A Message From the SDARJ Steering Committee
On February7, 2024, the SDARJ Steering Committee elected Clara Licata Chairperson, following the decision of. Charlotte King, SDARJ founder and eight-year Chairperson not to seek re-election. Rev. Marjorie Belmont-Burns was elected Vice Chair, filling Clara’s Vice Chair position.
Clara is an attorney admitted to practice in New Jersey. She is a pool attorney for the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Parental Representation. Clara has been an Alliance Steering Committee member since 2020 and has served as Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee. As Chair of that Committee, Clara has represented SDARJ at the ACLU of Delaware Voting Rights Coalition, the ACLU Smart Justice Coalition, and the Reproductive Advocacy Alliance of Delaware. She will remain as Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee. Clara also serves on the Steering Committee of Women’s March Sussex.
Clara comes to the SDARJ board with prior Board of Directors experience. She served as Board Chair of the CTC Academy, a school for multiply disabled children in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, for ten years and remains on that Board. In addition, she served as President of the ARC Planning and Guardianship Board of the ARC of Bergen and Passaic County, New Jersey.
Clara brings to this position an unconditional commitment to the elimination of racial and social injustices and a vow and determination to be a responsible leader and a proactive community servant.
Rev. Belmont was elected to the Alliance Board in 2023. She is currently serving as the part-time Pastor at Israel United Methodist Church, Lewes, Delaware and Human Resources Manager for Pathways to Success, Georgetown, Delaware.
Rev. Belmont also brings a wealth of experience in serving on several nonprofit boards in Delaware and Maryland. Her past experiences include serving as a Board member for the Haven Ministries Homeless Shelter Association (Kent Island, Maryland), Queen Anne County’s Health Department Wellness Coalition, and Queen Anne County’s School Student Take Force, CASA of Queen Anne and Kent County; Treasurer for the National Black Clergy women of the United Methodist Church (nine years) and Pathways to Success, Board Secretary. Presently, Rev. Belmont is serving on the LRAC Board, is a member of Your Neighbors Faith Ministry, and is a Member of the Multi-Faith Steering Committee. She also serves as the Chairperson for the Delaware District of TUMC District Committee on Ministry.
Rev. Belmont will work diligently with President Clara and the entire Board to continue bringing SDARJ’s strong, powerful mission to life. She will ensure that SDARJ continues to “educate, inform, and advocate for racial justice, equality and fair opportunity” for the African Americans within Sussex County.
Charlotte remains on the Steering Committee and will focus on Black Voices, the African American Film Festival, the Nassau School Coalition, and will continue to represent SDARJ on programs such as Speak Out Against Hate (SOAH) and the Community Minority Liaison Committee in the Cape Henlopen School District.
The Steering Committee is grateful to Charlotte for the leadership, passion, and vision she brought to the SDARJ as Chair.
