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Project Re-Direct · Celebrating a Decade of Service
Tenth Anniversary Awardees
Honoring the leaders, public servants, educators and neighbors whose commitment helped Project Re-Direct save and re-direct young lives across Newark and beyond.
Featured Honoree
Sheila Y. Oliver
Speaker, NJ General Assembly
Took office as the 169th Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly on January 12, 2010 — the first African-American woman to lead a house of the New Jersey Legislature. First elected to the Assembly in 2003 and re-elected in 2005, 2007 and 2009, she represents the 34th District.
The Honorees
Celebrating Our Awardees
Leaders in government, business, faith, education and the arts — each recognized for service to our children, families and community.
Mayor Wayne Smith
Mayor, Township of Irvington
Elected Irvington’s 20th mayor in May 2002. Led the Anti-Crime Partnership, secured a $4.4 million agreement to rebuild the Irvington Bus Terminal (opened April 2005), cleared abandoned properties and stepped up code enforcement. Re-elected unopposed in 2006 and named president and chairman of the NJ Urban Mayors’ Association that November.
Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin
Deputy Majority Leader
In his fifth year in the Legislature. Previously served ten years as an Essex County Freeholder and four years as Essex County Surrogate, and chaired the NJ Democratic State Committee from 1997 to 2001.
Senator Ronald L. Rice
New Jersey Senate, 28th District
Won the 28th District seat in a special election, was sworn in on December 4, 1986, and has been re-elected four times. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970 and was discharged as a sergeant.
Mildred Crump
Council President, City of Newark
Sworn in on July 1, 1994 as Newark’s first African-American councilwoman. Returned as an at-large councilwoman in July 2006 and became the first woman to serve as president of the Newark Municipal Council.
Bob Pickett, Esq.
Attorney & Broadcaster
A Newark native and attorney for 36 years, and a longtime KISS-FM broadcaster and producer. He served as an aide to Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968.
Tammeisha D. Smith
Vice President & Partner, Alamo Insurance Group
Helped grow Alamo into a leading certified minority-owned insurance brokerage and oversees its community outreach programs. She serves on the Project Re-Direct Advisory Board.
Tara L. Dowdell
Founder, Tara Dowdell Group
Founder of a strategic communications firm. She competed on NBC’s The Apprentice in 2005 and is a recipient of Project Re-Direct’s Outstanding Community Service Award.
Tanisha Riley
Public Health Professional
Former Director of HIV Programs, she has completed six years of service on the Project Re-Direct Board of Directors.
Carleton K. Lewis
Operations Specialist, HUD Newark
Assisted with the September 11 response through FEMA and previously served as Weed and Seed Director in Orange, NJ.
Vivian Lanzot
Assistant Director, Career Development Services, NJIT
Holds an M.A.S. from Fairleigh Dickinson University and brings an extensive background in volunteer management.
Rev. Willie C. Tolbert, Jr.
Senior Pastor, Yes Lord' Ministries
Senior Pastor of Yes Lord’ Ministries and CEO of New Dimensions CDC in Newark.
Don Viapree
Director of Government Affairs, Cablevision
A telecommunications professional with 29 years in the industry.
Lawrence Crump, Esq.
Of Counsel, Cooper Levenson
Lead attorney in the firm’s Newark office since 2006, specializing in zoning and land use. Admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1999.
Tharien F. Karim Arnold
Asst. Director of Neighborhood Services, City of Newark
A Newark School Board member, former Project Re-Direct board member and U.S. Army veteran of four years.
Reuben Fryar
Sales Manager, Quest for Life
A lifelong Newark resident celebrating ten years on the Project Re-Direct boards, where he chairs the Financial Committee.
Mary Thompson
Founding Board Member
Spent 38 years at Hudson City Savings Bank. One of Project Re-Direct’s founding board members and its first treasurer.
Earl Best
“The Street Doctor” · Founder, Street Warriors Inc.
Born in Newark on December 26, 1947. He describes his years in prison as preparation for his mission — time he spent teaching literacy and boxing to others.
Christine “Roz” Samuels
Newark Teachers Union
A Newark Public Schools graduate who served 15 years as Vice President of the Newark Teachers Union and in 1995 became the first woman elected its Secretary-Treasurer. A 2008 Democratic National Convention super-delegate.
David E. Berry, III
Concert Pianist
Holds a DMA from The Juilliard School. First-prize winner of the 2007 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, he made his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall.
Martha Chavis, M.A.
Nonprofit Leader & Educator
More than 30 years in nonprofit health, education and social services, and 33 years as an adjunct instructor at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Georgia McClester
Tenth Anniversary Honoree
Honored for her dedication and service to the children, families and community of Newark.
Maurice J. Brown
External Affairs Director, Verizon New Jersey
Focused on urban development. In 1970 he co-founded the Black Association of Student Engineers (BASE) at NJIT, which established a scholarship fund in his honor in 1993.
“Save the lives of children and Re-Direct them towards healthier lifestyles; while developing productive men and women who will pursue a better quality of life.”
— Our Vision
Be Part of the Next Ten Years
Your support keeps our programs running for Newark’s children and families. Call us at 732-633-5178.
Project Re-Direct / Youth & Family Services, Inc. · Newark, NJ · 501(c)(3) · EIN # 22-3465029