Conversations That Build Community: A Conversation on Leadership, Service, and Essex County with Sharif Jennings

recently had the opportunity to sit down with Sharif Jennings of Orange for an episode of Conversations That Build Community, filmed at the historic Newark Symphony Hall.

I’m excited to share that the episode is now live on YouTube! 

At its heart, the Conversations That Build Community series is about creating space for honest conversations about the people, places, and issues that shape our communities. I’m grateful to Sharif for inviting me to be part of that conversation and giving us an opportunity to talk about the work that matters to residents across Essex County.

I believe some of the most important work in public service begins with listening. Every day on the campaign trail, I have the opportunity to meet residents from East Orange, Orange, South Orange, and Newark and hear their stories. We talk about jobs and economic opportunity, infrastructure, public safety, our young people, seniors, small businesses, and what residents want to see from their county government.

Those conversations remind me that while our communities may have different experiences, we share many of the same hopes for the future. That is why conversations like this matter. They allow us to step back from the day-to-day and talk about the bigger picture: How do we build communities where people feel heard, supported, and connected to opportunity?

Furthermore, having this timely conversations at Newark Symphony Hall, a place with generations of history in Newark and Essex County was so amazing. Symphony Hall has been home for music, culture, entertainment, and community for generations. Sitting in that space to talk about our communities and our future was a meaningful reminder of the importance of preserving the places that bring people together.

I’m grateful to Sharif Jennings for creating a space for this conversation and for the opportunity to share more about why I’m running to serve as Essex County Commissioner for District 3.

The full episode is now available on YouTube. Click here to watch it now.