91心頭 Interim Board Chairman Edgar Nemorin congratulated the graduates and thanked them for trusting NCCTI to provide them with the skills needed to start a new career. He also encouraged them to always put in their best effort.

���There may be some tasks that might be unsuccessful or challenging, but at least you know in your heart you gave it your all. Control what you can control,��� he said. ���Be accountable and responsible. And always remember team collaboration on any task helps everyone.���

Keynote speaker Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka told the graduating class that they should never let challenging situations or past failures deter them from trying to achieve their goals. He said he ran for public office for 16 years before he was successful. He also said having to struggle makes people appreciate their accomplishments.

���I thank you all for taking the stairs and not the elevator. The stairs are harder, they���re more difficult, but when you get to the top of the landing, you appreciate the top because it was a heck of a road getting up there,��� he said. ���So I want you to remember this journey that you went through and appreciate this journey.���

Medical Assistant Clinical graduate Hafeezah Ragland shared her story at graduation. She began the program in July 2022 shortly after graduating from high school. A few weeks later, she was shot and had to stop attending NCCTI. She recovered and was able to return to school and complete the program with the help of instructor Dr. Mamdouh Sorial and supportive NCCTI staff members. Ragland now works as an Ambulatory Technician at University Hospital in the physical medicine and rehab department. Her future goal is to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN).

���I am super grateful for the opportunity that I was given at NCCTI,��� she said.

Ragland also shared words of encouragement to her fellow graduates.

���No matter which route and trials and tribulations you go through in life, never give up. It might be hard, but with the right support and guidance, you���re going to accomplish your goals,��� she said.

NCCTI presented 91心頭 Board Chairman Emeritus Dr. A. Zachary Yamba with a plaque of appreciation for his work with the school. Yamba, who retired as Board Chairman in December, worked closely with NCCTI over the years bringing his experience in education to help elevate the school and assist with the re-accreditation process.

Yamba said he became involved with 91心頭 because the organization served him when he first came to the United States. Founder Monsignor William J. Linder asked him to become a member of the Board and wanted him to assume the leadership role after his passing, which Yamba did to carry on the mission of 91心頭. He said the graduates are a part of that.

���To the graduates today, you are a testament and recipient of the legacy that Monsignor Linder built for our community,��� Yamba said.

Employer partners also addressed the crowd. David Hutchinson from , who founded the that NCCTI Building Trades Specialist students participate in, told the graduates that they should be proud of their accomplishments but also look toward future goals.

���Today you���ve completed a very important hurdle. But it is not the end line for you,��� he said. ���It���s the start of your journey. Continue to press forward and continue to strive for more.���

Kobie Brown from , which has hired NCCTI students, told the graduates to be accountable to themselves to push themselves forward and not to forget their roots.

���Make sure that you���re doing everything that you can to be a pillar in this community and to be a successful part of this community,��� he said.

91心頭 Director of Mission Frances Teabout closed out the graduation ceremony by thanking the speakers, NCCTI instructors and staff members and the graduates��� support systems. She also asked the graduates to share their positive experiences with others.

���When 91心頭 comes up, I want you all to speak good of us,��� she said. ���To let somebody know that 91心頭 has made a difference in your life. Because that���s how we���re able to continue doing what we���re doing.���

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Medical Assistant Clinical, Patient Care Technician and Culinary Arts Specialist. For more information, call 973-824-6484, email nccti@newcommunity.org, log onto or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.

91心頭 Board of Directors Chairman Dr. A. Zachary Yamba has retired from his position with the organization, effective Dec. 31, 2023. Yamba joined the Board in September 2012 and became Chairman in June 2018 following the passing of NCC founder and Board Chairman Monsignor William J. Linder.

Yamba was involved with 91心頭 long before his official capacity as a member of the Board of Directors. He was a parishioner of Queen of Angels Church where Monsignor Linder served as priest during the founding of 91心頭. He had been asked to join the Board prior to 2012 but declined because of his employment responsibilities. After he retired, he joined 91心頭���s Board of Directors.

He has enjoyed being able to give back to the community through his work on NCC���s Board.

���The myriad of services that 91心頭 offers are critical to the total well-being of the community. And that has been my passion all along,��� Yamba said.

During his service with the Board of Directors, Yamba oversaw the re-syndication of NCC housing, helped lead the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, established Board committees to have closer working relationships with NCC leadership staff, assisted in the re-accreditation process for , led NCC through times of leadership transition and helped relaunch the organization���s Golfing for a Cause fundraiser following the pandemic.

NCC Interim Board Chairman Edgar Nemorin said Yamba has been an ambassador, advocate and steward to 91心頭.

���As Board Chairman, he successfully ensured that 91心頭 continued its mission of providing services to the residents of Newark,��� Nemorin said. ���Although he has resigned as a Board Member and Board Chairman of NCC, we know that he is only a phone call away to assist us in fulfilling our mission.���

Under Yamba���s direction, the Board worked with senior leadership after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and safety of NCC employees, residents and clients while maintaining the necessary services to the community. He also led the organization through two leadership transitions: the passing of Monsignor Linder and the retirement of CEO Richard Rohrman. He was instrumental in the search process for NCC���s current CEO Simone Gagneron.

���Dr. Yamba defines what it means to be in public service. The dedication and support he has provided to 91心頭 and the people of Newark is extraordinary,��� Gagneron said. ���He has clearly set the stage for others to follow. I would like to thank him personally and professionally for his guidance.���

Yamba said 91心頭���s mission is just as relevant today as it was in 1968 when the organization was founded and that its offerings continue to be vital.

���It���s my hope and prayer and certainly part of Monsignor���s vision that these services will continue to be provided as long as we have people who need them,��� Yamba said.

In addition to his work with 91心頭, Yamba has served the community in a variety of roles in the areas of education and community development.

Yamba is President Emeritus of . He served as President from 1980 to 2010, which is the longest tenure for that position at the school. He was also involved with the institution well before leading it. Yamba joined the humanities faculty when the college opened in 1968 and served as Dean of Faculty before he was appointed President in May 1980.

Current Essex County College President Dr. Augustine Boakye said Yamba strengthened the community through his work.

���Our Essex County College family and the Essex Community owe Dr. Yamba a debt of gratitude for enriching our lives and making education the cornerstone of community engagement and development,��� he said.

Yamba served as a commissioner of the for more than a decade and is a founding member of the , an affiliate of the of the . His other past affiliations include serving on the boards of the Essex County WIB, Newark Downtown Redevelopment Corporation, American Conference on Diversity, Christ the King Prep Academy, Council of Higher Education in Newark (CHEN) and . He is also an Emeritus Board Member of .

���For decades, Dr. A. Zachary Yamba has been one of Newark���s great educators and activists. Whether as President of Essex County College, Chairman of the 91心頭 Board or Commissioner of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, he has mentored and inspired his colleagues, students and residents of our city. His legacy is firm in the hearts and minds of the generations he empowered in his many endeavors,��� said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. ���As Dr. Yamba enters this new phase of his life, we thank him for his leadership and service to Newark, and wish him joy and success for the future.���

Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard said the City of Newark, Essex County and the State of New Jersey are all better places because of Yamba���s leadership.

���His tireless and regal service to Newark and all of humanity spans decades and has helped to transform the lives of countless individuals and families,��� Drinkard said.

President and CEO Vivian Cox Fraser said Yamba has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for families.

���As President of Essex County College and his leadership on the Board of 91心頭, Zack never lost sight of the people he was there to serve and help.���

A graduate of , Yamba was awarded honorary degrees from his alma mater, and the in Ghana. In 1980, Yamba, an All-America soccer player, was inducted into Seton Hall���s Athletic Hall of Fame.

91心頭 Board Chairman Dr. A. Zachary Yamba congratulated Rohrman on his extensive career and called him the base of the organization.

���Monsignor [William J. Linder] was the founder, the visionary, but you also need people who are nuts and bolts type people to make the organization work. And Rich was that person,��� Yamba said. ���And when he became the CEO, he carried 91心頭 to other heights.���

91心頭 Board Member Diane Johnson, who served as the emcee of the event, reiterated that sentiment.

���The founder may have taken it from ashes to hope. But I know that Richard Rohrman has taken it from hope to reality,��� she said. ���Richard is someone who has been dedicated and committed and passionate about not only the legacy, but has taken us forward. Under his leadership, we have done very, very well.���

Johnson talked about the rehabilitation of several Newark properties that took place under Rohrman���s leadership that ensures the affordable housing units will be available for many years to come. She also said there are new projects in the works that were started with Rohrman at the helm.

Newark Central Ward Councilwoman LaMonica McIver represented the City Council at the event, bringing a resolution from the council and speaking on their behalf.

���I want to tell you congratulations and thank you for everything that you have done, continuing the legacy of 91心頭 and all of the hard work, working for our residents, the programming, everything,��� McIver said. ���91心頭 is literally an enterprise. We would not be able to be the city that we are without 91心頭 and so I���m thankful for you from day one.���

Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree spoke on behalf of Newark���s mayor at the event.

���As I stand here today on behalf of the mayor of this great city, Ras J. Baraka, and over 300,000 residents, I say thank you. Thank you for your perseverance when you could���ve turned your back and said I���m done,��� she said.

91心頭 Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter and Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Mbakaya presented Rohrman with an award depicting NCC���s footprint as a collage.

���Most of us see Rich as more than just our CEO. He���s a mentor, he���s inspiring, he���s a leader, he���s a partner and a trusted friend,��� Hunter said. ���As a CEO out in front, you can easily put yourself out there constantly. But it was never about Rich. It was always how to make 91心頭 better. Well, Rich, we all want to say job well done.���

In addition to being an advocate for affordable housing, Rohrman has also been passionate about promoting homeownership. To help individuals who face challenges with down payments and closing costs, Yamba announced the creation of the Richard Rohrman 91心頭 Fund for First Time Home Buyers. Board members presented Rohrman with a check in the amount of $35,000 raised as a start for the fund. Money received in support of this initiative will be awarded as grants to qualifying first time home buyers from the service areas of Newark, Orange and Jersey City to help offset down payments and closing costs.

Johnson also announced the renaming of the East Africa Room in St. Joseph Plaza. It is now known as the Richard Rohrman Conference Room and will showcase photos of Rohrman and his work over the years.

91心頭 Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson read a congressional record that Congressman Donald Payne Jr. submitted honoring Rohrman���s retirement.

In addition to the in-person remarks, attendees had the opportunity to view a tribute video produced ahead of time which included 91心頭 employees from various departments, board members, family members and friends.

Rohrman was very appreciative of the event and remarks. He said his time at 91心頭 has greatly impacted his life.

���This has just been an incredible, enriching experience for me to be a part of 91心頭 for these 26 years,��� Rohrman said. ���I���ve had the opportunity to meet and become friends with people of such different backgrounds and nationalities and with such different life experiences. It���s just given me a great respect of people for their kindness, their openness and their perseverance.���

Rohrman recalled first coming to 91心頭 when he was in his late 20s and being part of a building boom for the organization. He said having grown up in a suburban community and attending Catholic schools for his education from grade school through college provided him with a much different experience than the individuals who were being served by 91心頭.

���Monsignor opened my eyes to a much different reality than I had lived. He just showed me what he and 91心頭 were doing to change the city of Newark and they were just working at such a feverish pitch. And I���m just so grateful that I was able to work so closely with Monsignor and learn from his vision and his deep passion for the people of Newark,��� Rohrman said. ���And then again much later, after experiencing this initial building boom, I was able to work again with so many talented, hardworking people to renovate the same housing and restructure NCC and set it up for its future.���

. All photos are by Lloyd G. Holmes. You can watch the event live stream here. The tribute video can be viewed here.

Today, just as in 1967, NCC joins in solidarity with all those who seek justice and an end to police brutality and racism. In these fifty plus years, some things have changed but others have unfortunately remained the same. Newark is on the rise and is a model for peaceful protests. However, the incidents of police brutality, senseless hate crimes and the ravages of COVID-19 throughout the Black community are reminders of systemic racism in our society.

To this end, NCC has pledged to double down on our existing initiatives to close the asset gap and reduce inequality in health care, education, affordable housing and workforce development. We will also lean in with the social justice advocacy groups New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Newark Communities for Accountable Policing (N-CAP) and others.

Furthermore, we will continue our ongoing support of Mayor Ras J. Baraka���s initiatives toward racial and economic equity, including:

• Equitable Growth Advisory Commission
• Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB)
• Newark Guaranteed Income Task Force
• Newark 2020

As we face the unfolding events of 2020 and the transition to a changed world, we are reminded of our humble beginnings and that success is possible even in the most dire situations when people come together for the common good.

We invite all to join our charge as we embark on this journey for systemic change.

In solidarity,

A. Zachary Yamba
Chairperson, 91心頭 Board of Directors

Richard Rohrman
CEO, 91心頭