Board of Trustees

Ras J. Baraka

Ras J. Baraka

Ras J. Baraka

Mayor
City of Newark


Mayor Ras J. Baraka joined the NJTPA Board of Trustees when he took office as mayor in 2014. Previously, he served as South Ward councilman and deputy mayor.

Mayor Baraka is credited with transforming Central High School, where he served as principal since 2007 until he became mayor. As councilman, Mayor Baraka was instrumental in enacting legislation recognizing violence as a public health issue and the Homestead/Abandoned Properties ordinance, among other achievements.

He has also supported initiatives geared toward youth development and he created the Senior Citizen’s Committee, a group of committed residents addressing issues for seniors.

Mayor Baraka is a published author and is a founding member and served as chairman of the first National Hip Hop Political Convention. Mayor Baraka was educated in the Newark Public Schools and went on to receive a bachelor ’s degree in political science from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and a master’s degree in education supervision from St. Peters University in Jersey City.