CHARLOTTE BENNETT SCHOEN TO RECEIVE NCJW’s PRESTIGIOUS HANNAH G. SOLOMON AWARD

For decades, Charlotte Bennett Schoen has worked as an advocate to change the global culture of violence. In the 1970’s, as an Englewood Board of Health and League of Women Voters member, she was appointed by the mayor to establish and coordinate mental health services in Englewood, Teaneck, Leonia and Englewood Cliffs. The coordination of these vital services has expanded and exists to this day.

In the early 90’s she was employed by the Bergen County Department of Human Services as Coordinator of the Community Court Watch Projects, organizing volunteers countywide to observe and report courtroom etiquette and responses of judges. The Court Watch II report was published and was part of the national wave of positive change regarding domestic violence laws. Charlotte was honored by the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women and the State of NJ for her efforts (and the report is still available today). Charlotte also designed the Court Accompaniment Program at Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV) and administered it for 14 years. It still exists today. A long-time elected member of the Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee, Charlotte was elected to two terms on the Englewood City Council (2005 through 2010) and served as City Council President in 2007.

In 2011 she embraced the concept of Global Justice Advocacy and worked for 3-month periods at NGOs in southeast Asia, serving until 2014, in Lucknow, India; Chiang Mai, Thailand; and Yangon, Burma (Myanmar). She worked in the areas of education (training village women to keep girls in school); human rights; healthcare and education for sex workers; and peace-building programs. She employed her diversity of skills as she worked with the staff at SMILE (Smile Education and Development Foundation) and presented original peace projects in the cities of Yangon, Bago and Mandalay. Charlotte continues to collaborate with her Burmese colleagues on peace-building projects. A related exhibit was shown in 2018 at the Kaplen JCC in Tenafly, and she was featured on the front page of the Jewish Standard – Call for Justice (9/21/18).

Locally Charlotte also serves as co-president of the Englewood Historical Society, where its advocacy has been expanded and successful city-wide programs have been developed. She is a member of the Englewood Rotary Club and served as District 7490 Chair of Peace and Conflict Resolution 2013-16.

Since 2016 Charlotte has focused on advocacy and justice for immigrants who have come to the US for political asylum. In 2014 she attended a NCJW program that presented First Friends of NJ NY, a 20-year-old NGO whose mission is to “uphold the inherent dignity and humanity of detained immigrants and asylum seekers.” She is now a Board member and Development Chair of First Friends, making visits to people in detention and mentoring new volunteers.

Since 2009, Charlotte has been a life member of NCJW and served on the Board of Project S.A.R.A.H. which also honored her in 2010. Charlotte has two daughters, Lindsay Mara and Ava Lauren, both of whom are attorneys.

This award will be presented to Charlotte at the NCJW BCS Annual Spring Luncheon on June 3.