from the desk of the Project Director:
President Obama in Newark
Newark was BUZZING
with excitement on Monday, November 2nd as President Obama
arrived to highlight the City’s contributions toward national criminal justice
reform. The President first met with staff and participants from New
Jersey largest non-profit substance abuse treatment provider, Integrity House,
as well as the Federal Reentry Court’s ReNew program where federal parolees are
closely monitored but also supported by the court in obtaining housing,
employment, education and other social supports. Next on the agenda was a
rousing speech at the Rutgers University Center for Law and Justice. The
President introduced new federal grant
funding for the reentry population and called on Congress to "ban the
box" for federal job applications. He also praised Newark based
initiatives that are making a real difference in the lives of ex-offenders
stating, "You can't help but feel hopeful
about the future."
But for me, perhaps the
most exciting part of the President’s address was the fact that two of our
Newark United Against Violence participants, Mr. Elijah Battle and Mr. Isa
Poole, were invited to attend. Elijah even got to shake the
President’s hand! Selected because of their tremendous work and personal growth
since joining NUAV, Isa and Elijah truly exemplify what individuals can achieve
when given a second chance.
After the speech, Isa
and Elijah joined CCI Director of New Jersey Programs, Jethro Antoine, and
Chief Newark Municipal Court Judge, Hon. Victoria Pratt, for an evening
roundtable discussion highlighting the efforts of My Brother’s Keeper Newark
(MBKN) to reduce violence in the city and promote opportunities for young men
of color. The
event was led by William Simpson, Director, My Brother’s Keeper Newark and
included Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Lata Reddy, President, Prudential Foundation; and
Broderick Johnson, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, MBK Task
Force Chair.
It was a momentous day
for Newark and so invigorating to see a national spotlight on the great work
being done in this city.
More information:
White House Fact Sheet
on the President's speech
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/02/fact-sheet-president-obama-announces-new-actions-promote-rehabilitation
2014 Star Ledger Op-Ed
by US Attorney Paul Fishman about the ReNew program.
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/07/post_24.html
