By Sophia Wiener
ASBURY PARK – After President Donald Trump’s re-election in November, Cheron Whittaker, founder of the networking platform CheConnects, had a lot of feelings and “a lot of questions,” she said.
“We have this new administration coming in, what are we supposed to be doing?
How can I prepare myself for the next few years and all these different policies and changes, as a business owner and a renter?” Whittaker said.
And if she had all these questions, she thought, “I’m sure a lot of other people do as well.”
So CheConnects partnered with the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County (LWVMC) to present a free public event Jan. 18, the Civics 101 Pre-Inauguration Symposium. Held in Asbury Park’s Trinity Church, a diverse array of speakers considered the question: “What’s Next? Understanding Our Role After the Election.”
Whittaker arranged a number of community roundtables in the past, so the next steps felt natural. Working with the league, she reached out to local residents and leaders in various industries.
Ashley Newton, an educator and political scientist, moderated. Speakers included Suzy Dyer, the executive director of Red Bank nonprofit Parker Family Health Center; Derek Minnio-Bloom, a homelessness prevention advocate; immigrant rights advocate Julie Flores-Castillo; social justice advocate Jennifer Lewinski; environmental justice and sustainability public policy organizer Rachel Davis; and Jason Jennings, a pastor and licensed Realtor and the owner of a nonprofit focused on affordable housing.
About 100 people attended the symposium, including U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6), who showed his support during the first portion of the event.
The meeting began with a brief civics lecture from Giuseppe “Joe” Grillo, a member of the Asbury Park School District Board of Education, who discussed changes the Trump administration intends to make and the impacts they could have on Monmouth communities.
Relaxed business regulations and EPA air regulation rollbacks could affect local environments and health, especially in pedestrian-friendly towns, he said. Reduced taxes and shifts or reductions in health care, infrastructure, education and nonprofit spending would also impact individuals, groups and municipalities in the county.
Speakers took the stage for a far-ranging discussion. Although the event was nonpartisan, there was no question about what political values attendees shared. The conversation touched on the benefits of restorative justice and how to invite young people into – and support them in – politics. It also highlighted issues involving marginalized members of the community.
While panelists frequently used sweeping language to address the many issues being wrestled with, their tangible advice offered clarity and a balm for a host of anxieties.
Weighing in on the economy, Jennings explained that, although people tend to vote with their wallets, the Federal Reserve is what Americans should actually be watching. He urged the audience to be cognizant of fluctuations in interest rates, which affect consumer spending, business investment and overall economic activity. As interest rates climb, borrowing money for mortgages, car loans and starting or expanding businesses becomes more expensive, potentially slowing down the economy. Alternatively, lower interest rates can stimulate borrowing and economic growth.
Minnio-Bloom discussed how the Trump administration intends to allocate funds to required drug counseling for those experiencing homelessness, even though research does not suggest it improves outcomes, he said. He also counseled audience members interested in helping to volunteer in homeless shelters or soup kitchens.
At 21, Flores-Casillo was the youngest panelist. She appeared on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program, which aids immigrants in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey. She discussed ongoing efforts to sign new laws that would allow U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to raid “sanctuary” spaces, such as churches, food banks and other such places, and offered advice about how to support changes in policy or aid those who are detained.
One common refrain from the panelists? Work locally and be politically active locally. “In this moment that is very painful for a lot of us, that anger or pain or discomfort you feel, you have the ability to be heard at the local level,” said Lewinski. “I think it’s important for us to come together and have hard conversations. Get to know your local folks. The local level is where we get everything done.”
“City council meetings are super boring until a bunch of activists show up and make it happen,” she noted.
Whittaker expounded on the “act local” idea. “A lot of people don’t understand how important it is to be involved and vote for people all the way down to the county clerk,” she said, noting every election counts, even in off years (those without a presidential or midterm race).
A networking hour with refreshments followed the audience Q&A.
“Educating voters to actively engage in our democracy is the League of Women Voters’ mission,” said Evelyn C. Murphy, president of LWVMC, reflecting on the discussion. “When our league member Cheron Whittaker proposed the symposium, LWV Monmouth eagerly agreed to sponsor it. The well-attended seminar featured a knowledgeable panelist group; attendees learned how to navigate meaningful interactions with their political leaders. LWV Monmouth looks forward to doing additional programs,” she added.
“What I take away from this is that there’s people that care,” said homeless prevention advocate Minnio-Bloom. “It’s important to have that encouragement, to know that there’s like-minded people that do care about our undocumented community and trans community and community experiencing homelessness, that are willing to stand up and organize.”
The article originally appeared in the January 23 – 29, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
