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Model behavior
Helping out at home
Local boy appears on Pull-Ups packaging
Robbinsville resident’s foundation empowers women, educates kids
By Sam Sciarrotta
By LoiS LEViNE
In 2017, Robbinsville resident and cosmetic scientist Marie Thadal visited her native country of Haiti, curious as to the condition of her former elementary school, École Mère Louise, ever since the country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010. That visit changed her life. Having left Haiti at 13 years old, Thadal arrived in Portau-Prince to discover that the school had been destroyed by the earthquake, and so Thadal asked to see where the school had been rebuilt. In speaking with the principal of the school, Sister Elisabeth Paul, and other sisters who worked at the new facility, she sensed their frustration at the issues of poverty and lack of economic and educational growth in the country. “They were saying that every time they take a step forward, they take two steps back,” Thadal said. “They also told me that there were about 100 children who were having trouble paying the school tuition.” See THADAL, Page 6
Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
Robbinsville residents gathered to protest police brutality and racial injustice the first week of June. First, protesters marched from the municipal building to Foxmoor as part of a residentorganized rally June 6. A township-hosted Night of Unity (above) was also held June 7. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Making their voices heard One morning, a message written in chalk appeared in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words couldn’t have been simpler, or more soul stirring, or more accurate.
Residents speak out about racism at rallies, with petition
six women—all Robbinsville amount of blowback and vitHigh School students or alum- riol from Robbinsville communae—decided to take it a step nity members in the process. “Heroes The petition came on the further. work here.” Keighly Butler, Karla heels of several protests in Dimatulac, Princess Kinch, town. Robbinsville residents By Sam Sciarrotta Shika Lakshman, Aparajitha got together to host a march to Three words of gratitude and encouragement that Robbinsville residents Suresh and Brinda Suresh Foxmoor Community Park on capture the courage and compassion of health collaborated to craft a peti- June 6 and a rally celebrating made their voices heard in workers and across America. Juneteenth—the To share your commemotion here demanding accountabilsupport of the Black Lives thanks to support our Emergency Fund, ration of the end of slavery in ity orfrom Robbinsville Public Response Matter movement and racial on racial justice. And the United States—on June 19. justice at a number of ralvisit Schools rwjbh.org/heroes lies last month. A group of they faced a considerable See RACE, Page 10
If you’ve walked down the diaper aisle lately, you just might have seen a familiar smile. Gabriel Nicholson, a fouryear-old Robbinsville resident, is the newest face of Pull-Ups, appearing on packaging and promotional material all across the country. This isn’t Gabe’s first foray into photo shoots, said his mom, Jaleesa Graham—he previously modeled for the children’s clothing brand Carter’s as a baby. So when Graham received an email about an open call audition for Pull-Ups last January, she decided to take Gabe. There were a lot of kids there, she said, but the wait was pleasant—Gabe and the other children kept themselves occupied with bubbles and other toys before they were called in. “The audition itself was very quick,” Graham said. “Gabe went in the room, took a few quick pictures and got to chat and talk with the casting team about whatever he wanted to say. They were very nice, and we were done.” Graham got a callback email for Gabe a few days later, and they repeated the process. “This time, there were less See GABE, Page 8
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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