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.

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.

Our community needs to come together right now.19-year-old Conner Oldfield, who has autism, has been missing for a week....
02/02/2026

Our community needs to come together right now.

19-year-old Conner Oldfield, who has autism, has been missing for a week. He was last seen on January 24, 2026 in Plainfield, NJ.

Imagine for a moment this was your child. Not knowing if he’s safe. Not knowing if he’s warm. Not knowing if he’s okay. That kind of silence is a parent’s worst nightmare.

Conner is 5’8”, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing yellow, black and gray camouflage pajamas and a gray zip-up jacket.

If you live in or around Plainfield, please check your Ring cameras. Check garages, sheds, porches, and any areas where someone might seek shelter from the cold.

If you have any information, contact Plainfield Police at 908-753-3360 or email [email protected].

Let’s not scroll past this. Share it. Talk about it. Pray for him. And let’s help bring Conner home.

I’m Akbar Pray. Peace.

02/01/2026

Watch for a good laugh! said it not me. Congratulations to Brick City’s Own . Masterclass performance.

Out of the night that covers me,Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul...
01/28/2026

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley

Camera 📸 Chimaobi Odumuko • January 10, 2026 • Jeff Brooks 40th

Making the community aware of a powerful opportunity.On Wednesday, January 28, a FREE Expungement Clinic will be held at...
01/08/2026

Making the community aware of a powerful opportunity.

On Wednesday, January 28, a FREE Expungement Clinic will be held at the Temple of Hip Hop in Newark. This is about second chances, removing barriers, and helping people move forward without their past holding them hostage.

Free legal consultations, expungement filing assistance, and resource information will be available. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

If you or someone you love could benefit from clearing their record, please share this. Access changes lives.

12/03/2025

The episode is out right now. My conversation with my nephew, the Grammy award winning Killer Mike, just dropped today on his podcast Conversate. Mike and his whole team are a group of exceptional, genuine brothers. Their hospitality was first class and I’m blessed for the relationship we’ve built.

We covered a lot, laughed a lot, and spoke about real life. I’m excited for what we’re working on next.

Watch the full episode on Killer Mike’s YouTube channel. Check it out and circle back. Let us know what you think. Drop a comment and hit subscribe.

I’m Akbar Pray, and I’m out.

We’re doing powerful work in this community, but you know what they say, more hands make the load lighter. If your heart...
11/15/2025

We’re doing powerful work in this community, but you know what they say, more hands make the load lighter. If your heart is in the right place and you’re ready to step up, DM us. We’d love to have you join the movement.

10/30/2025

Peace Brick City. I’ve known about Amina Bey long before I was released, and I’ve watched her work and witnessed her consistent commitment to our community. Born and raised in Newark, she is a bridge builder, a local expert in workforce development, social services, and community engagement. She is someone I know who sees the dignity in all Newarkers.

Amina is someone we can reach, someone we can hold accountable, someone who understands the hard work, the lived experience, and the hope for equitable development and social justice that I’m dedicating my life to.

These are important times. If you care about a Newark where development doesn’t leave people behind, where our voices matter, and where justice informs policy, then I highly recommend you support Amina Bey. This is why I am endorsing her for Central Ward Council Member. She has my full support.

Vote on Tuesday, November 4 for Amina Bey for Central Ward Council. Early voting is open now and continues Friday and Saturday until 8 PM, and Sunday until 6 PM, or you can vote on Election Day itself.

Let’s move the city we love forward.

I’m Akbar Pray, and I’m out.

10/28/2025

This message is for everyone but especially for my returning citizens who know the power of their voice and their vote.

🗳 Early voting is now open in Newark and throughout the State! In Newark you can cast your ballot early at any of these locations:
• Weequahic Park
• Essex County Complex Parking Garage
• Cherry Blossom Center
• West Side Park Community Center

From today through November 2:
🕙 10 AM – 8 PM (Mon–Sat)
🕕 10 AM – 6 PM (Sunday)

There’s too much on the line from affordable housing to whether our children will still have their history taught in schools. We can’t afford to sit this one out.

We are in a moment where our communities are being targeted even more. The White House administration has its preferred candidate, and I have mine — Mikie Sherrill.

I’m proud to cast my vote for a leader who not only understands the values we hold close, but surrounds herself with people who will hold her accountable — even when she becomes governor.

Show up for yourself.
Show up for your children.
Show up for your community.
And vote.

I’m Akbar Pray and I’m out.

10/26/2025

I appreciate the acknowledgment and support from and !!! Let’s continue the conversation brothers!

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Newark, NJ
07101-07108, 07112, 07114

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