During Black History Month we are recognizing those individuals and organizations with Fanwood roots or in the Fanwood-Scotch Plains community who are or have made a difference. This week we are recognizing Candace Waller.
Candace has been hosting Why We Dance for the past 15 years. The not-for-profit group that she formed offers free dance classes to the community. She coordinates free dance events every year as well managing, producing and updating the Why We Dance Website, writing press releases for print and digital media and publicizing Why We Dance events.
An author, her new children’s picture book, Frankie and the Peanut Butter and Jelly Fiasco, came out Tuesday and is available on Amazon. Candace said she wrote the book to inspire children to explore basic kitchen skills while having fun with their parents, caregivers, and grandparents while learning the importance of perseverance. The illustrator of her book, Abigail Kahn, was a former dance student in Why We Dance.
Candace also has been a teaching assistant, substitute teacher, and aide for the Plainfield and Jersey City Public Schools.
As a web producer for Time Warner Book Group/Hachette Book Group, she Generated online publicity for self-help and African-American titles and authors by sending specialized pitches to key contacts. She was also a freelance writer for Black Enterprise where she published technology and career-oriented articles and researched and wrote a feature article on top black doctors.
Candace has a master’s degree in publishing from New York University with a concentration in digital media and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Rutgers University. She has worked in magazines, newspapers and book publishing. Candace’s love for books and magazines started when she was in high school. One of her first jobs was working at the Scotch Plains Public Library.
Candace Waller
