The Voorhees Township Cultural and Diversity Committee convened for its monthly meeting on Aug. 5 at the Town Center to discuss initiatives it has planned for the upcoming months.
The committee – which fosters human relations through education and promotes respect and understanding among the township’s diverse population – was established in 2007 with the support of Mayor Michael Mignogna. It holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in South Jersey to recognize and promote racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
Among topics at the meting were cultural trips planned for the fall season that are not just opportunities for sightseeing, but are integral to the committee’s mission. Among sites to be visited are:
- United Nations Headquarters, New York City: The committee plans to tour the 18-acre complex on the eastern shore of Manhattan, which includes the general assembly building , the 39-floor Secretariat building and the Dag Hammarskjold Library, named for the late United Nations secretary general who died in a 1961 plane crash.
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Robbinsville: The new Hindu temple offers free tours.
- Peter Mott House, Lawnside: The historic home and museum, built around 1845, is the oldest known house in Lawnside and is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
- African American Museum and White House Tour, Washington, D.C.: Committee Vice Chair Gwen Devera is coordinating this trip, scheduled for January.
According to the committee, the trips are crucial for the committee to provide immersive experiences that help to broaden the participants’ understanding of different cultures and histories. Each destination was chosen for its educational value and its ability to inspire awareness of the Voorhees community.
Chair Stephanie Fisher also discussed the committee’s outreach to local schools, particularly Eastern High. She is working with senior Suhana Shyam, school liaison to the group, to introduce the committee to students and encourage more youth participation.
Committee secretary Lisa Witherspoon shared this quote at the meeting: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”
That sentiment, she explained, encapsulates the mission of the Cultural and Diversity Committee.
The committee meets at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at the Town Center. The next session is scheduled for Sept. 9.
