Linda J. Baraka 

Linda J. Baraka is more than a leader—she is a force of vision and action for Newark. As First Lady of New Jersey’s largest city, standing proudly alongside her husband, Mayor Ras J. Baraka, she has made it her mission to uplift, empower, and transform her community.

Her work is not just about programs—it’s about people. A steadfast champion for women and children, Linda has dedicated her platform to creating opportunities, resources, and safe spaces that allow them to thrive. When she launched Newark Women Moving Forward, she dared to imagine a city where 1,000 women could break free from the weight of debt. That vision became a movement, proving that with the right tools and unwavering support, financial freedom is within reach for every woman.

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Mayor Ras J. Baraka

Ras J. Baraka, the 40th Mayor of the City of Newark, is a beacon of progressive leadership and inspiration. Born and raised in Newark, with deep roots in the city spanning over 70 years, Mayor Baraka's visionary governance has earned him praise from grassroots movements to the highest echelons of power.

During his tenure, Mayor Baraka has shattered expectations and transformed Newark into a model city of innovation and resilience. His forward-thinking policies have led to a significant decrease in crime rates, unprecedented economic growth, and a renewed sense of community pride. Under his guidance, Newark has become a hub of development, with billions of dollars invested in the city's future and a comprehensive master plan recognized for its excellence.

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   Kirsten Scheurer Branigan, Esq.

Ms. Branigan is the Founder and Managing Partner of KSBranigan Law P.C., a boutique law firm that provides legal and neutral services, primarily in the areas of employment law and alternative dispute resolution. The firm is a WBENC-Certified business and a Law Firm Member of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). She founded the firm in 2006 after practicing for 10 years at a prestigious New Jersey firm. Having exclusively practiced employment law for 30 years, she currently assists organizations in preventing and resolving workplace conflicts, fostering positive environments, mitigating bias, and minimizing legal risk through a comprehensive range of training programs, workplace investigations, equal pay audits, and culture assessments.

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Amber Reed

Amber is Co-Executive Director of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of New Jersey (AAPI NJ), a statewide nonprofit founded in 2021 to champion the well-being, rights, representation, histories, and cultures of New Jersey’s 1+ million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. During her tenure, AAPI NJ has built community power through grassroots organizing and civic engagement efforts in historically overlooked AAPI communities; developed Teach Asian American Stories, a national model for supporting K-12 ethnic studies; promoted AAPI visibility in NJ with public events attended by thousands; and worked in multiracial coalitions to advocate for voting rights, language access, immigrant rights, and police accountability, among other policies advancing the welfare of communities of color. AAPI NJ supports victims of bias incidents and hate crimes with case management and provides referrals for health and mental health providers and social services. Its innovative youth and mental health programs help build community while destigmatizing mental health services and normalizing interactions with providers.

Michele N. Siekerka, Esq.

Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, leads the nation’s most influential employers’ organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s large and small businesses for policies that will make New Jersey more affordable and regionally competitive.

Known as a collaborative leader, Siekerka leads the NJBIA-established New Jersey Business Coalition, comprised of more than 100 business and nonprofit associations, that was initially formed to tackle the tough economic and business challenges faced during COVID-19. Today the coalition remains strong, banding together on policy issues affecting those it serves as well as our statewide economy.

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