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 served as the host site for the Newark gathering of organizations and entities involved in the Building Healthier, More Equitable Communities (BHEC) initiative. The BHEC Newark Convening was held on Oct. 25 and 26 at Monsignor William J. Linder Plaza, 91心頭���s corporate office location. The two-day event included participation from 91心頭, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Rutgers University Distinguished Professor of Law Dr. David Troutt, Urban League of Essex County, University Hospital and a variety of other organizations involved in the BHEC initiative.

The BHEC initiative, led by the with funding from the , aims to address the social determinants of health through changes to the built environment and the community investment system in four New Jersey cities: Asbury Park, Camden, Newark and Paterson. Those involved in the city teams for the four areas meet at convenings at each of the cities to delve deeper into the work being done in each location. Urban League of Essex County and 91心頭 guide the Newark team.

91心頭 CEO Simone Gagneron welcomed the group to Newark and provided a brief history of NCC. She explained the progress the organization has made over the past 55 years thanks to partners like the Reinvestment Fund and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that support initiatives like BHEC.

���BHEC has helped us engage with partners in our work in the community, and begin to make the case to funders and policymakers for additional investment and support in the communities we serve,��� she said.

Gagneron said gatherings like the BHEC Newark Convening allow for networking and for individuals to get a sense of the importance of their efforts.

���I hope you recognize that without you and the organizations you serve, the critical change work that needs to happen won���t happen,��� she said.

President and CEO Vivian Cox Fraser discussed her organization���s efforts and how the BHEC initiative aims to have entities work together to tackle large issues.

���Through our collaboration, we seek to address the widening chasm of economic inequality, concentrated in generational poverty, poor health outcomes and intractable inequities in health and opportunities,��� she said.

Dr. David Troutt, Distinguished Professor of Law and Founding Director of , served as the keynote speaker for the BHEC Newark Convening. He discussed CLiME���s work of addressing issues of structural inequality and systemic racism, which includes the report That research showed that about half of home purchases in Newark were made by institutional investors, primarily impacting neighborhoods with the highest proportion of Black residents and Black homeowners.

���It was driving up prices, it was driving people out, making it harder to enter as new homeowners and, of course, it was inextricably increasing rents because the whole model is a passive income model with steady gains,��� Troutt said.

CLiME also looked into the issue of affordable housing for Newark and found that the city lacks an adequate number of affordable units.

���The local measure determines that affordability in the city of Newark based on household income for renters would be $763. And if that���s what affordable means, we need 16,000+ units,��� he said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka talked about how the lack of housing in New Jersey and nationwide is the source of many of the problems residents face.

���Housing is the number one issue in this country,��� he said. ���There���s just not enough of it.���

He said the lack of housing in the suburbs directly affects cities like Newark because those who grow up in the suburbs can���t find affordable housing options in their hometowns. Because of that, they move to cities like Newark which have cheaper housing options than where they grew up and often where they work. Those individuals then become part of gentrification, not because they���re looking to displace people but because they don���t have other options.

Baraka praised those in attendance for their efforts and said he hopes the work continues because Newark and cities like it need investment in housing, affordable housing and neighborhood health care facilities.

Dr. Colette Barrow Adams, Executive Director of Community and Population Health at , and Jill Crawford, Principal at , talked about the collaboration between the two entities to develop 78 units of affordable housing with an 8,000-square-foot health clinic on the ground floor. The project includes 16 units of supportive housing for those experiencing long-term homelessness or housing instability. University Hospital refers patients to the supportive housing units and will run the health clinic, which will be a medical practice open to all.

91心頭 Director of Community Engagement Richard Cammarieri moderated a panel discussion with Newark Deputy Mayor Allison Ladd, and President and CEO Marcus Randolph and and CEO Evan Weiss. The group discussed examples of collaborative and cross-sector strategies to advance equity that are happening in Newark.

Attendees of the BHEC Newark Convening also participated in group discussions to talk about successes and challenges they have experienced in their work as well as a bus tour of sites throughout Newark and a reception at , a Newark-based art gallery.

More information about the BHEC initiative can be found at .

Greater Newark LISC Deputy Director Judith Thompson-Morris explained that LISC is expanding its programs to other parts of the state, starting with the FOC. The organization has plans to create FOCs in Camden, Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and Trenton.

The initiative has been in process for about two years and is now close to kickoff. The visit to 91心頭���s FOC was an opportunity to show partners how the program works in a practical way.

���You can explain what the FOC model is, but we thought it would be helpful for them to see and hear from the partners in the Newark footprint who have been doing this work for a while,��� Thompson-Morris said.

While all LISC FOCs follow a particular framework, Thompson-Morris explained that each site has unique aspects to match the partner���s work in the neighborhood. For example, 91心頭���s FOC is tied to its career and technical education program at NCCTI, a service not every FOC partner offers.

NCCTI Director Dr. Sylvia McCray welcomed the visitors on June 27 and provided an overview of how the FOC operates. Then Financial Coach Tamara Brown went into greater detail about how she works with clients and answered the participants��� questions.

91心頭 Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter was also on hand to greet the guests and provide a brief explanation of NCC as a whole.

���The LISC partner site visit presented a wonderful opportunity for the staff at NCCTI to discuss the FOC program. FOC staff provided a robust discussion that included outreach activities, program enrollment, measuring success and the future vision,��� Hunter said. ���The success of the FOC program can be measured by the clients��� increased knowledge of their financial potential. Positive outcomes include improvements in job placement due to job coaching sessions, improved personal credit scores and financial plans that increase clients��� net value.���

McCray was happy to host the agency representatives.

���It was a good opportunity to meet other partners who are also committed to working with the community in understanding financial health, stability, growth and wealth legacy building for their future generations,��� McCray said. ���I look forward to our continued collaboration with not only LISC but its partners across New Jersey and the United States.���

Brown believes increasing the number of FOCs in the state is positive for residents, particularly those with limited financial resources.

���Access to having a financial coach is an important resource for low-income and moderate-income families,��� she said. ���In the past, a lot of wealth-building information was only available to the rich and the very few. The prospect of adding more Financial Opportunity Centers means more access to financial education and wealth-building services for everyday people.���

Four groups that will be launching FOCs participated in the event, both in-person and virtually: Center for Family Services in Camden, Isles Inc. in Trenton, Union County Department of Human Services in Elizabeth and United Way of Central Jersey in Milltown which will operate the Perth Amboy FOC.

Thompson-Morris said the Perth Amboy location will likely be the first new site since Congressman Frank Pallone secured funds in a federal bill for that FOC location. It could become operational in the fall.

There are currently three LISC FOCs in Newark: at 91心頭, Ironbound Community Corporation and Urban League of Essex County.

Since 1986, Greater Newark LISC has collaborated with community-based organizations in Newark and the surrounding region to improve the quality of life for residents and shopkeepers.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that offers the following programs: Automotive Technician, Diesel Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Clinical Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Community Healthcare Worker, Culinary Arts Specialist and Business & Computer Technologies. NCCTI also operates a comprehensive Financial Opportunity Center and Bridges to Career Opportunities Program sponsored by the local and national Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) offices. For more information, call 973-824-6484, log onto or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.

91心頭���s Health and Human Services Department was instrumental in helping to ensure the event���s success. The department���s community health workers (CHWs) registered individuals for vaccine appointments prior to the event and were on site to help check in vaccine recipients, alongside representatives from Urban League of Essex County, which was a partner with NCC in executing the plan for the day. Event participants also received information about free COVID-19 crisis counseling that is available through Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB). 91心頭���s Security Department provided transportation for NCC residents who had vaccine appointments at the event.

���This is another in the list of cooperative efforts between government, business and the nonprofit community to get those who face challenges vaccinated,��� said 91心頭 CEO Richard Rohrman. ���The level of cooperation and shared urgency has been something that is encouraging and shows us what we are capable of as a unified group. We were happy to be able to transport people to the event. This initiative is another much needed avenue to help us reach our shared goal of vaccinating as many residents as possible.���

NCC Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter attended the kickoff event and spoke about how 91心頭 serves a large population of people of color and has made vaccine education and distribution a priority.

���There are many different areas of 91心頭 that are instrumental in getting the message out about the importance of getting folks vaccinated,��� he said.

In addition to helping with the community vaccination event, 91心頭, with the assistance of area pharmacies and the City of Newark Department of Health, has offered vaccines to residents and staff members at its senior housing buildings and skilled nursing facility. Education surrounding the vaccines for residents and staff members is ongoing.

���Vulnerable seniors in our nursing home and senior buildings were vaccinated in their homes,��� Rohrman said. ���The Newark Health Department has been outstanding.���

91心頭 Chief of Health and Human Services Arti Kakkar emphasized the importance of education and accessibility.

���When it comes to disparities in health, it is important to note for future endeavors why it exists because that needs to be addressed. When it comes to vaccination efforts, we need to make it easily accessible for Newark residents to be able to meet the vaccination goals set by the county and the state,��� she said. ���For successful implementation of a vaccination program, I strongly believe we need to address the hesitancy around the vaccines by community education, which we are doing with our community health workers, and also address emotional issues and anxiety that we are addressing through our crisis counseling support through FSB.���

Data supports the assertion that increased education and access to vaccinations for communities of color are important to help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the kickoff event, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said that less than 5 percent of the Newark population had been fully vaccinated.

���With something like this, we���re providing access to people to get the vaccination, particularly in neighborhoods where people are more likely to die from COVID-19,��� Baraka said. ���These communities are three times more likely to succumb to the coronavirus and 10 times less likely to take the vaccine, which is why this event is extremely important.���

Funding for the Newark Equitable Vaccine Initiative comes from a $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to United Way of Greater Newark.

���The Newark Equitable Vaccine Initiative leverages Newark���s best resources for building equity and increasing access to the community,��� said United Way of Greater Newark President and CEO Catherine Wilson. ���It brings together local health care providers, community-based organizations, small business owners, clergy, elected officials and concerned citizens all working together to coordinate on distribution, connect residents with providers, share resources and promote accurate health information.���

Having a group of entities working together to help to educate and vaccinate the community will hopefully increase vaccine participation.

���No one organization, no one government can do this alone,��� said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. ���I want to see everyone engaged in this.���

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, president and CEO of University Hospital, told those in attendance that he and his staff have seen firsthand the devastating effect COVID-19 has had on communities of color. Because infections continue, he said the efforts of the Newark Equitable Vaccine Initiative are vital to fighting the virus.

���This pandemic is not over and its impact on Black and brown people has not ended,��� Elnahal said. ���We have to do this. We have to start now and we have to work together.���

Adenah Bayoh, IHOP Multi-Franchise Owner and Cornbread Co-Founder, allowed her Bergen Street IHOP location���s parking lot to serve as the kickoff event location. She was born and raised in Newark and volunteered at University Hospital when she was 12 years old. She said the initiative is personal to her and very important.

���I would shut down IHOP if I had to to make sure more people in the community get vaccinated,��� she said.

Personnel from Rite Aid and Newark Community Health Center were on hand to administer vaccines throughout the day of the kickoff.

Rite Aid Division Vice President Margherita R. Cardello said the pharmacy is happy to be a part of the Newark Equitable Vaccine Initiative to increase access to information and vaccinations.

���It���s only possible with community groups and businesses working together seamlessly for the greater good,��� she said.

After graduating from high school, Williams entered the workforce because he didn���t want to take on the high debt associated with attending college. After several years, however, he decided to pursue additional education to increase his earning potential.

���I wanted to explore a trade school option to see if I could find an affordable one,��� Williams said.

After doing online research, Williams found NCCTI which was conveniently located for him since he lives in Newark.

���When I looked on the website and saw the programs and saw it costs an amount of money that would be more reasonable and could be paid off, I decided to go there,��� he said.

That decision has paid off. Williams completed the Building Trades Specialist program in the spring, where he learned the basics of carpentry, electrical and plumbing, and then opted to take a short solar panel installation course through Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC). He started working as a solar panel technician for Solar Energy Systems at the beginning of June where he installs solar panels on commercial buildings full-time.

NCCTI Director Rodney Brutton said Williams is one of the school���s many successes.

���Terrell is a smart young man with an eagerness to learn and a commitment to putting in the work. Those attributes and characteristics allowed him to get the opportunity with Solar Energy Systems,��� Brutton said. ���It was beyond a pleasure having Terrell as a part of our Building Trades program.���

While Williams was skeptical at first that he would be able to learn the basics in the three areas of carpentry, electrical and plumbing, he felt prepared upon completing the program at NCCTI and recommends the school to others.

���In my head, I thought it was going to be impossible to teach all these things in this short period of time, but they ended up teaching us all the basics,��� Williams said.

Williams had the opportunity to participate in the solar panel course because 91心頭 is part of the Newark Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) network, which includes NCC, ICC and the Urban League of Essex County. The Greater Newark LISC office provides funding support and technical assistance to all the FOCs in the network. Organizations in the network share their program information with each other and invite participation.

���We really appreciate the partnership with ICC and our FOC agencies for the work they do and for creating this wonderful opportunity for Terrell,��� Brutton said.

At just 24 years old, Williams is well on his way to a successful career in a growing industry.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that offers the following programs: Automotive Technician, Diesel Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Clinical Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Community Healthcare Worker, Culinary Arts Specialist and Business and Computer Technologies. NCCTI also operates a comprehensive Financial Opportunity Center and Bridges to Career Opportunities Program sponsored by the local and national Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) offices. For more information, call 973-824-6484, log onto newcommunitytech.edu or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.