Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition

The Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition (SCCDC) is a nonprofit group that was founded in 1995. The organization’s goal is to fight bias, prejudice, and bigotry in Somerset County, New Jersey. (1) The group works to promote diversity through their events such as interfaith forums, cultural festivals, diversity DVDs, roundtables, and by partnering with other community groups.

The organization evolved from a group that was originally formed in 1989 by the United Way of Somerset County to promote awareness, understanding, and respect of all ethnic groups within the community. SCCDC became an independent group, with representation on the advisory board from the United Way, which also provided administrative support. The Coalition at first had a principal office within the United Way office located in Somerville, New Jersey. (2) Early documentation of the organization has not been located. It is known that the SCCDC held an Asian-American Heritage Festival in 1996 at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, drafted their bylaws in February 1997, was incorporated in March of 1997, and later in the year took up the initiative set forth by President Bill Clinton in 1997 to create a national dialogue on the topic of race. They held a community holiday reception and discussion in December of 1997, featuring speaker Michael Sorrell, special assistant to the executive director of President Clinton’s Initiative on Race Relations. (3)

In the following year, the organization gained 501(c)(3) status, and worked to hold annual African-, Latino-, and Asian-American Heritage Festivals. In addition, they held a monthlong series of events in April of 1998 as a part of the first countywide race relations dialogue month, an International Festival, and their third-annual diversity roundtable. The Coalition collaborated with local organizations such as Raritan Valley Community College, the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the United Way of Somerset County to hold forums and roundtables highlighting the topics of race relations and diversity in the community. This same year, the organization created a Diversity Resource Directory which was designed to provide information about ethnic organizations within Central Jersey.

In 1999, the organization continued their monthlong dialogue on diversity, their annual heritage and international festivals, and their diversity roundtables. In response to the Columbine school shooting, and the rise of hate crimes in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, the Coalition held a “Stop the Hate Vigil,” which featured interfaith prayer and a candlelight vigil. SCCDC also sought to increase membership by placing articles in the local newspapers highlighting tips on accepting differences. In October of 1999, the organization moved into an office located in the PeopleCare Center in Bridgewater, New Jersey. They began work on updating their Diversity Resource Directory of community and cultural organizations within the area; this project carried through to 2000.

The Coalition began the new millennium with a Day of Peace Celebration on January 1, 2000. The event was a part of the global 72 Hours Project, an event to promote interfaith peace-building. The group held biannual community roundtables, created a diversity speakers bureau, published a directory of cultural and ethnic organizations, sponsored community events showcasing the diversity of Somerset County, held monthly meetings, and partnered with government officials and organizations to work to end bias crimes. One such event was a talk by Floyd Cochran, a former spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ Christian/Aryan Nations, speaking on the point of hatred. (4) 2000 was also the twentieth year of the international festival, which had been previously conducted at Raritan Valley Community College. It was held at the Somerset County Vocational School.

The organization continued their work with roundtables and cultural festivals in 2001. They also began to hold networking events, such as the First Annual Celebration of Community and Culture. This event recognized organizations and members of the community who were working to promote diversity. This event turned into the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner and Diversity Awards Celebration, an event that is still held each November by the organization.

Over the years a number of people have held leadership positions within the SCCDC, including Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan and Barbara Sussman Goldberg, who served as presidents of the orangization, and Kathy Pucci, who served as the exective director.

The organization remains active as of 2012. They no longer hold their annual international festival, but they do support other community ethnic festivals. In addition, the Coalition still holds roundtable and forum discussions focusing on topics such as faith, hatred, and awareness, sponsors their annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner and Diversity Awards Celebration, and helps to support other community groups working to promote diversity within Somerset County.

Notes

(1) Flyer, undated, in MEMBERSHIP, Box 1, Folder 10.

(2) Bylaws, 1997, in BYLAWS AND INCORPORATION DOCUMENTS, Box 1, Folder 1.

(3) Kathy L. Pucci, Courier-News article, December 18, 1997, in PRESS CLIPPINGS, Box 2, Folder 2.

(4) A video recording of this talk is located in the collection. See VIDEOTAPE RECORDINGS, Box 4, Folder 10.