"Saving the historic T. Thomas Fortune House in Red Bank"
Gilda Rogers
Journalist, Author & Playwright, Producer, Director Historian and Educator
“I got my start at Brookdale.”
Gilda Rogers is an award-winning journalist and author of the recently released book “Out of the Ashes Came Hope,” the memoir of Monsignor William J. Linder, the founder of New Community Corporation, in Newark. Gilda is an executive producer and one of the playwrights of “SUPERNATURAL: THE PLAY” that debuted at Crossroads Theater, New Brunswick and Off-Broadway at Players Theater and had a long-run in L.A. She is a social critic, community relations liaison for Two River Theater, and co-chair of the T. Thomas Fortune Project Committee, the agency that led the effort to save and preserve the T. Thomas Fortune House.
Creative art is the platform that Gilda thrives in. She started her art career as a window dresser, fashion coordinator and visual artist for a number of national retail chains. However, her passion to tell stories and to be the voice for the voiceless led her to journalism and to write two earlier books: “Arrested Development: The State of Black Achievement and Education in Hip-Hop America and Fearless: A Bold Approach to Reinventing Your Life.
Wearing the hat of historian, Gilda is currently leading a herculean effort to restore the National Historic Landmark, the T. Thomas Fortune House, located in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was once the home of notable African American journalist and newspaper editor, T. Thomas Fortune, who was one of the most vocal and courageous social justice crusaders of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Gilda produced and directed the short-documentary called, A Man and His Music, about Red Bank’s late Jazz Historian, Ralph Gatta, better known as “Johnny Jazz.” She is also part of the creative team for the documentary Kosher. Gilda’s work has appeared on AOL Black Voices with social critic, Dr. Boyce Watkins and the PBS affiliated station NJTV.
Keeping the community informed, Gilda operates Frank Talk Multi-Media Network – connecting art, culture and entertainment to the community. (www.franktalkmultimedia.com). Gilda also teaches writing as an adjunct professor at Brookdale Community College and is the proud mother of a daughter.
Glida was nominated"Humanitarian of the Year," by the Monmouth County Human Relations Commission and I will receive the award on June 12, 2017.