Amina Bey, MPA’13
Amina Bey (MPA’13) has spent her entire life in public service, building a career rooted in expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and delivering resources to those most in need. Born, raised, and educated in Newark, New Jersey, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Stockton State College (now Stockton University) and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University–Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA). She remains actively connected to Rutgers–Newark, serving on the SPAA Advisory Board and previously as a Part-Time Lecturer and Adjunct Professor, helping to prepare the next generation of public service leaders.
Since September 2019, Amina has served as the Executive Director of Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc. (NESF), one of the largest and longest-running anti-poverty social services organizations in Essex County. Under her leadership, NESF has expanded its reach and impact significantly—growing food distribution, employment and training, and housing assistance programs while raising millions of dollars to combat food insecurity, housing instability, and economic hardship. She also launched the annual NESF World Homeless Day event, which has grown from serving 350 residents in 2020 with 21 partner agencies to over 1,000 residents in 2024 with more than 70 partners statewide.
Prior to NESF, Amina served as Executive Director of the Newark Workforce Development Board under the leadership of Ras J. Baraka from 2014 to 2019. In this role, she led workforce strategy for the City of Newark, overseeing NewarkWORKS and the Newark One-Stop Career Center, while building partnerships across government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. During her tenure, she doubled participation in the Summer Youth Employment Program from 1,500 to 3,000 young people, helped create 2,000 new jobs, and contributed to reducing Newark’s unemployment rate from 11.7% to 5.8%. She was also selected to establish and lead the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center, expanding services and support for women and families across the city.
Earlier in her career, Amina spent 15 years with the Essex County Division of Training and Employment, where she managed workforce development grants and created programs focused on helping unemployed and low-income residents achieve self-sufficiency through education and employment pathways.
Amina’s commitment to community extends beyond her professional roles. She has served two consecutive terms on the Maplewood Democratic Committee and is the Chairperson of Women In Support Of the Million Man March, Inc. (WISOMMM), a Newark-based organization serving the community since 1995. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded SIStars In Service and the Muslim Community Relief Fund to provide direct financial assistance, food support, and critical resources to families across Essex County.
Her leadership and service have earned widespread recognition, including her induction into the Rutgers University African American Alliance Hall of Fame in 2022. She has also contributed her expertise at the state level, serving on the Labor and Workforce Development Committee for Governor Phil Murphy’s transition team in 2017.
On November 4, 2025, Amina Bey made history as the first Muslim elected to the Newark Municipal Council when she won the Special Election to represent the Central Ward. With decades of service behind her and a bold vision ahead, her leadership is grounded in accountability, equity, and a deep love for Newark—advancing policies that uplift residents, strengthen neighborhoods, and ensure every community has access to opportunity, resources, and meaningful representation.
has served as the executive director of Newark Emergency Services for Families since 2019. A Newark native, she lives and works in the city and volunteers her time with various community service projects. She was inducted into the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance (RAAA) Hall of Fame in 2022.