30 Under 40 Top Black Leaders of South Jersey Sponsored by Franklin Bank

Dr. Kendall Barton is a higher education leader with more than 13 years of experience at Rutgers University–Camden, where she currently serves in a senior operations and strategy role within the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. She has spent her time at the university providing direct student support services, division-wide leadership across strategic planning, budget oversight, compliance, and operational management, and working closely with senior administrators to advance institutional priorities and student-centered initiatives. Barton is known for building sustainable systems, translating vision into actionable strategy, and leading cross-functional teams through periods of growth and change. She holds a doctorate in education and brings a strong dedication to equity, community engagement, and organizational effectiveness. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Camden Special Services District, reflecting her longstanding commitment to community-centered revitalization and to improving quality of life for residents, students, employees, and visitors across the City of Camden and greater South Jersey.

Curtis Caldwell is a palliative care outreach specialist at Samaritan. A graduate of Temple University, Caldwell’s career experience spans several sectors of the healthcare industry. As Samaritan palliative care outreach specialist, With a focus on educating the community on the benefits of essential palliative medical services at any stage of serious illness, Mr. Caldwell builds partnerships with faith and community leaders. Caldwell also serves as a respected Samaritan Diversity Committee leader and champion, dedicated to advancing the organization’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity and Access. His leadership and personal commitment to engaging Samaritan staff extend from Harvest Diversity Day; Black History Month; AAPI Month; and Juneteenth; to PRIDE Month celebrations and multi-faceted learning opportunities. Prior to joining Samaritan, Caldwell worked at A Place for Mom, Enlivant-Lindsay Place Assisted Living, and the Trinity Health LIFE Program. Caldwell was honored with the Lourdes Health System’s Sister Elizabeth Corry OSF Award for his distinguished service to the community.

Naa’sar S.J. Carr is a community organizer with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice along with being a frequent public speaker and activist. Carr said his community organizing work focuses on creating accessible pathways for people to engage with the policies that impact their lives. His organizing with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, supported community listening events in Camden with NJ We the People and New Jersey Working Families Party, phone banks, and statewide mobilizations such as the NJVRA Week of Action to educate residents and advocate for stronger voting rights protections. 

Carr’s work also supported efforts around the People’s Agenda during the lame duck legislative session. The People’s Agenda is a collective effort of 33 New Jersey organizations urging lawmakers to prioritize critical legislation that upholds the values of freedom and justice for all, as well as closes corporate loopholes and taxes super millionaires to pay their fair share to fund essential programs and services that communities needs.

Desirée Celestin is the founder of The Dress Fairies Project, a nonprofit organization created to address gaps in access to high-quality formalwear and personalized styling experiences. Grounded in sustainable and cyclical fashion, the program provides community-donated gowns while ensuring every participant receives the same standard of exceptional care, dignity, and support. Celestin personally styles each participant, creating an unforgettable one-on-one experience that prioritizes the participants self-expression. In 2024, she supported 61 young women in finding gowns they loved for prom, working closely with West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey. That same year, she expanded the initiative to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, providing formalwear for college students attending professional and campus events. A graduate of Millville High School and Rutgers University, Celestin’s work creates expressive, joyful outlets for women through fashion, creativity, and community-building experiences. In addition to her professional work, Desirée has produced community-centered events that encourage self-expression and leadership, including a women’s brunch titled She Leads South Jersey.

Trust Cooper is a 25-year-old entrepreneur launched his digital marketing company, Field Drip, in 2022. The company focuses on highlighting football players’ gear and uniforms, engaging audiences through his popular Instagram page, where followers can rate and comment on photos of players from Midget Football to Professional levels. Over three years, Trust has successfully grown his following to 98,000 organic followers and established partnerships with various sporting apparel and NIL companies. Additionally, he serves as a panelist on the Athlete Leadership Summit, honoring middle to high school athletes. Cooper graduated from Vineland High School in 2019, where he was a dedicated starting linebacker on the football team, a passion he nurtured since joining VMFL at the age of seven. Unfortunately, Trust’s dream of playing college football was cut short due to a torn ACL during his senior year. Despite the misfortune, he continued his leadership off the field.

Lauren Holmes is a banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, serving clients across the Mid-Atlantic region. With a career dedicated to the financial services industry, Holmes is passionate about aligning the firm’s intellectual capital with her clients’ goals, delivering strategic solutions to help grow and preserve wealth. She began her career at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in 2023 as an investment specialist on the Mid-Atlantic Investor Desk, partnering with corporate executives, endowments, and foundations. Holmes draws on her investment expertise and broad industry experience to advise high-net-worth clients, emphasizing relationship management and personalized financial advice. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Holmes held positions at PNC Private Bank and Citi Private Bank. Holmes, who has a finance and marketing degree from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Gloucester County and the American Cancer Society-GenNow Network.

The 2018 graudate of Rutgers University-Camden Law School is a litigation associate with the law firm Goldberg Segalia in Plainsboro. Jackson is a selfless leader who works diligently to support others. He currently serves as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of NJ State Bar Association, and a former Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Burlington County Bar Association and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rutgers School of Law-Camden Alumni Association. He was an outstanding leader as a law student, having served on the executive boards of our Black Law Students Association and our Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.

Esther Lendore is a legislative aide and advocate in New Jersey’s 4th Legislative

District, where she supports Assemblyman Cody Miller and helps advance work at the

intersection of policy, people, and public service. Esther is driven by one focus:

expanding access; whether that means supporting policy initiatives that strengthen

opportunity, helping constituents feel seen and supported, or building bridges for the

next generation of leaders. Her leadership includes launching a pipeline-building

initiative that connected college students of color with mentors and workforce leaders,

helping them enter professional spaces with confidence. Esther is deeply committed to

giving back, both in the United States and internationally, by expanding access to

resources and strengthening pathways to opportunity. Proudly rooted in her Grenadian

heritage, she brings a global lens to service and believes advocacy should be both

personal and actionable. Grounded in faith and hard work, Esther measures leadership by impact, and the ability to lead by example

A passionate South Jersey advocate, Minister Elorm Ocansey serves as a lead partner of the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project. He has played a pivotal role in the organization’s efforts to revive the legacy of one of South Jersey’s most historic African American communities. Through his leadership, the Whitesboro community has seen a renaissance of its history throughout the State and Nation. He’s helped Whitesboro secure trusted partnerships with the Essex Community Land Trust, New Jersey Community Capital, among others. He also served as a housing access organizer for Fair Share Housing Center in Cherry Hill. He was recently recognized by Building One New Jersey as the 2025 Outstanding Leader of the Year. Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, Ocansey is an ordained African Charismatic Pentecostal Minister and a Chaplain Candidate/Lieutenant with the New Jersey Army National Guard. Through his community service ministry foundation, he is primarily dedicated to faith-based neighborhood revitalization, community development, and grassroots-led community planning.

Tajh Shelton is the founder of the nonprofit Making the Less Fortunate Feel Fortunate, which provides food, clothing, school givebacks and educational experiences to underserved children, families and individuals. Hee is also the co-CEO of The Union, which provides event planning that caters to creating meaningful, community-driven experiences. His work as been cited by other publications such as Breaking AC. Professionally, he serves as a bus operator for New Jersey Transit, providing reliable transportation to thousands of residents daily. Shelton is a graduate of Atlantic City High School with studies at Atlantic Cape Community College, Shelton  grew up in a single parent household and two different notorious local housing projects in Atlantic City. His long term goal is to create tiny homes as well as job opportunities for the homeless. He is most proud of his children, Alylah & Amari, who both are A+ students and accomplished athletes.

Ashley Smith has been a high school counselor at Clayton High School for four years. Smith, who has lived in Clayton since she was eight, Smith is a Marines Corps veteran and graduated with her bachelor’s from Stockton University. She has earned two master’s from Wilmington University. Smith said she has always wanted to give back to her high school alma mater that has given her so much. Smith has taken on the additional responsibilities of track and field coach, being a Gloucester County professional counselors association member and take part in the college fair. Being in education has been a great passion of Smith and she said she will continue to strive to make great changes.

Stefanie Sutton is the director of special events at the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. In her role, she oversees the Chamber’s programs and events to ensure that they are executed at the highest level of excellence. Prior to joining the CCSNJ, Stefanie worked in both events and marketing roles at several nonprofits, including the Penn Museum and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Alongside her work in events, she also served as president on the board of AIGA Philadelphia and as the marketing chair for the Young Friends of Vetri Community Partnership. In her spare time, Sutton is a hobbyist street photographer whose work has been shown in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region.

A graduate of Rowan University, Brock W. Thomas was the co-founder of the Men of Color Alliance, a South Jersey-based nonprofit organization that seeks to strengthen the retention, mentor and assist in the professional development of men of color who are students in higher education and in their early professional pathways. Brock is currently an accountant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. There, he supports one of the nation’s leading pediatric health systems through financial reporting, compliance, and operational analysis. Through strategic leadership and community-centered programming, Thomas has helped grow

MOCA into a recognized regional organization serving students and young professionals across

South Jersey, earning formal recognition from the New Jersey State Senate in 2024. His work is

rooted in preparing tomorrow’s future leaders with the resources, support, and confidence

needed to succeed, lead with purpose, and have the courage to make a lasting impact within

their respective careers., Thomas serves as the treasurer for the Southern Burlington County branch of the NAACP.

Milan Whetstone is the assistant director of admissions for Pathway Programs at Rowan University. Whetstone earned her bachelor’s in sociology in 2011 and master’s in social work from Rutgers University in 2013. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Whetstone is commitment to student success was shaped by her experience in Rowan’s EOF/MAP program — now ASCEND. She has built a career centered on expanding access, equity, and opportunity in higher education. In her current role, she supports first-generation and economically disadvantaged students and families through the college admissions process. Milan leads recruitment for the ASCEND EOF/RISE program, continuously developing new strategies to increase recruitment and retention to ensure the population becomes Rowan University students and graduates. She is a respected DEI leader across campus and serves on multiple university committees. A little more than two 2 years ago, Milan and her husband, Dawaine, welcomed their miracle baby girl, Nola, conceived during their third round of IVF. Just four days later, she received a life-altering diagnosis. Despite the unimaginable challenge, she has faced her journey with extraordinary strength, grace, and unwavering hope. Her resilience continues to inspire her family, colleagues, and community. Milan’s story is a testament to perseverance and the power of love, as she remains a beacon of courage for women balancing motherhood, professional aspirations, and personal adversity.

Taviaus Wilson’s support of Third Fridays fits naturally with his personality: he enjoys seeing local businesses thrive, watching families come out to enjoy the city, and being part of something that brings Bridgeton together. Wilson’s life mirrors the story of many young men from Bridgeton: shaped by the city’s challenges, strengthened by its sense of community, and motivated by the desire to contribute to something bigger than himself. His continued involvement in public events like Third Fridays demonstrates a commitment to staying connected and giving back to the place that raised him. Taviaus Wilson is a Bridgeton native whose presence in the community reflects the energy, creativity, and resilience that define the city’s young leaders. Third Fridays, the monthly cultural and small?business showcase that brings life to the downtown district. Whether helping vendors set up, supporting local entrepreneurs, or simply being a consistent, positive presence, Wilson is part of the new generation helping keep the event vibrant.’s support of Third Fridays fits naturally with his personality: he enjoys seeing local businesses thrive, watching families come out to enjoy the city, and being part of something that brings Bridgeton together. Wilson’s life mirrors the story of many young men from Bridgeton: shaped by the city’s challenges, strengthened by its sense of community, and motivated by the desire to contribute to something bigger than himself. His continued involvement in public events like Third Fridays demonstrates a commitment to staying connected and giving back to the place that raised him. Taviaus Wilson is a Bridgeton native whose presence in the community reflects the energy, creativity, and resilience that define the city’s young leaders. Third Fridays, the monthly cultural and small?business showcase that brings life to the downtown district. Whether helping vendors set up, supporting local entrepreneurs, or simply being a consistent, positive presence, Wilson is part of the new generation helping keep the event vibrant.