The Akbar Pray Foundation For Change

The Akbar Pray Foundation For Change Offical business page of writer, speaker, and justice advocate, Wayne Akbar Pray and the Akbar Pray Foundation For Change non-profit organization.

07/18/2026

Thank you to my sister Tonja Lewis and RzTheFlags LLC, The H.E.L.P. Center, Suburban Health, and all of our community partners who came together to make this day possible. Special thanks to DJ Qua for keeping the energy high and to Grammy Award winning hip hop legend Roxanne Shanté for blessing us with her presence.

This event has never just been about food. It’s about reminding people that everyone deserves dignity, compassion, and community.

People experiencing homelessness aren’t strangers. They’re our neighbors. Sometimes all someone needs isn’t a handout, but a hand up.

Before we criticize someone’s situation, we should ask ourselves what we’ve done to help change it. It’s easy to point fingers. It’s much harder to roll up your sleeves and serve.

“The true measure of a community isn’t how it treats its most successful, but how it cares for those who need a helping hand.”

Thank you to every volunteer, donor, partner, and every person who showed up with love. Together, we’re proving that compassion is still alive, and we’re just getting started.

-Akbar

I’m humbled and honored to serve as a guest speaker at the 2026 Pull Up 4 Peace Conference in Atlantic City.Having exper...
06/19/2026

I’m humbled and honored to serve as a guest speaker at the 2026 Pull Up 4 Peace Conference in Atlantic City.

Having experienced both the consequences of poor decisions and the power of redemption, I understand how important it is to reach people before violence, incarceration, and hopelessness become their story.

I look forward to joining others who are committed to healing communities, mentoring young people, and creating pathways to opportunity.

Change is possible. People can grow. Communities can heal. That’s why this work matters.

See you at Pull Up 4 Peace.

06/05/2026

We protect our community with unity and love. Allies welcome, disruption is not.
What we do not welcome is division disguised as concern.
The future of our community belongs to the people who live here, love here, work here, worship here, and raise their children here. It is our responsibility to have the difficult conversations, confront our challenges, and determine our own destiny.
There will always be outside voices eager to tell us who we are and what we should believe. But no one knows this community better than the people who have invested their lives in it.
Our focus remains where it has always been: unity, progress, accountability, and self-determination.
We may not always agree, but we must never allow others to turn us against one another.
Community First. Newark First.
I’m Akbar Pray and I’m out.

Tonight, my son, Rahway Councilman Jeff Brooks, will take part in the NAACP Meet the Candidates Night, where he’ll have ...
05/18/2026

Tonight, my son, Rahway Councilman Jeff Brooks, will take part in the NAACP Meet the Candidates Night, where he’ll have the opportunity to lay out his vision, platform, and continued commitment to the people of Rahway alongside the other candidates in this year’s primary election.

My son has always believed that leadership is about service, accessibility, and fighting for the community you love. I’m proud of the man he’s become and the work he continues to do for the people of this city.

If you’d like to come out and support him tonight, all of the event details, time, and location are listed in the flyer below.

Peace.

05/12/2026

Today, I’m proud to support my cousin, Louise Scott-Rountree, for Councilwoman At-Large in the City of Newark.

Louise is a force of nature. She has dedicated her life to fighting for people who are too often overlooked, forgotten, or counted out. From advocating for the unhoused, to supporting returning citizens trying to rebuild their lives, she has consistently shown up with compassion, action, and purpose.

I can personally speak to the kind of woman she is. When I returned home and began the difficult process of reintegrating into society, Louise was there. Not just with words, but with genuine support and belief in redemption and second chances. She has done the same for countless other formerly incarcerated individuals searching for opportunity, dignity, and direction.

She understands that real public service means being present in every part of Newark, not just during campaign season. The city has changed in many ways for the better, and I know firsthand that Louise Scott-Rountree has been part of that progress. She has worked to help create opportunities for people returning home to find employment, stability, and hope.

Louise talks to the people, listens to the people, and fights for the people. Newark deserves leadership rooted in service, authenticity, and love for community.

It is my honor to support this incredible woman today for Councilwoman At-Large. Vote B-17

05/12/2026

Tomorrow, I’m proud to support my brother, Dupre Kelly aka DoItAll for Newark’s West Ward Council.

Some people know how to give speeches. Some people know how to give back. Councilman Kelly does both. He talks it like he walks it. The West Ward is better because of his presence, his leadership, and his accessibility to the people who call that community home.

What I respect most about Dupre is that he understands the residents because he comes from the same realities many of them face. He’s responsive, visible, and engaged. Not just during election season, but consistently. That matters.

When I was released and looking to dedicate myself toward improving the community and helping guide others away from the pitfalls that destroy lives, Dupre Kelly was one of the first brothers to reach out to me with encouragement and support. That spoke volumes to me. He recognized the value in redemption, service, and using lived experience to help heal communities.

Newark needs leaders who are connected to the people, not separated from them. Leaders who understand struggle but also believe in progress. Dupre Kelly has shown that time and time again.

It is my pleasure to support this good brother tomorrow. The West Ward deserves leadership that is present, passionate, and proven. Do it all does it all!

03/12/2026

Peace to my brothers, sisters, friends, and associates.

Since returning home, I’ve had the chance to observe the changes taking place in the City of Newark. My support for Mayor Ras Baraka is not automatic. It is based on what I’ve seen with my own eyes.

Before I went away, violence in Newark was nearly four times what it is today. While any amount of violence is too much, the reality is that under Mayor Baraka’s stewardship, the city has seen real progress. Newark was once considered one of the most violent cities in the country. Today, the numbers tell a different story.

Much of that progress comes from the approach his administration has taken toward violence prevention and community investment, including the work of the Newark Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery. The model being used in Newark has begun to influence cities across the country. That is something worth recognizing.

Leadership is not a zero-sum game where someone must lose for someone else to win. Progress belongs to the whole community. And over time I’ve learned an important lesson: do not make perfect the enemy of good.

Mayor Baraka may not be perfect, but he has proven himself to be the right leader for Newark in this moment. For that reason, I am proud to offer my full support for his continued stewardship of the city.

Join me in supporting Mayor Ras Baraka.

I’m Akbar Pray and I’m out.

02/28/2026

Over the last several months, APFFC conducted financial literacy courses in the City of Newark for a population too often written off and left behind.

These are our future. Young people who aren’t lacking ability, but access. They don’t need pity, they need opportunity.

We taught the fundamentals because fundamentals build freedom. How to open a bank account. Why credit matters. How to prepare for an interview. How to construct a resume that reflects worth, not just work history. These are the tools that help turn potential into direction.

This work matters to me because it meets people where they are and equips them for where they’re going. I’m proud that APFFC brings real knowledge into real spaces, and gives people what they actually need to have a chance.

I look forward to continuing to collaborate with those who believe in reaching back and lifting forward. Each one, teach one.

I’m Akbar Pray… and I’m out.

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Newark, NJ
07101-07108, 07112, 07114

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