AN EXAMINATION OF LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF CRISIS City of Newark, Policy and Communications HOW TWO COMMUNITY LEADERS PARTNER FOR BETTER HEALTH
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eadership is bold and daring in the face of uncertainty. It is decisive and calls for action, despite the unknown path ahead. It relies on principle and values and stands fast in the face of unpopularity or controversy. Mostly, it is grounded in the concept that those who have put their trust in the leader must be served first and foremost. Tried and tested, Ras J. Baraka, mayor of Newark, exemplifies that principle. Historically, it’s in Newark’s DNA to overcome challenges. Look back to the 1967 Rebellion when rumors sur faced that 4th Precinct police had beaten cab driver John Smith, resulting in days of violence that left hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and 26 people dead. Newark is still on a long journey to recover physically and emotionally, but times and leadership have changed. The precinct that sparked the Newark Rebellion will soon house the City’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, funded by a five percent portion of the Newark Police Department budget, thanks to a law recently signed by Mayor Baraka. The once ignominious building will be a place where residents can visit to heal
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The Positive Community Fall 2020
from their own trauma, where the coordination for all organizations contributing to the alternative violence reduction initiatives will take place, and will be the home to a new museum full of the city’s rich history. Since Mayor Baraka took office in 2014, the reduction in crime is undeniable. In 2019, statistics show crime reduction in every category and the lowest murder rate since 1961. Department heads throughout the administration work on progressive initiatives and reaching data-driven results. Baraka handpicked an administration of experts who can execute to help implement his mission and vision. The Mayor’s Newark Forward values denote the specific goals he seeks to achieve for the City working collectively with the people: an empowered, safer, more equitable, more collaborative and more educated city. These values undergird every initiative, policy, and program. They represent the pillars of light and hope on which residents, non-profits, corporations, and institutions can focus to move Newark Forward. In 2019, the city faced what many deemed a “water crisis.” News stories led viewers to believe www.thepositivecommunity.com
