New Jersey Senator Shirley Turner will discuss equal pay and economic justice for women on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor.
The program is presented by the United State of Women-Mercer County’s four-part lecture series. United State of Women-Mercer County was co-founded by past West Windsor Council Members Diane Ciccone and Heidi Kleinman.
“The more we learn about bills being passed by our legislators which do not represent the values we believe in, the more we need to speak up about the facts,” Kleinman said. “All of the topics in this speaker series are critical right now to those of us in Mercer County. The topic of equal pay is particularly relevant since Gov. Christie has vetoed a bill that would have strengthened the penalties for wage discrimination based on gender, and the state senate was unable to muster the votes necessary to override the veto.”
Ciccone said Turner will highlight how government can promote economic justice.
“As women who desire our values to be represented in society we need to run for office or support a woman who is running,” Ciccone said. “During Senator Shirley Turner’s two decades in office she has added her own cracks in the glass ceiling, paving the way for the next generation of women politicians. We all will learn from her personal story.”
Turner attended the Jan. 21 Women’s March on New Jersey in Trenton to stand in solidarity with all women because together, our voices are stronger and louder, she said.
“I marched to honor those women, past and present, who had the courage to do, dare and dream,” Turner said. “Over the next four years, we will not be ‘Hidden Figures,’ and we will not be marginalized. We will remain laser focused on the issues that we fought to achieve and on those issues that still remain elusive.”
She continued, “We will hold President Trump and all of our elected officials accountable to all people and hold their feet to the fire. Women, our working families, and the least, the last, and the lost must all have a seat at the table.”
Turner has been representing the 15th Legislative District, including parts of Mercer and Hunterdon counties since 1998. A Lawrenceville resident, she previously served as director of career services at Rider University.
After Senator Turner’s Feb. 26 talk, time will be set aside to discuss action steps.
United State of Women-Mercer County’s March 26 program will focus on the Muslim registry, immigration policies and refugee issues, with speaker Raquiba Huq, an immigration attorney and West Winsor-Plainsboro alum.
The April 23 program will focus on the proposed gas pipeline in Mercer County and other environmental issues; New Jersey State Assembly Member Elizabeth Muoio will speak.
To register or more information, email Heidi Kleinman at heidikleinman@gmail.com.
