De Peña Marks Another ‘First’ For Belleville’s Latina Community

BELLEVILLE, NJ — For Naomy De Peña, it’s all about service. And as the former teacher and small business owner prepares to become Belleville’s first Latina deputy mayor, she’s embraced the new responsibility that comes with the title.

“For the children that look like me or who are minorities that are saying, ‘What could I? What could I accomplish when I grow up?’ – they seek representation,” De Peña said.

“I can become that,” the councilwoman asserted. “They can look at me and see someone who is like them who is in this leadership role.”

De Peña, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage, will take up her new, year-long post during the town council’s annual reorganization meeting on July 1. And when she does, it will be the latest milestone in a long background of “service leadership,” she says.

Her parents, the Rev. Luis and Teresa Fernandez, were missionaries who dedicated their lives to building schools and providing medical care to the sick and injured in remote areas of the Dominican Republic.

“I come from a background of what we call service leadership,” she said. “The goal ultimately is to serve people when you're in a position of influence, when you're in a position of leadership. It's not about a title, but about serving. And that's what we've always done. We’ve looked for ways to make others’ lives better.”

De Peña would come to Belleville during the summer to spend time with extended family and immersivity learn English. Eventually, her family relocated to the township after falling in love with its people, its culture and, of course, its cherry blossoms.

• See related article: Belleville Artist, Teens Create Massive Cherry Blossom Mural

Service continues to be the foundation for almost every aspect of her life, including in her spiritual life, as she serves as an ordained minister in her church.

During her time on the council, De Peña has worked on issues and causes such as the coronavirus pandemic, the town’s free pre-K program, and hosting the township’s first Women’s Day celebration.

De Peña and her husband are small-business owners of Zentai Martial Arts and After-School Program, and she continues to reach out to her local community as a motivational speaker, mentor and coach for at-risk youth.

A HISTORY OF ‘FIRSTS’ IN BELLEVILLE

De Peña isn’t the only Belleville Latina woman to recently blaze a trail in the township.

In April, Barbara Bermudez become the first Latina officer in the history of the Belleville Police Department to be promoted.

"It's just one more door that's opening for all of us," she said, after being promoted to sergeant. "It's an amazing accomplishment, and I'm so proud to be the first."

• See related article: Belleville Police Have Never Promoted A Latina Cop – Until Now

In 2018, Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz – who represents Belleville and Newark in the state Legislature – became the Senate’s first Latina president pro tempore.

Ruiz, who became the first Latina to serve in the New Jersey Senate in 2008, represents the state's 29th district.

• See related article: Essex County Latina Senator Makes History In NJ (Again)

Latino men have also recently marked milestones in Belleville.

In 2018, Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville officially welcomed its first Latino member of its board of trustees, Newark resident and former state assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. “This is a historic, major step forward for our institution and for the Latino community that receives care at Clara Maass,” a hospital executive said.

• See related article: Clara Maass In Belleville Welcomes 1st Latino Board Member

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