5 Local Success Stories In Newark: Homes, College, Business

NEWARK, NJ — Need a local success story to fill your sail with wind? There are plenty of them in Newark that fit the bill.

On Tuesday evening, Mayor Ras Baraka presented the annual State of the City address, encouraging local residents to take pride in their accomplishments and not to let detractors get them down. Read More: Once Forgotten, Newark Is On The Rise; Mayor Presents 'State Of City'

“We have so much to be proud of,” Baraka said. “Not just me – all of us.”

Here are just a few of the local success stories in Newark that should put a smile on your face, the city’s mayor said (watch video footage from his speech below).

OVERCOMING TOUGH TIMES – “We have Dashawn Brown, who graduated from the National Career Institute’s electrical assistant and HVAC program. But before that, he was a participant in our Safe Summer Academy program for the past three years. Despite facing challenges including arrest and a gunshot incident, he completed the program with us and retained employment with the city as an electrical assistant. With immense pride, I want to acknowledge Dashawn for his determination to finish his education and maintain full-time employment.”

NEW HOMEOWNER – “In November 2023 – right before Thanksgiving – Christian Miller, through our Section 8 conversion program, purchased a home renovated by the Invest Newark Land Bank, with construction done by YouthBuild. The only land bank in the state – still. She became the seventh Newark resident to convert their Section 8 voucher into a mortgage. The New York Giants and Bobs Discount Furniture teamed up with us to completely furnish Mrs. Miller’s home so that she could enjoy the holidays. This Section 8 conversion program has been so successful that the state is now pushing to have a statewide program that allows vouchers to be used to pay mortgages.”

BUSINESS OWNER – “Hilda Mera was born in Ecuador and came here at the age of 20. She has been the co-owner and CEO of S&A Auto Repair since 2013. This is a family-owned business that went through the Invest Newark business development classes and now has shops in Newark and Kearny.”

COLLEGE DEGREE – “Samyah Kinchen, a participant in our Guaranteed Education pilot program, will be the first in her family to earn a college degree. She grew up in Newark’s South Ward, raised in a single-family household by her mother. She graduated from Malcolm X Shabazz High School and was not certain about her ability to access college. Now, because of our program, she is attending the College of Saint Elizabeth, for free! She wants to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING – “Joining us tonight is Tiye Pettaway, who graduated from Weequahic High School and employed by Newark Public Schools as a security guard. She looked for affordable housing and because of our Inclusionary Zoning set aside law, has now moved in the beautiful ICONIQ residences on McCarter Highway, with a roof top bar and a pool.”

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