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.
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.
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.
Ms. Stacey Flanagan
Chief Operating Officer of the Battery Park City Authority,
Co-founder, NJ Speaks
Ms. Stacey L. Flanagan is the co-founder of NJ Speaks and serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Battery Park City Authority.
A respected public-sector executive with more than two decades of leadership experience, Flanagan has built and led high-performing teams, managed complex operations, and spearheaded innovative initiatives that strengthen communities while enhancing organizational effectiveness.
Before joining the Battery Park City Authority, she served for more than 12 years as the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services for the City of Jersey City, where she oversaw critical public health and human services programs serving one of New Jersey’s most diverse communities.
Rev. Dr. Tami Weaver Henry,
Ph.D.
Chair, Jersey City Women Advisory Board
Co-founder, NJ Speaks
Rev. Dr. Tami Weaver Henry, PhD, is a distinguished healthcare executive, faith leader, community advocate, and lifelong champion for women, families, and underserved communities. Born and raised in Jersey City, she has dedicated more than three decades to public service, healthcare advocacy, spiritual leadership, and advancing equity and justice in the community she calls home.
She currently serves as Chair of the Jersey City Women’s Advisory Board, where she has helped advance initiatives addressing gender-based violence, pay equity, childcare access, and economic opportunity.
