“My experience as a Leadership Newark Fellow was both exhilarating and life changing. As a young professional leader, the fellowship was one of the catalyst to motivate me to pursue a graduate degree, explore the lifestyle of an entrepreneur, and walk into my destiny as a founder and executive director of a nonprofit. The bond between my classmates goes beyond the two years, which transcends time and space. I will always be grateful to Leadership Newark and to my fellows for making me into a better servant to humanity.”

“Leadership Newark gave me the opportunity to meet key decision makers and to think strategically about how to solve complex problems with a diverse group of Fellows all eager to see Newark emerge as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“Leadership Newark has been instrumental in my personal development. I learned how to communicate more effectively for results. I was encouraged to go beyond my comfort zone in reference to networking and teamwork. I am able to fulfill my vision in being hands on in community involvement and I have connected with some of the most influential leaders in Newark. Though I have not had any professional advancement attributed Leadership Newark; that is not because of a lack of resources because the potential is tremendous. I have to become more aggressive in pursuing opportunities within the network. I am happy and privileged to because a Leadership Newark Fellow and I do believe I will benefit incredibly personally and be an asset to the Newark community. I would advise anyone desiring to be a Public servant to be become a part of the Leadership Newark Family.”

“Leadership Newark reignited my passion for the city and being active in it at a time when I was feeling particularly burnt out. Though LN and the family that I found in it, I was able to participate in my dream of helping to launch a collaborative local education fund to benefit Newark Public Schools and public charters, among many other initiatives citywide. Even though I am no longer living and working in Newark, I continue to be a champion for it and watch with pride my fellow beacons of hope (and other LN alums) continue to do great things in realizing the potential of the city we love. I am so grateful to everyone who makes LN possible through their hard work, engagement, and giving; Newark–and I–wouldn’t be the same without it. Thank you.”

“When I think of Leadership Newark, I think of a network of community and civic leaders who commit two years to learning and refining their leadership skills in public policy, and the rest of their lives devoted to making the greater Newark community stronger.”