NEW JERSEY STATE STEERING COMMITTEE
Raritan Valley History
1. President - Rev. Dr. Angela M. Battle is the Pastor of Bethel AME Church, the author of “Unwrap Your Gift” and is a 20 year employee with NJ TRANSIT as Revenue Contract Administrator. Dr. Battle holds two Master’s one in Public Administration and the second in Divinity. Her doctorate is in Ministry. She is an NJ State Coordinator for the Women in Ministry (WIM), NAACP Executive Board Member, the Black Caucus Fundraising Chair, and New Jersey Clergy Coalition for Justice (NJCCJ) and serves on the Executive Board of Community of Minority Transportation Officials, COMTO. Dr. Battle has received numerous awards with the most recent being recipient of the 2016 New Jersey Annual Conference for the distinguished Sarah Bass Allen Bicentennial Celebration Humanitarian Award and the 2017 National Council of Negro Women Outstanding Humanitarian Award.
2. First Vice President – Lossie Whitaker Thornton was elected to serve as the Vice-President and President of New Jersey Coalition of Educational Leaders (NJCEL). Currently, she serves on a Child Study Team in an urban district as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC). Lossie has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Seton Hall University and was recognized as a Distinguished Leader. Lossie holds two Masters Degrees one in Special Education and the second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Currently, she is working on her doctorate degree.
3. Third Vice President – Corinne Thomas is a lifetime member of First Park Baptist Church in Plainfield, N.J. Corinne ministered to those in need through the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen. Corinne also was an active member of the Plainfield youth chapter of the NAACP, serving as the Vice President. At Rowan University she continued to display a strong desire to lead and serve others with her gifts and talents. She was a member of the Petey Greene Foundation and the Community Safety Association. Corinne graduated from Rowan University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice.
4. Recording Secretary - Dr. Tabitha Bellamy-McKinley attended Howard University in Washington, DC, where she served as president of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel ushers and was an active member of the National Council of Negro Women, Howard Section. Dr. McKinley holds a Master of Arts in Biology Education and Master of Arts and PhD in Psychometrics. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Junior League and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, where she is both a local and regional officer in the organization. Tabitha is employed by the New Jersey Department of Education where she manages national and international assessment programs for the state of New Jersey.
5. Financial Secretary - Evelyn Kirkland - Her professional affiliations include Executive Board Member and Treasurer of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (Elizabeth Packers, Inc.), Primerica Financial Services, Assistant Coordinator and Team Lead for the Greeters Ministry at Agape Family Worship Center, and Member of the Black History Committee, Martin Luther King, Jr. Building, and Federal Courthouse located in Newark, NJ. Evelyn graduated from Seton Hall University where she received my Bachelor of Science in Biology. Currently, Evelyn holds the position of Management and Program Analyst at the United States Marshals Service.
6. Corresponding Secretary - Katrina Moore graduated from Morgan State University. She completed a Master’s in Special Education at New Jersey City University & began teaching children with special needs in the East Orange New Jersey Public Schools. After completing another graduate program at William Paterson University, Katrina changed gears and began serving on the Child Study Team as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC). She currently serves in an urban New Jersey school district working as a LDTC, and is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pi Theta Omega Chapter. Katrina also serves on the executive board of The Eight Flames of Hope Foundation. She is a long time member of the Cathedral International, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey and is married to Mr. Eucles Moore.
7. Assistant Secretary - Tanya Taylor – is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN). She graduated from Concorde School of Hair in Bloomfield, New Jersey, as a licensed Beautician. She is a graduate of Berkeley College with an Associate Applied Science in Business Administration and concentration in Management. Tanya will be continuing her education with Southern New Hampshire University pursuing a B.S/M.S degree in Accounting. She is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Sorority, and has volunteered as a guest speaker for BMW NA WIN "Women's Interactive Network" seminar career presentation " Dress for Success''. She was inducted into the "Unsung Hero Breakfast" by the NJ Annual Conference Lay Organization and awarded for outstanding service in Kingdom Building. She is also a member of the National Association for The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
8. Treasurer - Rev. Dr. Berlinda Love has been inducted into three community organizations, including The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated, Pi Chapter; Top Ladies of Distinction, Trenton Chapter; and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Epsilon Xi Zeta Chapter. Her most recent honors are from the National Association of Professional Women as Professional Woman of the Year in Journalism; Stanford Who’s Who as Pinnacle Professional of the Year; and Social Book Global Who’s Who for having demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in her field. Dr. Love holds a Master of Arts Degree and Master of Divinity Degree, and an Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Theology.
9. Chaplain - Kim Copeland is currently the Executive Director of Jirevision, Inc. which is a family support service that was birthed in East Orange New Jersey 20 years ago. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Josiah’s Mission, which was a child care service that was established in a development called Winding Woods, for mothers with infants and children. In 2008, Kimberly became The Director of The Fraternal order of Loyal Christian Benefit Association (LCBA). Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sociology Degree from Long Island University.
10. Historian – Karen Thomas has been employed with NJ Transit for over 28 years. She currently works in the Procurement Department and serves as the Clerical Union Delegate for Local 819. Karen’s volunteer service has included; overseer for Plainfield NAACP Youth Group, American Cancer Society Hope Club, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, American Cancer Society Diamond Ball Committee, World Vision Volunteer/Fred Hammond Festival of Praise, President of the North Plainfield High School Field Hockey Booster Club. Karen is currently a member of the A Phillip Randolph Institute (civil rights and labor movement organization) and sits on the Board of Trustees for CASA Shaw - Court Appointed Special Advocate for Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties - a non-profit that helps place abused and neglected children into safe, loving permanent homes. Karen attended Rutgers University. Karen has completed certificate programs at Union County Vocational & Technical in Electrical Technology and New Brunswick Theology Seminary in Theology Studies. Karen is currently enrolled at Pillar College/Winning Women Transformation Leadership Program.
11. Parliamentarian – Delia S. Chrismon-Diggs is a registered nurse of 29 years, continuing her education at Rowan College and currently employed full-time as a Practice Consultant for Anthem, BC/BS. She is the mother of 6 children, married to Pastor Michael C. Diggs, Sr. and serves alongside her husband as First Lady of Second Calvary Baptist Church, Hopewell, New Jersey. Under the direction of Michael C. Diggs, Sr. and serves as President of Women’s Fellowship of Second Calvary Baptist Church and associate of Youth Ministry.