From left: All Stars youth leaders Juan Trujillo, Thkeya Smith; All Stars Project New Jersey Director, Gloria Strickland; All Stars Artist Committee member, Melba Moore, youth leaders Latoya Barber and Christian Dé’Ann Knox at the New Jersey All Stars 2005 Phat Friend Awards.

On Wednesday, November 2, the All Stars Project in New Jersey held its Fourth Annual Phat Friend Awards.  At the event, Newark youth leaders honored nine adults for their contributions to youth development.  Among the honorees were Veronice Horne, Pastor, Holy Hands Worship Center; Msgr. Paul Schetelick, Associate Pastor, St. Andrews Catholic Church; 30 year Newark educator Nathaniel Potts; Donna Jordan, parent liaison at Newark’s Arts High School.  Tony Award-winner and Newark native, Melba Moore, was on hand to give her special greetings to the award recipients and the 175 friends and supporters gathered at the Newark Club.  In addition to honoring the young people’s unsung heroes, the event raised $112,500 for the All Stars Project New Jersey.

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The twelfth New Jersey Development School for Youth (DSY) graduation was held on Tuesday, December 6.  The event celebrated the graduation of 30 young adults, the largest class to date for New Jersey and the largest single class in the nine year history of the DSY.  More than 125 people — parents, supporters and Newark-area educators — attended.

In January, the NJ DSY will expand to four class cycles, increasing program enrollment from 55 to 100 students.  By the summer, 90 DSY students will be placed in paid summer internships, beginning in July.

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On Friday, September 23, the ASP sponsored a community forum on education at the Newark Museum that attracted 275 parents, educators, and community and civic leaders.  NJ All Stars director, Gloria Strickland kicked off the meeting by showing an excerpt of a conversation on education and the achievement gap between distinguished Harvard scholar and ASP Board member, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and All Stars founder Lenora Fulani, followed by a live panel discussion moderated by Strickland.  Panel participants included Dr. Fulani, Newark business leader, Robert Ross, All Stars youth leader and national Points of Light award winner Veronica Osorio, and donor and volunteer Victoria Tatta.

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Young dancers performing at the Barringer H.S. talent show.

On November 19, more than 300 young people, along with their friends and parents, came together at Barringer High School for the thirteenth Newark All Stars talent show.  Among the participants were performers who had taken part in a summer show co-sponsored by the ASP and the Newark Boys & Girls Club.