James Butter Allen is a graduate of Trenton Central High School and holds a B.A. degree in Political Science Public Administration from Trenton State College, now fondly known as the College of New Jersey. He serves The Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Trenton, New Jersey as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School/Vacation Bible School Teacher. James served The College of New Jersey (formally Trenton State College) in various administrative positions with the final being that of Director of Building Services for greater than twenty-five years and served the City of Trenton as the Deputy Director of Public Works until November 2011. James began working for Mercer Street Friends after serving nine years on their board. He continues servicing Zeta Phi Beta “Stork Nest on their advisory council. April 2020, he was appointed Food Bank Director for Mercer Street Friend and in September 2023 was appointed Chief Operation Officer/Food Bank Director. He continues to serve his community through the Omega Psi Phi, Delta Upsilon Chapter served three terms as Basileus (President) He also served as Deputy Corridor Representative for the State of New Jersey (Omega Psi Phi) and holds membership in the Gamma Nu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Fort Dix, NJ. He is also a Life Member both District and Nationally. He is a two term Past Master of Woodlin Lodge No. 30. He is a member of King David Chapter No. 6 Holy Royal Arch Masons, Zerubbalel Council No. 3 Royal and Select Masters, Douglas Commandery No. 10 Knights Templar (Honorary Past Most Eminent Grand Commander) Past Commander-in-Chief of Ophir Consistory No. 48, Ancient and Accepted Scottish-Rite Masons. He is a member of Khufu Temple No.120, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine. He has served as Patron of Princess Leah Chapter No. 23, Order of Eastern Star multiple years. He was elevated to the 33 rd degree in Masonry as a Grand Inspector General in May 1996 and currently served his class as their secretary since 2008 until being elected class president in 2015. James was elected to the position of Grand Secretary for the New Jersey Council of Deliberation in the Fall of 2001 and reclassified as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Emeriti May 2012 and in May 2021 crowned an active member for the United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Free Masonry, Northern Jurisdiction. A Past President of the Commanders of the Rite which are the 33 rd Degree Masons-Prince Hall Affiliation for the State of New Jersey. He served The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge as Assistant Grand Secretary from 1994 until being elected Grand Secretary June 2010 and has retired this position June 2023 as Grand Secretary Emeritus. Also served Oziel Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in the appointed positions of Assistant Grand Sentinel, and Grand Secretarial Staff as Advisor to Mileage and Per Diem Committee. In 2007 was awarded Public Employee of the Year by The Trenton Civic Association and received the Bo-Rietta Family Service award in 2013. In the Spring of 2011, he was confirmed as a member of the Mercer Street Friends Board of Trustees (Quaker based community group) and served as Vice Chair 2017 – 2019. In April of 2017 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for TCNJ as well as the Tri-State Consortium of Equal Opportunity Fund Programs of Higher Education the Outstanding Alumni Award for 2017. He served TCNJ as a member of the Alumni Board and served on the TCNJ Social Justice project prior to being appointed Trustee for the College of New Jersey June 2023. He is also a silver life member of the NAACP. Butter is married to Patricia Inez, have been married for thirty-five years. They are the parents of two sons collectively, Ronald and James. They also have eight grandchildren, which four of them are twenty-three-year-old quads and four Great-Grand Children! James has one sister, Deloris, and one brother, Herman. James is committed to continue paying it forward because of his full circle of service at TCNJ which was and remains being a game changer in his Life.