Victoria Foundation and Rutgers University Present the Newark Future Forum

Register to Hear from Renowned Experts and Thought Leaders 

Victoria Foundation, in partnership with Rutgers University – Newark, will host the Newark Future Forum: Building Together on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, located at 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Newark, New Jersey. This exciting one-day symposium will feature local and national experts, residents, philanthropic organizations, and community leaders who will discuss and address pressing issues facing Newark and similar communities nationwide.

"The Newark Future Forum, being held as part of Victoria Foundation's centennial celebration, provides the community with an opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions and gain valuable insights around the foundation's areas of focus: strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, and promoting youth self-determination," said Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard.

The lunchtime keynote address will be given by Majora Carter, an economic development, technology inclusion and green-infrastructure projects specialist, lecturer at Princeton University's Keller Center, and author of "Reclaiming Your Community: You Don't Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One." She is a pioneering urban revitalization strategist from the South Bronx, known for creating sustainable development projects like the Boogie Down Grind and StartUp Box. A MacArthur Fellow and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, her work uplifts local economies without displacing residents and has earned her numerous accolades. A question-and-answer session will follow her address.

The forum will also feature four engaging and actionable panel discussions with thought leaders who are knowledgeable about the Foundation's areas of focus: economic justice, community power, and youth self-determination.

The morning plenary, "Building Collective Power: Community-Led Solutions for Equity and Justice," moderated by Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard, features an all-star speaker lineup of esteemed leaders in philanthropy and social change: Lisa Owens, executive director at the Hyams Foundation; Jennifer Ching, executive director at the North Star Fund; Nyoka Acevedo, fund coordinator at the Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund; and Mekaelia Davis, director of National Black Family Economic Mobility at Ballmer Group. This conversation will illuminate pathways to greater collaboration and solidarity across sectors, offering practical examples of innovations, visionary perspectives, and opportunities for building collective power to advance racial equity and justice.

For the afternoon breakout panels, a choice between three panels featuring local and national experts will be available:

• "Community-Led Pathways to Racial Equity: Building Collective Power in Newark" – True liberation requires collective action. Panelists include Ryan Haygood, Esq., president and CEO of The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice; Cuqui Rivera, outreach director at the Latino Action Network Foundation; and Rahsaan Harris, Ph.D., of Princeton University. Together, they will discuss their collaborative efforts across communities deeply affected by systemic racism and within the nonprofit sector, aiming to foster collective power for racial equity and justice.

• "Imagining Local Prosperity: A Dialogue on Building Black and Brown Community Wealth" – Explore strategies for cultivating wealth and nurturing well-being within Black and Brown communities with this panel of visionary leaders from Newark, Boston, and Philadelphia. Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director of Kensington Corridor Trust; Hazel Applewhite, CEO of Ironbound Community Corporation; Vivian Cox Fraser, President & CEO of Urban League of Essex County; and Nia Evans, Executive Director of Boston Ujima Project will share their work in areas related to Victoria's economic justice priorities: increasing wages, combatting displacement, expanding individual and collective ownership, and transitioning to a clean energy economy.

• "The Power of Youth in Newark: Voices of Leadership and Stories of Action" – Explore the vibrant landscape of youth empowerment in Newark through this dynamic panel focused on self-determination, collaboration, innovation, and community impact. This session brings together influential voices from Newark and leaders dedicated to nurturing young leaders' self-determination. You will hear about Tené Howard's pioneering work at the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, Amanda Ebokosia's innovative approach with The Gem Project, Inc., Mark Comesañas' impact through My Brother's Keeper Newark, and Tasha Grant's work with the Maroon Theatre Project. Youth speakers will also join to share their stories of leadership and discuss collaborative efforts to bridge gaps.

Founded in 1924, Victoria Foundation is a private foundation based in Newark, New Jersey, with an endowment of $300 million. Since 1964, Victoria Foundation has focused most of its resources on children and families living in Newark, New Jersey, with grants totaling over $340 million. The foundation recently announced a new framework that will direct its grantmaking, investments, and relationships on addressing systemic causes of generational poverty in Newark by focusing on strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, promoting youth self-determination, and responding to pressing needs. Learn more at victoriafoundation.org.

Contact:
Cecilia Martinez
(551) 307-8526
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