Sheila Oliver – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Remembers Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver

Michelle Lang — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:09:41 +0000

All of us at 91��Ƭ were saddened to learn about the passing of New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. She was a dedicated public servant and a pillar in our society. She served the people of New Jersey well and was always available to help when needed.

Sheila Oliver was born and raised in Newark and championed issues important to city residents during her work in public office, including affordable housing, social justice and the prevention of homelessness.

She was the first Black woman to serve as Assembly speaker in New Jersey and the first to be elected to statewide office when she became Lieutenant Governor.

Throughout her life’s work, as a nonprofit director, then an elected official and government servant/leader, Sheila always represented and supported the core values and programs NCC provided over the years. She consistently led the call for funding and resources for affordable housing development, workforce training, education and health care for residents in need. And we always appreciated her kind words for NCC’s history and service to residents of Newark and surrounding areas.

Her hard work for the people of this state will be greatly missed.

We pray for her and her family that they will find peace in their time of sorrow.

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.”

NJHMFA Dedicates Board Room To NCC Founder Monsignor William J. Linder

Michelle Lang — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 18:30:09 +0000

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) dedicated its board room to 91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder during a board meeting Aug. 9 in Trenton. Monsignor Linder was a member of the board for NJHMFA for 43 years.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver led the NJHMFA board meeting and spoke about Monsignor Linder, who she had known for decades. She discussed the founding of 91��Ƭ in 1968 after the summer disorders in Newark and how Monsignor Linder was appointed to the NJHMFA board in 1975.

“Being the ingenious person that he was, he paid attention to the reports from all of these staffers and he began to connect the dots of understanding how he could revitalize the Central Ward of Newark and create affordable housing,” Oliver said. “But also his focus was all the other things that are needed and required to contribute to a good quality of life.”

Oliver talked about the many services 91��Ƭ began to provide under Monsignor’s leadership, from housing to health care to education, and how he was a constant at Newark City Hall.

“He had no difficulty speaking truth to power. And as a result, he was a vociferous voice for underserved populations,” she said.

Oliver said that although Monsignor is no longer here, 91��Ƭ continues to follow his vision and serve the community in positive ways.

“If anyone is deserving of having a room at New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency named after him, it certainly is Monsignor William J. Linder,” she said.

91��Ƭ representatives were in attendance to witness the dedication, show their appreciation and say a few words.

“He was very proud of the part he played over 40-plus years with HMFA and all the things that were accomplished,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman about Monsignor. “He made a lot of friends and those of you who know him, he made a few enemies. But the unique thing about him was that he would never hesitate to further the needs of the underserved.”

NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba said Monsignor would not have agreed to have a room named after him.

“But of course now, we can override him and do that which is right — to remember the legacy, to carry out the vision and the purpose with which he served the city of Newark and indeed the state of New Jersey and the rest of the nation,” Yamba said.

Retired HUD Director and NCC Consultant Diane Johnson said Monsignor was always willing to fight for what he believed was right and needed, but he was more than that as well.

“Monsignor Linder was not only a fighter, he wasn’t only just a visionary, but he was truly a man of God that certainly carried out the vision that the Lord had for his people,” Johnson said.