'Impacting the Community'
On this episode Mayor Baraka has a conversation with the Executive Director of My Brother's Keeper Newark, Mark Comesañas about the 'Reimaging Public Safety' report. 

The Mayor then switches gears and has a tech focused conversation with siblings and Newark natives Olivia and Drixxon Kyser. The two developed the app Circulate. the goal of the app is to help black owned professionals and businesses owners to reach potential clients and customers. The goal is for those connections to translate into wealth circulation.

Ras In 60 Ep. 4 S2 ft. Mark Comesañas of MBK Newark and Olivia and Drixxon Kyser of Circulate

Chronic homelessness is an issue that affects communities in America on both coasts. Last week, The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services released “Newark’s Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness” within 3 years. On this episode, we breakdown the comprehensive plan with the City’s Homelessness Czar Luis Ulerio, and Jim Pelliccio, Chair of the City of Newark’s Commission on Homelessness.

We then expand the discussion to include Ken Craft, CEO of Hope the Valley Rescue Mission located in southern California. His company’s mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger and homelessness. In 2021, his company, helped with the development of six tiny home villages in Los Angeles County, CA. These 6 villages have provided more than 900 beds for unsheltered individuals. This was an addition to the 506 beds, Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission helped to previously developed in southern California.

Listen in as we explore Newark’s Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and as we learn about the actions taking place by Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission to decrease the homeless population in southern California.

Ras in 60 Ep4 S3: Evaluating and Executing Plans to End Chronic Homelessness, Coast to Coast

Harriet Tubman is known to many of us as one of the most courageous women in American history. As a conductor on the underground railroad Harriet returned to the south approximately 13 times to lead enslaved people to the freedom. 

On March 9, 2023 the Harriet Tubman monument titled "Shadows of a Face" was unveiled in Harriet Tubman Square Park downtown Newark. This interactive monument is replacing the Christopher Columbus statue that was removed in 2020.

"Shadows of a Face" is dedicated to the life and legacy of one of America's greatest abolitionists, Harriet Tubman. The monument is includes an audio component that was produced by the audiobook and podcast company, Audible and the audio was narrated by Queen Latifah. Members of the community contributed to the monument by creating personalized tiles that were added to the project's mosaic wall. 

The Harriet Tubman Monument project was led by the City of Newark's Arts and Cultural Affairs Director fayemi shakur and funded by the City of Newark, Audible, the Mellon Foundation and individual residents in collaboration with the Newark City Parks Foundation, Newark Arts, the Newark Museum of Art and the Newark Public Library. 

Mayor Ras J. Baraka and co-host/ producer Desiree Hadley discuss the monument in detail with the Artist/ Architect Nina Cooke John, Director shakur and the Founder of Audible Don Katz.

Listen to this episode and share with your social circle.
Audio Engineer: 

Carter "Roc" Mangan Jr.

www.TheRocProductions.com

Ras in 60 Ep6 S3"Shadows of a Face" Discussing Newark's Harriet Tubman Monument

Newark is leading the way and is proud of it!

Before an audience of residents, stakeholders, elected officials and media representatives, Mayor Baraka described the life-changing initiatives his administration has put in place over the past nine years. Mayor Baraka’s address was intertwined with powerful testimonials from Newark residents who have been directly impacted by the works of his administration.

Newark Leading and Proud of It!

In 2020 the Baraka administration created the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, the first of its kind in the City of Newark. While the rest of the country shouted 'Defund the Police', the City of Newark reallocated funds from the NPD budget to establish the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery. 

Lakeesha Eure, the Director of the OVPTR, explains her strategic plan  while providing an in debt look into her team's efforts and collaborative approach to decrease violence in conjunction with the Newark Public Safety Department.

Later in the episode Mayor Baraka and Co-host Desiree Hadley, speak with Sonia Rogers, founder of the non-profit organization 'Through Their Voices' and Al-Tariq Best, the CEO/Founder of the H.U.B.B. Arts and Trauma Center. Ms. Rogers describes her personal experience with gun violence Mr. Best touches on his non-profit's active collaboration with the OVPTR.

Ras in 60 Ep8 S3: The Strategic Plan for the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery

Only one in four residents own a home in Newark, and with corporations vying to purchase houses and turn them into high cost rentals, it is urgent to provide residents with affordable pathways to homeownership.

The homeownership revitalization program, which many know as the $1 properties program, is specifically for residents of Newark. It enables the low cost sale of city properties to residents who have lived in Newark for five years or more or have been displaced by gentrification.

NACA is the program administrator and also provides low cost mortgages. To discuss this topic and other homeownership options offered by the City of Newark, this episode features conversations with Marcus Randolph, President and CEO of Invest Newark along with Bruce Marks, CEO and Founder of NACA, and Jerrah Crowder the Assistant Director of Newark's Department of Economic and Housing Development department.

Later in the show we dive into a conversation with two Newark residents and homeowners who have benefitted from the homeowenrship options available to Newark residents, and from the NACA mortgage program. Later in the show we dive into a conversation with two Newark residents and homeowners who have benefitted from the homeownership options available to Newark residents, and from the NACA mortgage program. Ms. Patricia Hobbs and Ms. Tricia Lubrano share their journey of becoming homeowners and the NACA mortgage process.

Ras in 60 Ep 9 S3: Making Homeownership Accessible for all Newark Residents

In this episode of Ras in 60, we celebrate hip-hop’s monumental 50th Anniversary and dive into the influential world of the music genre. There is no doubt that the hip-hop culture has impacted the lives of many, spurred national dialog, and raised awareness to injustice. Born in the Bronx, hip-hop quickly crossed the Hudson River to put down roots in New Jersey, where Englewood’s The Sugarhill Gang catapulted the genre into the mainstream music market.

Listen now to an interview with THE SUGARHILL GANG – the pioneers who made history recording the world’s first hip-hop record, Rapper’s Delight.

 Also, on this episode, hear from West Ward Council Member Duprè Kelly, a hip-hop artist who successfully transitioned from the music industry into a career in public service.

This Labor Day weekend, Newark is hosting its annual 24 Hrs of Peace event, which uses the hip-hop culture as a vehicle to positively engage the community and promote peace. Mayor Baraka founded the 24 Hours of Peace event 11 years ago when he was a Council Member for the South Ward and made it a citywide event when he became mayor.

24 Hrs of Peace Co-Founder Hakim Green also joins the show along with Council Member Kelly. The two will discuss using hip-hop culture to evoke change, transitioning careers as hip-hop artists, the 24 Hours of Peace event, and much more.

Ras in 60 Ep 10 S3: Newark Celebrates 50 Years of Hip Hop

September is back-to-school month, and, appropriately, National Literacy Month.  On September 8th, the world recognizes International Literacy Day to raise awareness about the importance of literacy as a fundamental human right. Literacy is a fundamental human right.

During the pandemic, young people experienced learning loss at an alarming rate. In 2022, the Newark test results of the NJSLA literacy test showed only 19 percent of third graders passed. In the same year, Newark’s literacy passing rate for all grades was 27 percent. 

To combat these alarmingly low literacy rates, over the summer, the City of Newark unveiled a 10-Point Youth Literacy Action Plan. The plan outlines 10 actionable steps that schools, parents, and community organizations will undertake during this school year to put Newark's students back on track.

On this episode Mayor Baraka and co-host Desiree Hadley will discuss the action plan with the Brain Trusts' experts helping to carry out the city's literacy mission. Joining the conversation is Chief Education Officer Dr. Sharnee Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Newark Board of Education Dr. Mary Ann Reilly, Director of Community Engagement of United Way of Greater Newark Karen Leach-Toomer, and the new Director of the Newark Public Library Christian Zabriskie.

Ras In 60 Ep 11 S3: Discussing the 10-Point Youth Literacy Action Plan

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstone of our communities.” -Barack Obama

On September 6th, the Baraka administration and Invest Newark launched a program to help businesses and not-for-profit organizations locate, relocate, or expand their operations in Newark’s burgeoning downtown core.
 
The program, known as the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, aims to support businesses that are looking to bring more retail, cultural, and dining experiences downtown. Populating our downtown space spurs an upward spiral that improves aesthetics, safety, and quality of life in the heart of the city, and turns long vacant storefronts into amenities for Newark residents, workers, and students.
 
The City and Invest Newark will make low- to no-cost financial assistance available to businesses looking to locate in the focus areas. Business operators will be eligible for up to $650,000 in support, depending on the square footage of the storefront.
 
Over the summer Audible launched a grant for startups looking to relocate around Harriet Tubman Square Park. Audible is offering startups a $250,000 relocation grant. This episode features conversations with both the President and Chief Executive Officer of Invest Newark, Marcus Randolph and Audible’s Vice President of Urban Innovation Aisha Glover.
 
Later in the show, the owners Markisha and Carlos Swepson of Harlem, New York restaurant BLVD Bistro, will speak about their plans to open a Newark location of their restaurant in the downtown district in the near future.
 
Also joining this conversation is Anthony Frasier, an awardee of the Audible grant program and the owner of the startup ABF Creative.
 
 
Audio Engineer: 

Carter "Roc" Mangan Jr.

www.TheRocProductions.com

Ras in 60 Ep12 S 3: Newark's Retail Reactivation Plan

On the first part of this show hosts Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Desiree Hadley are speaking with the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, Luis Ulerio, the President and CEO of Newark Alliance, Evan Weiss, and the Data and Homeless Outreach Team Lead, Izaiah Hayes-Willoughby.

By developing housing for residents without address, Newark is not only tackling the issue of homelessness but it’s employing young people to build these homes by collaborating with the local organization, Youth Build.

Youth Build is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for young people ages 16-24 who have experienced challenges with completing high school and simply require a different path to success. Youth Build joins the middle of the show to discuss their phenomenal program and how they’re training and employing our residents in construction and other trades.

The final group of guests include professors and students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier School of Architecture and Design. Listen and share this episode with your friends and family. 

 

Audio Engineer: Off the Roc LLC

Discussing Hope Village II, Resilient Hope and Newark’s Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness

Mayor Ras J. Baraka presented his 10th annual State of the City Address on March 12th, in a joyful, impassioned, and triumphant speech to the residents of Newark assembled at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, located at 1 Center Street.

 

In his address, Mayor Baraka reflected on his administration’s achievements of the past decade starting from his “David moment.” Describing himself as “just a kid from Clinton Avenue and 10th Street…Amiri and Amina’s son, an activist, a poet, a teacher with nothing in his hands but a rock and a sling shot,” he proclaimed, “It’s only when we face Goliath that our circumstances begin to change. We can’t miss our David moment out of fear and trepidation.”

 

The mayor went on to delineate a remarkable sequence of improvements and upgrades to Newark living, focusing on the administration’s accomplishments over the past 10 years. Stopping along the way, he commended municipal employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and residents who have benefited from city initiatives, he shared a compelling vision for the future.

Listen to this episode now and share with your social circle. 

 

Audio Engineer: 

Carter "Roc" Mangan Jr.

www.TheRocProductions.com

Newark and Proud of It: A Look at the Last Decade of Change

The Re-engagement Center was officially opened on March 26th. The center enables young people aged 13-24 to reconnect with programs leading to a high school diploma or an equivalent credential and moves them toward employment. Students 21 or over who have aged out of city schools are referred to GED and high school equivalency program options.

The center’s mission is to create diploma pathways with advanced support to empower the community of students and their families to reap positive impacts pre- and post-graduation. The programs are designed to proactively minimize the negative effects that come hand in hand with not completing high school.

We will discuss the opening of the Re-engagement Center and what that means for Newark's youth with the Director of Newark Works and the Summer Youth Employment Program Tyreek Rolon and the Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, Roger Leòn.

Later in the show, we’ll be joined by one of the center’s participants, Stephan Young, who will share his personal story about his experience with the Re-Engagement Center.

Discussing Newark's Re-engagement Center

In this introductory episode Mayor Ras J. Baraka, of Newark, NJ, will talk about his fitness routine, his favorite music artist, the VMAs coming to Newark for the first time, the Forbes Opportunity Zone Summit and much more.

Stay tuned for future episodes as they will involve a series of conversations between the Mayor of Newark and guests who are doing the work to move Newark and the culture forward.

Ras In 60 Episode 1: Meet The Mayor

Listen to conversations about Newark's community, economic development, public safety, and more all led by host, Mayor Ras J. Baraka and co-host Desiree Hadley. On the Ras in 60 podcast Mayor Baraka is joined by guests who are doing the critical work to move Newark forward.

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