SJM_SuperWomen_1020_V2FINAL_RG3 . qxp_SJM Feature 10 / 14 / 20 5 : 48 PM Page 2 lucienne “ lucy ” Woman Beard of the ne hundred years ago Year women won the right to O vote thanks to the sacrifices of suffragists , including South Jersey’s Alice Paul . Since 1984 , the Alice Paul Institute ( API ) in Mount Laurel has continued its namesake’s legacy of fighting for gender equality through education and leadership devel - opment , much of it with the involvement of Beard , who began as a volunteer for the organization in 1994 and became execu - tive director in 2012 , overseeing operations and the strategic vision of API . Among her accomplishments , Beard created the Alice Paul Leadership Programs for girls , inspiring students throughout South Jersey to pursue leadership opportunities , and helped establish API as the epicenter for women’s equality on the national stage , welcoming upwards of 5,000 visitors annually . As 2020 was to be a yearlong celebration of the 19th Amendment , Beard ensured programming continued on vir - tual platforms in response to the pandemic . She serves on the board of directors of the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites , and locally is a charter member of Kiwanis of felicia Greater Mount Laurel . Beard recently announced she would retire at the end of 2020 , but her contribution to Paulsdale will remain indisputable . Reyes - Morton t 31 years old , Reyes - Morton is the youngest member of the Camden City Council , and the second youngest in the city’s A Regina history . The daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants , Reyes - Morton grew up in Camden and graduated from Camden Academy Char - Philipps ter High School in 2007 and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University . Navigating the chal - t’s hard to keep up with lenges of child care made her aware of the inequalities in the Philipps with the many hats I health and education of youth in Camden and how this can she wears . She’s an attorney impact families that are just starting out , and her activism led her with Madden & Madden and is to become elected to the Camden County Democratic Committee , the first female partner in the as well as vice president of Concerned Citizens of North Camden , history of the firm . While she is of which her husband Bryan is president . She served as a board dedicated to her professional member of the Camden City School District where she launched a career , it’s Philipps ’ commit - gifted and talented pilot program to build new STEM labs at sev - ment to her family and her eral schools . Reyes - Morton and her husband also founded the community that is even more impressive . Her son , Shane , lives North Camden Little League to bring year - round sports and edu - with a rare , genetic neuromuscular disease called spinal mus - cational enrichment activities to children in Camden , who are dis - cular atrophy ( SMA ) , and the diagnosis did not come until after proportionately affected by juvenile diabetes . In addition to he lost the majority of his ability to move . Philipps is on a mis - working full time for the Camden County Police Department , sion to make sure future babies and their families receive the Reyes - Morton is involved with the Girl Scouts of Central and diagnosis earlier by advocating for the passage of a bill that Southern New Jersey and the Hispanic Family Center . ultimately became law last January and required SMA to be Reyes - Morton is modest when it comes to recognition , saying added to New Jersey’s newborn screening panel . She is also a she is just one part of the village of fearless leaders working to member of the committee to establish a New Jersey Rare Dis - change the systems in Camden . “ Life has placed me in many ease Advisory Council . In addition to working full time and places and has allowed me many opportunities to look at my qual - being her son’s advocate , she is passionate about serving the ity of life and where it’s lacking to seek not just to improve those community as a former board member of the South Jersey areas for me but also for the greater community , ” she says . “ These Young Professionals Association , with the organization donat - achievements and accolades are not mine but a reflection of the ing over $ 250,000 to local charities during that time . With a faith my community has placed in me and my commitment to goal of continuing to serve her community , Philipps is cur - that . The world is seeing what we [ in Camden ] have always known rently running for Haddon Heights city council . about ourselves . ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE VOLUME 17 ISSUE 7 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 45