Cherry Hill Residents To Be Recognized With Freedom Medal

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Two Cherry Hill residents are among 11 Camden County residents who will be honored for their selfless contributions to improving their community at the 2022 Camden County Freedom Medal Ceremony, county officials announced.

Greg DeShields, a member of the Board of Directors at the Independence Business Alliance, and Marla Myers, the Executive Director of Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern New Jersey, will be honored during the ceremony, which was postponed from Jan. 20 to Feb. 24 due to the spike in COVID-19 cases, according to officials.

“The situation with Covid-19 is rapidly changing, and we need to prioritize the health and safety of our residents, the medal recipients, employees and everyone who would have been in attendance on Jan. 20,” Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young said. “We will continue to monitor case counts closely and will provide updates if anything changes. Nonetheless, we look forward to celebrating the 11 community minded individuals who have been nominated and awarded this countywide honor.”

DeShields is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the community, according to a biography provided by county officials. As an LGBTQ+ black man, he has had to navigate uncomfortable and discriminatory spaces to find his place.

He says he is someone who never closes the door behind him, ensuring others won't have to experience what he had to. He has helped improve the inclusivity of other boards for people of all backgrounds, including:

• Boy Scouts of America;
• African American Chamber of Commerce for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware;
• Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
• Asian American Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia; and
• SKAL International.

On all of these boards, DeShields goes out of his way to make sure everyone is welcome.

Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern New Jersey helps 10,000 people annually, and has instituted numerous new initiatives for the communities' most vulnerable members under Myers' leadership, according to her biography provided by county officials. These initiatives include:

• an interactive panel presentation for parents and teens on the critical topic of drug addiction in the suburbs;
• a veteran peer to peer driving service;
• a teen suicide prevention program;
• a social justice curriculum for high school students;
• a space for victims of domestic violence; and
• a program to assist Holocaust Survivors.

Myers' agency received funding from Greg Wolfe, a parent who lost his son. It works with the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force (AATF) to provide education for parents, youth in schools and other venues throughout the county.

Myers has overseen the purchase, renovation, and opening of the agency’s Rhona Fischer Family Assistance Building and Betsy & Peter Fischer Food Pantry in Cherry Hill. She also brings a wealth of knowledge and support to the AATF.

She is currently working on securing training for her staff on the use of naloxone (Narcan), and faithfully attends all of the AATF’s meetings and events.

The Camden County Freedom Medal, created by the Camden County Board of Commissioners in 2001, is presented to civic leaders who demonstrate ideals and actions that reflect the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The individuals selected for the Camden County Freedom Medal truly embody the teachings and beliefs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Young said. “The recipients are striving to improve their communities and deserve to be recognized for their selflessness and sacrifice.”

The others who will be honored include:

Shirley Conroy, of Collingswood, the founder of the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America;

Mark Bodrog, a Marine captain from Sicklerville, who wrote a play that brings awareness to the epidemic of veteran suicide;

Chesilhurst Mayor Jamila Odom-Garnett, who is dedicated to civic awareness, public policy, corporate trailblazing and education;

Falio Leyba-Martinez, a Board Member of the Camden City School Advisory who is passionate about helping make the city a better place, especially for children;

Diane McKenzie, of Atco, is the leader of the organization, "Rubies and Pearls'' and is known in the Winslow Township community and surrounding area for her tireless efforts to help others, especially young girls;

Friends of Clementon Food Pantry Executive Director Dave Cornwell, who made sure the pantry was consistently stocked throughout the height of the coronavirus pandemic;

Nichelle Pace is Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Camden Business Association and possesses an unyielding love for her community and passion for issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

Isis Williams, of West Collingswood Heights, is the president of the non-profit Haddon Township Equity Initiative and is known as a barrier breaker, an uplifting hand for vulnerable communities and a committed warrior in the battle for equality.

Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen will be awarded the Congressional Medal for his work to keep the city safe and strengthen the public health of the community.