The Ethical Culture Society of Essex County

Ethical Culture is a Humanist Religion--Come and visit!

516 Prospect Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040  Phone 973-763-1905     Email: ecsec.nj@gmail.com
Board of Trustees: Andrew B. Weinberger, President   Zia Durrani, Vice-President; Rosalie Sussman, Secretary; Hilding Lindquist, Treasurer
Karen Bokert, Freda Fink-Armstrong, E. Betty Levin, Elaine Durbach, Allan Parmet, Mira Stillman.
Martha Gallahue, Leader;   Liz Cunningham, Office Manager
Boe Meyerson, Leader Emerita; Jim White, Leader Emeritus
As of February 1, office hours will be Monday through Friday, 8:15 to 9:45 am,
and Sunday, 9:30 am to 12 pm
Today is     Updated 3-16-14 

Peace Center Page

 

 

 

 

Current Projects and Initiatives

The Youth Promise Act

The Youth PROMISE Act (Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education) is bipartisan legislation (H.R. 1318 & S. 1307) that will give our communities the support and funding they need to effectively address youth violence issues.  By specifically focusing on violence prevention and intervention strategies, this bill ensures we are funding programs that save lives and give every young person the opportunity to meet his or her potential.

Learn more here

 

Past Events of the Peace Center

 

Sunday, October 20, 2013: Zia Durrani and Betty Levin Gave a Platform at Essex Ethical Called War and Peace

 

Based on a review of the book, The End of War by John Horgan, Zia and Betty will discuss the ongoing violence plaguing our world and the attitudes required for future peace. These concepts, emanating from the book under review, will also reflect the idea of the two presenters. They will attempt a realistic evaluation of these conflicts, at the same time identifying areas of hope in which we can humanistically direct our efforts and commitments.

E. Betty Levin has been a member of the Ethical Culture Movement almost all her adult life and a member of the Essex Society for over 50 years. During this period, she has served as president, on the Board of Trustees and as a Sunday School teacher. Betty still works as a private practice psychotherapist, for the past 37 years.

She has been founder and past president of the N.J. Association of Women Therapists where she has been honored for her “wisdom and contributions to the creativity and development of the Association.” She has also had 3 invited articles published in professional journals. Currently, as she has been for years, Betty is active in the Peace Movement.

Zia Durrani, a former ECS Board Member, was born and raised in Kashmir, India, where she lived until 1963. Educated in India and England, she was a teacher of English in a women’s college in Srinagar, her home town, until she married and left Kashmir to live briefly in Madras, and then moved to London. Zia came to the US in 1976, and lived in various places before coming to South Orange. When she lived on Long Island, Zia was involved with the local theater group. She has taught ESL in New York, Oregon and New Jersey. Zia has three children. Her two girls live in New Jersey, and her son lives in Kansas. At present Zia is a member of the Adult School Board of Trustees and is also involved with their ESL program.