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Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

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New Member Interview: Gwenn Levine

January 29, 2016

Yourself and family:

I live in Woodcliff Lake and have two grown sons, Trevor, 48, and Josh, 43.  Trevor lives in Oakland, CA, and is a musician.   Josh is currently backpacking in South America.  I’ve been divorced since I was 32 years old and my kids were age 5 and 10.  Needless to say, I’ve become very self-sufficient and independent.

Your background and work:

Once I was on my own and raising two kids, I started working at the Bergen-Passaic Health Systems Agency, a local health planning agency.  While there I worked with health care professionals and consumers to plan for things like a mobile intensive care system for the two-county region.

I was then hired by St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, and worked there as Vice President of Strategic Planning for nearly 18 years.  In that role, I wrote proposals, analyzed data, and prepared public testimony about proposed health regulations.

While at St. Joe’s, I completed my Ph.D. in political science at Fordham University.  I also developed an interest in photography and was an active member of the Ridgewood Camera Club.  When I left St. Joe’s in 1999, I began consulting for other hospitals and for non-profit organizations, mostly in Paterson.  My involvement with dedicated non-profit leaders led me to create a mentoring program for 8-13 year old inner city kids: the Paterson Youth Photography Project (www.pypp.org).   PYPP began in 2002, it’s still going strong, and I’m still teaching.

How I came to Ethical Culture Society:

I first learned about ECS when I attended a Bergen Grassroots meeting back in 2006.  I also attended a congressional forum at ECS when Congressmen Pascrell and Roth were running against each other a few years ago.  Last April, I noticed the ECS meetup site and decided to attend a platform.  I soon discovered that Joe Chuman’s platforms were fantastic, other Sunday events were also thought-provoking, members were very warm and welcoming toward me, and the focus on social justice was very appealing to me.

What I like to do in my free time:

I go to Gold’s Gym three times a week.  I love to watch TV dramas and go to the movies.  I enjoy reading muckraking articles in The Nation and in Rolling Stone magazine.  I’m the organizer of a group of women who get together once a month for a potluck dinner and movie.  I occasionally go on a photo shoot, like when I photographed Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park.

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Upcoming Events

Sun 17

Platform: Techniques to Achieve Equity in the Classroom

January 17 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sun 17

Job Club Workshop

January 17 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mon 18

Conversemos (Let’s Talk)

January 18 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri 22

Mindfulness at Midday: Meditation, Movement, and Discussion Group

January 22 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sun 24

Platform: Video Games and Ethics

January 24 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

View More…

Being White

Society asks Teaneck to Make BLM Mural Permanent

About Us

Ethical Culture was founded to focus on community and good works, rather than personal salvation. Read more…

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

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Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: admin@ethicalfocus.org

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Recent Posts

  • Society asks Teaneck to Make BLM Mural Permanent January 16, 2021
  • Committee Nearly Ready to Recommend Interim Leader Candidates December 25, 2020
  • Visualizing 2021 December 20, 2020
  • Members Pass Budget and Constitutional Changes November 28, 2020
  • Remembering Bruno Danese November 28, 2020

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

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What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and affinity groups like our monthly Men's Dinners and Women's Dinners.
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

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  • Member of the American Ethical Union
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  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
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