Our Mission
The United Nations Association - Northern New Jersey Chapter is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations and its agencies.
We are committed to strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achieving the goals set forth in the UN Charter.
Chapter History
The Northern New Jersey Chapter was formed in November 2010 with the merger of the former Montclair and Bergen County Chapters. We cover the entire northern half of New Jersey and welcome members from the area.
The Montclair Chapter has a long and interesting history. The Montclair Chapter of AAUN (now UNA) was founded 1947, just two years after the UN was organized. It was a strong educational force in the community, bringing to Montclair such famous luminaries as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (former member of the U.S. Delegation to the UN), the former Syrian and Iranian Ambassadors in the 1950s, a member of the British Parliament, and others of world eminence. The Chapter founders were John T. Rice, the first Chapter President, and Elvira K. Fradkin (1891-1972). In 2000 the Montclair Chapter and the South Orange-Maplewood-Milburn Chapter merged to form the Essex County/Montclair Chapter.
The roots of the Northern New Jersey (NNJ) Chapter date back to 2010. Donna Rosa, President Emeritus, joined UNA-USA that year and subsequently learned that the two chapters in the area, the Montclair and Bergen County Chapters, had not been active for some time. Working with the National office and the Southern New York Division, she brought together the residual members of the two chapters to form the NNJ Chapter in November 2010. In one year the original membership of 45 ballooned to 140. Donna served as President of the chapter for eight years.
UNA-USA History
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a grassroots movement of Americans dedicated to supporting U.S. leadership at the United Nations. For over 75 years, UNA-USA has worked to accomplish this goal through its national network of chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs and public events.
UNA-USA serves many constituencies, including community-based members, activists, affiliated organizations, business leaders, educators, foreign policy specialists, students, and young professionals. UNA-USA's chapters, both in communities and on college campuses, are the driving force of our mission and play an indispensable role in safeguarding U.S. support for the UN.
Today, UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) and a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). UNA-USA and its partner organization, the Better World Campaign, comprise the largest network of UN advocates in the world.
Learn more about UNA's History here.
