Newark, NJ: Improving the Lives of Inner City Youth

Steve Adubato sits down with community leaders in the greater Newark area who are working to improve the lives of inner-city youth by providing access to quality after school programs, improved educational opportunities, and job/college readiness initiatives. This panel also addresses the ways young people can get back on track after an adverse experience with the law with help from the community. Guests include Ryan Haygood, Esq., President and CEO of NJ Institute for Social Justice; Mekaelia Davis, Program Officer at Prudential Foundation; Traymanesha Moore-Lamy, Ph.D., Executive Director of Newark Thrives! and Reginald Lewis, Executive Director of Newark City of Learning Collaborative.

12/23/17 # 3031

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

"Welcome to Caucus. I'm Steve Adubato. Now joining me in the studio are top community leaders in the City of Newark, making a big difference in the lives of... Brick City - that's the name for Newark... all of our children of all ages. We're joined Ryan Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute For Social Justice, Mekaelia Davis, Program Officer of the Prudential Foundation, Doctor Traymanesha Moore-Lamy, is Executive Director of the Newark Thrives! organization, also Reggie Lewis, Executive Director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative. Thank you all for joining us to talk about Newark, the next chapter. Mrs. Davis let me ask you this, the Prudential foundation has a great interest in this because? Because Prudential's been committed to the City of Newark for over 140 years. You know, we recognize that a big part of the city's future, a big part of the city's strength, is young people. And we've demonstrated that through our commitments in investing in education, in out-of-school time, and thinking about what it means to have a city that provides the kind of services that young people need to be successful. You know Ryan, we've had many conversations. Ryan joined us... if you go on our website, www.steveadubato.org, you'll see a series of programs we did... excuse me... on police-minority relations. It was focused in Newark, but it had a powerful message about youth dealing with law enforcement in cities across this nation, but you've been with us many times Ryan. Let me ask you, when we talk about the next chapter of Newark, and young people, what's the thing you want to get across? The message? Well you know Steve, I really appreciate that you're having this conversation in such a timely moment, as you mentioned, that conversation around, sort of, how to transform relationships between law enforcement officials and young people. Building trust is what we called it. I'm sorry for interrupting. And more broadly, building trust in communities of color, you know, one of the essential things is recognizing, sort of, the time in which we live. And the reality is that you can't have a next chapter without young people leading the charge. Young people have always been at the vanguard, at the forefront, of affecting change in social..."