Meet the bloggers

                 
 
 

   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   

Your Host:  Ulysses "Jeff" Rivers,           Herald News Editorial Page Editor        Other journalistic stops include Ebony, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis and The Hartford Courant.         Native of Philadelphia who has lived in New York, Chicago, Memphis, Oakland and Hartford.         Interests include listening to jazz, watching televised sports, reading and walking city streets.
Mehdi Eliefifi     Founder and president of the New Jersey Outreach Group, providing research assistance, cross-cultural awareness programs to corporations, organizations, schools, churches, temples, and community centers. He is an active member of many interfaith and community groups in New York and New Jersey.  Born and raised in Egypt. Immigrated to the US over twenty years ago.	Rafael Cuellar       Owner of the Paulison Ave. Shop Rite in Passaic, long-term resident of Paterson,  current resident of Clifton.  Business owner in the city of Passaic for over 20 years.     "These three cities are very true and dear to me since I have lived, gone to school and made a living in them most of my life."
Sheri Ferreira       Director of the Downtown Paterson Special Improvement District. Started as an intern for theSID while  a student at William Paterson University.      "Sure, her streets could be cleaner, her perception could be brighter, and maybe,  just maybe the traffic lights on Main Street could be more in sync making my commute easier, but I still love this city, and I can't wait to tell you why."	Steve Goldberg           Born and raised in NYC,  moved to Clifton in 1995. Father of three, husband of one and education consultant.         I hope I represent Clifton well, but more importantly I hope I represent  humanity well.
Nancy Grier     Sistar Nancy coming to a neighborhood near you to report what's clean and not so clean, to  help organize and aid  in developing a vision of what  neighborhoods can be.        "Don't forget invite me to your block. Let's talk about what going on in your 'hood."	Hezekiah Griggs III           Resident of the City of Passaic.  President of HG3media (www.HG3media.com), which provides a ranges of media targeted at teens.         My current venture  enables me to travel throughout the country speaking to young and old about the importance of believing in the power of dreams.
Jonathan Hodges     20-year Paterson resident and member of the Paterson Schools Board of Education.        Over the next few months, I  will be taking the literary pulse of the city of Paterson, measuring  its blood pressure, examining the good and bad, digging deep beneath  the surface and laying out, in some cases, a prescription for change.	Kisha Manning     Resident of Paterson,  recent graduate of William Paterson University,  community activist, and most importantly, a single mom.                    I truly love the Silk City and I hope, through dialogue, you will begin to love it as well.
Gus Penaranda                 Born, raised, educated and now a homeowner in Paterson.  Son of immigrants from Peru. An employee of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation.        I have dedicated most of my adult life to helping senior citizens and children in Paterson through various projects.	Anna Villalongo            Born, raised and homeowner in Paterson. One of 12 children by Puerto Rican parents. Mother of four. Graduate of Passaic County Community College.
Margie Semler                Has 29 years of political service in Passaic. She spent eight years as mayor, over 15 years as a City Council member and six years as a Board of Education member. She was inducted into the New Jersey Elected Officials Hall of Fame.        My intention is to keep the readers informed and give them food for thought and action.