Shai Goldstein named Executive Director of NJIPN

Trenton/Newark NJ, June 12, 2007- On Monday June 18th at 12:15 pm the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network  announced the appointment of Charles “Shai” Goldstein to serve as Executive Director.  Dr. Nicholas V. Montalto, president of the NJIPN made the announcement and was joined by members of the board of trustees who represent key leadership in the immigration reform community and other state leaders. Dr. Montalto stated in announcing Goldstein’s appointment, “Shai Goldstein is one of the most recognized civil rights and community leaders in New Jersey.  He served four years as New Jersey’s political director for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME-AFL-CIO).  During his tenure, he provided leadership on issues ranging from opposing NAFTA, national health care reform to privatization of public sector employees.  Shai then served seven years as New Jersey regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  During his tenure, he worked directly with the Black Ministers’ Council of New Jersey, the Latino Alliance of New Jersey, the NAACP, state and federal officials, and others in combating racial profiling.  As a curative program, he helped establish mandatory diversity training for the New Jersey State Police.”  Secretary of NJIPN Daniel Santo Pietro added, “When white supremacists and others attacked day laborers in Freehold, Shai Goldstein was there on behalf of migrant laborers. When the Milltown, NJ based family of Waqar Hasan faced potential deportation after Mr. Hasan was brutally murdered in a post-9/11 bias crime, Shai was there leading and participating in programs and lobbying on behalf of the family of Waqar Hasan.”  Goldstein also played a leadership role in promoting programs to combat bigotry and bias crimes.  Among the ADL programs that Shai created was a memorial service honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a statewide interfaith solidarity Seder both of which were utilized by the entire New Jersey based civil rights and interfaith communities during his tenure at the ADL. A campaign to underscore the need for immigration reforms and programs at the state and federal level was also discussed at the press conference.<!-break>