#GETMAD!

Sabrina Ross was born and raised in Newark. She currently serves as the Community Outreach Manager for Unified Vailsburg Services Organization (UVSO). Ross’s mission is to educate and empower residents to engage with local, state, and federal officials on issues relating to economic development. She is a dynamic professional with success in delivering impactful programming through local and national partnerships. Ross has an extensive background in service delivery, neighborhood planning, and project planning. Ross graduated from Seton Hall University with a bachelor’s in Social behavior Science and Economics and from Rutgers Newark with a Master’s in Public Administration with a concertation in non-profit management. 

Zoya Dodd was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to America in 2019. She has recently graduated from West Side High School and is set to attend Rutgers University - Newark this upcoming Fall where she plans on majoring in either Criminal Justice or Law. Dodd’s mission is to bring about justice through her profession for those who are considered as the minority. Zoya enjoys listening to music in her free time, swimming, going on walks with friends, shopping, and using social media. A recent accomplishment of hers has been being accepted into the Summer Youth Program where she now has the opportunity to help better her community and learn from peers.

Ayanna Johnson was born on November 4th, 2002 in Newark New Jersey. She lives with both parents including her brother and other family members residing on the floor above and below her. Throughout her life, she was always around her cousins and older brother attending family events regularly. Current day 2020, Ayanna is 17 years old, enjoys artists including Polo G and NBA Youngboy. She enjoys music, basketball, and Youtube. She has just exited her junior year of high school and will be entering her final year in August 2020 and to end June 2021. 

Ivory Blair was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. She currently is a teacher assistant at UVSO located at Smith street and also a residential assistant at Youth Consultation Services. Ivory's mission is to serve as an advocate for youth. Blair has experience in childcare, both in the school environment and home setting. Ivory graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Social Work. 

Justinian Rosario is a 17-year-old born in Bronx, New York. In June 2020, he graduated from West Side High School and will be attending Montclair State University starting in the fall. His mission is for him to obtain his Bachelor Arts Degree and find a job suitable for the major he learned at Montclair (Graphic Design). Even though he is diagnosed with “disabilities”, he fights through them and tries his best in order to achieve his dreams and goals. 

Freddy Castillo was born August,1,2005. Some of the things that he likes include fishing, playing video games, biking, hiking, and playing baseball. He graduated from. McKinney elementary school and is going on to this first year of high school he is an ambitious boy and intends to make the most out of it. He wants to make a change in the city because he sees way too many trash bags and garbage in the lakes and wants to raise awareness to help combat these environmental issues. 

Ahmad Oyediran was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, although he now resides In Newark, New Jersey. Ahmad is a recent graduate from West Side High school and now plans to pursue his goal of becoming a pilot at FDU (Fairleigh Dickinson University). Ahmad’s hobbies include; reading Qur’an, playing FIFA, lacrosse, soccer, and bowling. His pet peeves include; impertinence, lying, and bright light. Ahmad’s goal of becoming a pilot will not come without adversities, but he plans to conquer whatever is in his way and let his success story be a source of inspiration to other people who pursue the same interests as him. 

Naomi Ruth Stevens is a recent graduate from Seton Hall University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Political Science. Ms. Stevens is a community organizer and works diligently to bring about social reform in Newark, NJ, and surrounding areas. Naomi is currently employed at Unified Vailsburg Services Organization where she works with Teens and Pre-teens after school. She is also an executive director at Sonday’s Hope, a non-profit organization based in the westward of Newark. Ms. Stevens has a property development project called “Social Healing in Public Spaces” that teaches self-sufficient practices in low-income areas and to people of color by transforming vacant areas of blight into functional spaces. Naomi Ruth enjoys writing plays, singing, producing music, and worshipping at her church, Community House of Prayer in Newark.  

Amber Ajenne Priester is from Newark, New Jersey. Her birthday is Nov 1, 2003. She is currently in 10th grade at Newark Collegiate Academy. She is a part of the Robotics team and Amine club. She also won an award with her Robotics team in their first year.

She has won the Ocean Award, Perfect attendance, and etc. Her interests right now are music, friends, Education, and her community. She is a well-spoken person. Meaning she speaks about topics she believes in. People that are influenced by her right now are Cardi B, Beyonce, Whitney Huston, Al Green, Kobe Bryant, Maverick Carter, Lebron James, Viola Davis, Ciara, and others. She also likes exploring different cultures other than her African American culture.

Kishon Forde was born on November 19th, 2003 in Florida but moved to Newark, New Jersey at the age of three. Kishon is currently a Junior at Saint Benedict’s prep. He is an athlete and enjoys playing games and working on his YouTube channel as a hobby. Forde spends time listening to music, playing games/sports, working out, and going out to play paintball. Forde considers himself a very honest person. He can appear shy at first, but once he opens up he is very outgoing and funny. Forde is very proud of how he has matured as an individual and how he went from being out of shape to being healthier and athletic. His love for photography and his skill at editing videos and content will contribute to the overall project. 

Devonyah Mars is from Newark, New Jersey, and has many goals in life. She attends Newark Vocational high school and recently finished her freshman year with honor roll all four marking periods. She is motivated by her surrounding environment and does not want to fall into the negative narrative surrounding black girls/women. Devonyah is also very motivated by her family. She is interested in sports, reading, music, and animals. Ms. Mars believes her biggest influence is herself. She is very ambitious and strives to be a notable marine biologist veterinarian. 

Mr. Ellis was born In Harlem New York in 1959  and wheres many many hats. 

He is a Father, a Grandfather, a Family Worker,  Community Activist,  Leader, Professional Entertainer, M.C., Host, Poet,  Journalist for Local Talk Newspaper, T.V. and Radio host, Writer, Tap Dancer, President of the Ivy Hill Little League Baseball, Coach, Mentor, Volunteer, and Founder of Anti Violence Grassroots Organization and Community Outreach Coordinator at Unified Vailsburg Service Organization

Mr. Ellis believes  the Youth are our Future, and  we have to teach and educate them everyday, because everyday you can learn something new.

Timothy Brown, the owner of  Brown70 Films, a film distribution company,  has a vision to express social issues using film making as an advanced digital maker and editor.  The Brown70 Films Project gives middle school and high school students the opportunity to learn the craft of digital film making.