Assistant Program Director, Anti-Violence Programs
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. – Essex & Union County, NJ
In her administrative leadership role as Assistant Director at Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc., Charlene C. Messer epitomizes the African proverb, “It takes a village.” She is deeply committed to improving the wellness of her community through youth advocacy, violence prevention, and holistic wraparound support services across Essex and Union Counties in New Jersey.
The YAP Essex County Community-Based Violence Prevention Program for which Messer serves as Assistant Program Director reaches young people ages 12-18 who are at the greatest risk of violence engagement. This includes young people who have a history of school suspensions, truancies, illegal or violent behavior and/or dealing mental health or substance use issues. Some but not all of the program participants are systems involved.
Messer is a passionate advocate for youth and a dedicated food activist. During her extracurricular time, She is on a mission to raise awareness about sustainable food systems and healthy living which gave her inspiration from her late grandmother, Ardith Ransom who garnered legal custody of Charlene and sister after the loss of her mom in Newark, NJ.
Messer is afellow of the Cloud Institute for Sustainable Education, and actively collaborates with numerous community partners including Newark Science and Sustainability, Urban Agriculture Cooperative, Al-Munir Farms, La Casa De Don Pedro, and the Rutgers Newark-Price Institute. Her work bridges the gap between food justice and youth empowerment. She is also a fellow of the Governing Institute of New Jersey,a Community Foundation Leadership Initiative fellow,and a proud Kean University alumna, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration.
Charlene resides in Newark, New Jersey with her daughter, whose inspiration fuels Charlene’s commitment to nurturing the next generation.
