Ken Gibson – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility Celebrates Black History Month

Michelle Lang — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:06:44 +0000

Residents and staff members at 91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, 266 South Orange Ave., Newark, celebrated Black History Month with a program on Feb. 17. Residents and staff members performed songs, read poetry, shared information about prominent Black figures and provided facts about the origins of Black History Month.

Many individuals were mentioned during the event, including Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson and Ken Gibson, who was the first Black mayor of Newark and also a founding member of the 91��Ƭ Board of Directors.

Newark’s 91��Ƭ Serves as Nationwide Model for Providing Cohesive Human Services During COVID-19 and Civil Unrest Pandemics

Michelle Lang — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:52:08 +0000

91��Ƭ (NCC), affectionately known as “91��Ƭ,” continues to help Newark residents improve lives amidst increased racial tensions and this year’s COVID-19 pandemic.

Financially stable; self-sufficient; and strategically positioned to enter its next phase of growth. These are uncommon phrases to hear as the U.S. economy continues to endure COVID-19. However, 91��Ƭ in Newark – one of the largest and most comprehensive community development corporations in the country – fits the bill, with a best in class model for financial sustainability and a workforce of almost 500 employees.

“We’ve been able to leverage over $80 million to strengthen and revitalize our affordable housing units for seniors, families and the disabled for the next 20 years, and in doing so, we were able to enhance our financial position and generate revenue to continue our mission,” said Richard Rohrman, CEO of 91��Ƭ.

91��Ƭ has 1,812 housing units spread over 12 properties in Newark, Jersey City and Orange. The organization offers 360-degree human services and 60 percent of its employees are local residents.

“Being place-based in Newark allows us to blanket the area we live and work in with a wide variety of comprehensive services that rise to meet people where they are,” Rohrman said. “In addition, our Board of Directors is curated from thought leaders in education, finance, public safety, government, affordable housing and law. This combination of our community connections and boots on the ground expertise allows us to help residents increase their quality of life and drive social impact for generations to come.”

NCC was founded in response to the 1967 violent civil unrest in Newark, N.J., by the late Monsignor William J. Linder (who marched in the famed Selma to Montgomery March with Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Rep. John Lewis) and a core group of Black community leaders and white allies, including Tim Still, Willie Wright, Bob Curvin, Joe Chaneyfield and Ken Gibson. 91��Ƭ has since provided affordable housing, critical social services and continuous economic opportunities throughout each stage of community members’ lives.

Now, faced again with similar challenges in 2020, the organization can serve once more as a national model for those seeking best practices in community development as we move through the double pandemics of COVID-19 and social justice.

“Newark is on the rise and a model for peaceful protests. However, the incidents of police brutality, senseless hate crimes and the impact of COVID-19 throughout the Black community are reminders of systemic racism in our society,” said Rohrman and A. Zachary Yamba, chairman of 91��Ƭ’s Board of Directors. “To that end, 91��Ƭ has pledged to double down on our existing initiatives to close the asset gap and reduce inequality in health and social services, financial literacy, education, affordable housing and workforce development.”

Its “Walk the Walk” pledge includes working closer with social justice advocacy groups such as New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and Newark Communities for Accountable Policing as well as the development of a think tank that will host topical discussions with thought leaders to address innovations for success, best practices and ways to work together for an equitable future for all.

“When community development corporations work to empower their residents to participate in such neighborhood growth from the ground up, a sort of self-sustaining synergy arises,” said Fred Hunter, chief operating officer of 91��Ƭ. “91��Ƭ is committed to going deeper and connecting with partners and funders to increase our social impact in the Greater Newark Area.”

91��Ƭ plans to invest more heavily in three areas in the near future: workforce development, home ownership and improved community health, explains Rohrman.

“We’d like to increase our enrollment at 91��Ƭ Career & Technical Institute to enhance employability and provide skills for future generations to build a career,” Rohrman said. “And, for the residents of Newark to continue to live here and keep this community intact, we’ll need to increase home ownership opportunities, so that absentee landlords who sell for the right price don’t leave it up to the market to determine whether a current resident can afford to stay.”

Since its founding, 91��Ƭ has listened to the needs of the people to fulfill its mission of helping inner city residents improve the quality of their lives. Therefore, it offers a wide range of services for individuals of all ages, including housing, health care, education and financial services.

“We’ve made incredible progress over the last 52 years, and our programs, services and expertise are needed now more than ever,” Rohrman said.

Essex County Honors Trish Morris-Yamba and Kenneth A. Gibson with Memorial Plaques Along Legends Way

Michelle Lang — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:00:52 +0000

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Board of Chosen Freeholders dedicated memorial plaques along Legends Way to five individuals who made great contributions to the county during their lives. Among those recognized were two with close ties to 91��Ƭ: Trish Morris-Yamba, the late wife of NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, and Kenneth A. Gibson, a founding NCC board member and the first black mayor of Newark.

Elected officials, family members and friends gathered Sept. 18 at Governor Brendan Byrne Plaza in Newark for the ceremony and unveiling of the plaques along Legends Way.

In addition to Morris-Yamba and Gibson, county officials unveiled memorial plaques for Pearl Beatty, first Freeholder President; Lebby C. Jones, Freeholder and Irvington Councilwoman; and Ramon Rivera, founder of La Casa de Don Pedro.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said all five individuals were interested in community empowerment in addition to community service.

“Collectively the work that they did was probably more than thousands of us put together,” Baraka said. “There would be no baton to take if they didn’t pass it to us.”

Morris-Yamba served as the executive director of the Newark Day Center and the Greater Newark Fresh Air Fund for 32 years. She made it possible for inner-city children to participate in outdoor recreational activities, including summer camp. She founded the CHEN School and the Early Childhood Coalition of Newark. She was also a founding member of the National Congress of Black Women.

NCC Board President Yamba spoke about how his late wife never wanted to run for office herself but was always very active behind the scenes to help women seeking election.

“She traveled the length and breadth of this nation to make sure that women who were running for office had the support of strong black women,” Yamba said.

He added that many miss Morris-Yamba but they take comfort in knowing she had an impact.

“We know that what she has done will far outlive her life on this earth,” he said.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said Morris-Yamba was a friend personally and professionally.

“Anything I ever did, any office I ever ran for, the first contribution I would get was from Trish Morris-Yamba,” Oliver said. “Whether I was running on the line or off the line, Trish was always there for me.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said Morris-Yamba was able to raise thousands of dollars to send children to summer camp but didn’t seek recognition.

“She never, ever looked for praise whatsoever,” he said.

Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said children had a better life because of Morris-Yamba.

“Trish was just an exceptional person,” he said.

Gibson was one of the founding board members of 91��Ƭ. He is best known for becoming the first black mayor of Newark in 1970.

“This was a watershed moment for Essex County and for the entire nation,” said Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill of his election.

Oliver said without Gibson’s achievement, she would not hold her current position.

“I would not be lieutenant governor without the opportunities provided to me by Kenneth Allen Gibson,” she said. “Ken Gibson won election when I was 17 years old. I cried like a baby because I understood the significance of what he had done.”

DiVincenzo said Gibson became the mayor of Newark at a difficult time, after the uprising in 1967 and civil unrest.

“Ken came in and made peace within the city,” DiVincenzo said.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said Gibson was a close friend who he met while working at the Newark Police Department.

“He was just a terrific person to work with,” Fontoura said.

Gibson’s wife Camille thanked everyone in attendance on behalf of the family.

“Ken and I were joined at the hip and he was my hero,” she said. “We appreciate this very, very much.”

Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones said each memorial plaque represents a person who cared for others no matter their political beliefs.

“These are individuals that looked out for people regardless of their party banner,” he said. “They had a rich spirit of public service. They had a rich spirit of giving.”

Remembering Founding NCC Board Member And Newark’s First Black Mayor Ken Gibson

Michelle Lang — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:35:37 +0000

Ken Gibson was a founding board member for 91��Ƭ, as well as Newark’s first black mayor. Photo courtesy of Tracey Battles.

Ken Gibson is best known for being the first black mayor of Newark, but he was also a founding board member of 91��Ƭ. He passed away March 29 at the age of 86.
“Ken Gibson was a groundbreaker and was associated with 91��Ƭ from its inception. He had a profound influence on the city and will be missed dearly,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman.
91��Ƭ Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba said Gibson was very dedicated to the city of Newark. Yamba said Gibson put a high priority on employment and training and was instrumental in the push to keep Essex County College in Newark when others were trying to move it to the suburbs. Yamba also called him a gentleman mayor.
“His personality was such that he always welcomed you. He didn’t push you off when you went to see him,” Yamba said. “I really admired him for that. I appreciated that relationship and certainly his passing is a great loss for all of us.”
Gibson spent the early part of his life in Alabama. He moved to the Central Ward of Newark with his parents when he was 8 years old. He attended Central High School and Newark College of Engineering (which is now NJIT). He was an engineering aide for the New Jersey State Highway Department, an engineer for the Newark Housing Authority and the treasurer of the United Essex Civic Association.
He first ran for mayor of Newark in 1966. He lost the race, but received a sizable amount of votes, which was encouraging enough for him to run again in 1970, when he won. Gibson served as mayor until 1986. He is the city’s longest-serving mayor.
In between his first two bids for office, the Newark Rebellion took place in the summer of 1967. After that, 91��Ƭ Director of Community Engagement Richard Cammarieri said activists focused on two areas: electing a mayor and city council that reflected the makeup of the city and improving conditions so residents could thrive.
Cammarieri explained that Gibson was involved in both of those initiatives, with politics and as a founding board member for NCC, which was incorporated in 1968.
“In many ways Ken Gibson was at the intersection of these interrelated and complementary impulses: electoral political organizing and neighborhood-based community development,” Cammarieri said.
After Gibson became mayor and was no longer a board member for NCC, he still kept a strong relationship with the organization. Current 91��Ƭ Board Member Newton Richards said Gibson was instrumental in helping NCC further its goals.
“He was really indispensable to us. He helped in our early progress. He expedited our interests in making up for the shortage in affordable housing. And getting the first supermarket, which was Pathmark, built. Because he had contact with the state and federal government,” Richards said. “He was a fantastic guy.”
Current Newark Mayor Ras Baraka praised Gibson for his service both to the city and the African-American community.
“He led in a tumultuous and difficult time as the city tried to recover from the Newark Rebellion. He will be remembered in his effort to live up to his words, ‘Wherever the country is going, Newark will get there first,’” Baraka said in a statement. “He set the stage for every African-American elected official in this state. We stand on his accomplishment and grow from his challenges.”
Before his passing in 2018, 91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder wrote about Gibson and how he was tied to NCC long after he left the board.
“What 91��Ƭ was accomplishing made Mayor Ken Gibson very proud, considering he was an original board member. More importantly, under his leadership, 91��Ƭ had prospered and gained prominent recognition,” Monsignor Linder wrote. “Gibson and 91��Ƭ were a winning combination.”