Honorees:
Leah Roland, The Martha Rado Award for Political Activism and Civic Engagement
Barbara Mitrani, The Eva Cellini Award for Contribution to the Arts
Eleanor Spiegel, The Margaret Porch Hamilton Humanitarian Award
Liz Dwarica, The Dr. Frances Tyson Award for Service to the Community
Viola Scarangella, The Anna C. Scott Service in Education Award
Music by Carol Kirby, Owen Sheridan and Kim Queren. Speakers included Leonia Bridge Builders, Leonia Stigma Free, the Leonia School Green Team, and more!
Mary Albanese, Ana De Jesus, Isaac Park, Bryce Robins, and Mariya Thompson spoke about their views and positions before the November election.
Together with over 350 cities worldwide, we joined at the intersection of Broad and Crescent Avenues in a candlelight vigil in support of the children and adults being separated from one another and detained across the southern border under abhorrent and inhumane conditions. There was be music, remarks and a moment of silence.
Our two mayoral candidates, Judah Zeigler and Greg Makroulakis, answer questions from the public before the June 4th vote.
The year after Leonia Action Alliance's very first event was filled with nationwide attacks on immigration, racial equality, and women’s rights. On January 20, over 300 friends and neighbors gathered to support the idea of Justice for All and to get inspired to make our collective vision for 2018 a reality.
Speakers and musicians included: Dr. Lauren Peccoralo(LAA founder): introduction, Maureen Davis (Leonia Council member): human rights and civic responsibility, Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler: the role of clergy, Paula Rogovin and Diane Scarangella (activists): local action on the environment, Jamie Sclafane (sexuality educator/professor of women’s health): body image and the evolution of #MeToo, Carol Sobering (Community of Friends in Action): local action on immigration, Judy Wong (physician): gun violence, Joanne Terrell (attorney): diversity, Carol Crittenden Kirby (musician): “America the Beautiful” and "Rise", Nicole Alzamora (special-ed teacher and advocate): “Amor Eterno”
Hundreds protest in Leonia Women's March - The Record
Annual Women's March To Be Held In Bergen County - Patch.com
Leonians joined hundreds of other cities and towns in protesting the immigration policies that separate children from their families when these families apply for asylum upon entering the US. The goal of this demonstration was to encourage the administration to move swiftly in reuniting immigrant families and to review their asylum policies. Speakers and musicians included: Carol Crittenden, musician; Leah Roland, chair; Maria Andreu, speaker; Nicole Alzamora, musician; Michael Raskin, speaker; Becky Wilson, speaker.
After the success of the first Styrofoam Recycling Drive, The Leonia Action Alliance organized a second drive - this time including plastic film. Despite the rainy weather, Leonians brought an entire truck's worth of white Styrofoam and tons of plastic film to be recycled. But at the heart of our recycling drive is an opportunity to raise awareness among our neighbors about the hazards of Styrofoam and get signatures for petition to ban Styrofoam in Leonia for good. Let's make Leonia Styrofoam-free!
The year after Leonia Action Alliance's very first event was filled with nationwide attacks on immigration, racial equality, and women’s rights. On January 20, over 300 friends and neighbors gathered to support the idea of Justice for All and to get inspired to make our collective vision for 2018 a reality.
Speakers included: Dr. Lauren Peccoralo, Primary Care Physician, LAA Founder on LAA accomplishments and vision for 2018; Gordon Johnson, NJ State Assemblyman; Councilwoman Bernadette Flaim, Administrative Coordinator Mount Sinai on our civic responsibilities; Nicole Alzamora, Special Education Teacher on Immigration and Puerto Rico Aid; Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler, Pastor at Presbyterian Church on Faith based community responsibilities and LGBTQ rights; Sumita Singh, Global Managing Director, Elsevier on Women in STEM and the workplace; Julie Ulbrich, Physical Therapist and business owner on Environmental accomplishments of the LAA and Leonia and future goals; Jamie Sclafane, Sexuality Educator and Adjunct Professor of Women’s Health at William Paterson University, HSA President on on the Metoo movement and consent; Suzie Park, HSA Vice-President on the appreciation for what you don’t see but feel, and Andreanna Papatheodorou, Leonia HS Senior on Youth involvement in advocacy. Musicians included: Carol Crittenden and Kim Queren & Owen Sheridan.
Leonia: Women's March movement takes to the Streets - The Record (mobile version)
Women will march again with aim to become a political force - Fios1 News
2nd Women's March To Be Held In Bergen County - The Patch
Kids and grownups got together to brainstorm slogans and make posters to carry in the January 20th Leonia Women's March.
The Leonia Action Alliance organized a one-time Styrofoam Recycling Drive to increase local awareness of the environmental and health hazards of this ubiquitous material. With the help of the hard-working Leonia Girl Scouts, we sorted, cleaned and bagged all kinds of number 6 polystyrene contributed by Leonia residents and town businesses and loaded it into a large truck. At the end of the afternoon, Dr. Jimmy Meltzer personally drove it all to it to the nearest NJ Styrofoam recycling facility. Thanks, Jimmy!
State Senator Weinberg represents the 37th district, which includes Leonia. She came to give us an update on what's going on Trenton and answer questions from the community about traffic, the Hudson/Bergen Light Rail, property taxes, banning styrofoam on the state level, and more.
The Leonia Action Alliance teamed up with the Leonia's Cadet, Junior, Brownie and Daisy Girl Scout troops to visit each of the stores on Broad Avenue and find out if they use Styrofoam in their businesses. Stores that don't were awarded a Styrofoam-Free certificate and a decal to stick on the window to let customers know that these shops are Styrofoam-free!
Members of the Leonia Action Alliance (Christie Evens, James Meltzer and Julie Ulbrich) gave a workshop for over 75 people about the environmental and health hazards of Styrofoam. Lots of hands-on experiments and activities kept the kids engaged while they learned some great reasons to avoid Styrofoam and what we can all do to reduce the amount of Styrofoam in our world. Big thanks to the Leonia Library for hosting the workshop and helping us spread the word!
View/Download the materials from the library display cases: Part 1 & Part 2
On Sunday, September 17, 2017 the Leonia Action Alliance joined the Leonia Vigil Group, local civic organizations, and local faith-based communities to observe the United Nations International Day of Peace. The theme this year was "Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All" with a particular focus on engaging and mobilizing people throughout the world to show support for refugees and migrants. Activities included music, children's activities, multi-faith prayers, talks from community organizers, faith-based leaders, and voices of refugees and immigrants. The LAA organized a postcard writing activity where children and adults had the opportunity to design and write postcards to refugees around the world. These were mailed to the "Any Refugee" program, which was founded by a 10-year-old boy from Alaska and is facilitated by the Jesuit Refugee Service/USA. "Any Refugee" works in more than 45 countries helping refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. Our postcards will be distributed to refugee children overseas.
See the article in Gold Coast Life
Hidden in Leonia’s private backyards are beautiful, healthy and environmentally-friendly gardens. The Leonia Organic Garden Tour opened up eight of our neighbors' yards to let us discover how backyards can be a natural oasis that protect and nourish families as well as the environment.
Over the course of three evenings in June, five out of the six Democratic gubernatorial candidates made a stop in Leonia to answer questions from the community before the primary.
Riders started at Wood Park and biked to Flat Rock Brook Nature Center for a hike through the woods. A great way to get outside, meet your neighbors, and enjoy
Over the coures of three evenings in June, five out of the six Democratic gubernatorial candidates made a stop in Leonia to answer questions from the community before the primary.
Over the coures of three evenings in June, five out of the six Democratic gubernatorial candidates made a stop in Leonia to answer questions from the community before the primary.
In alliance with the People's Climate March in Washington, D.C., and across the nation, a group of Leonia residents organized the borough's own event to bring awareness to the global climate crisis — with a local angle. The Leonia Climate March highlighted what we, as ordinary citizens, can do in our everyday lives to limit the disastrous effects of climate change. By working together, our small New Jersey town can make a difference.
Speakers included: Jacob Bortnik, Ph.D., associate professor of space physics, UCLA; Michael Herzig, CEO, Locus Energy-Genscape; Leonia Councilman William Ziegler; Leonia Mayor Judah Zeigler. Musical performances by Carol Crittenden Kirby and Leonia High School students
Families gathered at the Leonia Library to share slogan ideas and create fantastic posters to carry in the upcoming Leonia Climate March on April 29, 2017.
At the very first Leonia Action Alliance event, neighbors and friends gathered to join the worldwide demonstration supporting governmental policies that promote and protect human rights, immigration reform, healthcare reform, reproductive rights, the natural environment, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, freedom of religion, and women's rights.
