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Passaic County honors four community leaders at Black History Month celebration
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Summary
Passaic County commissioners convened Feb. 10, 2026, for a Black History Month program honoring Dr. Kaye Banks, Dr. Judith Foster, Lola Patterson and Howard Horton; officials read proclamations and the honorees gave short remarks celebrating community service.
Passaic County commissioners held a Black History Month celebration on Feb. 10, 2026, honoring four local leaders for long-standing community service.
The board recognized Dr. Kaye Banks, Dr. Judith (Judy) Foster, Lola Patterson and Howard Horton with formal proclamations. Commissioner DeVore opened the program and said the event marked the centennial theme of celebrating ‘‘contributions and collective efforts to the Black culture of [Passaic] County.’’
Deputy Director Orlando Cruz read the proclamation for Dr. Kaye Banks, noting her roles in education, faith leadership and local mentoring work. Accepting the recognition, Banks said, "I am so overwhelmed," and thanked family, colleagues and the board while asking the audience to consider "where do we go from here" in continuing community work.
Dr. Judith Foster was recognized for more than five decades in social work and reentry services, including founding Project Reconnect and serving as a liaison with the Passaic County Sheriff's community policing program. Foster told the assembly she prefers to be called "Miss Foster" or "Mama Judy" and said her "labor and my life will not be in vain" if she can help others.
Lola Patterson was honored for 36 years with the New Jersey Association on Corrections and leadership at the Millicent Fenwick House; she described her work in reentry programs and thanked family, staff and supporters. Howard Horton, chief executive officer of Eva's Village in Paterson, was recognized for nonprofit leadership and decades of anti-poverty and behavioral-health work; Horton said the recognition belonged to the broader community and credited staff who worked through recent storms to care for residents.
The program included a poem by Ashanti Johnson Pope and musical performances by the TekTone choirs. County officials also announced accompanying citations from state and local elected offices. The gathering concluded with photos and an invitation to refreshments and an art display downstairs.
The board proceeded after the program to its routine business, including roll-call votes on the consent agenda and two bond ordinances. The evening closed with a unanimous vote to adjourn.
