The Urban League of Essex County (ULEC), a nonprofit focused on economic and social advancement, recently announced the election of new members to its board of trustees and the appointment of its officers for 2025-2026 at its annual meeting held last month.
The Urban League’s Board of Trustees includes leaders across private, public, and non-profit sectors who provide governance, vision, and resources to advance ULEC’s mission of economic empowerment, social justice, and community development. The Urban League of Essex County, founded in 1917, is a civil rights and community development organization dedicated to helping African Americans and other underserved communities achieve economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.
The board members will provide fresh input into ULEC’s employment services, housing counseling, and other programs as the organization prepares for its major fundraising event, the R.E.D. Gala on Oct. 21.
“We are honored to welcome our newest trustees to the Urban League family,” said Vivian Cox Fraser, President & CEO of the Urban League of Essex County. “Their diverse perspectives, expertise, and deep commitment to equity will be vital as we continue building thriving communities across Essex County and beyond.”
These are the newly elected trustees:
- Sandy Castor – Department Head of Economic Development, Middlesex County
- Christopher Choudhry – Vice President, Support Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Rhonda Wilson Duncan – Business Development Lead, Northeast, Citi
- Lisa Durden – Filmmaker, Contributor and Producer
- David Singleton – Vice President, Account Development, American Express
- Courtney A. Smith – Senior Vice President, Washington Prime Group
- Roger L. Soares – COO & Head of Strategy for Global Markets & Regulatory Operations, BNY Mellon
- Terry Tucker – Chief of Staff, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
The following officers were elected to lead the Board of Trustees:
- Chair: Perren Thomas
- Vice Chair: Dr. Charles Washington
- Treasurer: Robert Ross
- Secretary: David Williams
- Recording Secretary: Rosalyn Charles
“This is a defining moment for our organization and the communities we serve,” said Perren Thomas, incoming board chair. “The Urban League of Essex County has a proud history of advancing opportunity and equity, but we are operating in an era where the nonprofit sector faces unprecedented financial pressures, and hard-won civil rights gains are under attack. Our responsibility now is not only to sustain the progress we’ve made, but to accelerate it.”
