The recently launched Braven Newark Impact Report for 2023-2024 tells the powerful stories of Rutgers-Newark Fellows who have transformed their futures. One such story is that of Raphael Pereira, now a Technology Liaison Analyst at MetLife. Raphael credits his time as a Braven Fellow at Rutgers-Newark for helping him find his authentic voice and confidence to succeed in his career.
“Confidence was the biggest skill I gained from taking Braven,” Raphael shared. “I learned that knowing who you are and being secure in yourself allows you to navigate life more freely and authentically, and that is the start of true confidence.”
This partnership is about more than individual success stories—it’s about reversing troubling economic trends in Newark. Despite the city’s economic potential, less than 20% of Newark residents hold jobs within the city, with most high-paying jobs going to out-of-town commuters. Meanwhile, Black residents face twice the unemployment rate of white residents, and a third of the city’s population lives below the poverty line.
Braven’s partnership with Rutgers-Newark directly addresses these disparities by preparing Newark’s young people for stronger, more equitable futures. As local government, educators, and businesses unite to expand access to quality jobs, Braven’s career-readiness model is ensuring that Newark’s own residents are prepared to fill them.
The collaboration is part of a growing movement to invest in Newark’s future by building strong, sustainable communities, starting with today’s students. The students of Rutgers-Newark, supported by Braven, are demonstrating what’s possible when economic mobility is not just a dream but a reality within reach.
