Yitz Stern & Rosemary Hernandez Carroll Take the Campaign to the Community: A Week of Grassroots Momentum Across District 37

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ – May 30, 2025 – With just under two weeks until the June 10 Democratic Primary, State Assembly candidates Yitz Stern and Rosemary Hernandez Carroll have been on the ground, face to face with residents across District 37, continuing to prove that this campaign is rooted in real conversations, real issues, and real leadership.

From knocking doors in Hackensack and Bogota to community events in Englewood, the Together for Bergen 37 team is showing what grassroots organizing looks like. They are meeting neighbors where they are, listening deeply, and bringing forward solutions that reflect the hopes and concerns of everyday families.

Rosemary is all smiles as she canvasses Hackensack neighborhoods with community advocates Hector Modesto Romero and Rudy Jiménez.

Earlier this week, Rosemary Hernandez Carroll canvassed neighborhoods in Hackensack, joined by community advocates Hector Modesto Romero and Rudy Jiménez. Together, they discussed what is at stake this election, from housing affordability to school funding, and emphasized the importance of showing up, not just during campaign season, but every day thereafter.

She also joined former Bogota Councilman Jorge Nuñez to knock doors in Bogota, continuing her efforts to connect directly with voters across the district. The conversations, like the neighborhoods, were diverse and meaningful, underscoring the shared priorities that unite communities throughout Bergen.

Rosemary and Yitz recently met with Courtnay Johnson-Suffern, President of the Bergen NAACP, and Amy Bullock, 2nd Vice-President and Chair of the Political Action Committee.

The week also included a candid and powerful conversation with Courtnay Johnson-Suffern, President of the Bergen NAACP, and Amy Bullock, Second Vice President and Chair of the Political Action Committee. Topics ranged from homeownership access in Hackensack, Teaneck, and Englewood, to equity in public education, and the barriers facing immigrant communities.

“Listening is leadership,” said Hernandez Carroll. “This meeting reminded me that real progress starts with sitting down, hearing each other out, and doing the work, together.”

Rosemary and Yitz snap a photo with the wonderful owners of Bianco Nero Gelato.

The community connections continued with a heartfelt event at Bianco Nero Gelato in Englewood, where residents gathered for an afternoon of Scoops, Conversations, and Community. Both candidates took time to speak with voters one on one, diving into concerns around public safety, economic opportunity, and the need for policies that protect small businesses.

Englewood resident “gets the scoop” with candidate for assembly, Rosemary Hernandez Carroll.

Later in the week, the candidates were honored guests on “Coffee with the Mayor,” a civic conversation series hosted by Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes and the Englewood Public Library. Over Zoom and Facebook Live, Stern and Hernandez Carroll outlined their vision for District 37: strengthening public schools, making communities more affordable, and ensuring residents feel safe, heard, and represented.

Pizza, Prayers, and Politics

Yitz communes with residents of the Teaneck Square apartment complex before and after evening prayers (Mincha and Maariv).

On Wednesday evening, Yitz Stern and Mayor Mark Schwartz joined approximately 50 residents of the Teaneck Square apartment complex for an evening of engagement, both before and after Mincha and Maariv prayers. Residents gathered in the community room for what became a spirited, grassroots-style discussion about the upcoming Democratic Primary and the importance of every single vote. Topics ranged from affordability to public safety and representation.

“It was a pleasure to speak with such an outstanding group of residents and discuss issues that matter not only to Teaneck, but to all of District 37,” Stern said. “These are the conversations that move our campaign forward.”

Media Outreach and Vision for Inclusive Representation

The week also featured strong moments of moral clarity. During a live interview on the Nachum Segal Network, Yitz Stern reiterated his commitment to combating antisemitism in all its forms, urging the state to adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.

“Law enforcement knows how to define harassment and burglary—it’s time they know how to define antisemitism too,” Stern said, calling for policy that gives communities the tools to protect themselves.

Yitz makes a guest appearance with Nachum Segal on JM in the AM.

In a separate in-depth appearance on The Pitch Meeting podcast, hosted by The Jewish Link, Stern laid out his broader vision for leadership in District 37. He spoke candidly about the need for inclusive, collaborative governance that bridges communities across the district.

“When people come together around shared values, it leads to better outcomes,” Stern said. He emphasized the importance of building coalitions, increasing transparency, and showing up for communities in a way that transcends partisanship. “We have to work across differences—not weaponize them,” he noted, adding that leadership should focus on solving real problems, not playing politics.

Stern also underscored the importance of representation that reflects the community’s diversity while staying grounded in integrity and accessibility.

“The people of District 37 deserve leaders who are present, who listen, and who are willing to put in the work—not just during campaign season, but every day after.”

Yitz took pleasure in engaging with residents of the Teaneck Square apartment complex before and after evening prayers (Mincha and Maariv).

“We are not interested in politics as usual,” Stern added. “We are building something rooted in relationships, in listening, and in showing up even when the cameras are not around. That is how you rebuild trust.”

Throughout it all, the campaign has remained anchored in its core values: boots-on-the-ground leadership, community engagement, and an unwavering commitment to transparency and inclusion. The energy is growing, and so is the team.

As the campaign continues, both candidates have emphasized the importance of local elections in shaping everyday life. They are reminding voters that who we elect locally impacts housing, schools, safety, and so much more.

Early voting begins Monday, June 3 and runs through Saturday, June 8. To find your District 37 early voting site, visit bergencountyclerk.gov/Services/77.

“As we head into this final stretch, we are learning, growing, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the people we seek to serve,” said Hernandez Carroll. “It is the only way we know how to lead.”

Rosemary and Yitz pose for a picture with residents at the Teaneck Memorial Day Parade.

On Memorial Day, both candidates joined residents in Teaneck to honor those who gave their lives in service to the country. It was a reminder that public service, at its best, is about humility, sacrifice, and a deep love for one’s community.

To learn more about the campaign, visit TogetherForBergen37.com.

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Rosemary and Yitz pose for a picture with James Edmonds, Chair of the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee, at the Teaneck Memorial Day Parade.