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AUGUST 2018 | FREE SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL Connecting South Jersey’s African-American Community Serving More Than 50,000 Readers in the South Jersey Region SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 2 African-American Women Leaders in New Jersey tion and the NJ State League of Munici - Housing Authority, Redd secured the The South Jersey Journal is proud to present its first issue honoring influential Brown began palities Educational Foundation. city’s third HOPE VI designation. The in - African-American women in New Jersey. her career as vestment of $122 million transformed an With women in today’s society often a reporter for A native of New Jersey, Brown lives with entire community with new public hous - juggling multiple roles in their private life, the Elizabeth her husband in Somerset County. They ing, expanded access to healthcare, im - it is important to highlight and congratulate the public achievements of these black Journal and have a daughter. proved parks and open space, as well women, who are at the forefront of the Asbury as, provided community supportive serv - government, education, business and Park Press. Dana L. Redd ices for resi - community in New Jersey and the United From there, dents to reach States. she moved on self-suffi - Charlene Brown to New Jersey Former mayor of Camden Dana Redd, ciency. As a state govern - is a proven and experienced leader with former state ment, serving more than 20 years of service in the senator, Redd As regional vice president of External Af - for nearly 10 years as press secretary public sector. She is known as a for - was a member fairs, Charlene Brown is responsible for for the Department of Human Services, ward-thinking professional with a of the Budget providing overall strategic direction for responsible for counseling the commis - demonstrated ability to lead organiza - and Appropria - AT&T’s external relationships in New sioner and the governor on a wide range tional change. SJ Magazine recognized tions Commit - Jersey. In her capacity as the state ad - of human services-related issues. Redd as, “The woman warrior who just tee, the vocate for AT&T, Brown serves as liai - might change Camden,” touting her Health, son with the governor’s office, the state Brown earned her BA in Journalism and tough stance and decision to join the Human Serv - legislature and other elected and ap - English at Douglass College and received Camden County Police Department. The ices and Sen - pointed officials. She is also responsible a master’s in Public Administration from transition, not only led to more officers ior Citizens Committee, the Community for a range of communications policy is - Rutgers University. patrolling the city of Camden, but also, and Urban Affairs Committee, and the sues and manages regulatory matters resulted in significant crime reduction Joint Committee on the Public Schools. before the NJ Board of Public Utilities. Brown is the board chair of a research within the first year of operation. A NJ She sponsored and negotiated passage Additionally, Brown determines whether organization, New Jersey PRO, a Spotlight article entitled, “Upgrade in of legislation creating the Homeless local philanthropic opportunities are trustee of Felician University and secre - Troubled City’s Credit Rating Gives Trust Fund, and $3.9 billion in new aligned with the objectives of the AT&T tary of the board of trustees of the Camden New Hope,” chronicled the school construction funding for New Jer - Foundation. Drumthwacket Foundation. She serves city’s progress under her leadership. sey Abbott Districts. on the board of the New Jersey Technol - Before moving to External Affairs, Brown ogy Council, the NJ Society for Environ - Redd has worked in various positions As mayor of Camden, Redd success - held various AT&T positions, including mental, Economic Development (NJ from local government to the New Jer - fully transitioned the city from state as AT&T’s eastern region public affairs SEED), the NJ Legislative Black Caucus sey State Senate. As a former council takeover to local control, and immedi - director. Foundation, the NJ Council on Innova - representative, and chair of Camden’s ately launched a capacity building re - Dear South Jersey Journal Family, Welcome to the premiere issue of the reorgan - of our team which brings unsurpassed expe - ized South Jersey Journal. This month’s rience to these positions. paper is packed with information about some of New Jersey’s most impressive African- Moving forward, we plan to give you the in - American female leaders from all walks of side scoop on what transpires at our state life. Capitol in Trenton, as well as the U.S. Capi - tol in Washington, offering a perspective on This edition also features the work of our new news you cannot find elsewhere. Because we South Jersey Journal team, com - believe in building and celebrating prised of some of the area’s best community, we also plan to embark and brightest journalists. They on an aggressive civic engagement include our new editor-in-chief, program. As New Jersey’s largest award-winning sportswriter and African-American newspaper with editor, Edith L. Dixon; Calvin more than 50,000 readers in the re - Rankin, our new creative and gion, we intend to be the preemi - talented art director; and a new nent place for news in the black editorial advisory board, whose community. distinguished and award-win - ning members include, editor and columnist I thank you for your continued support over Linn Washington, and Paul Bennett, editor the years and encourage you to join us as we and publisher of The Spirit newspaper of grow. Delaware County, PA and owner of The Spirit Media Group. Our gifted, existing Sincerely, columnists, Wilfredo Rojas and John Har - mon, Sr., will be joined by popular entertain - Al Thomas ment writer, Yanina Carter. I am really proud Publisher/President SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL AUGUST 2018 | Page 3 treat for her executive staff and depart - building will deliver education and train - authority committed $418 million in di - ment heads focused on the “change ing opportunities to a new generation of As a results-driven leader, Redd has a rect investments in 44 eligible commu - model.” The initiative, not only, allowed health care providers and offer world- unique ability to inspire hope, effect nities. This has led to the creation of her to set the vision, mission and goals class research space for Rutgers, change and transform organizations. 15,000 new housing units and 10 mil - for transforming the city, but also, fos - Rowan and Camden County College Dana Redd clearly understands the lion square feet of commercial and re - tered team-building to increase service faculty to seek innovations in the bio - enormous responsibility that comes with tail space. delivery and improve customer satisfac - sciences and allied health. Additionally, leadership. tion. Redd is charged with developing pro - In 2014, NJRA applied for and received While 2012 began the transition to a grammatic and policy initiatives which Leslie A. Anderson $20 million in New Market Tax Credits Camden County Police Department for reflect the board’s mission and overar - from the federal government. These public safety, in 2013, Redd led a full ching objectives of education, economic tax credits provide subsidies for com - state intervention into the public school development and civic engagement. Leslie A. Anderson is president and mercial and retail redevelopment proj - system to improve academic outcomes A graduate of Rutgers: The State Uni - CEO of the New Jersey Redevelop - ects in low income communities. Under for urban youth. The state and local versity – Camden Campus with a B.S. ment Authority (NJRA), a multi-million Anderson’s stewardship, NJRA lever - partnership focused on creating the degree in Business Studies, Redd also dollar, independent fi - aged these subsidies to ad - “cradle to college to career” pathways in earned continuing education units at the nancing authority, created vance much needed education offering Camden parents Edward J. Bloustein School of Plan - by the state of New Jer - economic development proj - choice through traditional, charter and ning/Public Policy, as well as, at the sey to transform urban ects in Camden and Newark. Renaissance schools. Most notably, in Council of State Government/Eastern communities through di - 2014, Standard and Poor’s Rating Serv - Regional Conference Robert J. Thomp - rect investment and tech - In 2006, Anderson created ices (S&P) published an issuer credit son Eastern Leadership Academy. She nical support. Anderson is the NJRA Redevelopment rating of BBB+. S&P recognized the fis - received her M.A. degree in Human the first African-American Training Institute (RTI) to cal controls the Redd administration in - Services Administration from Lincoln woman to helm an inde - provide learning opportuni - stituted to improve and stabilize the University. pendent financing author - ties centered on the com - finances of the city. This was a great ity in New Jersey and, plexities of redevelopment achievement since the city had not re - In addition to her business acumen and thanks to her tenacity, ef - and best practices for com - ceived an investment grade rating in volunteerism, Redd fosters and values fectiveness, and vision, munity revitalization. Since more than 15 years. the importance of civic engagement, she has been reap - its inception, RTI has trained grassroots organizing and responsible pointed to this position by three con - more than 2,000 attorneys, elected offi - Redd is the newly appointed CEO of the redevelopment. She said she strongly secutive governors. cials, developers and non-profits. It has Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden believes that a holistic approach must also received certification from the board of governors. In this role, she is be undertaken to rebuild a city and to Under her bold leadership, NJRA has American Institute of Certified Plan - responsible for overseeing board opera - create a more vibrant, thriving urban used its financial resources to leverage ners, the Northeastern Economic De - tions and the construction of a 95,000- core.