On Tuesday evening, August 19, 2025, the Lakewood Community Coalition held its 3rd Quarterly Meeting at the historic Strand Theater. The gathering brought together faith leaders, community partners, first responders, and local organizations for an evening dedicated to dialogue, collaboration, and resource-sharing.
Keynote speakers included Taylor Thomas, MACJ, MSW, Community Relations Specialist with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights; Stephanie Menezile, J.D., a seasoned mediator with more than a decade of experience in legal and legislative work; and Stephanie C. Range, newly appointed Managing Attorney of South Jersey Legal Services’ Ocean County office. Their perspectives on civil rights, community engagement, and equitable access to services sparked thoughtful conversation among attendees.
The Coalition also welcomed the presence of Yolanda N. Melville, Director of the Division on Civil Rights, and Whitney Lewis, Director of Community Engagement for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, demonstrating strong support from state leadership.
Guiding the session were Coalition Co-Chairs Captain Steve Allaire and Dr. Cori Scotti, who led a shared discussion on grant opportunities and addressed the urgent need for additional Code Blue warming resources. Lakewood Police Department’s Community Resource Unit—Sgt. Michael Conrad, Patrolman Jason Yahr, Kevin Bell, Jeffrey Emmons, and Joseph Soriano also provided important updates and previewed upcoming quarterly events designed to strengthen trust and engagement.
Lakewood Community Coalition acknowledges the contributions of D/Sgt. Jeannette Shimonovich, Sgt. Peter LaRosa, LPD Media, and Patrick Sample (Traffic Safety) extend their appreciation to the Strand Theater for hosting the event in its historic venue; to Wellpoint, NJ, for providing food from Bacoli Pizza on New Hampshire Avenue; to OTL Kosher Food on Cedarbridge Avenue for their generous catering; and to BMI for donating a door prize.
The evening highlighted the Coalition’s ongoing mission: to build bridges across diverse communities, promote equity, and provide meaningful resources to the residents of Lakewood.
