Maretta J. Short is the first elected
African American President of the National Organization for Women. She
is a community activist, organizer, and a founder and the President
of Women of Color and Allies (WOCA), the Essex County Chapter.
As a single parent, Maretta returned to college and received an
Associate Degree from County College of Morris and a Bachelor’s of
Communications Arts Degree from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
While attending college Maretta became the student coordinator for
the Rainbow Coalition’s Jesse Jackson for United States President,
and she was ultimately nominated and ran as delegate for his slate. She has
since coordinated a state conference for NOW-NJ entitled “The Many
Faces of Racism” with workshops addressing Racial Profiling and
Police Brutality, Alternative Healthcare, Welfare to Work and Child
Support, Living with Aids, and Violence Against Women. Maretta
has also organized fundraising events such as Poetry Cafés and
Gospel Shows.
Ms. Short has co-hosted “Essex County NOW,” a Newark Cablevision
Program and her bi-weekly column “The Way It Is” has been published
in the East Orange Record and in the commentary section of The
Star-Ledger. She appeared on the nationally syndicated
television program, “The Geraldo Show” as a panelist addressing
important issues concerning women and race. She is also a
frequent guest host on “Joy of Resistance” multi-cultural feminist
radio program on WBAI independent radio.
Maretta has facilitated workshops regarding race, class, and
gender during teach-ins at Ramapo College of New Jersey and Rutgers
University, Newark Campus. She is a regular guest speaker in Women’s
Studies courses on the subject of “Reproductive Rights and How it
Relates to Women of Color and All Women” at Hudson Community
College. She has advocated for the poor, senior citizens and
disabled. In collaboration with Essex County College Wise
Women’s Center, and the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) she organized an informative speak out for
welfare recipients. Maretta has worked as the Office Manager
in the NOW-NJ office in Trenton. She is also the co-chair for
the Combating Racism Task Force for NOW-NJ.
Her Motto is: “You can give out but don’t give
up.”
