Stronger Than Steel: The Senator Wynona Lipman Story is a documentary that explores the life of Sen. Wynona Lipman (1923-1999) the first African American Woman Senator in New Jersey (USA). It examines her family and remarkable achievements, highlighting legislative initiatives and career benchmarks. Firsthand accounts, historic photos, an audio track of Wynona’s own words, a music soundtrack and thoughtful interviews create a 360° portrait of the Senator. Fifteen interviewees examine the times in which she lived and how she navigated gender and racial discrimination to successfully enact over 140 Bills, many of which affect New Jerseyans today. RSVP here today for a screening of the documentary at The Baird in South Orange on March 29th at 2 pm.

The Wynona Lipman Project, of which the documentary is a major part, is a four-part Centennial Celebration of Senator Lipman (a project of Celeste Bateman & Assocs., LLC and Blue Butterfly Arts & Media: A NJ Nonprofit Corporation). Senator Lipman (1923-1999) would have turned 100 on November 17, 2023. The Wynona Lipman Project encompassed a community forum held on April 22, 2023 at The Newark Public Library. The forum provided an opportunity for friends, colleagues, politicos, social service providers and the public to discuss and learn about the late Senator who represented New Jersey’s 29^th Legislative District.

Then Newark Municipal Council President LaMonica McIver (now Representative of the 10^th Congressional District) moderated a discussion among panelists Senators Nia H. Gill, Loretta Weinberg, Senator/Mayor Sharpe James III and lobbyist and co-founder of Wynona’s House Jeannine LaRue. The event was cosponsored by BBAM and The Newark Public Library and Wynona’s House (an Essex County Child Advocacy Center). The Project included Stronger Than Steel: The Senator Wynona Lipman Story exhibition at the New Jersey Historical Society which opened November 18, 2023 and closed June 2024, and a talk and book signing with Washington, DC Bureau Chief for The Griot and author April D. Ryan. Ms. Ryan was the Senator Wynona Lipman Chairholder (2017-2018) at the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

Stronger Than Steel: The Senator Wynona Lipman Story documents the life and legacy of an extraordinary legislator and humanitarian. The film is dedicated to the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver (1952 - 2023) who held the highest elected position of any African American woman in the state. Her message at the end of the film was a phone message left for the filmmaker, Celeste A. Bateman, committing her support and anticipated participation in the Centennial programs. Sadly, she passed away on August 1, 2023.

A BLUE BUTTERFLY ARTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION

(A NJ Nonprofit Corporation)

Celeste Bateman