Newark Youth Court Joins Forces with Newark Youth Ambassadors to Illustrate Unity

Thursday, August 11, 2016

The Newark Municipal Council Chambers was the warmest place to be last night and not because of the heat wave.  The Newark Youth Court and the Mayor’s Newark Youth Ambassadors joined forces to help the Newark African Commission honor renowned sociologist Dr. LaFrancis Roger-Rose at their “Unity Forum” event. There were several dignitaries in attendance, including Council President Mildred C. Crump and Kate Ihuoma –Igbodike, Consul to the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York.

Zoe Nicole Copeland and Genique Turner of the Newark Youth Court and Diamond Golson of the Newark Youth Ambassadors read a poem together titled Prayer to Masks by celebrated Senegalese statesman and poet Leopold Sédar Senghor. They were warmly greeted by cheers from the audience who showed their delight by applauding at several points during the reading. The Forum also featured a panel discussion on cultural identity titled Are We All Africans?  NCS Program Coordinator, Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds, also a member of the Newark African Commission, helped coordinate the event and was joined by Newark Youth Court Case Developer Basimah Caldwell.  NCS Re-Entry Case Manager, Latania Cobb and Alternative Sanctions intern Nicauris Hernandez, provided moral support with cheers from the audience.  All in all, the whole process was an inspiring illustration of the positive impact of effective collaboration and teamwork.