The Honorable Cory A. Booker is the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He took the oath of office as Mayor of New Jersey’s largest city in July 2006 following a sweeping electoral victory, and was re-elected for a second term in another overwhelming majority in 2010.
Elected with a clear mandate for change, Mayor Booker has begun work on realizing a bold vision for the city. Newark’s mission is to set a national standard for urban transformation by marshaling its resources to achieve security, economic abundance and an environment that is nurturing and empowering for individuals and families.
Mayor Booker brings his passion for social change to the podium. Sharing stories informed by real life, Mayor Booker demonstrates the need for everyone to take responsibility to help this nation live up to its promise. Mayor Booker also sheds light on the necessary reform government needs to undergo to become equipped to deal with the challenges of modern times. Drawing from a deep belief in service and social justice, Mayor Booker inspires audiences to greater civic responsibility and issues a call to action for America.
During his second term, Mayor Booker and his Administration have made meaningful strides towards achieving the City’s mission. He and his team have more than doubled the rate of affordable housing production; created Newark’s largest expansion of parks and recreation spaces in over a century; and brought more than $1 billion of new economic development into the City, while developing several business attractions. Having been attentive on the education reform efforts for Newark’s disaffected youth, Mayor Booker successfully provided the people with career development opportunities and public education options for families.
Among other recent notable achievements, Mayor Booker’s leadership and his team have led in the creation of an innovative network of resources and programs for people who left incarceration, which helped dramatically bring down the rates for those involved. From creating New Jersey’s largest wireless network of crime detection, to utilizing social media strategies, Mayor Booker has gained widespread attention in the implementation of these new technologies.
Mayor Booker’s political career began in 1998, after serving as Staff Attorney for the Urban Justice Center in Newark. He rose to prominence as Newark’s Central Ward Councilman. During his four years of service from 1998-2002, then-Councilman Booker earned a reputation as a leader with innovative ideas and bold actions, from increasing security in public housing to building new playgrounds. This work was the foundation for his leadership as Mayor. For this work, he has been recognized in numerous publications, including, among others, TIME (naming him one of the 100 most influential people of 2011), Esquire, New Jersey Monthly (naming him as one of New Jersey’s top 40 under 40), Black Enterprise (naming him to the Hot List, America’s Most Powerful Players under 40) and The New York Times Magazine.
Reflecting his commitment to education, Mayor Booker is a member of numerous boards and advisory committees including Democrats for Education Reform, Columbia University Teachers’ College Board of Trustees and the Black Alliance for Educational Options. Mayor Booker received his B. A. and M. A. from Stanford University, a B. A. in Modern History at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed his law degree at Yale University.
