A group of people, including men, women, and children, standing outside on a city sidewalk in front of a modern glass and concrete building. They are engaged in conversation or waiting for something.

Our Projects

At the Tribe the Village, we believe in engaging with the community through service. Take a look at our main projects by clicking the buttons below.

Our main project is our 16-week mentorship program. The basic idea is simple: show at-risk youth from underserved communities that, with the right support and inspiration, they can achieve anything. To accomplish that, we bring in professionals from across New Jersey to give testimonials on the potential within each and every young person. Here are some of our excellent mentors:

Mentorship Program

Kevin Jones

Two men in business attire standing outdoors, one with his arm around the other. The man on the left is tall and has a beard, wearing a striped shirt and a tie. The man on the right is shorter, with gray hair, wearing a dark suit and a patterned tie. They are standing in front of a building and trees.

Kevin Jones is a native of Neptune Township, New Jersey. He graduated from Kean University and currently works in Washington DC as a contractor for the United States Armed Forces. Kevin Jones exemplifies the idea that excellence can come from humble beginnings. Raised in a single-parent home, Kevin Jones dreamed of escaping poverty. His testimonials touch on the power of hard work, following your dreams, and having mentors in your life to guide you. We are so happy to have Kevin Jones as part of our mentorship program.

Monica Ellis

Black and white portrait of a woman with wavy hair, wearing a short-sleeved shirt with text, sitting with her head resting on her hand, wearing a bracelet and pearl earrings.

Monica Ellis is a native of Newark, New Jersey, and has been an educator there for close to two decades. Recently, Monica has pursued her dream of fashion design, creating the line Monica’s Revamp’d. She has styled for artists ranging from Tasha Cobbs to Fantasia. Touching on her early life in foster care and her experience as an entrepreneur, educator, and mom, Ms. Ellis’ testimonials are both powerful and empowering for the young women of our mentorship program.

JD Williams

A group of diverse young people gathered outside a building, listening to a man in black who appears to be speaking or giving instructions.

JD Williams is an actor, writer, producer, acting trainer, blogger, and activist. He has performed on the big and small screen, and is a dedicated father as well. Despite this busy schedule, JD Williams made time to speak with our mentees, for which we are very grateful. His testimonials touch on growing up in a similar environment to many of New Jersey’s youth, and the struggles that come with that. He is a living example to young people that with enough focus and discipline, anyone can thrive.

Jamil Cross

A construction worker wearing a helmet and safety glasses taking a selfie high above the city skyline, with buildings, streets, and parked cars below.

Jamil Cross was one of the first mentors to speak to the participants of our program. As an ironworker, Jamil knows what it means to take pride in your craft. He knows that it takes effort, dedication, and bravery to perform your best 1,700 feet above the ground. What Jamil really takes pride in, however, are his achievements as a father. We were so grateful to have Mr. Cross contribute to our program, delivering a testimonial that emphasized the importance of legacy and passing on knowledge.

Edward Hall

A man dressed in business attire standing in an office. He is wearing a white shirt, a navy blue tie, gray dress pants, and black sneakers. He has a badge hanging from his neck, a brown backpack on his shoulders, and a gun in a holster on his waist.

Detective Edward Hall is an Officer for the Orange County Police Department. A Newark native, Detective Hall is always thinking about ways to give back to his community. With such a professional background, Hall was able to educate the group on the importance of black entrepreneurship. In these times the dynamic of a police officer in a room of at-risk youth is usually one of hostility and distrust. But Det. Hall was able to articulate himself as a black man first, proudly performing a duty that other black men and women could feel empowered by.

Sean McDowell

A soldier in camouflage uniform and sunglasses standing in a desert landscape, holding a helmet in his hand.

Sean McDowell was no stranger to trouble as a youth, following an all-too familiar direction towards violence. What changed his trajectory was fatherhood. Sean decided to join the military, hoping that the culture and brotherhood it offered would give him the discipline to be a great father. Sean did two tours of Iraq and honorably served for 14 years as a combat medic. Now a father of three, Sean’s testimonial emphasized both the struggles he has faced and the experiences he can pass on as a result.

On July 1, 2021, New Jersey’s legislature passed the Marijuana Decriminalization Law. One of the central provisions of the law was expungement: those convicted with certain non-violent marijuana offenses can have these offenses expunged from their record, meaning they wouldn’t have to report them on job, housing, or college applications, and these offenses wouldn’t appear on their public record. Unfortunately, this expungement process is not automatic, and requires filling out paperwork, typically with the guidance of a legal professional. As a result, the Tribe the Village has hosted numerous Expungement Clinics, where dozens of people can obtain pro bono legal counsel to have their record expunged.

We work closely with the Essex-Newark Legal Association, the National Action Network, the Orange Municipal Court, and the Mayor of Orange, New Jersey. Our clinics regularly serve over 50 people, providing an avenue to housing and financial independence for countless community members.

Expungement Initiative

Flyer for the Expungement Clinic hosted by The Tribe The Village and The National Action Network. The event is scheduled for January 14 from 10 AM to 3 PM at NAN Newark Tech, 400 Hawthorne Ave., Newark, NJ. The flyer emphasizes clearing your record and offers free legal assistance from attorneys. It requests attendees to bring legal documents related to expungement and provides contact information for questions.

To see an interview about the Newark Expungement Clinic, visit: https://youtu.be/EJU962Ra6FQ

At the Tribe the Village, we believe that real-world experiences are just as important as knowledge when it comes to growing into the best version of ourselves. One way we provide these experiences while also keeping our community politically aware is by introducing youth to local, state, and national representatives. Here are a few of the trips we’ve made.

Events

A group of people standing in front of the large Abraham Lincoln statue at the Lincoln Memorial, with some raising fists in front of the statue's face.

Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC.

A group of people standing outside a building on a city sidewalk, with some engaging in conversation and others observing.

Speaking With Orange County Councilwoman Donna K. Williams

Four women standing behind a large gift box decorated with blue tinsel and snowflake wrapping paper, smiling during a holiday event, with a sign that reads 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' and 'TRIBE THE VILLAGE' featuring a silhouette of a group of people.

Holiday Toy Drive for Neemah’s Daycare

Group of diverse young people and adults seated and standing in a conference room for a group photo.

Meeting with U.S. Representative Robert Payne Jr.

Four men standing side by side in an indoor setting, three wearing hooded jackets, with one in a suit, in front of an exhibit sign titled 'All-Black Towns'.

Meeting With Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

Group of people participating in a painting class, creating colorful artwork featuring two women holding hands against a warm background.

First Annual Paint & Sip Fundraiser