Back row: Al-Jameer Henderson; Newark Mayor Cory Booker; All Stars president, Gabrielle Kurlander; Director of Merrill Lynch, Newark Liberty Complex, Robert Ross, NJ All Stars director, Gloria Strickland (far right) and NJ All Stars youth.

The NJ All Stars fifth annual Phat Friend Awards highlighted the role that young people are playing in leading the revival of Newark. The Phat Friend celebration kicked off with a press conference in the rotunda of Newark City Hall. Surrounded by 25 young people, DSY student Al-Jameer Henderson spoke about the meaning of Phat Friends and the commitment that Newark’s youth have made to work together with outstanding adults in their communities to create a brighter future for their city. NJ All Stars director Gloria Strickland, who hosted the press conference, introduced Phat Friend recipient, Mayor Cory A. Booker, who expressed his strong support for the young people’s leadership and for the All Stars. The Star-Ledger ran this story on the event.

In the evening, 150 people gathered for the Phat Friend Awards ceremony, honoring the young people’s 12 local heroes. The evening’s co-chairs also announced that $52,000 had been raised to complete the funding of NJ All Stars fall programs.

Newark Councilwoman, Dana Rone; NJ All Stars director, Gloria Strickland; Congressman Donald Payne and All Stars youth leader, Stephanie Gidigbi at the DSY luncheon in Newark.

Fifty-six students were enrolled in the fall 2006 classes of the New Jersey Development School for Youth, the largest classes since the program’s launch in 2000. The students hail from eight communities and eleven high schools in the greater Newark area.

DSY alumni continue to stretch and take on new leadership roles. Veronica Osorio, a 2001 DSY alumna and 2003 NJ Young Leaders for Change award winner, recently became the legislative aide to Newark City Council woman Dana Rone. Stephanie Gidigbi, a 2002 DSY graduate and 2004 NJ Young Leaders for Change award winner, will be joining the staff of Congressman Donald M. Payne in January, 2007.

In October, the NJ DSY held its second annual luncheon with 120 business professionals attending. Congressman Donald M. Payne was honored at the luncheon and received the NJ DSY’s first honorary Doctorate of Development. The event raised $67,000 for the program and was covered by the Star-Ledger.

Young Leaders for Change, Gloria Strickland and Barry and Maria Morris.

Five All Stars youth volunteers were honored at the fourth annual Young Leaders for Change Award ceremony on Saturday, December 9. Fifteen-year-olds Carl Graham, Jaliah Ligon and Al-Khadir Ligon were also honored for their contributions as young builders of the talent show. DSY graduate Janeth Murietta, 19, was recognized for her contributions as a passionate spokesperson for the leadership training program and for her work as part of the Phat Friend Youth Committee. Michael Santana, 24, also a DSY graduate, was recognized for his contributions as emcee at Newark All Stars talent shows. Said Santana, “For as long as I can, I will always be part of the All Stars. It’s hard to turn your back on an organization that has never turned its back on you.” On hand to present the awards were previous Young Leaders for Change awardees, along with families and All Stars supporters who hosted the event.

All Stars Project, New Jersey
Director: Gloria Strickland
Contact: Marcel Vaughn-Handy
Email: mvaughn-handy@allstars.org
Phone: 973-622-5506 ext. 303
Website: http://www.allstars.org/njallstars.html