Destination Newark Winter 2023 Issue

How Newark Became a SAFER CITY

Meet Officer Angie Say

Crime Hits 60 Year Low

Best Places for

COCKTAILS AND

More Businesses

Move to Newark

10 Celebs Who Went to Newark Arts High

Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you.

One of the top 10 heart transplant programs in the nation.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center has a passion for heart health. As the most comprehensive cardiothoracic surgery program in the state, our Heart Failure and Transplant program has performed more than 1,100 heart transplants, including the first in the state of New Jersey. We’ve been at the forefront of highly-specialized heart care for more than 30 years, improving the quality of life for transplant candidates and recipients, leading groundbreaking research and helping to increase access to transplants. Hope. Health. Hearts. All transplanted here. Learn more at rwjbh.org/hearttransplant

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

But, what about the crime?

No matter how many times I run across people and tell them all of the strides in economic development that are happening in Newark, undoubtedly, they always make some subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—comment about the crime. So, we decided to hit this topic head on in this issue.

After our Destination Newark summer issue release party at Swahili Village restaurant where we honored actor Tobias Truvillion and hosted nearly 200 guests, I invited one of my dear friends who grew up in Newark to take a short drive from that corner of Center Street to the Harriet Tubman monument on Broad Street. She chuckled very cavalierly and said ‘Girl no, I was mugged over there by that park back in the day.’ I was shocked and asked what happened. She told me she gave her pocketbook to the assailant and didn’t know if he really had a weapon or not, but she knew that he pointed something from under his jacket. This was in the 1990s.

It’s now 30 years later, and understandably she is still traumatized. This single moment is really what propelled me to focus this issue on public safety. This is not your mother’s or grandmother’s Newark. This is ‘Newark circa 2014,’ a.k.a. ‘Newark circa Ras Baraka.’ The numbers tell the story. In the last ten years there has been a 60% decrease in homicides, and in 2022 violent crime hit its lowest in 60 years.

In this issue, we went further and asked the source what else has changed. Read Mayor Baraka’s candid responses in his Ask the Mayor column on page 5 where he answers readers’ questions about whether they should feel safe in Newark. Then, get the stats, nuts and bolts on the crime reduction strategy in “How Newark Became a Safer City” on page 16.

Be well until next issue,

SAKINA Publisher

COVER PHOTO: MARY A. BROWN

ASK THE MAYOR

As part of our quarterly dialogue with Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, we asked him several questions from our social media audience, and a few of our own.

Here is what he had to say about reducing crime:

QI live in the South Ward near Lyons Avenue. What is being done in these types of hot spots to reduce crime in my neighborhood?

Mayor Baraka: “Well, the police have a list of hotspots and so does the Office of Violence Prevention. So if it is a hotspot… the police are in those hotspots regularly and the Office of Violence Prevention are working in those communities to reduce violence and crime through youth organizations and the other non-profit organizations that we have given money to do family intervention, children intervention, community counseling, all kinds of things that they are doing in those kinds of neighborhoods to reduce violence and crime. The good thing is the South Ward, especially the area that she is talking about, has witnessed a reduction in violent crimes over the last couple of years so the work they’re doing over there is obviously taking hold.”

QWhy should residents feel safer in Newark?

Mayor Baraka: “They should feel safe in the City because last year we ended the year with a reduction in crime in all categories except stolen cars. We have a 60-year low in homicides in the city so they should feel a lot safer than they normally felt. I think that most of it is perception. You know anything that happens (bad) in Newark they play it over and over again as opposed to the fact that we have a reduction, and a 60-year low in violence.”

QWhy should visitors feel safer in Downtown Newark?

Mayor Baraka: “We also just opened up a new precinct in downtown Newark. A brand new Arts and Education District precinct, not the mini precinct but a full-service precinct in the downtown area covering from Lincoln Park up to Martin Luther King, all the way down to Peter Francisco Park, all the way over to Central Avenue so you’ll see more presence, more cars, and more walking patrols in the downtown area.”

QHow does expanding efforts with trauma intervention and reentry programs help to reduce crime?

Mayor Baraka: “It helps the victims of crime and the perpetrators of crime. You start talking to people and getting them the services they need when they first begin to involve themselves in violence and crime then it kind of stops them from continuing to do that. It also stops retaliatory violence, which occurs with people who have been victimized, who now become perpetrators because they’ve been victimized. We are engaging in young people’s lives and their families’ lives to deter people who we know may become violent from doing so. ”

MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA

Who is Policing Your Community?

The role of Community Service Officers in each precinct is to serve as a point of contact for community leaders and members in each neighborhood. “The Community Service Officer engages, encourages, and educates all community members in meaningful dialogue about safety and crime prevention, and facilitates the needs of community members either directly, by contacting the appropriate service providers, or through referrals,” says a spokesperson for the Newark Police Division. Here’s who to call depending on where you are located in the city:

6th PRECINCT (973) 923-1473

Officer Joshua Droz drozj@ci.newark.nj.us

“I always try to be positive whenever I engage with members of the community. I believe the most important thing I’ve learned as a Community Service Officer is that we want to build trust between the community and the police. That’s why we’re here. We work to solve problems before they even become problems. That’s why we host monthly community meetings and that’s where we are seeing the trust growing, for sure. Trust is earned. The more you show your face, the more that you’re visible at every meeting, the more people will get to know you and trust you.”

4th PRECINCT (973) 733-6060

Officer Keyonna Eley eleyk@ci.newark.nj.us

“As a Newark Police Community Service Officer, I have the opportunity to interact with young people in a way that allows them to see a positive side of policing. As a result, they purposely wait for the bus in front of the precinct because they feel safe there. We treat them as if they were members of our own families. And we do it from the bottom of our hearts. We believe it’s our job to let people know that the police are with you, not against you.”

4th PRECINCT (973) 733-6060

Officer Troy Frye fryet@ci.newark.nj.us

“Once, when I was inside West Side Park, I was watching some kids playing football. I knew they’d be hungry after playing, so I called a friend who often donates food to me and my partner, Officer Eley. Once the kids were done playing, I walked over and gave them the pizza. They were surprised because they didn’t know that Newark cops would do something like this for them. I understand because when I was growing up in Newark, this never happened to me. But I want to make a difference for the kids that are growing up here today. I want them to see another side of policing to bridge the gap.”

5th PRECINCT (973) 733-6070

Officer Jorge Miranda mirandaj@ci.newark.nj.us

“My partner, Community Service Officer Tanner, and I like building relationships with the community. It’s as if we’ve become part of their families. That’s because we’re on a first-name basis with most of the people we have encountered. We see their problems are our problems. I still live in Newark, so I understand some of the issues they communicate to us. So, we find ways to work with community members to make their lives better. At the end of the day, our goal is to put a smile on somebody’s face.”

7th PRECINCT 973-645-1819

Officer Angie Say saya@ci.newark.nj.us

“As Community Service Officers, we want to hear your concerns on a one-to-one basis. Most times, other Newark Police Officers are out responding to emergencies. So they don’t usually have a lot of time to just talk to people, the way we do. It’s like the Community Service Officers provide a sort of ‘customer service’ because it’s our job to listen to the people in the community. It’s also our job to help them access the resources they need, whether it’s food, a job, diapers for their baby, or toys for their kids.”

5th PRECINCT (973) 733-6070

Officer Geoffrey Tanner tannerg@ci.newark.nj.us

“As Community Service Officers, we’re a bridge between the community and law enforcement. When we show up, it’s to solve a problem that someone from the community alerted us to. That means that we often have to take those extra steps to follow up with the person who made the complaint to ensure it was handled to their satisfaction. We enjoy knowing that we helped an individual or a family in the neighborhood. It’s like having an officer right next door. We have fun at work. Not everybody can do that.”

2nd PRECINCT

973-733-6080

Officer Erwin Lorenzo lorenzoe@ci.newark.nj.us

“I’m a Newark native. I’m part of this community. As Community Service Officers, we make a difference in many ways. My partner and I, Community Service Officer T. Rich, make donations of anything that people need to help them or their families. The one giveaway that I will never forget was when we helped a family get two mattresses. We even delivered the mattresses to them.”

2nd PRECINCT

973-733-6080

Officer Tara Rich richt@ci.newark.nj.us

“Being a Community Service Officer allows me to connect with people, no matter if it’s the youth or the elderly, in a unique way. My job allows me to interact on a personal level by sitting with them, eating with them, laughing with them, and even crying with them. We play games, like Bingo, with community members, read books with them, and share snacks, coffee, and soup with them. Through these community engagements, our neighbors get to see police officers in a human light. People are more inclined to talk to Police Officers when they get to know us.”

METRO PRECINCT

(973) 733-6129

Officer Jarlin Santiago santiagojar@ci.newark.nj.us

“When I was growing up, I only saw police officers who arrested people or who broke up large crowds. They didn’t have a good reputation back then. Now that I am a Community Service Officer, it feels like a breath of fresh air to show people that we do good things. We are human. It’s great to know that being a cop is not just about making arrests.”

METRO PRECINCT

(973) 733-6129

Officer Kristie Felder felderkr@ci.newark.nj.us

“I believe that my role as a School Resource Officer is aimed at diminishing crime in Newark. If we can reach the young people who are committing crimes, give them some guidance, and show them that there are better ways to get what they want, we are making a huge difference. Each time I make a positive connection with a student, I feel it’s a job well done.”

3rd PRECINCT 973-733-6190

Officer Andrew Hart harta@ci.newark.nj.us

“My job as a Newark Police Community Service Officer allows me to specialize in helping people. At the end of the day, it’s community policing. We’re going back to the old ways where neighbors looked out for each other. If a family or an individual needs something, I will make sure they get what they need. There are all types of resources out here. So, I will do whatever has to be done. I will call someone and do all the leg work to try to expedite the delivery of the services needed.”

3rd PRECINCT 973-733-6190

Officer Steve Pereira pereiras@ci.newark.nj.us

“I was excited about becoming a Newark Police Community Service Officer. It allows me to introduce myself to the residents of the East Ward and provide them with resources to help them or their families, and to partner with police in reducing crime. When I’m out reminding people to not leave their cars running and unattended or to turn on their porch lights at night, it feels like I’m making a connection with the community by helping people feel safe, while proactively assisting in lowering the crime rate in their neighborhood.”

HEALTH

Love Your Heart

February is Heart Health Month-a time to bring awareness to how we can better take care of our heart. Heart disease has long been the leading cause of death in the United States affecting largely women with over 60 million women living with some form of heart disease. From heart attacks and strokes to high blood pressure, the threat of cardiovascular disease touches almost every family in our nation. According to the American Heart Association, small hearthealthy actions like adding more movement in our day or choosing healthy foods, can have a big impact in preventing heart disease.

10 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health

DO

Meet Heart Doctor Eman Rashed

Healthcare partners like Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, with its advancements in technology and renowned cardiologist, are on the frontlines saving lives from heart disease.

This issue we spotlight Dr. Eman Rashed, who is not only giving back to Newark with her medical services but also did her medical training in Newark.

Eman Rashed, MD, PhD is a Cardio Obstetrics Advanced Health Failure Specialist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center’s Division of Cardiology’s Advanced Heart Treatment and Transplant Program.

A New Jersey native, Dr. Rashed specializes in treating highrisk pregnant women that often struggle to find comprehensive heart care to treat heart failure, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and multi-system inflammatory disorders such as amyloidosis and sarcoidosis.

Dr. Rashed graduated from Newark’s New Jersey Institute of Technology before attending Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences where she received her MD and PhD, respectively. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Rutgers NJMS where she was chief resident.

She completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease at the Mount Sinai Health System in Manhattan and in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an extensive researcher and lecturer who has authored numerous studies in peer-reviewed journals. dN

Your heart doesn’t beat just for you. Get it checked.

To reach a Newark Beth Israel heart specialist, call 973-926-7205 or visit www.rwjbh.org/NBIhearttransplant

Eman Rashed

Newark Symphony Hall will soon play a new tune thanks to a historic $75 million capital improvement program to restore and revitalize the theater by 2025 coinciding with the venue’s 100th anniversary. President and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall, Talia Young, is leading the five-phase transformation with the first phase completed last summer. The newly designed Terrace Ballroom is now a 15,000 square-foot venue with state-of-the-art equipment. The ballroom features a sunken dance floor and an elevated stage with two terraces on each side, all of which have been modernized with new hard-

ARTS

See What’s New at Newark Symphony Hall COURTESY OF NEWARK SYMPHONY HALL

Rendering by Clarke Caton Hintz

wood and bold geometric carpet flooring, color-changing LED lighting and a vibrant vinyl tiled and gold-accented bar. The venue is hoping to bring back symphonic performances, ballet, opera, theater groups and music headliners.

COURTESY CITY OF NEWARK

“Newark Symphony Hall is on its way to being restored to its former glory, and we are excited to continue welcoming the community here as we remain open during the renovations,” Young told the Patch.

The next four phases will focus on the arts and education lab, which is on the third and fourth floors. The last two rehabilitation projects will be a 300-seat black box theater, where productions, movies and small series can take place, and the master project will be a $15 million restoration of the concert hall.

Reported in the Patch, Mayor Ras Baraka said, “for nearly a century, Newark Symphony Hall

has been one of our city’s most glorious cultural institutions.”

“The roster of performers who have graced its stage defines the range of music, from opera stars like Roberta Peters and Robert Merrill to singing titans like Judy Garland, Count Basie, Patti LaBelle, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton,” he continued. “It is truly appropriate that we provide present and future generations of music stars and audiences with the finest theater in the nation.”

Newark Symphony Hall is located at 1020 Broad Street, Newark, NJ. For more information, visit www.newark symphony hall.org dN

—fayemi shakur

THE SECOND ANNUAL

fayemi shakur serves as Arts and Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Newark. She also oversees the city’s public art program and developed the Creative Catalyst Fund, providing funding support to individual artists and small to midsize arts organizations. As a writer and cultural critic, her work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN Style, and MFON: Women Photographers in the African Diaspora among other books and publications. In 2019, she founded A Womb of Violet, a project-based collective that celebrates the work of Black women writers, poets and artists.

Presented by the Newark LGBTQ Community Center

APRIL

Main stage of Newark Symphony Hall

Newark Symphony Hall hosted a free screening of Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

YOUTH

Name: Tamarah Garvin

Favorite Hangout: The Hubb

Age: 15

High School: Newark Vocational

Organization: The HUBB

Using Art to Overcome Trauma

When school lets out at Newark Vocational High School, students head in many directions. But, sophomore Tamarah Garvin heads to the Help Us Become Better Arts and Trauma Center, better known as The HUBB.

Garvin joined The HUBB in September 2023 at the encouragement of her aunt, who realized the 15-year-old needed more structure. “When I came here, they greeted me like family,” she said. “It only gets better.”

Everyday Garvin joins other teens and participates in the organization’s power hour–a time dedicated to studying and completing homework assignments. Garvin participates in an arts-based activity led by professionals who are trained in trauma-based therapy. Garvin is learning new skills, tapping her creativity and learning to process her emotions through the My Thoughts Out Loud program. Her favorite activity at the center is podcast production; she has aspirations of becoming a podcast host where she can share the stories of other young adults.

“In the real world your opinion does not matter to some people,” Garvin said. “Here it matters. They listen and understand.”

Located in a housing development in Newark’s Central Ward, The HUBB is a youth development organization focused on three components–entertainment, education and empowerment. Just a few blocks away from the growing development of Downtown Newark, The HUBB is the first youth-focused trauma recovery center on the East Coast. dN

—Femi Lewis

“I’m going to like this job!” says Rutgers University-Newark professor who commutes from Manhattan, New York.

It’s the Jazz for Him!

Iwas hired to teach journalism at Rutgers University-Newark two years ago. A month before classes were to begin, while navigating around the Rutgers website, I realized the Institute of Jazz Studies—one of the world’s largest archives devoted to the genre—was on campus. Writing occasionally about jazz over the last two decades, I thought to myself: “I’m going to like this job!”

I figured out a way to work into my syllabus a visit to the Institute at the fourth floor of Dana Library, where visitors can find Miles Davis’s trumpet, Billie Holiday’s jewelry and Ella Fitzgerald’s wig.

Newark’s place in jazz history includes Sarah Vaughan, Wayne Shorter, James Moody, Woody Shaw and Larry Young, among others. Christian McBride, American Bassist and Composer, said in a Guardian

article that “coupled with its modern-day vibrancy makes Newark one of the greatest jazz cities in the world.” I couldn’t agree more.

My biggest Newark revelation thus far has been NJPAC, whose architecture and acoustics are every bit majestic as London’s Royal Albert Hall or New York’s Carnegie Hall. An all-star cast headed by Cassandra Wilson recreated Max Roach’s civil rights must-hear 1962 album Freedom Now Suite. It was simply the best-sounding jazz concert I’ve ever witnessed.

On my to-do list this semester is digging in Newark native Philip Roth’s personal book collection at the Newark Public Library. dN

—Larry Jaffee Journalism Faculty at Rutgers University-Newark

Newark was a stop on the road to stardom for many jazz musicians. In the early 1900s, jazz legends practiced their skills in Newark nightclubs including The Alcazar and The Piccadilly Club before going on to greater fame in New York City. Many of the famous “Harlem Stride” piano players performed in Newark.

The Alcazar, where a young Sarah Vaughn made her debut, was located at the corner of Waverly Ave & Barclay St.

Newark is for Artists

Newark Became A Safer City

Collective Community Healing Credited for Historically Low Crime

by Femi Lewis

n a normal afternoon, The HUBB is teeming with 30 to 40 teenagers busy participating in activities such as music production and photography; but this is not just an afterschool program. Instead, it is credited as the home of the first youth-focused trauma recovery center on the East Coast, helping young adults learn to positively process their experiences while developing conflict resolution tools. The HUBB teaches young adults to process their anger in new ways, helping to prevent youth from turning to violence in Newark’s streets.

Located in the Central Ward, it’s a stone’s throw from bustling Downtown Newark and a true symbol of how the work of city officials and community organizations are focused on economic and social development.

“Newark is the leader of all change,” said Al-Tariq Best, founder of The HUBB. “We are the fabric of new things. Most of it is because we are working together in collective community healing.”

The work of Best and The HUBB is contributing to lowered crime rates in Newark. In 2022, the Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé reported that homicides

had fallen to its lowest level in 60 years.

The recently released 2023 Newark year-end crime stats showed that there was an additional 10 percent overall reduction in violent crimes compared to 2022, and that the number of homicides resolved by arrests was 81 percent. Stats also revealed that in 2023, theft from auto dropped by 26 percent; and burglary and robbery both decreased by 16 percent.

Just ten years ago, in 2013, Newark hit a record of 112 murders–the third highest murder rate in the country–only behind Detroit and New Orleans. Elected officials and law enforcement realized it was time to create change and began laying

After school at The HUBB

VIOLENT CRIME DROPS IN NEWARK

a foundation that would transform the city. To that end, the Newark Police Department partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners six years ago to create the Newark Violent Crime Initiative, which has gathered intelligence on offenders and made hundreds of arrests related to shootings, gun trafficking, drug possession and gang-related activities.

In addition, Mayor Ras Baraka believed that Newark’s residents could change the city’s crime rates by dealing with violence and trauma as not only a law enforcement crackdown, but also as a public health issue. The City of Newark’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, led by Lakeesha Eure, invests $15 million into community based public safety initiatives such as the programming by organizations such as The HUBB, an organization that has served more than 20,000 youth and their families.

Today, more than 40 partnering organizations supporting Newark’s commitment to community-based healing have helped the city continue on a path of transformation. In addition to The HUBB, nonprofit organizations such as Brick City Peace Collective, the Newark Community Street Team, New Direction, Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center, and One Hood are supporting the work of public institutions in the city such as the trauma recovery units at University Hospital, Newark Board of Education, and Rutgers University.

“These valuable partners successfully serve as violence interrupters, outreach workers, victim advocates, credible messengers, and peacekeepers who have successfully assisted with conflict resolution, mediation, providing resources, and by non-traditionally addressing the residual trauma that crime and violence bring to our residents,” Eure shared. dN

112 HOMICIDES

50 HOMICIDES

47 HOMICIDES

2013

Source: Newark Police Department Crime Stats

Mayor Ras Baraka (c) with Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger, Deputy Mayor Lakeesha Eure (far left) and other law enforcement personnel at the Newark 2023 Year-end Crime Stats Press Conference.

by Pam Germain

Newark Arts High School is lauded as the first formed public school in the United States to specialize in visual and performance arts curriculum. It opened in 1931 and served as the model for the ‘famed’ High School of Art & Music in New York City. The rigorous

curriculum is intended to “train students with a sense of harmony, form, rhythm, design, color, movement, and theater,” according to the school’s philosophy. The school has a competitive audition and enrollment process that is open to all high school aged students living in Newark. Look at a few of those students who made it in!

MICHAEL B. JORDAN, ACTOR/PRODUCER

Michael Bakari Jordan graduated from Newark Arts High School in 2005. His drama major propelled him into an acting and producing career. He became popular for his roles in Ryan Coogler films including Oscar Grant in the drama “Fruitvale Station” in 2013; Donnie Creed in “Creed,” and as Erik Killmonger in “Black Panther” in 2018. In 2022, Jordan recreated “Creed II” and in 2022 he directed “Creed III.”

MICHAELA ANTONIA Jaé RODRIGUEZ, ACTRESS/TV PERSONALITY

Born and raised in Newark, Michaela Antonia Jaé Rodriguez, formerly known as Mj Rodriguez, is a 2009 graduate of Newark Arts High School. In 2023, she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a television series drama making her the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe in the history of the awards. The Newark actress won for her role as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in the groundbreaking FX series “Pose.” In 2021, Rodriguez, who also stars with Maya Rudolph in the Apple TV+ series “Loot,” became the first transgender Emmy nominee for best actress also for her performance in “Pose.”

MELBA MOORE, SINGER/ACTRESS

Melba Moore graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1958. She received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. She was nominated for a Grammy for her cover of the Aretha Franklin classic “Lean On Me;” she earned a Tony Award for her performance as LuttieBelle GussieMae Jenkins in “Purlie,” and she became the first African-American woman to perform the role of Fantine in “Les Misérables.”

CONNIE FRANCIS, SINGER/ACTRESS

Connie Francis was born and raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey and attended Newark Arts High School in the early 1950s. During the 1960’s Connie Frances traveled to countries like Germany, Japan, the United Kingdon, Italy, and Australia as one of the most successful female artists, and her records were purchased in every country. She was the first female vocalist to reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. As she walked the halls of Newark Arts High School, no one knew she was destined to have 53 hit records during her career.

JD WILLIAMS, ACTOR

J.D. Williams was a drama major at Newark Arts High School in the early 1990s. He was known for his starring roles in the HBO television series “Oz” as Kenny Wangler, “The Wire” as Bodie Broadus, “Pootie Tang” as Froggy, and he was a member of the cast of “Saints & Sinners.”

SAVION GLOVER, DANCER/ACTOR/ PRODUCER

Savion Glover, a dance superstar and a leader of jazz tap, graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1991. Savion’s career tookoff when he was cast as the lead in the 1985 “Tap Dance Kid” followed by his Tony nominated performance in the 1989 Broadway “Black and Blue.”

TISHA CAMPBELL, ACTRESS/SINGER

Tisha Michelle Campbell graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1986. This is the same year that she made her screen debut in the musical comedy, “Little Shop of Horrors.” She went on to star in the NBC musical comedy, “Rages to Riches.” She is best known for her role as Gina Waters in the hit sitcom Martin and later as Janet ‘Jay’ Kyle in My Wife and Kids.

WAYNE SHORTER, MUSICIAN/COMPOSER

Wayne Shorter, a pioneer of Jazz and a legendary saxophonist, graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1952. The New York Times said Shorter shaped the color and contour of modern jazz as one of its most intensely admired composers. Shorter received 12 Grammys and was nominated 23 times. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys, as well as Kennedy Center Honors and the Polar Music Prize. Wayne Shorter died last year at the age of 89.

SARAH LOIS VAUGHN, SINGER

The incomparable Sarah Lois Vaughn transferred to Newark Arts High School in the 1930s and soon after became the most important singer to emerge from the bop era. Ella Fitzgerald called her the world’s “greatest singing talent.” During a career that spanned nearly fifty years, she was the singer’s singer, influencing everyone from Mel Torme to Anita Baker. Vaughan won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocalist for her album, “Gershwin Live!”. Among Sarry Vaugn’s accomplishments were two Grammy Awards; a Lifetime Achievement Award; nominations for nine Grammy Awards, and the NEA Jazz Masters Award. Sarah Vaughn died in 1990 at the age of 66.

KAT DeLUNA, SINGER

Kathleen (Kat) Emperatriz DeLuna graduated from Newark Arts High School in 2003. While a student, she formed a R&B group called Coquette. She signed with Epic Records and released her debut single, “Whine Up” in 2007. Her hit “Run the Show,” made it to No. 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. She released “Hottie With a Body” in 2023.

Making the Most of Her Second Chance

From Brick Towers to Arts High to Drug Charges, Glamazon

CEO Continues to Thrive

by Femi Lewis

Kim Baker was once a tall, lanky girl with high cheekbones living in Newark’s Brick Towers. At the age of nine, Baker would admire her grandmother’s beauty while also watching black women such as Diahnn Carroll on Dynasty.

By 13, Baker says her mother found a photographer and organized a photoshoot. The photos landed Baker with model representation. By the time she graduated from Newark Arts High School, she had regular modeling work and had appeared in Essence magazine.

It seemed that Baker was on the rise in the fashion world and then a quick turn of events almost derailed it all. In 1988, Baker was arrested as a result of her relationship with William “Akbar” Pray, a drug kingpin based out of Essex County who is still serving a life sentence in prison. She recounts that she was in her early 20s with a six month old baby with Pray and facing 65 years in prison herself.

“People judge you by the company you keep. Not until I was locked up did I believe that,” she said. “But everything that you want to be is within you.

Grateful she received 800 hours of community service instead of prison time, Baker committed to being a Newark success story. But by

“People judge you by the company you keep. Not until I was locked up did I believe that.”

kim baker

then, she had had her first daughter and was no longer the size of a traditional model. She then became a plus-size model and began shooting for retailers such as Lane Bryant and JCPenney.

While on shoots she recognized that makeup artists didn’t know how to blend her Black skin, which led to her becoming a makeup artist and ultimately launching Glamazon Beauty in 2016. In 2021, Baker rebranded Glamazon Beauty with sharp, edgier packaging. The decision paid off as she was able to land a lucrative deal with Shop HQ as the first Black-owned brand on the home shopping platform. According to Baker, within 30 minutes of being promoted on the Shop HQ website, Glamazon Beauty sold out nearly 2000 units of makeup.

Glamazon Beauty has also been featured on “Good Morning America’s Deals and Steals” segment, and actress Tiffany Haddish has taken to social media raving over the products. Glamazon Beauty is also available in several retail shops such as eighth+kin, Melanin Grace, and

Our brand promises to help our customers challenge the ordinary, be inspired and realize their potential by bringing their vision to life.

Glamazon makeup line

Old newspaper clipping courtesy of Kim Baker

Look Who’s Newark Moving to

by Femi Lewis

Major corporations set to relocate and bring hundreds of employees

When global consulting firm McKinsey & Company decided to consolidate its New Jersey offices, the partners confidently decided on Newark.

“We want to invest where it matters,” Jeff Lewis, McKinsey’s senior partner in New Jersey told Real Estate New Jersey. “We think Newark matters to New Jersey—it’s New Jersey’s largest city and it represents entrepreneurship, resilience and diversity.”

As Newark continues to redefine its identity as a viable city, businesses are taking notice and relocating to the downtown area.

The downtown district is home to several corporate headquarters such as Audible, Prudential Financial, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, PSEG and Panasonic Corporation of North America. Cultural institutions such as New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Newark Museum of Art contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Newark.

Historically, the major industries in Newark are

insurance, banking and education. However, technology startups are also positioning their headquarters in the downtown area as local venture capital firms and incubators nurture these firms’ development.

Factors such as affordable rent, available warehouse space and vibrant cultural institutions makes Newark a viable contender for businesses—big and small—to call Brick City home.

Major universities such as New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark are producing a talent pool that has the potential to continuously fuel the industries that the city is relying on to spur continued economic growth.

Not to mention, Newark’s accessibility to local and regional hubs through mass transit and highways as well as international destinations via Newark International Airport also is an incentive for businesses looking to lay their foundation here.

Here’s a look at some of the companies and organizations that are making Newark their headquarters, actively supporting urban renewal and economic growth.

VHB CIVIL ENGINEERING

Civil engineering firm VHB contributed to the Trans-Hudson Rapid Transit Study and several industrial site redevelopments for the City of Newark. In December 2023, VHB announced they were expanding their operations to an office in Newark.

Tom Stein, VHB’s director of Newark operations, stated, “Our new office was born from our dedication to unlocking Northern New Jersey’s immense potential while driving strategic growth,’’ Tom Stein, VHBs director of Newark operations, told New Jersey Business. “We’re excited to bring our experience and passion for innovation to the region on a larger scale, working closely with local stakeholders to shape a future that benefits us all.”

MCKINSEY & CO GLOBAL CONSULTING

The global consulting firm announced its decision to move to Newark in 2023. Company leaders have decided to lease space at Ironside Newark by mid 2024. An estimated 700 employees are expected to transition to the new space from offices in Jersey City and Summit.

McKinsey’s move to Newark is the outgrowth of its budding relationship with other businesses and organizations. In 2022, the company launched a high-tech learning and innovation facility in Newark. The space specializes in allowing biopharmaceutical companies to understand the power of digital technologies while also providing professional

development opportunities for employees.

In addition, McKinsey & Co has provided pro bono work for University Hospital and the Newark Museum of Art.

“It’s a vibrant city. I think it has an exciting value proposition for our colleagues for what we do—being embedded in a business community, being embedded in a college campus community, being surrounded by amenities and being part of a continued growth story for the city,” Jeff Lewis, senior partner, told Real Estate New Jersey.

GERALDINE R. DODGE FOUNDATION

When the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation announced its decision to relocate to Newark, it was a testament to the nonprofit organization’s longstanding mission of repairing socioeconomic inequities and structural racism while also supporting economic growth and development.

The foundation’s new headquarters will be at 550 Broad Street, the former home of First National State Bank building. Fidelco Realty Group is responsible for the building’s redesign which includes an updated lobby, fitness center and cafe along with event and co-working spaces.

“We are so proud that the Dodge Foundation has chosen to make 550 Broad its new headquarters,” said Kerri B. Levine,

a vice president with Fidelco Realty Group told Real Estate New Jersey, “As Fidelco continues to redevelop this historic gem, our goal is to create a community for entrepreneurs and nonprofits, providing opportunities for businesses looking to relocate to Newark and participate in strengthening the community and its powerful resurgence. No organization better embodies this vision than The Dodge Foundation.”

LIONSGATE NEWARK CAMPUS

It’s no secret that New Jersey officials have been actively lobbying Hollywood film and television producers to use the state–especially Newark–to shoot their projects. And Lionsgate is already listening. Construction is currently underway for Great Point Studios, a film and television production facility that will expand across 12-acres in Newark. The $125 million project is a partnership between Lionsgate, NJPAC and television/film producer Robert Halmi. With 300,000 square feet and five sound stages, the facility is slated to entice producers who want to take advantage of incentive programs such as 30% or 35% tax credit as well as a 2% or 4% diversity bonus,

according to Choose New Jersey.

Movies such as “The Joker” and “The Many Saints of Newark” were produced in Newark—showing the film industry that the city is a viable location for production.

“Newark is a place where people come if they can’t get it done in New York if it’s too intricate, or whatever,” Steven Gorelick, executive director of the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission told CoStar. “And the cooperation here has been amazing.” dN

The Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.

Lionsgate Studio rendering. Filming of The Joker movie in Newark.

THESE RESTAURANTS

When you just have a taste for something in particular, here’s

Looking for Cocktails?

Marcus B&P

Historic Hahne & Co Building

50 Halsey St, Newark, NJ 07102

Along with provisions curated by renowned Chef Marcus Samuelsson, comes a vast selection of what the patrons in Newark rate some of the best cocktails in town. Some of Marcus B&P’s cocktails include the “Halsey Hooch,” made with bourbon, Ethiopian honey wine, lemon, and blackberry; the “James Baldwin,” made with, cognac, kahula, espresso, and demerara sugar, and the “All The Smoke,” made with tequila, pineapple, lime, and jalapeño. Beyond the cocktails, highly critical influencer Darius Cooks with 600k followers on Instagram gives this place high marks for their cornbread.

What People Are Saying

“I have been here 4 times in the last month… I love this place… Yes, the food is absolutely, wonderfully, delicious. But the place itself has a whole vibe and displays plenty of art, diversity, and culture throughout the restaurant”.

Looking for Nightlife?

Tinjune Downtown

494 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102

Self-branded as the place “where dining meets nightlife,” Tinjune has been a jumping spot since their doors opened late last year. This Asian-inspired cuisine, ranging from bao buns to prime cuts to seafood, is set in a ‘modern, sexy vibe’ that stays open late during the week, and until midnight on weekends. The live DJ and constant rotation of patrons for various events keeps the place lively.

What People Are Saying

“Today was the grand opening of Tinjune. Everything was superb from the friendly faces to the food. “The Black Manhattan” was a beautifully crafted drink. I ate the fried rice with chicken. Each bite was delectable! The atmosphere was warm and elegant. I will definitely be back!”

Looking for Salad?

Salad House

542 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102

Salad House is a family-run business that has been evolving in the Cioffi family for generations. What started out as a deli has now evolved into one of Newark’s most beloved salad spots. This is the place to go for a filling, yet healthy meal. Hearty salads include the “Big Macro,” made with arugula, egg whites, quinoa, and salmon; the “Backyard BBQ,” made with BBQ grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and onions, and the “Reel Love,” made with grilled tuna, edamame, carrots, and wonton strips.

What People Are Saying

“My go-to for salads! Within walking distance with a clean and modern seating area. Everything I tried so far is excellent, with my fav being Reel Love. Great staff and pretty large portions, too. Awesome espresso spot just around the corner and a brewery close by.”

ARE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING

a short list to help you make your selection

Looking for Brunch?

Blueprint Cafe

369 Raymond Blvd Newark, NJ 07105

Though open every day, Blueprint Cafe is open specifically on Sundays for their Brunch Special. This vegan cafe offers a selection of all your favorite breakfast foods including waffles, french toast, and omelets. But don’t miss out on the creole-style shrimp and grits and breakfast tacos.

What People Are Saying

“Food is pretty good! As a vegan, I like that they have a good amount of options for me! So far I’ve had the tofu scramble & vegan cheesesteak wrap, & both were good. I also tried their vegan maple walnut donut which was amazing. Sunday they have a DJ, which is pretty cool! The servers are nice & friendly. Overall, great experience. I’ve been here twice & will def be coming back again to try their other menu items.”

By Kayla Cole

Looking for Dessert?

Nasto’s Ice Cream Co.

236-40 Jefferson St, Newark, NJ 07105

Looking for Wings?

Rocketfuel Wings

62 McWhorter Street, Newark, New Jersey

With a selection of over 50 different ice cream flavors, and a vast selection of different flavors of sorbets, gelatos, Italian ices, sherbets, brownies, sfogliatelle, and zabaglione, Nasto’s is where you can go when you’re in the mood for a sweet treat.

What People Are Saying

“Long time famous ice cream and Italian ice joint. They have been providing many restaurants for decades and also have a storefront. If you’ve ever had one of those sorbets in the frozen fruit bins, it was probably made by them! Delicious ice cream with some unique flavors like sweet corn cream.”

Whether watching your favorite sports event, having a beer with some friends, or just simply craving some wings, Rocketfuel has got you covered as one of the highest rated wing spots in Newark. They have a variety of sauces, spanning from “mild” to “wild”, making it a spot with something for everyone.

What People Are Saying

“If I could give this spot more than 5 stars I would. We were in town from Chicago and found this spot on our way to the Devils game. The owners were in and gave us some of the best service I have ever received at a restaurant… Everything we tried was absolutely amazing. I could go on and on, the quality of their wings is top notch… they have a sauce for everyone from mild to wild, and all sauces are created in-house by the owner.”

ENTERTAINMENT

Dance Moves Us, Literally and Metaphorically

by Shira Vickar-Fox

This spring at NJPAC, dance-lovers can choose to be swept away by spectacular dance performances that are part of the M&T Bank Dance Series, or to step into the dance themselves at free, monthly classes offered by the Arts Center’s Community Engagement series, Dance in Our Community.

Feb 10 and 11

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company welcomes the lunar New Year with gorgeous puppetry, acrobatics and more with their performance of Year of the Green Wood Dragon on Feb 10 and 11. The Asian-American dance company is a renowned provider of innovative culture experiences that reflect the hope and energy of the immigrant journey. February’s performance includes the world premiere of an NJPACcommissioned work titled Mongolian Festival featuring traditional Mongolian music and dance.

Mar 17

Feb 17

The modern repertory of Limón Dance Company on Feb 17 will perform Migrant Mother, a recent work whose choreography and staging spotlights Indigenous communities in Mexico.

Make sure Trinity Irish Dance Company is part of your St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Mar 17. This show features Irish step dancing with an attitude! Make it an afternoon of family fun with incredible footwork, energetic percussion, dazzling athleticism and of course, lots of fiddles!

Dance In Our Community

Through Spring

Something to know about NJPAC is that professionals don’t hog the stage, the Arts Center encourages public participation in the arts. Starting every year in January, Dance in our Community provides free monthly classes all around in the Greater Newark area. These are open to all levels and abilities so newbies and those with two left feet are encouraged to attend.

Upcoming classes include Haitian dance on Feb 18 at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts in Montclair. Several classes will be offered Mar 9 at First Presbyterian and Trinity Church in South Orange including Horton technique and West African. The series culminates with the not-to-be-missed Ailey Day on April 6 — a full day of free classes and workshops presented in partnership with Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs.

The Dance in Our Community series builds momentum for a treasured NJPAC tradition: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s annual springtime weekend of performances at the Arts Center. The illustrious contemporary dance company celebrates the uniqueness of African American cultural experiences and performs in Newark every Mother’s Day weekend (this year, May 10 – 12). Every performance is different, featuring a range of pieces from the Ailey repertoire — but each includes the company’s best known and most beloved work, Revelations.

kristin

chenoweth

Sat, Mar 9 @ 8PM

The dazzling and delightful Tony-winning vocalist Kristin Chenoweth performs her favorite show-stopping songs.

ledisi

mar 7 with special guest raheem devaughn

blippi

The Wonderful World Tour Sat, Mar 16 @ 3PM

Blippi returns to NJPAC for The Wonderful World Tour! Kids will have a blast dancing and singing along.

Sun, Mar 24 @ 7PM

Nothing’s off limits in Anthony Jeselnik’s new stand-up show, with all-new material that pushes the boundaries of funny.

caetano

Sat, Apr 6 @ 8PM

“One of the greatest songwriters of the century” (NYT), Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso returns to NJPAC with Meu Coco

Sun, Mar 17 @ 7PM

Spend St. Patrick’s Day with the highenergy Irish step dance performers of Trinity Irish Dance Company.

musiq souldchild

Fri, Apr 12 @ 8PM

Neo-soul star Musiq Soulchild and R&B crooner Eric Benét bring powerhouse vocals and deep emotions to every song.