supermarket openings throughout the United States & abroad for over 27 years. Her live appearances have gained her a cult following of all ages, races & backgrounds. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild & has been featured on several television shows & feature films. Miss Sunbeam has worked alongside noted musical artists such as Beyonce, Mary J.Blige, Jennifer Holiday, & most recently, with Katy Perry on SNL. Harmonica has also has recorded her own singles:  "Ready to Pump", "I'm Here To Work”, & the latest, "This Is The Beat". Miss Sunbeam’s latest project is showcasing her unique ability to uplift, encourage & engage children, Drag Queen Story Hour, by going into libraries, bookstores, festivals & other events to read books to kids of all ages.  DQSH audaciously encourages the creativity & boundless energy of child’s play as they relate to both gender neutrality & non-conformity while promoting positive LGTBQ+ role models.  Despite her busy schedule, Miss Sunbeam still finds time to assist & work with many community-based LGBTQI organizations such as Project LOL, GMAD, Jersey City Pride, Our Youth, & AAOGC to name just a few. Her commitment to being a positive role model in today's selfish world clearly speaks for itself & the BRCSJ is proud to call her an ally, a friend, & now our partner in the community.

Martha Hickson (BRCSJ Noble Librarian in Defense of Intellectual Freedom) has been a high school librarian defending intellectual freedom for students, teachers, & in the greater community since 2005. For her impactful & intrepid good works, Martha has been recognized with awards from the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, the New Jersey Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, & the National Council of Teachers of English. In 2022, the National Coalition Against Censorship presented her with the Judith Krug Outstanding Librarian Award & the American Library Association presented her with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity in recognition of her “energy & bravery in the face of… persistent & ongoing hostility,” whilst advocating for students’ First Amendment right to read. graduate of the Rutgers University School of Communication & Information, she has written for School Library Journal, Booklist, KnowledgeQuest, the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Blog, NJEA Review, & School Librarian’s Workshop. She has been a presenter at conferences & webinars, including the American Association of School Librarians, Future Ready Librarians, the New Jersey Library Association, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, & the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit.
"Defending the right to read is by no means a one-person job. When the book-banners show up, the whole community needs to get involved. I’m proud to be a dedicated Community Liaison at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice as their commitment to diverse voices & safe spaces makes them the perfect ally for libraries, which uphold the same values. By partnering with the Center, we hope to spread the word & enlist supporters to help fight the Ed Scare that is affecting our schools, libraries, & greater community."

Rose Mascoll (BRCSJ Queer Youth Brigadier)
"The BRCSJ Queer Youth Brigade is such a wonderful thing for both me personally as a trans femme navigating my personal journey but also to all our LGBTQIA youth who are looking for a safe-space to share their stories & to move forward together.
I invite everyone to join us to help this program grow for the greater community but also for themselves to become a member of our chosen family!"

Jeff Schneider (BRCSJ Programs & Partnerships) is an inspirational educator by day & dedicated athlete by weekend whose work helps students navigate their college or high school application process making sure they understand the importance of kindness in thought & deed in equal measure. He is a founder & Vice President of the Sean Kehler Foundation, an impactful organization dedicated to encouraging teen service. Jeff collaborated with our Center’s Chief Activist Robt Martin’s first foray into social justice & community service over 30 years ago, the Creatures of Awareness Theatre Co. dedicated to raising awareness about the AIDS crisis & fundraising for organizations involved in that work as well as HIV testing. The majority of these donations went to Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, folx who we now have the distinct privilege of working with here as powerful partners.
Jeff is an avid hockey player & fan, often spotted at Baker Rink with Pride tape & jersey to emphasize that hockey is open & welcoming for & to everyone as all sports should be. As a stalwart ally, his primary focus here is developing activities, programs, parties, & happenings to facilitate community bonding & expanding our reach both locally here at BRCSJ HQ & throughout the nation. Jeff invites & encourages all y’all to bring your ideas & your connections, bring your organizations & partners, bring your friends & chosen fam, & see what we can create together.

Rhodalynn Jones (BRCSJ PRINCETON COMMUNITY CONDUIT) is the Director of Human Services for the Princeton Municipal Government. Prior to serving in the role, Rhodalynn held a position at the New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD, & TB Services as the HIV Planning and Development Coordinator. In this role she was committed to planning, implementing, & evaluating HIV prevention, care, & treatment services.  As the HIV Planning and Development Coordinator, Rhodalynn was responsible for ensuring the NJ HIV Planning Group held representatives of varying race/ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation, ages, educational backgrounds, socioeconomic status & people at risk or living with HIV. Rhodalynn proudly assisted as an organizer of the Gay Men’s Awareness Day, Transgender Days of Learning & HIV & Aging conferences for New Jersey. Rhodalynn has dedicated her career to serving those most in need.  Her previous employment includes Homefront, The Children’s Home Society, Corner House & Anchor House. Rhodalynn has also spent several summers in Sao Paulo, Brazil supporting Hope Unlimited for Children, an organization transforming the lives of children at mortal risk. In her position now as the Human Services Director she strives to continue serving Princeton’s vulnerable populations in partnership with BRCSJ.

Monika Nemeth (BRCSJ Special DC Correspondent) is the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for ANC 3F06 which covers the neighborhoods of North Cleveland Park & Wakefield in upper NW Washington DC.  She was elected in 2018 & is the first transgender person known to ever be elected to office in the history of Washington.  She is also a member of Mayor Muriel Bower’s Administration having been appointed to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQ Affairs prior to her election. Monika came to DC as a college student in 1983 & graduated from American University.
Professionally, Ms. Nemeth is a Program Manager at Perspecta, a Government services company, & has been working on projects for the US Navy for over 15 years.  She is currently involved in an effort to implement SAFe Agile and DevOps for the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI).
Monika’s passion is for community service.  In addition to her Government posts, she is also an Executive Producer at Capital Pride Alliance for Capital Trans Pride.  Monika is very politically active as the President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club of DC as well as a member of the DC Democratic State Committee.  
Monika is A strong believer in Trans Visibility.  She transitioned on the job with her current employer.  She feels that while trans people are now out in numbers not seen before, that they do not yet own the narrative told about them.  It is her belief the only way to stop the demonization of trans people is for trans people to be highly visible in society and communities.  It becomes much harder to demonize someone when they are your friends, family, colleagues, co-workers, & neighbors.  

Natalie Biello (BRCSJ platform builder) helped to initiate our still gestating birth justice reproductive rights program on a local & national level & still Provides educational, emotional, & physical support to people during pregnancy, labor & delivery as well as postpartum. Focusing on this impactful all-inclusive initiative here at BRCSJ HQ as well in the greater community, she worked to ensure each new family was (& wil be!) treated with the highest level of equitable care, respect, & dignity during their birth experience.
She has over a decade of community building, fundraising & event planning experience. As a Trustee, President & Vice-President, she has raised a great amount of money, spirit, & awareness for various education groups such as the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence & the Millstone Township PTO & PTSA. In her spare time, Natalie is a Boy Scout Den leader, coaches a co-ed travel soccer team & serves as a mentor to the Allentown High School Robotics Team.
Natalie's joining the Center in this capacity is an inspirational thing in & of itself as our journey began when her gay daughter Gabriella was suffering bullying at the hands of both students & administrators & it was the Center which, after an arduous effort with the school district, secured legal representation that changed Gabriella’s life. Now both Natalie & Gabriella still volunteer (altho’ too rarely for our liking!) at our BRCSJ queer safe-space to pay it forward & bring others the peace, protection, & hope that they were given by the Center.

Jhasmany  Saavedra (LATINX LGBTQIA CONDUIT & ESTEEMED BRCSJ Queer YOGA MASTER) hails from Alcalá, a small town in Chuquisaca, Bolivia, where the river runs dry in the winter & where people gather the harvest in the summer.  As a gay indigenous man, Jhasmany experienced discrimination & poverty when he moved to the city. This personal experience motivates him to work in changing the oppression suffered by LGBTQIA & Indigenous Latinx people whose rights are constantly at risk. He wants to put into use his degree in Psychology & his M.A. in Intercultural Leadership & Management helping NGO’s achieve measurable goals that are meaningful to their beneficiaries. As coordinator for two different development programs he did “action-research,” which produced data, as well as intervened in community problems as well as implemented a pilot program in early cognitive stimulation for toddlers. He also coordinated with the Down Syndrome Foundation to address the special needs of certain children in the community.

Leighton Newlin (BRCSJ neighborhood GUY) was born & raised right here in Princeton, NJ, where our own BRCSJ HQ is located. His roots run deep & his foundation solid as he was educated in Princeton Public Schools & graduated from Princeton High School. He then proudly graduated from Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, the nation's first HBCU, with a degree in English. Leighton had a storied career in high-end retail development before becoming Director for Special Services for The Geo Group, the global leader in providing important & impactful rehabilitation services to incarcerated individuals, both in-custody & post-release.
A long-time community activist, Leighton serves as co-chair of Princeton's historic Witherspoon Jackson Neighborhood Association. Not coincidently, with his help & advisement, our Princeton Pride Parade proudly marched through this historically Black neighborhood, both in its inaugural outing in 2019 & then continuing this meaningful tradition in 2022. Leighton was elected as a member of the Princeton City Council in November 2021 & began serving his inaugural term on January 5, 2022. In his short time on Council, he has already become a strong voice for the voiceless & stalwart advocate for the oft-overlooked communities of color in Princeton & in the greater community.
Leighton understands the importance of the intersectionality of the life & work of Bayard Rustin, & has invested his time, talents, & tenacity in helping the BRCSJ achieve its mission of bringing Bayard Rustin's dream into today's reality.

Wendy Williams (BRCSJ Maven of merch) is the majority partner of JR Resources, A Women owned swag company servicing the Fortune 500 for over 30 years & a 26 year Princeton resident, hailing originally from Philadelphia. As a sales professional of 40+ years, coach/trainer & global citizen working on world peace & tolerance since her 1970’s college years, she has travelled some of this world (Mexico, Cuba, Europe & Africa) & hosted many folx from around the world at her Princeton home & at her business.
The mission of her work is leading a team at JR Resources to create a caring service agency that touches their customers with trust & transparency.
She advocates international relations as a volunteer member of the Davis Center at Princeton University for 22 years mentoring International Graduate students during their PhD years as Every semester she helps a new student acclimate to American culture & the greater community. She is also a Citizen Diplomat on the Board of Directors for over 20 years for the Citizen Diplomacy International of Philadelphia organization that hosts guests brought to the US through worldwide Embassies & the Philadelphia Sister Cities program.
Wendy is proud to honor the work of the BRCSJ by promoting acceptance & tolerance, so important to learn & to teach to others to continue To aspire to grow a world of harmony for the next generations to come!

Robert Zurfluh (BRCSJ shutterbug-in-residence) grew up in the 70's in a small Bavarian town not far from former East Germany & what was then Czechoslovakia. Growing up he was always fascinated by the American landscape he saw in books, movies, & on American TV shows. In 1990 he jumped on the opportunity to come to New Jersey as part of a job transfer & has been in the area ever since. During the day, he works as a Registered Dietitian on the educational side of the profession managing a supervised practice program for students that follow this career path. His day-to-day activities working as part of an internship team include efforts to increase the diversity of professionals entering the field through recruitment efforts & embracing intersectionality by educating others on the benefits of having diverse teams. Robert is always improving his already-extraordinary (& award-winning!) photography skills & is Currently capturing landscapes & local New Jersey wildlife in his spare time. Now we look forward to seeing Robert with his camera at our future gatherings, happenings, rallies, & events & seein’ our community thru his exquisite lens.

Jeffrey E. Joyner (BRCSJ Gay Games REp.) is Senior Counsel within the Office of General Counsel, US Department of Commerce. He graduated from Princeton University (AB, Political Economics) & the University of Notre Dame Law School – International Program (South Bend, IN, & London, England) & received his Masters of International Public Health from the George Washington University School of Public Health, with a concentration on LGBT Health Issues. Jeff served several years on the Board of Directors & Executive Committee of the Whitman-Walker Clinic (as Board Secretary), a non-profit community health center in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with a special expertise in HIV/AIDS & LGBT healthcare. He has also worked at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria (UNCITRAL) & in the DC office of a Chicago-based, multi-national law firm. Jeff currently serves as a Senior Counsel within the Office of General Counsel, US Department of Commerce, & has been a three-time recipient of the Department’s Gold Medal, the Agency’s highest recognition of distinguished performance characterized by extraordinary, noble, or prestigious contributions that impact the mission of the Department of Commerce &/or one or more of its operating units. Jeff was also a Silver medalist at the 2014 Gay Games, Cleveland – Men’s Physique.

Sean Henry Miller (BRCSJ Advocacy & Education Policy Specialist) is a former swim coach, lessons instructor, & Baltimore City Teacher. There he first learned the import of teaching the whole-child through social-emotional learning practices & inclusive community-building activities whilst empowering student growth through restorative justice policies, culturally-affirming pedagogy, growth-mindset, & civic engagement. He now works in administration at Princeton University, supporting faculty, undergraduates, & administrative collaboration, & is a member of the Princeton Education Foundation's Board of Trustees. Sean holds a Master’s Degree in Education Policy & Leadership from American University & received his Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Ursinus College, with minors in Business Management, Environmental Studies, & Neuroscience. He has been a guest lecturer at American University's School of Education & previously worked with Policy Advisors at the U.S. Department of Education; Mayor Reed Gusciora's Education, Workforce Development, & Special Education Transition Committee; TEDx, YaLa Young Leaders (an international education, youth leadership, & peace nonprofit); & several political campaigns for candidates defending science, environmental sustainability & stewardship, access to affordable healthcare, immigrant rights, DREAMers, & high-quality inclusive education as civil right. 

Hayley Rubins-Topoleski (BRCSJ Hostess with the Mostest) is a former teacher who developed a passion for performing arts & social justice. Hayley completed her undergraduate education at CUNY Brooklyn College in Elementary Education, received a Mini MBA from Rutgers University, & manages the business operations of a small software company during the day, but dedicates her evenings & weekends to various volunteer efforts. She is also on the board of directors of ActorsNET, a non-profit theater in Bucks County, & volunteers with local Planned Parenthood & Human Rights Campaign chapters. Born & raised in Brooklyn, NY, Hayley has found a home here in Mercer County, New Jersey & looks forward to making a positive impact in her community by seemingly being ever-present here at BRCSJ HQ!   

Don Dew (BRCSJ Differently-abled intersection coordinator) was employed in the hotel management field for 11 years before becoming disabled with intractable epilepsy in 2003. In 2005, he began advocating for services for people with disabilities to have a choice to remain in their homes & communities. He is a certified paralegal & mediator with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Don has been the Executive Director of Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland since 2012. He has held many prestigious positions & received much recognition for his work in both the differently-abled & the LGBTQIA communities & the intersection thereof including: the Accessibility Chair for the National March for Equality in Washington, D.C.; the national Paul G. Hearne Award; the Human Right Campaign’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee; the Paul G. Hearne Award by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); the War Eagle Human Rights Award; the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL) 2017 Regional Advocacy Award. Don also co-founded Siouxland Pride Alliance, the only LGBT resource center in the northwest Iowa area.

Kimberly Engan (Nuestras Pequeñas Rosas Coordinator) completed her undergraduate education at Drew University where she was a founding member of the Drew Honduras Project, through which she regularly took groups of student volunteers to orphanages in Honduras. One of those orphanages was Nuestras Pequeñas (Our Little Roses) in San Pedro Sula, a home for abandoned, abused, & orphaned girls, ranging in age from infant to college-aged, each having been physically or sexually abused or neglected.  After finishing her academic requirements early, Kimberly chose to live as a long-term volunteer at the girls' orphanage. She has since been privileged to share a documentary film about the girls' lives with the local community in Princeton & will continue to share this message widely, especially in light of the crisis in the Northern Triangle countries of Central America today. Kimberly went to law school following her Drew education, completing her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. Whilst she does not practice immigration law, Kimberly has recently volunteered with the CARA Pro Bono Project in Dilley, Texas, acting as Spanish-English interpreter for Central American women detained on immigration issues. She remains a passionate advocate for the rights of children & Latino immigrants, with a focus on women's issues.  

Kelsey Marziale (BRCSJ INTERN EXTRAORDINAIRE) is a senior at Rider University, studying Sociology & Gender & Sexuality Studies. She is an intern at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice in Princeton, NJ. She also interns for the Alcohol/Drug & Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator at Rider. She is an advocate for the LGBTQIA community & is a member of related clubs on campus. In addition, she is very active in her greek organization, mentorship programs, & serves as the Vice Chief Justice for the Values Board at school. She wishes to use her experience in the community, as well as the knowledge she has gained along her journey to educate others on these issues. Kelsey is graduating in May of 2019 & plans to continue her passion for activism to better this underrepresented community. 

Sven Salvador (BRCSJ (SUB)URBAN GARdENER & FOOD EDUCATION SPECIALIST) was an ESL & urban education teacher & now is a Regenerative Yard & Garden Designer, Chef, Creator & Founder at Queer Kitchen, & realtor for niche markets (& niche folx). graduating with a Masters in Education from TCNJ & even tho’ accepted into a PHD program for Sustainability Education, Sven realized they wanted to focus their work on education & community programs to encourage revitalization in their own community. As a teacher & community soldier, they are dedicated to social & environmental justice, whether in growing a school community garden to provide inner city youth fresh food along with food education or in their dedication to sports development to promote wellness. sven is also committed to education & awareness of gender/sexuality as the founder & manager of the WYG Project, a media outlet promoting visibility & inclusivity of all LGBTQ+ individuals.  With the help of the BRCSJ, they created the first middle school GSA in Perth Amboy, NJ, & was part of the NJ LGBTQia Curriculum Integration Team. Sven is an ardent believer in promoting love & acceptance as tools to foster wellness & change thereby creating a sustainable future for us all.

REST IN POWER

Claire Jacobus (BRCSJ PRINCETON COMMUNITY CONNECTOR) is the very definition of “pillar of the community”, ergo: Former Chair, Princeton Human Services Commission; Chair of boards of: Rockingham Association, Princeton Senior Resource Center, Princeton Adult School, Friends of Princeton Public Library, HiTOPs; Friends of Princeton University Library; A Founder of Princeton Friends School; Past member of board of Princeton Historical Society; Board of Paul Robeson House; Advisory board of Arts Council; Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corp; Recipient of Bud Vivian Award for community service; National board of Compassion & Choices; Former counselor, Planned Parenthood;
& Excellent omelet maker.

Become a COMMUNITY LIAISON

We will never speak for anyone, but with everyone…

Any movement that is not all-inclusive is not a movement at all. In fact, it is a step backward (& we have surely taken too many of those recently). In that regard, we intend to have representatives from every & any communities that deserve our recognition & our respect, our love & our support. We will fight to have all voices heard & to do so, we invite folx to serve as envoys of their people to share with us their hopes, dreams, concerns & best ways to represent them at the
Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice.