The Youth Wing of the Green Party of New Jersey announced its new slate of elected leadership at the party’s Convention on May 2nd. Leaders come from diverse backgrounds in activism and experiences in New Jersey politics, many of them recently changing their party affiliations after being disappointed by lack of transparency and lack of youth empowerment in their former parties. The new slate of leaders includes Matthew Skolar (Kearny), chair; Nick Kimble (Edison), vice chair; Justin Roig (Vineland), secretary; Zoe Tweedie (Mendham), treasurer; and Chloé Alce (Scotch Plains), Communications Director.

On May 9th, the Young Ecosocialists Caucus had the privilege of hosting a meet and greet with GPNJ Presidential Candidate, Howie Hawkins, just one week after Hawkins was nominated by the Green Party of New Jersey with 78% of the vote. The session took place over the span of two hours and included YES Caucus members as well as other Green Party Members from across the state and country. The session started with Hawkins introducing himself and his campaign to the Caucus, followed by some Question and Answer. Hawkins made sure to address youth issues in particular, including the school to prison pipeline, Racial Justice, and lack of economic opportunity. A conversation developed on how the Green Party can continue to build and empower youth.

The team of young leaders is excited to get to work and plans to hold more meet and greets with prominent leaders in Green Politics and Activism. They also look forward to continuing to organize with people already on the ground and support their movements for necessary, radical change to the political and social structures of New Jersey.

The NJ YES Caucus will be holding its next meeting on May 17th at 8PM as a reorganization meeting to do a general overview of the caucus and to introduce the new board members.

Matthew Skolar, the newly elected Chair, formerly served as Secretary with the Union County Young Democrats and as a member of the High School Democrats of America, and when asked about his party affiliation change he said, “It was the right time. While the Democrats gave me my foundation in politics, the Green Party fosters a foundation in activism. I realized that [the Democrats were not] the right fit for my ideological differences and I needed to go somewhere where my activism would be embraced and appreciated.” Skolar also serves as the Campaign Outreach Coordinator for the Hoffman for US Senate Campaign, a member of the Youth Power Project at Make the Road New Jersey, and the Director of Research at Youth Over Guns.

Nick Kimble served on the Edison Township Referendum Committee and runs his own watch company, Eterno Watchwear. He said that he’s excited about the work being done with the Young Ecosocialists and his new role as VIce Chair because, “it will support [Green Party] values by implementing new solutions [to pressing issues].”

Justin Roig was a volunteer with the Bernie Sanders campaign before becoming Secretary, and is active in the movement for Puerto Rican Independence. He said “I’m from Vineland: South Jersey, the forgotten part of the State, where the Republicans and Democrats have both failed to fight for and serve the people of the area. We need something new, the state Government fails to recognize we exist or that we matter, therefore we have been left to look down the barrel of economic depression and hopelessness. Our future is not with the major parties who have abandoned us and refuse to acknowledge us, it is with the party that will fight for working class people, and to me that is the Green Party.”

Zoe Tweedie is a member of the Junior Statesmen of America and the International Thespian Society. In both chapters of those organizations Zoe is a member of, she serves as treasurer, so the role with the YES Caucus was fitting for her. Tweedie said she wants “to help the YES Caucus become a linkage institution to get [Green Party of New Jersey] candidates elected and promote Caucus ideals in our communities and beyond.” She believes in a, “more diverse democratic system which widens the scope of our political participation in the United States, something that the young people of YES can help us achieve.”

Chloé Alce, the new Communications Director, is a rising senior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and is an active member of the school’s Black Student Union. She hopes the YES caucus serves “to uplift and empower underrepresented groups within the Green Party and New Jersey politics.”

On May 24th at 8PM, a second meeting will be held to reanalyze caucus bylaws, and make any amendment proposals. Some members are already proposing new positions, and new goals for the organization, and so debate/changes are expected. Caucus members can propose their amendments here and view the current bylaws here.

For inquiries on joining YES Caucus or learning about the Caucus’ mission, please email yescaucusnj@gmail.com or reach out to the caucus on Instagram (@young.ecosocialists.nj)
Or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/young.ecosocialists.nj).