During my tenure as a member of the Newark School Advisory Board, I was seeking an opportunity to rename a school in a way that was reflective of the Dominican Community in the City of Newark. Last year, I got that opportunity while I was President of the Advisory Board.

When I presented the idea, many praised that fact that the community was eager to show its diversity, and celebrate our differences and similarities. After discussing the name with community leaders, we came to a consensus that Salome Urena was perfect. As a historical figure, Urena was the embodiment of a woman of color, an educator, and a proud Latina.

Salomé Ureña de Henríquez better known as Salomé Ureña, was a revered poet and pedagogist of the Dominican Republic. Born in Santo Domingo in 1850, she was one of the central figures of lyrical poetry of the 19th century and an innovator of women's education in her country.

In presenting this idea, I followed the Newark Public Schools manual of Public Policy Protocol, and with members of the Dominican Community we were able to obtain 5000 signatures in 3 weeks. Working tirelessly, we obtained signatures from Latinos in general, as well as from other ethnicities in an effort to show that there was solidarity within the Newark community, and that everyone recognizes the contribution of Dominicans in the city of Newark, New Jersey's largest city (don't put that stat about being the second largest voting block, because that is not accurate, just stick with making a big impact in the largest city).

On March 16, 2016 the Newark School Advisory Board unanimously (8-0) passed a resolution in favor of the name change from North 10th Street School to Salome Urena in hopes that the name change would have occurred by September of 2017. Over a full year has passed, and with after countless meetings, and unfulfilled promises, there has been no resolution to this issue. It is our hope, that you sign this petition, so that our voices can be heard as one in demanding the respect of a promise kept.