MLK HEALTH EQUITY SUMMIT 2026 Free Health Screenings, Insurance Enrollment, and Care Access Saturday, February 28, 2026 | Essex County College, Newark, NJ | Hundreds Expected   NEWARK, NJ — Rev. David Jefferson Sr., Esq., senior leader of Metropolitan Baptist Church and Choose Healthy Life Newark Clergy Leader, is convening faith leaders, healthcare providers, government officials, and community organizations for the MLK Health Equity Summit 2026  — a large-scale, free wel

Monica Figueroa, known behind the decks as HARMONICA , carries two callings with grace: a social worker dedicated to the people of New York City, and a DJ curating experiences that bring entire rooms into rhythm. For her, music isn’t just sound. It’s sanctuary, connection, and community. Born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey , Monica’s story begins in a home filled with music. “My uncle was a drummer, and my family was always musical,” she recalls. By six, she was playing

Chandra McQueen There are people who follow a career path, and then there are people who build one . Chandra McQueen, a public relations powerhouse, strategist, and connector of worlds, belongs firmly in the latter category. McQueen’s career spans decades of cultural influence, industry transformation, and quiet historic moments that helped shape how stories are told and who gets to tell them. Rooted in Purpose Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, McQueen’s journey began wi

Photo courtesy of Mike Gip. Jersey Club music doesn’t leave room for silence — it’s loud, fast and energetic. But Mike Gip, one of its originators, isn’t any of those things at first glance. He’s calm, quiet, and the kind of person who does not like to stand out. And yet, when he touches a track, you would never know. From Long Branch, New Jersey, Gip’s path into music was never just about sound — it was also about survival and coming to himself. He has played many roles: pro

Jamyr Greene (Photo provided by Greene) His Creative Journey Begins Behind the Camera Jamyr Greene never set out to just film basketball games. What began as a teenager holding a camera in Franklin Township, New Jersey, has grown into a multidisciplinary creative practice blending videography, fashion, photography, and storytelling. Now 27, Greene identifies as a creative producer specializing in film, photo, design, and music even though labels rarely capture the scope of hi

Taylor Richmond (Photo provided by Taylor Richmond) From braiding doll heads at age 11 to redefining the salon experience, this New Jersey stylist proves that hairstyling is more than just a service, it’s a calling . Finding Home in the Salon By age eleven, Taylor Richmond already felt at home in the salon. It wasn’t because of the mirrors or salon gossip, but for the transformations she witnessed. People came in, weighed down and left renewed. Hair, she realized early, could

Photo courtesy of Queena Bergen. “Bamboo is one of the strongest materials on Earth … but [it] takes over five years to grow,” said Queena Bergen , when reflecting on her favorite poem to perform, “ Bamboo Season .” Hailing from Franklin, New Jersey, Bergen is a person who cannot easily be categorized — nor does she want to be. Rather than an artist, Bergen self-identifies as a creator, someone who builds something where there was nothing and does not stay in any particular l

[Pennsauken, NJ] — In December 2025, BookSmiles announced its 4,000,000th book given away, highlighting the urgency for the pending move to an improved, expanded 14,000 sq. ft. facility in Cherry Hill, NJ. In the new location, the non-profit will enlist the help of thousands of volunteers to distribute three to four million books each year to children and teachers in Philadelphia and New Jersey who need them most. It underscores the organization's unwavering commitment to