About Us: AARP New Jersey

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.

AARP New Jersey educates and advocates on behalf of those 50 and older on issues that are important to them, their families and to all Garden State residents. We work to strengthen New Jersey communities with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.

Our staff and volunteers work to make New Jersey a great place to grow up and grow older, which includes affordable, quality options for New Jerseyans to stay in their homes and communities.

On behalf of AARP’s more than 1 million Garden State members and all older New Jerseyans, we advocate for:

• Safe, quality long-term care
• Lower property taxes
• Support for family caregivers
• Affordable utility bills
• Ways to save and protect your money for retirement

We also host events and provide resources and educate residents on:

• Healthy living
• Fraud prevention
• Livable communities
• Voting information
• Social Security

Follow us on Facebook and X @AARPNJ.

Interested in volunteering with AARP NJ? Please fill out this form.

AARP New Jersey Staff

State Director, Chris Widelo - Chris joined AARP New Jersey as the state director in 2024. He has 20 years of extensive federal, state, and local lobbying experience, a track record of success in community engagement and building strategic alliances, and extensive experience in media relations. Previously, Chris served as Director of External Affairs and Government Relations at the New York State Association for Affordable Housing. He directed the lobbying and government relations work, collaborated with external partners and executed the modernization of the organization’s branding, digital presence and communications strategy. Previously, he worked at AARP for 16 years in New York City, Albany and the Boston metro area. He has experience in both advocacy and outreach roles.

Director of Advocacy, Evelyn Liebman - Ev develops and provides strategic leadership for AARP’s advocacy efforts and campaigns at both the state and federal level. Ev works with staff and volunteers to create positive social change and deliver value to New Jerseyans in the areas of health reform, retirement security, livable communities, affordable utility rates and consumer and financial protections. Before joining AARP, Ev served as Director of Organizing and Advocacy for New Jersey Citizen Action. Ev worked in the labor movement for many years, organizing and mobilizing union members and focusing on public sector policy issues.

Associate State Director of Advocacy, Crystal McDonald - Crystal leads the strategic planning and execution of AARP New Jersey campaigns to improve the health and financial security of 50+ New Jerseyans, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs and ensuring support for family caregivers. She is an advocate and health policy professional with more than 15 years of success in developing volunteers, building coalitions and engaging decision-makers to achieve legislative and regulatory change. Before her position at AARP New Jersey, Crystal served in pivotal roles for several statewide non-profit organizations focused on improving health care access and affordability.

Associate State Director of Advocacy, Katie York - Katie York, Ph.D. (Gerontology) has more than 20 years of experience in the field of aging, ranging from direct care to academia. Katie leads AARP New Jersey campaigns to transform long-term care, including expanding home and community-based services. She previously served as the Director of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair for the Township of Montclair. In this role, she worked to make the community more age-friendly, fulfilling Montclair's designation as New Jersey’s second member of the World Health Organization's/AARP's Global Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

Director of Outreach and Engagement, Sarah Mack - Sarah joined AARP New Jersey in 2023 to manage the Outreach and Engagement staff and volunteers to create impact in our NJ communities. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership at Kean University where she built capacity for advocacy in communities and with grassroots organizations. Sarah's commitment to social responsibility extends beyond AARP. She volunteers for the association El Ultimo Refugio, and in 2015, she spent three months in Cambodia where she worked hands-on with a local NGO to develop their online presence and fundraising strategies.

Associate State Director of Outreach and Engagement, Julie Marte - Julie has worked in this role for more than 13 years, working with staff and volunteers to create positive social change in New Jersey’s diverse communities with a focus on Central New Jersey. She builds community partnerships, enhances volunteer engagement and capacity and delivers AARP programs and activities to residents. Previously, she worked as a Human Resources manager.

State and Community Engagement Analyst, Fabiana LoPiccolo-Stewart - Fabiana, also known as Fab, joined AARP in 2024 and offers support to the Outreach and Engagement team. Previously, she managed volunteer groups at the Professional Society for Health Economics & Outcomes Research (ISPOR), focusing on developing materials for public health education. Beyond her professional role, Fabiana actively volunteers as a mentor with Visions & Pathways Youth Shelter and serves as the Secretary of her community's Economic Development Committee.

Communications Analyst, Breanne Fiber - Breanne “Bree” joined AARP in 2023 and assists with the communications work for AARP NJ, such as social media, media statements, graphic design, email communications, external communications with members and volunteers. Her background includes content creation, customer service, event planning, account management and digital marketing.

Business Operations Analyst, Robyn Mosely - Robyn has worked at AARP for more than 35 years. She started in the national office’s finance department and moved to the NJ office in 1994. Robyn’s responsibilities include managing and overseeing the AARP NJ budget, supporting advocacy campaigns and outreach and education events in the community, onboarding new staff and overseeing office equipment.

Community Outreach Intern, Larissa Garcia
Larissa joined the AARP team as an intern in the summer of 2023. She is in the final semester of her dual master's program at Rutgers for Social Work and Public Policy. Her career is defined by her dedication to improving livability for all underserved and marginalized communities anse specializes in working with Latina/x/o populations.

Advocacy Intern, Oluwafunmilayo Fatolu
Oluwafunmilayo, known as Funmi in the office, is the newest member of the AARP advocacy team. She studies Political Science and Africana Studies at Seton Hall University. Funmi has previous experience in education advocacy.




Related Articles:

• 11 Ways AARP NJ Fought – and Won – to Improve Your Health and Protect Your Money
• AARP New Jersey Welcomes Chris Widelo as New State Director
• AARP New Jersey 2023 Highlights
• AARP NJ Advocacy Priorities
• How to Vote in New Jersey’s Elections
• New Jersey Tax Guide
• Protect Yourself from Fraud and Scams
• AARP New Jersey Speakers Bureau
• How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters in New Jersey
• New Jersey Voters 50+ Want the State to Make Lowering Property Taxes a High Priority
• New Jersey Voters 50+ Want to Age in Place – Not in Nursing Homes