Jersey City Earns 100/100 in Nationwide Evaluation of LGBTQ+ Policies and Services by the Human Rights Campaign
JERSEY CITY, NJ – For the 11th consecutive year, Mayor Steven M. Fulop is proud to announce Jersey City has, once again, earned a perfect score from the nationwide 2023 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI), citing the administrative efforts to create an inclusive and welcoming community where every LGBTQ+ residents, employee, and visitor can thrive.
HCCC continues to expand its offerings of online programs and courses at a rapid pace. Pictured: HCCC graduate Shannon Marie Gallagher.
HCCC’s 16 online programs make college education an affordable and convenient option for students around the corner and around the world.
With the launch of six new fully online programs in the past six months, Hudson County Community College continues to make significant strides in expanding access to college education and reaching more students than ever before through its robust catalog of online and hybrid courses.
| The honor was conferred at HACU’s 37th Annual Conference on Hispanic Higher Education in Chicago. Hudson County Community College (HCCC) was recognized by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) with the “Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award” for excellence in support of HACU’s mission. The award was presented during HACU’s 2023 conference, “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Diversifying Our Workforce and Strengthening America,” October 28-30, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. “HACU is fortunate to have member institutions like Hudson County Community College partnering with us on initiatives that advance Hispanic student success, and this award recognizes their efforts” said HACU President and CEO Dr. Antonio R. Flores. “HACU congratulates HCCC on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to their continued success as an Hispanic-Serving Institution.” “For more than 28 years, Hudson County Community College has enjoyed an outstanding partnership with HACU. In working together, we have expanded opportunities for our students, developed and implemented award-winning student success programs, and strengthened collaborations with government, business, industry, and beyond,” said Dr. Christopher M. Reber, HCCC President.Hudson County Community College is an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) – 56% of full-time students are Hispanic/LatinX. Diversity, equity, and inclusion principles are interwoven into every HCCC policy, procedure, program, and offering to foster and support a welcoming, diverse, equitable and inclusive environment on all HCCC campuses. HCCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leads and supports Cultural Affairs, Accessibility Services, Veterans’ Affairs, and International Student Services. The Office also hosts the high-functioning President’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI), Latino Community Advisory Council, and African American Community Outreach Committee. PACDEI is comprised of 40 students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, Foundation directors, and community leaders, and provides leadership, support, and counsel to foster an environment that embraces shared values among all HCCC constituencies. Now in its fourth year, the HCCC Latino Community Advisory Council, an alliance of more than 30 clergy, educators, business professionals, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders, meets regularly to address the Hispanic community’s issues and concerns, and to promote educational attainment throughout Hudson County. The group sponsors and holds networking events, open houses, receptions, and informational and enrollment events throughout the year.As a result of these programs and alliances, HCCC is frequently recognized for its support of the Latino community. Recently, HCCC Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Yeurys Pujols, was honored with the 48th Annual Hispanic State Parade of New Jersey Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, and in 2022, Dr. Reber was a Parade Grand Marshal and recipient of the Educator of the Year Award. The College has also received the 2021 Community Partner Award from the Desfile Salvadoreño de New Jersey; ??2021 Recognition for Work with the LatinX Community by Ambassador Alfonso Morales, Consul General of Ecuador for New Jersey and Pennsylvania; ?2021 Recognition for Community Service in Support of the LatinX Community in Hudson County by Multicultural Poder Hispano; 2020 Save Latin America Los Tres Antillanos Annual Gala Educational Award to Dr. Yeurys Pujols; and others. In May, the College hosted “HACU on the Road,” a convening of more than 100 national HACU leaders and members, chancellors and presidents of colleges and universities, superintendents of Hispanic-serving school districts, higher education representatives, state legislators, and corporate and community leaders. The convening was designed to promote dialogue about the state of Hispanic higher education. Last month, Dr. Reber participated in a Washington, D.C. roundtable discussion with United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and other notable HSI leaders that was hosted by HACU President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Antonio Flores. Recently, Dr. Yeurys Pujols was selected as a Fellow in the HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo; and Irma Williams, HCCC Associate Registrar, was chosen to participate in HACU’s inaugural Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program as a recipient of a Capital One grant. Earlier this year, Dr. Reber took part in HACU’s Washington, D.C. roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. HCCC students benefit from HACU scholarships, internships, advancement programs, and career development opportunities. “As our partner, HACU helps the College provide the people of our community with avenues to succeed and excel in higher education and their careers,” Dr. Reber stated. “We are proud of our alliance with HACU, proud of our heritage as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and honored to receive this award.”# # #Caption: Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) President Dr. Antonio Flores, at left, presents Hudson County Community College President Dr. Christopher M. Reber with the 2023 “Outstanding HACU-Member Institution Award” for excellence in support of HACU’s mission before 2,500 conference participants. About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers nearly 90 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management; Nursing and Health Professions; and Humanities and Social Sciences. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. The College’s School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development offers cutting-edge, industry-recognized, stackable credentials in alignment with high-priority workforce needs.HCCC has partnerships with major four-year colleges and universities in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education. The College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been recognized with the 2021 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Northeast Region Equity Award; the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2021, 2022 and 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, this year honoring HCCC as one of six community colleges nationally to be named “Top Colleges for Diversity;” and the “INSIGHT Into Diversity” 2022 and 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. HCCC was a finalist recently for the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) “Advancing Diversity Award of Excellence.”For the second consecutive year, HCCC was selected as one of 20 community colleges in the United States to be named among the “2023 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges” by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) in collaboration with “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.” The College was one of 22 community colleges in the nation, and the only college in New Jersey, to be recognized by ModernThink LLC and the “Chronicle of Higher Education” as a 2022 and 2023 “Great College to Work For®.” HCCC is one of two colleges in the United States to be named a Top Ten Finalist in all three program categories for the nationally recognized 2023 Bellwether Awards and received the 2023 Bellwether Award for the College’s cutting-edge “Hudson Scholars” program.The College’s exemplary work in advancing student success has been recognized with 2023 “Leader College” designation by Achieving the Dream, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as catalysts for equity and mobility in their communities. HCCC was also presented with the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention by Vector Solutions for demonstrating leadership in digital prevention programming focused on student safety, well-being, and inclusion. About the Hispanic Association of Colleges and UniversitiesThe Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), founded in 1986, represents 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters is in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California. |
Vice Chair Lee is the sole nominee from the Northeastern United States for
ACCT’s prestigious M. Dale Ensign National Trustee Leadership Award.
August 23, 2023, Jersey City, NJ – For more than 120 years, America’s community colleges have played a vital role in transforming lives by creating pathways to economic opportunity and financial security. Today, community colleges face myriad challenges such as funding issues, keeping apace of rapidly changing technologies, and, most importantly, developing the means to assist students in continuing and completing their studies. Community college trustees work with college administrators and staff, local and national government entities, and area industries to meet these challenges, and to ensure opportunities abound for those who wish to successfully pursue a community college education.
The River View Observer is proud to welcome Mark Pica and his insightful food column Picas Pics.
Mark Pica is no stranger to Hudson County, Mark hails from Jersey City, and ran a successful automotive business; Pica’s Automotive for years in Jersey City Heights, Mark is also no stranger to the restaurant business having run a successful restaurant in Newport, Jersey City
From time to time Mark will open our eyes and our palettes to some new and old-time favorite restaurants in and out of Hudson County.
For Picas Pics’ first column in the River View Observer, Mark has ventured outside Hudson County and chose Rum Runners in Seabright New Jersey.
PICAS PICS -RUM RUNNERS
“Picas Picsâ€
Pregaming for this summer’s festivities I decided to venture off to Monmouth County for an early dinner on a Beautiful Sunday afternoon. As most of you know, there are plenty of Amazing Restaurants there, but today, with summer coming, I had to be on the water.
I’ve heard many good things about The Rum Runner Restaurant in Sea Bright NJ since they did its makeover in I believe 2016, and decided to give it a shot today.
The second you walk through their glass doors into the vestibule you know it’s gonna be nice. Up a small flight of steps, through another set of glass doors, and then WOW. Spectacular Views of the Shrewsbury River, through the large windows that go along the entire length of the dining room floor. A perfect amount of decorative wood trim, elegant lighting throughout, their chic tables, and very comfortable cushioned chairs all together equaled a Major Wow! Folks, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. No matter where you sit in this restaurant, you have a Breathtaking View.
It’s always pretty cool when you’re digging how astonishing a restaurant’s decor can be, but what about the food? Well, here we go baby, right to my main. I went with their Pistachio “Dijon Crusted†Baby Lamb Chops, they were so tender and tasty, it could be the best I ever had. The Pistachio and Dijon Combo gave it a taste like never before. They were served over a Hearty Butternut Squash Risotto, tiny chunks of carrots in a black plum reduction, slightly trimmed with raspberry syrup, and guess what folks, OOOFFFHHHAAAAA Baby, Absolutely Fabulous!!!
We started off with their Delicious Honey Drizzle, Crushed Pistachio, and Goat Cheese Fritters that were “Off the Chartsâ€!!
Being a finer restaurant, after dinner they bring over a dessert tray with several astounding choices. We chose their Lightly Crunched Caramel Cake with Fresh Whipped Cream, topped with Caramel Glaze that all resulted in a pure Caramel Bliss.
“Picas Pics†Gives this Outstanding Elegant Restaurant, The Rum Runner, Sea Bright N.J. the Max, 5 Thumbs Up! A Must Try!
By Scott Murphy
How a group of passionate divers are trying to create essential awareness about a growing ocean threat…
By day, Roger J. Muller Jr. can usually be found overseeing Muller Insurance – his longstanding insurance agency in Hoboken, New Jersey. At night, friends often seek him out on the ice, where he can be spotted either captaining the Hoboken Rockets hockey team, or watching the New Jersey Devils pursue a hopeful Stanley Cup.
But every few months, as he stares at the exotic fish in his massive office tank, Muller gets the itch to go deep sea diving. “It’s like a mission,†he says. For the past 25 years, he has dived in places as varied as Cuba, Italy, Panama, Bonaire, Curacao, Jamaica, St. Croix, Grand Cayman Islands, Aruba, the Florida Panhandle, Rangiria, Mo’oria, Bora Bora, the South Pacific and Hawaii. He’s accumulated some noteworthy stats and achievements during that time: over 2,500 dives and 132 major diving certificates. “I love it,†he says with a clear passion in his voice. “I started in 1998 in Aruba, and just kept going. I’ve gotten every certification from Open Water Diver to instructor.â€
