Newark Anti-Violence Coalition Partners with Baraka Admin. to Show Community Strength

On Wednesday, October 15, the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition will proudly join Mayor Ras Baraka, artist Killy Kilford and scores of young people who love their city, for an important press conference announcing the first installations of the Newark Happy Street Signs project.

The press conference will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the park area opposite St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, Irvine Turner Blvd., between 17th and 18th Avenues, Newark.

The Happy Street Signs project is an urban artist community collaborative effort that will put up 200 positive message street signs all over the city. In addition to Mayor Baraka and the NAVC participating, students from Arts High, Central High, St. Benedict’s High and Sojourn High will also participate.

“It has always been about finding ways to bring our community together on this plaguing issue of violence, and that is what it will always be about, no matter the manner in which that happens,” said Keesha Eure, chairperson for the NAVC.

“We are proud to co-sponsor this initiative with our Mayor and this incredible artist for the greater good of our community,” said Eure.

“We are asking all of so many organizations concerned about the violence epidemic in our community to come out and support and participate in this bond-building goodwill effort,” said Zayid Muhammad, NAVC’s media advocate and gun violence survivor.

Rally for Peace in the Streets

Later Wednesday afternoon, the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition will host a rally condemning gun violence. The rally will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Thomas Street and Clinton Avenue, where, “a senseless shooting took place a few days ago.”

“Inspite of all the goodwill efforts to change the behavioral climate in the city, as 70 people have been claimed by gun violence thus far in 2014.”

Mayor’s Baraka - The First 100 Days

Later in the evening on the October 15, the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, along with many others, will join Mayor Baraka in the screening of “Newark /100 Days,” a documentary review of the efforts of the new administration’s initial efforts.

The screening will take place at City Plex Screens, located at Springfield Ave. and Bergen St., Newark. The screening will begin at 7:00 p.m., admission is free but reservations have to be made in advance.

“Our Mayor has indeed sought to take a united strategy on so many of his initiatives in town,” said Muhammad. “He is quite serious about generating a participatory administrative approach to governing, and we are very pleased to be involved in as many of those efforts as we can.”

“This is what it all means when he told us that ‘we are the mayor,’” said Eure. “It is indeed about making the city leadership more serviceable and more accessible and in groundbreaking new ways.”

Image via Newark Anti-Violence Coalition facebook, information courtesy of Newark Anti-Violence Coalition.