Ward F (Bergen/Lafayette) Councilwoman Viola Richardson City Hall, 280 Grove Street Room 207 Jersey City, NJ 07302 Tel:  (201) 547-5338 Fax:  (201) 547-4678 email:  RichardsonV@jcnj.org  Lorenzo Richardson, Council Aide Tel:  (201) 547-5361 email

Term of office
First elected to council:  June 12, 2001
Current term expires:  June 30, 2013

Biography
Viola is the youngest of 12 children born to the late Willie and Viola Taylor. Viola left South Carolina at age 13 and relocated to the Bronx, New York, with her oldest sister Harriett. She talks about her childhood with fond memories. Although they did not have much money, their home was rich with love, respect, and high self-esteem.

Viola is well known in the community. She is a strong advocate for social change. She believes that every individual must assume responsibility for making the community better if we are to survive. She believes that we must take control of our lives. We cannot turn our backs on our youth and expect that the social agencies will take care of them. Either we as a society pay now, by investing in our youth, or pay later when our children become nonproductive individuals.

Viola holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Jersey City State College. She retired from the Jersey City Police Department, where she served for twenty-one years. She was elected in June 2001 and reelected in May 2005 to the Jersey City Municipal Council, where she represents Ward F.

She was the First Female President of the Inter-departmental Minority Police Action Council (IMPAC).  Viola is a co-founder of Females Organized for Community Unity and Service (FOCUS), which sponsored the first Saturday School in 1992.

Some of her civic awards include:

• Nora O. Fant Humanitarian Award from the Jersey City Branch of the NAACP
• Mary McLeod Bethune for Outstanding Community Service from the Com-Bi-Nations
• The Colored Women's Club of NE District Citizen Award
• The African American Historical Society's Woman of Achievement Award 
• The Bismillah Masjid Al-Iman Humanitarian Award
• Woman of Action Award from the City of Jersey City
• Woman of Achievement Award from the Rho Kappa Omega Sorority Inc.
• Community Service Awards from the Strike Merchants
• Mount Oliver Baptist Church and Family In Christ
• The Renault Robinson Award from the National Black Police Association
• Trailblazer Award from IMPAC
• The Jersey Journal "Every-day Hero"Award
• Community Service Award from the Queen Esther Chapter #2
• Outstanding Service Award from the Past Exalted Ruler Council # 17
• Prince Hall Civic Award from the Craftsmen Club of King Solomon Lodge # 19 F. & A.M.P.H.A.
• Christopher Columbus Award for Outstanding Community Service
• Community Service Award from the Jersey City Branch of Women in the NAACP
• Legacy Awards from Youth Poets
• Valor Award from the Jersey City Police Benevolent Assoc. (POBA)

She is an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and sings in the choir, President of the Concerned Citizens Coalition, Life member of the NAACP and Former Executive Board Member of the Jersey City Branch, Life member of the African-American Historical Society Museum, and Former Financial Secretary to the New Jersey Council of Chartered Members of the NBPA.

Viola is married to Willie J. Richardson and they are the proud parents of three adult children, Willie Jr., Wanda, and Tammy. She is also the proud grandmother of Briana, Willie J. III, Kenya, and Ayla.

Special Projects
In July 1995, while employed as a police officer, she spearheaded the first Summer Day Camp for children ages 5-14. The camp operates yearly for 4-6 weeks during the summer