Alliance for racial justice elects new leaders

Following the decision of Charlotte King, Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice founder and eight-year chair, not to seek re-election, the SDARJ steering committee elected Clara Licata as its new chairperson. The Rev. Marjorie Belmont-Burns was elected vice chair, filling Licata’s previous position.

An attorney admitted to practice in New Jersey, Licata is a pool attorney for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, Office of Parental Representation. She has been an alliance steering committee member since 2020. As chair of the legislative advocacy committee, Licata has represented SDARJ at the ACLU of Delaware Voting Rights Coalition, the ACLU Smart Justice Coalition and the Reproductive Advocacy Alliance of Delaware. She also serves on the steering committee for Women’s March Sussex.

Licata brings to this position an unconditional commitment to the elimination of racial and social injustices, and a vow and determination to be a responsible leader and a proactive community servant.

Belmont-Burns was elected to the alliance board in 2023. She is currently serving as the part-time pastor of Israel United Methodist Church, Lewes, and human resources manager for Pathways to Success, Georgetown. She also brings a wealth of experience, having served on several nonprofit boards in Delaware and Maryland.

Belmont-Burns serves on the board of the Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Congregations, and is a member of Your Neighbors Faith Ministry and its multi-faith steering committee. She also serves the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church as chair for the Delaware district committee on ordained ministry.

Belmont-Burns will work diligently with Licata and the entire board to continue bringing SDARJ’s powerful mission to life. She will help ensure SDARJ continues to educate, inform and advocate for racial justice, equality and fair opportunity for African Americans in Sussex County.

King remains on the steering committee and will focus on Black Voices magazine, the African American Film Festival and the Nassau School Coalition. She will continue to represent SDARJ on programs such as Speak Out Against Hate and the community minority liaison committee in the Cape Henlopen School District.

The alliance team is grateful to King for the leadership, passion and vision she brought as SDARJ steering committee chair.