Photos of SOMA Justice Family Protest, SOMA Justice Trans Black Lives Matter Protest, and SOMA Justice Die-in
Photos courtesy of Morgan Triska Media
SOMA Events
SOMA Justice is here to build community for POC in the South Orange/Maplewood area
Big Queer Block Party
The Big Queer Block Party featured amazing music, live drag, belly dance, vogue performances, and more from dusk 'til dark in the festive heart of Maplewood Village. Proceeds supported the equity and justice efforts of SOMA Justice, Newark LGBTQ Community Center, North Jersey Pride, and SOMA Action.
Image courtesy of Khadijah Costley White
Juneteenth
With the help of the MAPSO Youth Coalition and our intern Sri Taylor, SOMA Justice celebrated Juneteenth alongside the SOMA community with fireworks and music!
Know Your Rights Training
We occassionally gather community members to educate each other on the rights that we have, especially in encounters with authority figures like the police.
Pre-School Book Club
We care about educating the next generation that will lead us into a brighter future. Some of our past pre-school book club selections and discussions include:
- Black Activists and Leaders Challenging Authority in Children’s Literature discussion
- Black Scientists
- AAPI Representation
Adult Book Clubs
We occasionally meet to discuss books that challenge us to consider other perspectives and broaden our worldview. Some of our past book clubs selections include:
- Caste
- No Ashes in the Fire
- The Underground Railroad
- The Best We Could Do
- Racism Without Racists
- The New Jim Crow
- Children of Blood and Bone
- Minor Feelings
- Beyond the Whiteness of Whiteness
- Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace
- The Other Wes Moore
- Girl, Woman, Other
- The Survivor's Club
- Raising White Kids
- The Hate U Give
Kwanza Celebration
Every year we host a community Kwanzaa event. In 2020, we held a beautiful virtual Kwanzaa celebration. We hope to see you in person in 2021!
SOMA Justice Swim Equity Community Conversation/Book Club (plus TACOS!)
As part of SOMA Justice's activism around pool equity, we hosted a conversation/book club + tacos!