WHM: Dr. June DePonte Sernak Advocates Women’s Rights
Dr. June Deponte Sernak. Photo courtesy of Alice Paul Institute.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
MOUNT LAUREL — Dr. June DePonte Sernak, was honored with others earlier this month by the National Association of Women’s Business Owners South Jersey Chapter at its Beyond the Glass Ceiling Gala. Front Runner New Jersey.com recognizes her for Women’s History Month.
In 2022, Sernak was appointed board chair of the Alice Paul Institute for Gender Justice, the second woman of color and the first person descended from indigenous people to serve in this role.
She received the Women’s Advocate of the Year Award from NAWBO during the ceremony.
“As an honoree for Beyond the Glass Ceiling Women’s Advocate of the Year award, I am humbled to be recognized by my peers for my role as board chair of the Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice,” Sernak told Front Runner New Jersey.com.
“Carrying the torch from my ancestors and the women who led the Suffrage movement like Sikala Sa, Ida B. Wells and Alice herself is even more epic in today’s climate where women’s rights are in jeopardy. I am proud to share our rich history and provide education to all women from all backgrounds to live healthy and prosperous lives.”
She said the Alice Paul Center is one of only 4% of National Historic Sites dedicated to women in the United States.
“I hope the exposure will not only be seen as a local gem in Mount Laurel, but an education leader and destination for all in NJ and at Belmont Paul, Alice’s adulthood home in Washington, D.C.,” Sernak said.
“We offer education sessions, historic tours and host our Girls Leadership Council providing experiences for young women to advocate for themselves and their communities. We celebrated our 40th anniversary last year and was honored to attend the Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical, ‘Suffs’ about Alice and the Suffragist leaders with a legacy of famous feminists including Gloria Steinem.”
Sernake said the NAWBO’s awards are the essence of what DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) stands for, which is currently under attack by the federal government.
“NAWBO was created to support women in business in 1975 when women needed their spouse’s signature for loans for their businesses or credit cards,” Sernak said. “The attacks we see today follow the Equal Rights Amendment ratification as the 28th Amendment as law of the land at the end of last year, that we still see volatile actions that will take away our rights from body autonomy, to education to the SAVE Act designed as a voter suppression tool for women and their allies that have names different than the ones on their birth certificates like the 80%+ of women who assumed their husbands names after marriage.
“Our role in Gender Justice is to safeguard that all women have resources and support from groups like the ones highlighted in these awards to fight for equality and their rightful place at the head of the table. There is room for us all to succeed and these awards are testament to recognizing the dedication of women as NAWBO celebrates their 50th anniversary this year.”
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