Who We Are
The Essex County Civic Club was formed in the Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ in 1910. It was comprised of young women from the ages of eight to twenty-one years of age. At that time the club was known as the "What I Can" club, raising money for needs of the church, social and education programs. In 1915 some of the most prominent Bethany women in Newark encouraged the young girls of Bethany to go to Trenton to join the New Jersey State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.
The Junior Federation was organized in Bethany, the oldest Black Baptist church in Newark. In 1925, Mrs. Arminta H. Douglas, a mentor for girls between the ages of eight to twenty-one, was aware of the necessity and importance of developing the talents of girls in this age group, encouraging then to higher ideals and standards in preparation for future leadership. Mrs. Maggie Beckett (of Beckett Funeral Home) in Newark became the first advisor for the Junior Federation.The Federation was formed in many states and the first National President of the Junior Federation of was Maude Johnson, a member of Bethany Baptist Church for 70 years before passing at 98 years old.
Maude Johnson, one of the most notable members of our club, became the first President of the State Federation of girls at fifteen years old. She later became the Northern Supervisor of NJ girls and Chairperson of the Trustee Board of NJ Girls State Federation. In 1971, as a fifty-year member of the National Association of Women's Clubs, she was awarded the Woman of the Year Award by the North Eastern Federation. She assisted with the mortgage closing for the NJ State Federation Carver Youth & Family Center, and was the co-writer of a $198,000 grant awarded by Governor Kean for The Urban Women's Center. Many Federation clubs, including Essex County Civic Club, were rooted in Bethany Baptist
Church. For many decades ECCC made a difference in the greater Newark community by awarding many educational scholarships, mentoring and supporting young women, and also supporting the YWCA. During the World Wars, ECCC members created handmade items for soldiers, raised money for individuals that were less fortunate and sponsored numerous cotillions.The ECCC is proud to have extended its membership through other clubs merging with them. In 2022 the Garnetts (of the NJ State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc.) joined the Essex County Civic Club and included the lifetime membership of two members. Also, in September 2024, The Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Club (of the NJ State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc. ) merged with the Essex County Civic Club. Their club had been organized in 1939. Both the former Garnetts Club and the former Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Club had a rich history of service in their surrounding communities.We have been blessed with wonderful women, all helping to continue the legacy of this important club in our community. In the year 2025 we celebrated 115 years of service to the Greater Newark New Jersey community.
