Dr. Tolulope Oyetunde
Anesthesia Resident/Alumna, Temple University
Dr. Tolu Oyetunde was born in Lagos Nigeria but became a child of Rutgers, having completed both her undergrad and medical school education at the university. She is currently an Anesthesia Resident at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She can be described as energetic and driven, with those qualities it is no surprise that she worked as a life coach and financial advocate for persons with developmental disabilities. She has had substantial experiences with the administration of funding for research and scholarships at the university level which attests to her tendency to be an advocate for those around her. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Rutgers University and stands as mentor to various students looking to enter the medical field.
Johanna Calle
Senior Policy Advisor/Alumna, Office of New Americans (ONA), New Jersey Department of Human Services
Johanna Calle is the Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of New Americans (ONA) at the New Jersey Department of Human Services. In this role, Ms. Calle works on identifying, developing, and executing policies and strategies to advance efforts to welcome and empower immigrant communities in the state. Prior to joining the Department, Johanna served as the Director at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ). She played a key role in the passing of the legislation to expand access to Driver’s Licenses to all and in the implementation of Attorney General Grewal’s Immigrant Trust Directive. Johanna’s professional experience also includes working the National American Civil Liberties Union and participating in the ACLU of Northern California’s MiACLU campaign, visiting various affiliates fighting for immigrants’ rights. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Criminal Justice from Rutgers University.
Kim Nesbitt Good
Proprietor of Nesbitt Funeral Home
Kim Nesbitt Good a lifelong resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey is the daughter of the late William H. Sr. and Joan Foreman Frye. She and her loving and dedicated husband of 33 years, Ted, are the proud parents of two children, Lawrence and Leah. The Good’s are the proprietors of the Nesbitt Funeral Home in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which was established in 1932 by her adoptive parents, the late Bravell M. Sr. and Carrie Allen Nesbitt.
Kim’s broad professional life began before High School when she was first introduced to the world of Forensic Science. She began her journey into Forensic Science at Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey, studying Business and Nursing receiving her Associates Degree in Business. Enrolling in the world-renowned American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York, she received yet another degree.
She continued in the study of Restorative Art at St. John’s College, Queens, New York; studies at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, NJ and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio where, in addition to all her other unique studies, she learned the art of handling radiation accident victims.
In preparation for the Advanced Embalmer Degree, Kim attended Xavier University and Foundation National Academy of Professional Embalmers, studying Forensic Science and Restorative Art.
Kim has received numerous awards and recognition for her outstanding work in the Funeral Profession in and around the State of New Jersey. Just to name a few:
Acacia Lodge #23 PHA Community Service Award, Shirley Chisolm Award Civic & Community Service, Garden State Funeral Directors Award, Omega PSI PHI Citizen Of The Year, NJ Conference Lay Organization Christian & Community Leadership Award, Vulcan Society of Elizabeth, The Women Of Heard AMEC Church & Community Award, 2nd Macedonia Church Humanitarian Award, St Elizabeth Episcopal Church Humanitarian Award, Elizabeth Branch NAACP Role Model Award, White Rock Baptist Church Linden Pastors Aide Ministry Honorary Legend ,Family Owned Business Champion, YMCA Of Elizabeth Hand to Hand Community Partners Award, Rev. Larry Dixon Community Service Award, Friends Black Female Mortician Award, National Council Of Negro Women Elizabeth Chapter Outstanding Women In Business, Contribution To The Theatre And Arts City Of Elizabeth, Community Access Award, Churchman Funeral Home Vision Dedicated To Funeral Service, Special Recognition Award Officer And Members Of Star Of Bethlehem Chapter 26, United Muslim Inc Excellence In Public Service, YMCA of Elizabeth Hand to Hand Community Partners Award, Community Access of Elizabeth Community Service Award, The National Council of Negro Woman Greater Elizabeth Area Outstanding Women in Business, Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church Entrepreneur & Humanitarian Service Award, City of Elizabeth Outstanding Service Recognition Award, Elizabeth Branch NAACP Commitment Award, Special Recognition Award Profession Business Owner & Dedicated Community Leader, O.E.S. Bethlehem Chapter#26 Service Award for Tenacity ,Vision & Dedication in Funeral Service, United Muslim Inc. Excellence in Public Service Award, The President Inaugural Committee Award by Barack H. Obama & Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Senator Raymond J. Lesniak Salutes Kim Nesbitt Good in the Re-Election of President Barack H. Obama & Vice President Joe Biden, Woman of Achievement Award Outstanding Entrepreneur Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Shirly Chisholm Civic Community Service Award, Donald M. Payne Jr. Humanitarian Award, Geller Humanitarian Award, Union County Fatherhood Initiative Coalition Founders Award, Assemblyman Jamal Holley State of NJ Resolution for Leadership in the African American Community, New Zion Baptist Church Community Service Recognition, Omega Psi Fraternity, Inc. Citizen of the Year, The Khury Orr Leadership Award, Vulcan Society of Elizabeth Woman of Achievement Award, Scranton University Business Association Minority Award, Acacia Lodge #23 PHA Community Service Award, The NJ Conference Law Organization First Episcopal AME Church District Christian Community Leadership Award, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chester Holmes Humanitarian Award, Garden State Funeral Director Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Award, The Women of Heard A.M.E Church Outstanding Leadership to the Funeral Industry and Community, Garden State Funeral Directors Association for Meritorious Service to the Community, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Woman of Excellence Award in Business.
Kim is a member of the Garden State Funeral Directors Association the National Funeral Directors and Mortician Association, Epsilon NuDelta and the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. Sister Good not only manages her day to day professionalism at her business, she is quite concerned of the future of African Americans in the Union County area as well as our State and Country.
She has brought a number of celebrities such as; Ruby Dee, Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, Sharon Robinson Daughter of the late Jackie Robinson, Rev. Run and Justine Simmons of Runs House, Victoria Rowell Ac tress and Writer, Dr. Yvonne T Hornton, The Obama Impersonator Reggie Brown, Bernadette Stanis of Good Times, Tonya Wright of True Blood, Deborah Gregory creator of Cheetah Girls, Paul Mooney Comedian and Actor, Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston, TV One’s Roland Martin along with Kimerly Cornish descendant of Harriet Tubman.
Kim is the co-founder of “Friends”, an organization of Black Women, who are committed to uplifting the Black Community. Kim is also the founder of Friends of the New Jersey Legacy Foundation whose mission is to acknowledge the legacy of African Americans in New Jersey. They have been hosting the largest Juneteenth Celebration in the State of New Jersey for the past 6 years.
Kim is listed in Who’s Who among Americans, Who’s Who Among African American Funeral Directors and Who’s Who Among Entrepreneurs.
One of Kim’s greatest honors was receiving The Presidential Pin from President Barack Obama, which is one of the highest service awards given to citizens who provide extraordinary service to others making our country a better place for all Americans.
Under Kim’s leadership, along with the late Congressman Donald M. Payne Sr., and Senator Raymond Lesniak the only Monument in the United States was erected at Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, NJ in memory of the 2010 earthquake victims in Haiti.
Under the leadership of President Obama and Mr. Thabiti Boone, Kim is the founder of the Union County New Jersey Fatherhood Initiative Foundation which aims to promote responsible fatherhood and healthy relationships through parenting education and skill building.
A strong believer in Jesus Christ, she is a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Elizabeth, NJ. One of Kim’s greatest and proudest honors was to campaign as a delegate for President Barack Obama. On September 20, 2011, Kim along with her daughter Leah, was invited to have lunch with First Lady Michelle Obama, Valeria Jarrett, President Obama’s Sr. Advisor, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (DNC Chairperson), Gayle King Editor at Large for the Oprah Winfred Magazine, Gloria Steinem, Feminist Activist and Planned Parenthood CEO, Cecile Richards. This luncheon was for Woman for Obama. Kim has been invited to the White House by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
She looks forward in continuing her fight for equality and justice for all people.
Marsha Cill
Advanced Practice Nurse
Patricia Perkins-Auguste
Council President/Alumna, Elizabeth NJ
Council President Patricia Perkins-Auguste is the first African-American woman elected to the Elizabeth City Council in 355 year history of the city. Elizabeth the 4th largest city in New Jersey, is rich in tradition, history and state politics. Honorable Patricia Perkins-Auguste is currently serving in her 29th year as an at-large council member. Her public service has allowed her to serve on national, state and local committees concentrating on such issues as crime, public safety, affirmative action and economic development. She has been instrumental in acquiring grant monies for numerous nonprofit organizations to conduct youth programs, HIV/AIDS victims support and the opening of a number of small local businesses. In February of 1996, she graced the City with a 100 member all male singing choir from South Africa.
Additional, in her early years as an elected public servant, Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste has been instrumental in establishing a number of community initiatives designed to aid and assist Elizabeth residents such as the Retail Skills Center at Jersey Gardens Mall which is now the Mills at Jersey Gardens, this program was designed to provide training for city residents and a Juvenile Curfew Program which promoted counseling instead of criminal punishment for violators of the City’s curfew law.
A strong advocate for individual human development and family development, Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste continually initiates and conducts programs designed to strengthen and empower women and men to explore their individual and family highest potential. A very strong advocate for equality in the workplace, home and in the marketplace, Councilwoman Perkins –Auguste is an active member as a Commissioner for the Division of Civil Rights for NJ and works tireless to eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination.
In August of 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste additionally assumed the responsibilities of Interim Business Administrator for the City of Perth Amboy. As a former personal trust bank investment officer, this opportunity allowed her to demonstrate her leadership, professionalism and organizational skills for another NJ municipality plagued with many uncertainties for its residents, public school community, businesses, medical and first responders, non-profits organizations and the faith based community.
Nationally, Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste served on the Platform Committee for the Democratic National Convention in 1996 and was a Delegate for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois. She was a member of the Steering Committee for the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Public Safety and Crime Prevention (PSCP) for all of 1996 and served on the Policy Committee of the PSCP. In 1996 Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste was elected Secretary of the Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) for the NLC, and she is a member of the National Caucus of Black Local Elected Officials previously holding the office of state representative for New Jersey.
In the State of New Jersey, Councilwoman Perkins-Auguste served on the Steering Committee for the African American Political Alliance, which is chaired by the Late Congressman Donald M. Payne, she is a past member of the State Executive Board of the NAACP. In Union County, the Councilwoman is a founding member of the Union County Black Leadership Caucus which discusses policy issues relating to County wide delivery of services to black and brown communities. Locally, the Councilwoman served on the YMCA Board, is an emeritus board member for the Union County Greater United Way, former Elizabeth Branch President of the NAACP and a founding member of the National Council of Negro Women {NCNW}, Greater Elizabeth Area Section. A graduate of Rutgers University, Newark, the Councilwoman holds a BS in Marketing.
A mother of two young adults sons, the Councilwoman is dedicated and focused on making servicing the public with passion her life purpose and her life mission.