Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey’s West Ward, Crystal Feliciano is an exceptional leading figure as she strives to positively impact her community. With over 26 years of experience in auditing on the corporate, state, municipal, and non-profit level, Feliciano is a proud finance teacher at Trenton Central High School entering her third year of teaching. Truly committed to educating the youth, she instills within them the necessary gems of managing finances, the importance of becoming financially responsible, and lessons about financial literacy; providing them a broadened perspective on how and what it means to be prepared entering the real world. 

Focused on her prime mission to give back and increase resident engagement throughout the city, she has involved herself with several organizations that all hold key objectives and principles of producing greatness. She is a reporter for Peterson’s Breaking News, a city initiative that brings awareness to city events and stories, and even has a talk show titled the Crystal Feliciano Show on Facebook. In collaboration with community activist Jasi Edwards, the two have established a platform titled T-Town topics that hold discussions along the lines of policing, economic development, mental health awareness, and city affairs. To produce resident participation discussion, the platform gives those in the Trenton area the opportunity to be seen and heard through open dialogue.

“The goal is to help as many people in the city of Trenton get to the next level and to allow those who voice their opinions to be heard and respected,” says Feliciano.

Feliciano is also a member of numerous organizations that further her mission of community service and are dear to her heart. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the National Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the National Congress of Black Women. To ensure that constituent needs are met, she is also the committeewoman of District 5 Northward and holds a position as the president and co-founder of the Giayana Monae Genesis Foundation; an organization founded in honor of her daughter. 

The Giayana Monae Genesis Foundation is a 501c3 organization that helps and honors children ages 3 to 17 experiencing partial or total hair loss due to Alopecia, cancer, or other extenuating conditions. The foundation consists of additional workshops, mentorship programs, and women empowerment movements that can be found at www.Gigifoundation.com.   

Every September, which is National Alopecia Awareness and the birth month of her daughter, a child or children are selected to be honored for their hair loss, to remind them that they are beautiful just the way they are. 

“It’s almost like Christmas in September because we honor these children for having the hair loss…we look to build self-confidence, self-love, and self-esteem and so we celebrate them for being who they are,” added Feliciano.

The annual event now consists of a week-long fashion show that showcases fashion and greatness within the beauty industry located right here in Trenton. This event was made possible through the help of community organizations and businesses such as the Mercer County Fashion Institute, fashion business Shameless Opinion, and local leaders all with the same end goal to showcase greatness located here in the City of Trenton and in the Tri-State area. They end it off by honoring a child with gifts, money, and love.

“The end game for me is to touch as many lives in the city of Trenton in a positive manner as possible.”

Whether that be through economic development, to student preparation and achievement, to assisting or mentoring black women and girls, getting out health awareness to residents, spreading insight about civic engagement and voter registration, Feliciano is committed to ensuring that her city is well taken care of as it makes it onto the next steps of becoming even greater.

If anyone is interested in getting involved and becoming more aware of community events and discussions, visit Facebook groups “Our Trenton” “Peterson’s Breaking News” and “T-Town Topics” for community updates. If constituents have issues and need a solution visit the Crystal Feliciano North Ward District 5 committeewoman page. For more information on the Giayana Monae Genesis Foundation Inc, visit www.gigifoundation.com 

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