county commissioners honor local leaders for muslim heritage month

L to R: Imam Khalid Sanchez-Muhammad, five members of the Muslim Nurses of NJ, Comm'r VP A'Dorian Murray-Thomas, Jauhara Pressey Motley, (back) Comm'r Leonard Luciano, (front) Comm'r President Carlos Pomares, (back) Omar Bareentto, (front) Comm'r Tyshammie Cooper, Comm'r Wayne Richardson, Abdur-Razzaaq Yasin, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens

(Newark, NJ) – January 22, 2026 – On Wednesday evening, January 21, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners held its third annual Muslim Heritage Month celebration. This event celebrates the accomplishments of and honors outstanding Muslim men and women of Essex County for their unique contributions to the Essex community and society as a whole.

This year, the Board recognized Jauhara Pressey Motley of Maplewood, Abdur-Razzaaq Yasin of West Orange, Omar Bareentto of Newark, and the Muslim Nurses of New Jersey.

“Our Muslim friends and neighbors are an essential part of the Essex County community and have made incredible cultural, social, and economic contributions,” said Commissioner President Carlos M. Pomares. “They are also often on the frontlines for fostering prosperity, kindness, and a mutual understanding between religious groups and within our community. Thank you to our honorees for all you do, and congratulations.”

In addition to commendations and plaques from the Board of County Commissioners, honorees also received certificates of recognition from Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark Councilwoman Louise Scott-Rountree, and the Newark Municipal Council. Imam Khalid Sanchez-Muhammad delivered opening and closing prayers during the occasion, and the audience was captivated by the musical talents of singer Zuumah Gayemen.

Watch a recording of the event here: YouTube video

See more pictures of the event here: 

Honorees:

Jauhara Pressey Motley, sponsored by Commissioner Brendan W. Gill and presented by Commissioner President Carlos Pomares, is a Newark native and dedicated public servant whose career is rooted in community impact, equity, and regional collaboration. Educated in the Newark Public Schools and a graduate of Kean University, she has built a professional path centered on strengthening communities through thoughtful policy, economic development, and public transportation access. She began her career in Economic Development with the City of Orange Township, where she played a key role in revitalizing and reshaping the downtown district.  She later joined NJ TRANSIT as a Business Development Specialist, working to ensure equity and access for minority-owned businesses participating in state- and federally funded contracts. Her leadership and commitment led to her promotion as Regional Manager in Government and Community Relations, where she served as the primary liaison between NJ TRANSIT and elected officials across eight counties in Northern New Jersey. Currently, Jauhara serves as a Project Manager for NJ TRANSIT’s Access Link paratransit program, where she leads high priority projects that aim to enhance paratransit services. In this role, she implements and oversees departmental projects, ensuring efficiency, accessibility, and continuous service improvements for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. In addition to her professional work, Jauhara has remained deeply engaged in civic and educational leadership. She served for five years on the Maplewood Zoning Board and served as the Chairperson of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Marshall Elementary School PTA in South Orange. Jauhara resides in Maplewood, with her husband, Richard, a fellow Newark native and small business owner, and their 10-year-old son, Derrick. While her career reflects a deep commitment to public service and community leadership, Jauhara is most proud of her role as wife and mother. Driven by a lifelong commitment to equity, access, and public service, Jauhara’s mission is to create systems and policies that uplift communities, amplify underrepresented voices, and ensure that public resources serve everyone with dignity and fairness.

Abdur-Razzaaq Yasin, presented by Commissioner Leonard M. Luciano, is a Fire Captain in the Township of West Orange. He is a former department Training Officer, a Pro Board-Certified Level 2 Fire Instructor, Certified Fire Officer 2, NJ Certified Incident Management Level 3, and a NJ Certified Fire Official. Since becoming a Firefighter in 2002, he has involved himself extensively in public sector labor relations by serving in several capacities, including executive, across all levels of government for the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA), the largest firefighter union in New Jersey. Abdur is a Cohort Advisor for the State of NJ Certified Public Manager Program (CPM) at the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University–Newark. He is also a part-time lecturer and teaches courses in the graduate and undergraduate programs at SPAA. In addition, he is a doctoral candidate at Rutgers SPAA, where he is studying human resource management as it relates to public personnel management, collective bargaining, civil service, politics, and state and local government management. Presently, Abdur serves on several boards, including the NJ chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and Partners for Health Foundation (PfH) as well as past service on state and local committees and commissions. He earned a BA in History with honors from Rutgers-Newark in 2003. In 2014, he graduated from the Rutgers-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration with a Master of Public Administration degree. Abdur is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and serves on several committees in the Alpha Alpha Lambda chapter seated in Newark. He is chair of the West Orange Democratic County Committee and has held that position since 2018. As chair, Abdur has shown his dedication to West Orange, his vision for a stronger community, and his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact through championing initiatives that uplift the community. Abdur resides with his wife, Begonia, and family in West Orange.

Omar Bareentto, presented by Commissioner Vice President A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, is a dedicated community leader and proud resident of Newark. Omar is a partner at the law firm McCarter & English, LLP. His legal practice involves representing businesses and individuals in a variety of corporate matters, including breach of contract, trade secrets, securities fraud, and partnership disputes. He is also active in McCarter’s Government Affairs group, advising clients on a range of issues from campaign finance to ethics and lobbying. Omar has served as Director of the Garden State Bar Association, Trustee of the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, and on the board of the Islamic Society of Essex County. Additionally, he is a founding member of The Collective, a group of nearly 20 African American male attorneys focused on promoting community service, mentorship, and business development within New Jersey’s legal community. Omar is also a former Co-Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Muslim Caucus, where he played a key role in advocating for Muslim-American interests at the state level. In addition to his community leadership in the legal space, Omar is a co-owner of Qaalii’s Cafe, a gathering spot in the heart of Downtown Newark that celebrates cultural diversity through Ethiopian, Afghani, and Turkish coffee, tea, and desserts. The cafe serves as both a place for community engagement and a platform for showcasing different cultures.

The Muslim Nurses of New Jersey, presented by Commissioner Vice President A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, is an organization dedicated to uniting and empowering Muslim nurses through faith, service, and professional excellence. Its members strive to create a supportive community that uplifts one another, advances nursing leadership, and advocates for the health and well-being of our diverse communities. Guided by their Islamic values, members are committed to education, mentorship, and outreach, fostering compassion, integrity, and excellence in nursing practice.