Celia M. King, MPS

Presently, Celia M. King serves as the executive director of Leadership Newark, Inc. In that capacity she is responsible for ensuring a myriad of citizens committed to the City of Newark, enhance their skills and knowledge based on numerous public policy issues, which affect the community. She strives to expand and improve the network of civic and community leaders in the City of Newark. As an advocate of civic participation, Celia takes her role seriously in engaging the public to be informed and involved in the community. Ms. King feels community building requires the development of servant leaders through community leadership programs.

Prior to assuming her current position, Celia worked in the field of healthcare as an administrator for more than 10 years. She is an expert in healthcare planning and total quality management, specifically for urban communities and underserved populations.

Her role involved managing health centers for communities in Harlem, New York, Jersey City, New Jersey and Paterson, New Jersey. She developed strategic plans to ensure growth and expansion of health services in these cities. Additionally, she implemented patient education programs, which involved staff going to the community and sharing information in a potential “clients” territory.

Celia M. King is a former Councilwoman from Maplewood, New Jersey, serving from 1994-2002. During her tenure she served in the capacity of Vice Mayor from 1997-2001. Maplewood is a suburban community of 24,000 in Essex County in which the local elected officials serve in an at-large capacity. In office for 2½ terms, Ms. King’s responsibilities included service as the President of the Board of Health for Maplewood, working closely with the local drug alliance to educate children in public and private schools about the campaign against drugs and Co-Chair of the finance committee.

Celia also established a Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention program, which provides support services for victims of domestic violence. She continues to host a cable show focusing on health issues called “Community Health Watch”. She served as the liaison for the Senior Citizen community in town and continues to be an advocate for Seniors working on issues which assists them in continuing to enjoy a quality lifestyle that is affordable.

Celia’s affiliations include serving as a member on the board of the following organizations: Prospect Presbyterian Church; Marion P. Thomas Charter School; Supreme Court of New Jersey District Fee Arbitration Committee; The Newark Foundation for Public Education; Greater Newark Women’s Conference, Inc. “The Jewish Museum of New Jersey and she also volunteers as a math tutor at Rise Academy in Newark.

Ms. King holds a Master’s degree from Milano The New School University for Management and Urban Policy in New York City and completed her undergraduate studies at Syracuse University in New York State.

Celia resides with her husband, Leonard Robbins, and their daughter Olivia Robbins in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Shelly L. Bell

Shelly L. Bell Ellis serves as the Director of Operations for Leadership Newark, Inc., a non-profit in the state of New Jersey, which is a 2-year public policy leadership development program. As a graduate of the two-year fellowship program, she is now responsible for ensuring a myriad of citizens committed to the City of Newark, enhance their skills and knowledge based on numerous public policy issues, which has an impact on the community.

Shelly strives to expand and improve the network of civic and community leaders in the greater Newark area.

Shelly serves as the Newark Coordinator for the Citizens' Campaign. She is responsible for facilitating training sessions designed to educate Newark residents about the board and commissions appointment process.

She also volunteers for the Newark Public School Student Center where she provides skill sets and opportunities for high school students to engage in civic education and group participation exercises.

Prior to assuming her current position, Shelly worked in the field of government. For ten years, she served as the Special Assistant to Assemblyman Craig Stanley. Her role involved managing the 28th Legislative District office and insured the needs of constituents were met.

In addition to her professional career, Ms. Ellis is a licensed Minister under the tutorage of Patty James, Founder & Teacher of Word Up Ministries, Inc.

Ms. Ellis is a graduate of the Governing Institute of New Jersey, a non-profit, non-partisan educational and research institute that empower leaders to strengthen communities by effective coalition building around public policy issues.

Ms. Ellis holds a Master's degree in Religious Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Eastern Bible College.