South Orange:  Local Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-27) met with fellow Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-21) in South Orange to speak to volunteers from the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills (JLOSH). 

Meeting on January 20th, the day after Chris Christie’s Inauguration, the discussion covered topics including bipartisan cooperation, volunteerism and the role women play in improving their communities.

The Assemblywomen were invited to speak by the State Public Affair Committee (SPAC) of the Junior Leagues of New Jersey, which represents not just JLOSH but all eight Junior Leagues in the State.

SPAC Chair, Kate Lee said, “The Junior League has always been non-partisan in its advocacy for women and children in New Jersey, and part of what it does best is to bring together legislators from both sides of the aisle.  At a time when we have a Republican Governor and a Democratic majority in the Legislature, bipartisan cooperation is critical to improving the lives of families in the state.

Topics of particular concern to the Junior League’s advocacy group are human trafficking, domestic violence, childhood obesity, cord blood donation and the environment.

Both Assemblywomen Munoz and Jasey addressed these concerns not only as legislators, but also as nurses, community volunteers and mothers. 
They talked about their many efforts to advocate for children in New Jersey, particularly in terms of improving safety, education and health.

Assemblywoman Munoz, who represents Millburn, Berkeley Heights, Chatham Township, Cranford, Garwood, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield (Union), Summit, Warren, Watchung and Westfield remarked that childhood obesity is a serious issue for school nurses, and commended the Junior League's efforts to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy living through its Kids in the Kitchen programs.

In addition, Assemblywoman Jasey, whose area encompasses South Orange, Maplewood, Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield (Essex), Livingston, Newark, North Caldwell, Orange, Roseland, West Caldwell and West Orange, reflected on the role of women in the New Jersey legislature and in the community, commenting that women tend to think seriously about the impact and consequences of their decisions.  Both Assemblywomen said that they are committed to working together to benefit the people of New Jersey.

JLOSH President and South Orange resident, Elizabeth Duncan-Pederson, presented Assemblywomen Munoz and Jasey with copies of The Littlest Volunteers,  which won a 2009 Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Award for Inspirational / Motivational Children’s picture books.

The book, written by JLOSH member Danielle Speckhart of Short Hills, encourages volunteerism in younger children.  Both Assemblywomen graciously accepted the books to donate to their local public libraries.

At the close of the meeting, JLOSH President Duncan-Pederson said, “One of the perks of being in the Junior League is that we come into contact with people like the Assemblywomen.  Like many Junior League volunteers, we share a common interest in service but also advocacy and training others to be a voice for the underserved members of our communities."