Senator Wynona Lipman Chair

About the Lipman Chair 

The Lipman Chair was created to honor the legacy of the late state Senator Wynona Lipman, the first African American woman in the New Jersey State Senate. The Lipman Chair was established in 2000 when Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed legislation that had been sponsored by the legislative leaders in both parties and passed in both houses without opposition. The legislature has generously continued its support for the Lipman Chair. More details about Senator Lipman's extraordinary life are available in her full biography (PDF) and in this video produced by the Legal Services of New Jersey when Senator Lipman was inducted into the New Jersey Equal Justice Library and Archive (NJEJLA) Circle of Honor in 2017. Stronger Than Steel: The Senator Wynona Lipman Story is a documentary that explores the life of Senator Lipman and examines her family and remarkable achievements, highlighting legislative initiatives and career benchmarks.

The Lipman Chair is intended to celebrate Senator Lipman, remind people of her achievements, and encourage others to follow in the footsteps of this path-breaking African American woman leader. An advisory committee, including members of Senator Lipman's family, members of the New Jersey Legislature, and former members of the senator's staff, has worked with CAWP to make the chair a success. CAWP is grateful to the governor, the legislature, and advisory committee members for their commitment to honoring Senator Lipman's memory and advancing women's leadership.

Consistent with the senator’s legacy, CAWP uses the generous support provided by the state legislature to:

• inspire a broad public audience with prominent speakers whose work reflects Senator Lipman's interests and values;
• educate college students at CAWP’s NEW Leadership® New Jersey program about how and why they should become engaged in the political process and take on leadership roles;
• train women considering running for office or working on campaigns in New Jersey at CAWP’s Ready to Run® program.

Lipman Chair funds are applied in ways that reflect Senator Lipman's interests: for Essex County women attending Ready to Run® and community college students in NEW Leadership®.