Fatima Heyward Named President of New Jersey Young Democrats
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CHERRY HILL – Fatima Heyward, cofounder and president of the South Jersey Young Democrats Black Caucus, made history when she was elected president of the statewide New Jersey Young Democrats at its bi-annual reorganization meeting July 15.
Heyward is the first African-American woman ever elected president of the body. The New Jersey Young Democrats is the official youth arm of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, with members ranging in the ages of 14-36.
“I’m honored to have the support of my fellow young Democrats as we continue to build a new generation of leaders in the Democratic Party,” Heyward said in a statement released by the NJYD after the election. “As we approach the 2020 election, NJYD will continue to advocate, organize, and support young people running for office across our state. My new Executive Board and I look forward to hitting the ground running.”
Another South Jersey African-American, Camden County’s Quandell Iglesia, was selected the Southern Vice President of the NJYD.
Others elected to executive board included Executive Vice President: Brian Boyell (Middlesex); National Committeewoman: Aimee Focaraccio (Hudson); National Committeeman: Jason Bergman (Bergen); Northern Vice President: Imani Oakley (Essex); Central Vice President: Brandon Givens (Union); Treasurer: Amanda Dávila Switzer (Burlington); and Secretary: Catherine Tung (Monmouth).
“With the state of government and politics in our country right now, there’s never been a more important time for civic and political engagement,” Marshall Spevak, the outgoing state president, said in a statement.
“That’s why I have great confidence in the leadership of Fatima Heyward and her new executive board as they continue to push the envelope to advocate for the priorities important to our generation and to elect young people to office. Fatima and her executive board are the most diverse NJYD have ever had, and I look forward to seeing the great things that NJYD does in the future,” Spevak continued.
READ: Fatima Heyward Makes Waves as Civil Rights Defender
Heyward has served in various leadership roles with the NAACP Camden County East Chapter and recently completed her fellowship with New Leaders Council New Jersey, a six-month intensive, leadership training program.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and an honors graduate of Rider University. This year, she received the Visionary Leader Award from the Camden County East NAACP and was named SJ Magazine’s Woman to Watch – Women of Excellence recipient.
Iglasia is a business owner and the founder of SNJ Millennials, an organization that works to support young people breaking into the field and professional fields. He posted about his experience on social media.
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