About NJ Speaks
NJ Speaks is a dedicated nonprofit organization rooted in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Founded on the belief that every individual deserves to live free from violence, the organization stands at the forefront of sexual assault and domestic violence prevention, intervention, aftercare, awareness, and advocacy. Our team is committed to providing support and resources to survivors, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes to create a safer community for all. Learn more about our mission and the impact we're making.
Meet The Team
Ms. Bishnu Maya Pariyar
M.A., Hon. DLitt.
Founder, NJ Speaks
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Hon. D.Litt., is an award-winning scholar, seasoned administrator, and frontline advocate whose life’s work spans more than two decades of unwavering service to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the United States. She has served as Program Director of Hudson Speaks Against Sexual Violence, the designated rape crisis center for Hudson County, New Jersey. Her earlier roles include Case Manager at HarborCov—Communities Overcoming Violence—in Massachusetts; South Asian Advocate for the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence in Boston; and Domestic Violence/Family Advocate at the Neponset Health Center.
With extensive expertise in leadership training, outreach, education, project management, and research, Dr. Pariyar embodies compassionate and transformative social service. Her lifelong mission has been to empower individuals and families affected by violence, discrimination, and systemic inequity.
Dr. Pariyar earned her Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and her Bachelor of Arts in Social and Political Systems from Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. In recognition of her pioneering social contributions, Pine Manor College awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) in 2013. Further exemplifying her national impact, the City of Louisville, Kentucky, proclaimed September 27, 2015, as “Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar Day.”
Her public service extends to state and municipal leadership. Dr. Pariyar currently serves as a Commissioner on the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission appointed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and as a member of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s advisory board.
Dr. Pariyar is also the visionary founder of ADWAN (Association for Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal). What began in 1998 as a single women’s savings and loan group has grown into a nationwide network of 6,200 women in 253 groups, uplifting and transforming the lives of more than 155,000 people across Nepal.
Her remarkable life story has been widely celebrated and academically documented. It is featured in the higher-education textbook The Writer’s Mindset by Dr. Lisa Wright Hoeffner, published by McGraw Hill in 2021 (pages 591–594). In 2022, her life journey was included in the Massachusetts Department of Education’s 7th-grade curriculum under Lesson 12: Untouchability and SDG 10, spanning eight pages.
Today, Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar stands as a powerful voice for justice, equity, and human dignity—an advocate, leader, and changemaker whose work continues to uplift and inspire countless lives.
Ms. Rocio Cruz-Olivera
M.A., LPC
Lumina Psychotherapy & Consulting LLC
Co-founder, NJ Speaks
Ms. Rocio Olivera, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor dedicated to supporting mental wellness across the lifespan. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the College of Saint Elizabeth, along with a specialized certificate in Clinical Supervision.
With extensive experience working with children and adolescents in high-risk settings, Rocio brings a deeply trauma-informed perspective to her work, creating environments where clients feel safe, understood, and empowered to heal.
Rocio currently operates her own private practice, Lumina Psychotherapy & Consulting LLC in Union City, NJ, and also provides psychotherapy within a higher education counseling center. Her therapeutic approach blends compassion, evidence-based practices, and a strong understanding of emotional resilience, helping clients navigate challenges and build healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Beyond her professional roles, Rocio finds joy in spending time with her beloved dog and her children, and she enjoys unwinding with a favorite TV series or podcast.
Warm, grounded, and committed to holistic well-being, Rocio continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she serves.
Ms. Sherry Singh
Founder & CEO of The Whole Spectrum Autism Foundation
Co-founder, NJ Speaks
Ms. Sherry Singh is the Founder and CEO of The Whole Spectrum Autism Foundation — a mother fueled by love, resilience, and purpose, and a lifelong advocate for children, families, and individuals on the autism spectrum. Her journey into advocacy began not in a classroom or a conference hall, but at home, through the deeply personal experience of raising her son, Ravi, who is on the severe end of the autism spectrum.
When Ravi turned 21 and aged out of school, Sherry was confronted with a painful reality:
There were almost no options for autistic adults.
No appropriate programs.
No licensed teachers.
Endless waiting lists.
Long, exhausting commutes.
Families left to navigate an impossible system alone.
Rather than accept this heartbreaking gap in services, Sherry transformed her pain into purpose. She founded The Whole Spectrum Autism Foundation to ensure that no family would ever feel forgotten, unsupported, or alone again.
A Mother’s Love That Became a Movement
For more than 11 years, The Whole Spectrum Autism Foundation has served as a lifeline for families across New Jersey and beyond. Under Sherry’s leadership, the foundation provides:
• Year-round inclusive and family-friendly events
• Autism acceptance initiatives
• Advocacy and community education
• Resources and support for families navigating autism
• A safe, welcoming, stigma-free community for individuals of all ages and abilities
The organization is built on Sherry’s belief that autism acceptance is not a one-month campaign — it is a daily commitment to compassion, understanding, and inclusion. Her vision is bold and unwavering: a world where individuals on the autism spectrum can live fully, fearlessly, and without judgment.
The Roots of Her Calling
Long before she became a nonprofit leader, Sherry devoted her life to early childhood education. Nearly 30 years ago, she opened Smile Preschool & Nursery, an inclusive and nurturing center inspired by her belief that a simple smile can uplift a child and transform a day.
Smile Preschool has been more than a career — it has been her anchor. It sustained her family, helped her raise her three children, and allowed her to continue serving her community with grace and generosity.
Author, Educator, Advocate
Sherry is also the author of The Power of a Smile: A Journey of Autism, Love, and Survival, a deeply personal memoir that offers an intimate window into life as a mother raising a child with severe autism. Her story gives voice to countless families who often feel unseen, unheard, and forgotten.
Her book has inspired parents, educators, caregivers, and community leaders, reminding the world that love — especially a mother’s love — can spark powerful transformation.
A Vision for True Inclusion
Sherry’s mission reaches far beyond awareness. She envisions communities where:
• Individuals with autism are accepted without question
• Families receive support — not silence
• Loneliness is replaced with belonging
• Every voice, regardless of ability, is valued
Her leadership has touched thousands, built bridges across diverse communities, and reshaped the conversation around inclusion. She remains steadfast in her commitment to dismantling barriers, uplifting families, and expanding opportunities for people of all ages across the autism spectrum.
Fueled by Heart. Defined by Purpose. Driven by Hope.
Today, Sherry Singh stands as a woman of profound strength, compassion, and unwavering determination. Her journey — rooted in love for her son Ravi — has grown into a movement that inspires and uplifts everyone it touches.
Through her work, she continues to remind us of a simple, powerful truth:
One mother’s love can ignite change, empower communities, and transform the world.
