Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark Alliance President and CEO Aisha Glover, and Next City Executive Director Lucas Grindley announced today that the City of Newark will host Next City’s first-ever regional Vanguard conference in the city June 26-29, 2019. There are more than 400 Vanguard alumni around the world. This is the 11th Vanguard Conference, which began in 2009 in Washington, D.C.
The three-day Newark conference will include workshops, tours and conversations about the newest innovations and most pressing questions in urban development, infrastructure and public policy. Vanguards will have the opportunity to work with organizations in Newark to devise solutions to local challenges. The program will culminate in the annual Next City Big Idea Challenge.
Next City is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire social, economic and environmental change in cities through journalism and events around the world.
Next City provides daily online coverage of the leaders, policies and innovations driving progress in metropolitan regions across the world. In an age when original, on-the-ground reporting is increasingly rare, we send our writers into urban communities around the world to produce our award-winning longform content. In addition to our online journalism, we produce events including an annual urban leadership conference, Vanguard. Next City is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit that adheres to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. We are dedicated to producing journalism that is accurate, transparent, fair and impactful.
“Under our leadership and with the work of our dedicated residents, businesses, nonprofits, and neighborhood organizations, Newark has defined itself as a pioneering and groundbreaking city for positive change. These changes are being seen in our downtown construction, our Affordable Housing Ordinance, our Equitable Growth programs, our education and outreach programs to youth, and our commitment to neighborhood development. It is truly appropriate that our city take center stage for a discussion on what policies and initiatives make cities and urban areas successful and prosperous for all,” Mayor Baraka said.
“Hearing directly from Newark’s impressive agents for change about real solutions will be an eye-opening experience,” said Mr. Grindley. “Perhaps most invaluable, though, is the bond that Vanguards take with them. Our Vanguards support each other and their work long after the conference ends.”
With its deep history as an economic powerhouse and an evolving identity as a business incubator as well as a center for arts and culture, Newark is the ideal anchor city for a regional Vanguard conference. The Vanguard program will be run by Next City in partnership with the host organization, Newark Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ongoing economic revitalization of Newark.
“Newark has always demonstrated its ability to evolve and match the needs of a burgeoning city, and leadership development is no exception,” said Ms. Glover. “Newark continues to experience record economic growth and recognition as a destination city, a model for equity and a tech hub. As such, we are excited to partner with Next City to bring the Vanguard summit to strengthen both seasoned and emerging leaders and help propel them to the national forefront of urban leadership. I have every confidence that this next cohort of Vanguard leadership will build the necessary skills and grow their capacity to propel Newark into an inspired, cutting edge and model city.”
Applications for the Vanguard Newark conference are open to candidates living and working in Newark and the surrounding region. A list of all the counties within the area are listed on the application page. The application process will run through March 25, 2019 and the application fee is $35. Visit the application page to apply.
