CASA Ruby Red Shoe Bash 2019

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Click here to learn about the Impact of CASA for Children of Essex County NJ

from the

Executive Director, Tamara Harris

Linsey Davis joined ABC News in 2007. She is a correspondent filing reports for World News, Good Morning America, 20/20 and Nightline. This past September Davis served as one of the moderators in ABC's Democratic Presidential Debate. She has covered major news stories around the globe, including the Las Vegas massacre, Harvey Weinstein allegations and subsequent MeToo Movement, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Nairobi Mall massacre, and several of President Obama's trips overseas. Her coverage ranges from the 2016 presidential election to social injustice, to various natural disasters, including the earthquake in Haiti and multiple hurricanes.

Davis sat down exclusively with comedian Bill Cosby in the wake of dozens of sexual assault allegations. Leading up to the Iowa caucuses, she interviewed the spouses of seven of the presidential candidates as part of a series called "Running Mates."

In 2009, Davis reported on the miracle on the Hudson and Michael Jackson's death. That same year she also made waves with her "Nightline" report "Single Black Female." The story, which went viral, examined why African-American women are the least likely of any race or gender to walk down the aisle.

Davis joined ABC News as a New York-based correspondent for ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service. Before joining the network in June 2007, Davis was anchor of the weekend evening newscasts at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. She started out as a reporter in 2003 and, during her time there, reported from New Orleans in wake of Hurricane Katrina, from Torino for the 2006 Winter Olympics, and from Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympics. From 2001-03 she was a reporter at WJRT-TV, the ABC owned station in Flint, Michigan. Davis has received several honors for her reporting, including two Emmy Awards and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

In February of 2018 her children's book,The World is Awake, became a bestseller. In August she released a second children's book, One Big Heart. Davis earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and a master of arts degree in communications from New York University.

Cie-Jai Brown is an Executive Director of High Grade Corporate Bond Trading at J.P. Morgan Chase.  He has over 20 years of experience on Wall Street, having worked in both New York and London in various roles.

Cie-Jai was born in Staten Island and left his home at age 10 to enter the NY Foster Care system.  He spent time in Brooklyn and Queens before ultimately placing with his great aunt in Elmont, Long Island, who was instrumental in helping forge his path to college.

He earned a bachelor's degree in both Economics and Philosophy from Columbia University in 2000.  An accomplished athlete, he set the triple jump record at Columbia, which stood from 1999-2018.  As an undergraduate, he also served as the President of the Black Student Organization.  In 2006, Cie-Jai earned an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, where he was honored with the Distinguished Service award.

Cie-Jai resides in New Jersey with his three young children and wife Jen.

(Sworn in as a CASA on 06/20/1989)

Michelle Bobrow is a superstar CASA. She is an incredibly dedicated advocate and has served with CASA for Children of Essex County for 30 years.

Michelle's advocacy extends beyond CASA. She is a member of the steering committee of the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, a community of organizations devoted to abolishing human trafficking. In her work with the League of Women Voters, she advocated for the passage of the 2013 omnibus bill in New Jersey that addressed human trafficking. She has also presented about the resurgence of human trafficking in various forums such as the 1st Annual New Jersey Statewide CASA Conference and with the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County.

In addition, she is on the board of the National Council of Jewish Women and is the founder of Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry, which helps feed the elderly in her community. The pantry serves hundreds of families each month and is entirely staffed by volunteers.

Detective Robert D. Moore is a 23 year veteran with the Newark Police Department. His details have included duties in all four of the city's precincts, TARGET, Criminal Intelligence, Youth Violence Task Force, Street Crimes Detective, Robbery/Homicide, Auto Theft Task Force and the Executive Protection Unit.

His dedication has not gone unnoticed. Police Officer Moore is the recipient of the esteemed 2013 Essex County 200 Club Valor Award and the 2013 Newark Police Department Valor Award . He has also received the Newark Police Department A Award Medal of Honor. In 2010 he received the Newark Police Department C Award for Excellence in Police Duty. Then again in 2011, 2012 and 2013 he was bestowed the Newark Police Department B Award Medal of Merit. He is also the recipient of several awards from the community.He has forty-six Command Citations for Outstanding Performance in the line of Police Work and twenty-two Fraternal Order of Police Awards.

Since 1997 Detective Moore has been a member of the Newark Bronze Shields. He has trained and mentored young people and is currently assigned to the Juvenile Services Section serving as a School Resource Officer for the Newark Police Department's 4th Precinct. In his role as Resource Officer he continues to serve the community and often sponsors community events. He has actively sought to form partnerships with the community's business and religious leadership.

Detective Moore represents the epitome of a dedicated and honorable public servant. His 23 years veteran police career with the Newark Police Department has been one of quality police work partnered with excellent community engagement.

Bibi Taylor was raised in East Orange and graduated from Clifford J. Scott High School in 1993. Bibi is currently employed as the Finance Director and County Treasurer for the County of Union where she is responsible for managing the County's operating and capital budget totaling over $500 million. Prior to her employment with Union County, she had assembled a successful long-term career working with several municipalities in New Jersey, including Acting Assistant to the City Administrator/Grants Analyst for the City of East Orange, Business Administrator/Interim Police Director for the Township of River Vale and Business Administrator for the Town of Dover. Bibi also served as the Business Administrator for the City of Plainfield from 2010-2011 where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of City government with a staff of more than 500 municipal employees and a budget of $72 million.

Bibi earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University in May 2001, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of West Florida in 1998. She also holds a certification as Qualified Purchasing Agent & Registered Public Purchasing Official from Rutgers University and a School Business Administrator Certificate of Eligibility from the New Jersey State Department of Education.

Bibi also has a long and committed record of community service including serving as a member and President of the East Orange Board of Education (2003-2009), East Orange General Hospital Trustee (2006-2009), Plainfield Area YMCA Trustee (2010-Present) and in December 2012 she was appointed as a Board Member of the United Way of Greater Union County.

Lester E. Taylor, Esq. is a Partner with the law firm of Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Cappelli, LLC where he chairs the firm's Education Practice Group focusing on representing Boards of Education in General, Special Education, Litigation, Labor, Employment and Workers' Compensation related matters. Lester presently represents some of the State's largest public-school districts including the Camden City School District, Middletown, Long Branch, Union Township, Brick, Willingboro, Paterson, Newark, West New York and Elizabeth School Districts. He also serves as litigation and labor counsel to the City of Trenton, Township of Irvington, and represents a number of other public entities, private companies and individuals in litigation, real estate and other legal matters.

In addition to Mr. Taylor's law practice, Lester served as the 13th Mayor of the City of East Orange (2014-2017). During his term in office, Mayor Taylor focused on quality of life issues, education and economic development to put East Orange on a path to fiscal stability and sustainability. Under his leadership, the City overhauled the East Orange Water Commission and made long overdue investments in the East Orange Golf Course to re-establish those two entities as revenue-generating community assets.

Lester received an undergraduate degree in political science from Montclair State University and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. While in Law School he served as a legislative associate for Dominion, a Virginia based fully integrated electric and natural gas utility company in its Washington, D.C. government affairs office. After graduating from law school, Lester served as a law clerk to the Honorable Zinora M. Mitchell-Rankin, Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Lester presently serves on the boards of the Three Doctor's Foundation, Sustainable Jersey, United Way of Essex and West Hudson, and the Lester Taylor III Foundation. Lester is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and presently serves as a Trustee for the New Jersey School Boards Association - Northern Region Association of School Attorneys, Board Member of the East Orange YMCA, is a member of the East Orange Historical Society and has served as a Director on the East Orange Chamber of Commerce. In August 2010 the New Jersey Law Journal recognized Lester as one of the "Top 40 Lawyers Under 40" in the State of New Jersey. Mr. Taylor has received numerous awards and recognition from Civic organizations including the New Jersey State Conference of the NAACP - Robert Lee Carter Legacy Award for Outstanding Dedication as a Distinguished Legal Professional (2012), Long Branch Housing Authority recognition for excellence in the legal profession and community service (2011) and the Long Branch NAACP award for excellence in the legal profession (2010). Lester often volunteers his time speaking with students on the importance of education and developing leadership skills.

Lester and Bibi have three children, Amani, a recent graduate of Columbia University, Lester IV, rising Sixth Grader, and Lena rising Fourth Grader, both of whom attend Aquinas Academy in the Township of Livingston. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange.

The generosity of our sponsors help fund CASA's advocate and mentorship programs serving some of the most vulnerable and forgotten children in our community.

Mission
The mission of CASA for Children of Essex County is to promote the welfare of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment by providing a safety net of support, advocacy and mentorship.

CASA trains and supervises volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court, to ensure that each child has the opportunity to thrive by receiving needed services and assistance while helping to move the child towards a safe and permanent home.

Services
CASA Advocates are appointed by a judge to perform an independent investigation into a child's life. They interview teachers, case workers, medical service providers and others. Throughout this process, Advocates build rapport with the child and they develop an understanding of his or her wishes and needs. They then compile their research and observations into a written recommendation that is presented to the judge. These recommendations help the judge make timely and informed decisions that often have a life-changing impact in the lives of children and their family.

Recommendations submitted to a judge always seek to advance two primary goals: to ensure that all appropriate services are provided throughout the child's entire time in care, and to help move the child as quickly as possible to a safe and permanent home.

History
CASA for Children of Essex County is the oldest and largest CASA program in NJ and one of 900+ CASA programs nationwide. Over a quarter of all children served by a CASA Advocate in New Jersey are served in Essex County.

Based on the high praise received from the judges in Essex County for our work, in 2002 the NJ Administrative Office of the Courts mandated that the Family Court in each county have a Court Appointed Special Advocate program. Essex CASA personnel played a major role in the formation of CASA of NJ, an umbrella organization which has spearheaded the effort to create CASA programs throughout the state.

Impact
Once brought into foster care, the average child will spend three years in care, move over three times, and attend nine different schools. But a CASA Advocate makes a real difference. Research has shown that children with a CASA Advocate experience fewer placements, are more likely to succeed in school, receive more direct services, are more likely to find a permanent home, and are half as likely to re-enter foster care after leaving the system.

Essex CASA's 253 volunteers provides services to more than 600 foster children. These children received a range of services from educational support to mentoring to developing family connections.

CASA for Children of Essex County would like to thank the following organizations for their generosity and support in 2019!