January 31, 2012 - CITY OF NEWARK AND BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ESSEX, HUDSON AND UNION COUNTIES LAUNCH "BIGS IN BLUE" MENTORING INITIATIVE

Newark, NJ – January 31, 2012 – Mayor Cory A. Booker, Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz, Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio, Fire Director Fateen A. Ziyad, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties President and CEO Carlos Lejnieks held a press conference to launch the “Bigs in Blue” initiative yesterday, at the Police/Fire Communications Center, at 311 Washington Street, in Newark. Also in attendance were Newark Municipal Council Vice President Anibal Ramos, Jr., Newark Public Schools Chief Family & Community Engagement Officer Tia Morris, University Heights Charter School Executive Director Misha Simmonds, and Metropolitan Baptist Church Youth Minister and Director of Youth Services Reverend David Jefferson, Jr., along with other representatives of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, and Newark Public Schools. Police Chief Sheilah A. Coley served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

The “Bigs in Blue” initiative will connect Newark Police Officers and Firefighters with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, to provide mentoring and tutoring opportunities for Newark youth. During the press conference, Mayor Booker noted that he has been a mentor since he was in college and is one of the biggest advocates of mentoring programs.

Mayor Booker said, “As a society we let too many of our young people fall in between the cracks. To me, of all of the strategies that our Police Department has been unveiling, this is the most forward-thinking. Let’s connect our police and firefighters to the best strategy I know of, which can make a dramatic reduction in crime by empowering our children with the power to succeed. It is a powerful impact to have a caring adult mentor a young person. I commend our Police Director and Fire Director for their support in leading this initiative.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties Vice President of Programs Michele Williers noted that the organization’s programs are based on a data-proven model focused on creating and sustaining strong and long mentoring matches. “In our fourth year of existence, our local developing branch of BBBS has achieved some great milestones and as a program leader, I can tell you, we are ready for the next level. With the support of Mayor Booker, Deputy Mayor Muñiz, our law enforcement officers and firefighters, I know we will get there. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, & Union can and will become known as the most significant leader in this mentoring movement.”

Longstanding research by Public Private Ventures, a national nonprofit research and program development organization, found that Little Brothers and Little Sisters, compared to those children not in the program, are:

Police Director DeMaio said, “We cannot solve the problem of crime in Newark simply by arresting our way out of it. We have to find other ways to connect with the community and reduce crime. An intervention in a child’s life early on can prevent crime and turn a child in the right direction. The Newark Police Department is behind the program 110% and will do whatever we can to make sure it is successful.”

“The fact that we all came together today to launch this program is inspiring. Members of the Newark Police Department are committed to making a difference in the lives of Newark youth,” said Chief Coley.

When Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties was formed in 2008, the program served a total of 116 youth. Today, under the leadership of Carlos Lejnieks, the organization serves more than 1,100 youth, which is 10 times as many children as they served three years ago.

“I personally have been a mentor since I was in college and my own mentor was James Wallace, the founder of the International Youth Organization. It’s imperative that we ‘Bigs In Blue’ set the standard and the example for Newark’s youth. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Bigs In Blue mentoring our youth is the prevention and Big Brothers Big Sisters is the cure. When we wear our uniforms we are looked to as heroes, protectors, and keepers of peace and safety. But the reality is that each and every one of us should be a ‘Big.’ Each one of us should be a mentor. I see my ‘Little’ at least twice a week and we talk almost every day. We of the Newark Fire Department dedicate our lives to prevention…we dedicate our service to our children. We at the Newark Fire Department dedicate our ‘Bigs’ to our ‘Littles,’” said Fire Director Ziyad.

University Heights Charter School in Newark’s Central Ward started a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters three years ago. Since then the school has seen dramatic improvements in student achievement.

“I’m happy to say after just six months working with Big Brothers Big Sisters we were able to match over 30 students with mentors who now visit them weekly. Mentoring improved the entire character of our school and student body, helping the school earn the EPIC Silver Gain award for accomplishing breakthrough student achievement gains among charter schools nationwide. We have many students who want a ‘Big’ in their lives and the announcement of this initiative will not only make sure more ‘Littles’ have ‘Bigs’ but will strengthen the relationship between the youth of our city and the civil servants who have vowed to protect it,” said Mr. Simmonds.

Ikenna Anaemejeh, a 2^nd grade student at University Heights Charter School shared his experience with his Big Brother and mentor, “Tom.”  “Big Brothers Big Sisters is a wonderful program. The activities we do with our Big Brothers are very interesting and fun. My Big Brother Tom helps me with my homework and the program gives you the experience of learning lots of things from a positive role model. My Big Brother helped teach me how to tie my shoes and play football. My Big Brother is studying to be a lawyer. What he is teaching me I use in my everyday life,” Mr. Anaemejeh said.

“It is inspiring to see the team that has come together to support this initiative to ensure that our young people have a successful future, so our role at Metropolitan Baptist Church is very clear. Today we are paving the way for young people to get their confidence back, for young people to have a cause and purpose of wanting to succeed, and for young people to see the importance of having their community caring for them. I encourage everyone to get involved and attend a ‘Bigs In Blue’ luncheon our church is hosting to recruit more volunteers for this initiative…We are proud to stand as a partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters to help our young people develop themselves,” said Reverend Jefferson, Jr. Metropolitan Baptist Church will host a “Bigs In Blue” Lunch and Learn Information Session on Wednesday, February 22, from Noon until 1 p.m. The church is located at 149 Springfield Avenue. This event is open to the general public. For more information you can call (973) 642-2267.

In January 2008, the City of Newark teamed up with Community Foundation of New Jersey, The LEAGUE New Jersey, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, Newark Alliance, Newark Public Schools, News Corporation, The Nicholson Foundation, Rutgers University in Newark, and United Way of Essex and West Hudson to launch the Newark Mentoring Coalition to raise awareness of the need for businesses and individuals to act as mentors to Newark youth. During the inaugural year of this city-wide mentoring initiative, approximately 125 newly-recruited volunteers provided mentoring services to nearly 2,500 young people. The Newark Mentoring Coalition consisted of more than 40 service organizations throughout Newark and northern New Jersey.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties you can visit their website at

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With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

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