Ras in 60

Listen to Mayor Ras J. Baraka's powerful State of the City Address in this bonus episode of Ras in 60 . 

The newest season of Ras in 60 has arrived, sparking excitement and anticipation! We hope your summer was a fantastic mix of fun, relaxation, and endless possibilities! In this thrilling season premiere of season 5, Hosts Mayor Baraka and Desireé Hadley kick things off with a detailed conversation about affordable housing with, Deputy Mayor/ Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Devel...

  Summers in Newark are full of free entertainment, activations, and events for the entire family. From Newark's youth to seniors – Newark’s summer lineup promises something for everyone. On this episode of Ras in 60 , Mayor Ras J. Baraka and co-host Desiree Hadley discuss International Pride Month , Newark Pride and the 2024 Summer Fun lineup. Ras in 60 hosts are joined by the cast of the 2005-20...

The Re-engagement Center was officially opened on March 26 th . The center enables young people aged 13-24 to reconnect with programs leading to a high school diploma or an equivalent credential and moves them toward employment. Students 21 or over who have aged out of city schools are referred to GED and high school equivalency program options. The center’s mission is to create diploma pathways w...

Mayor Ras J. Baraka presented his 10 th annual State of the City Address on March 12th, in a joyful, impassioned, and triumphant speech to the residents of Newark assembled at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, located at 1 Center Street.   In his address, Mayor Baraka reflected on his administration’s achievements of the past decade starting from his “ David moment .” Describing himself as “...

On the first part of this show hosts Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Desiree Hadley are speaking with the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, Luis Ulerio, the President and CEO of Newark Alliance, Evan Weiss, and the Data and Homeless Outreach Team Lead, Izaiah Hayes-Willoughby. By developing housing for residents without address, Newark is not only tackling the issue of homelessness but...

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstone of our communities.” -Barack Obama On September 6th, the Baraka administration and Invest Newark launched a program to help businesses and not-for-profit organizations locate, relocate, or expand their operations in Newark’s burgeoning downtown core.   The program, known as the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative , aims to sup...

September is back-to-school month, and, appropriately, National Literacy Month .  On September 8 th , the world recognizes International Literacy Day to raise awareness about the importance of literacy as a fundamental human right. Literacy is a fundamental human right. During the pandemic, young people experienced learning loss at an alarming rate. In 2022, the Newark test results of the NJSLA li...

In this episode of Ras in 60, we celebrate hip-hop’s monumental 50 th  anniversary and dive into the influential world of the music genre. There is no doubt that the hip-hop culture has impacted the lives of many, spurred national dialog, and raised awareness to injustice. Born in the Bronx, hip-hop quickly crossed the Hudson River to put down roots in New Jersey, where Englewood’s The Sugarhill G...

Only one in four residents own a home in Newark, and with corporations vying to purchase houses and turn them into high cost rentals, it is urgent to provide residents with affordable pathways to homeownership. The homeownership revitalization program, which many know as the $1 properties program, is specifically for residents of Newark. It enables the low cost sale of city properties to residents...

In 2020 the Baraka administration created the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery , the first of its kind in the City of Newark. While the rest of the country shouted ' Defund the Police' , the City of Newark reallocated funds from the NPD budget to establish the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.  Lakeesha Eure, the Director of the OVPTR , explains her strategic plan...

Newark is leading the way and is proud of it! Listen to Mayor Baraka as he delivers his ninth State of the City address. Before an audience of residents, stakeholders, elected officials, and media representatives, Mayor Baraka described the life-changing initiatives his administration has put in place over the past nine years.  Mayor Baraka's address was intertwined with powerful testimonials from...

Harriet Tubman is known to many of us as one of the most courageous women in American history. As a conductor on the underground railroad Harriet returned to the south approximately 13 times to lead enslaved people to the freedom.  On March 9, 2023 the Harriet Tubman monument titled "Shadows of a Face" was unveiled in Harriet Tubman Square Park downtown Newark. This interactive monument is replaci...

Access to a reliable internet connection is essential for us to function in our daily lives. From remote learning to telework, our children, families and workforce will fall behind if we do not have quality and reliable internet access.  On this episode of Ras in 60 we explore the steps Invest Newark is taking to equip our community with the infrastructure to access low cost or free broadband. May...

Chronic homelessness is an issue that affects communities in America on both coasts. Last week, The Mayor's Office of Homeless Services released "Newark's Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness" within 3 years. On this episode we breakdown the comprehensive plan with the City's Homelessness Czar Luis Ulerio, and Jim Pelliccio, Chair of the City of Newark Commission on Homelessness.  We then ex...

Economic equity is critical to urban communities like Newark, NJ. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median annual household income in the City of Newark is about $37k.  Our first guest is Mayor Michael Tubbs. Mr. Tubbs is currently the Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the former Mayor of Stockton, California. Mr. Tubbs joins virt...

Keeping Newark Safe is a high priority. Newark has a holistic approach to reducing violence, healing and supporting the community. This episode is all about exploring Newark's innovative approach to public saftey, which includes a collaborative effort and approach between the police and the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery .  Guests featured on this episode include Director of Pub...

On the first episode of season 3 of Ras in 60, marks the start of the new school year for Newark Public School students. Mayor Ras J. Baraka and co-host Desiree Hadley are speaking with Superintendent Roger León about the new school year, health and safety precautions, the addition of new public schools, the focus for the new academic year and much more! On the second half of the show we transitio...

We are finally ' Back Together Again' for a great second season of Ras in 60 . This episode is all about us coming together as a community. Mayor Ras J. Baraka is joined by his special guest host baby Jua and co-host/producer Desiree Hadley. The three discuss Newak's plethora of summer programming, camps, activities for adults, seniors and kids, and much more. Featured guests on this episode inclu...

In this inroductory episode of Ras in 60 you will meet the Mayor! Learn about Mayor Ras J. Baraka's fitness routine, his favorite music artists, his take on the VMAs coming to Newark, the Forbes Opportunity Zone Summit and much more.