Dana Rone

She is a well-known advocate for both low-income housing residents and the public school children. In May of 2006, Dana became the first African American woman ever elected to the Newark Municipal Council in the Central Ward. As a product of both Newark's public housing and public school systems, Dana has successfully drawn on her passion for housing and educational reform throughout her career. Dana is a consultant for Excellent Education for Everyone, where she advocates for the rights of urban children. She attended St. John's University (Staten Island Campus) where she majored in computer science and mathematics. In 2006, Dana was appointed to serve as a commissioner for the Newark Housing Authority.

Gloria Cartwright

Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners, has dedicated her life to fighting injustice. Her personal mission is to serve, help, and free others as she actively participates in the Newark community, where she lives. As a graduate of LaSalle University, Institute of Government with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Gloria began a 25 year career in the telecommunications industry. She hid fugitives from the south during the civil rights era, participated in the March on Washington, raised funds toward the establishment of the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change, and advocated to seat Fannie Lou Hamer and the Democratic Freedom Party. She joined the Board in 1990.

Nancy Perez

She is the Resident Commissioner of the Board. She has resided in affordable housing for more than 25 years, raising her children in the city’s North Ward. Nancy is active in civic and religious activities. She joined the Board in 2006.

Angella Palmer

She is a dedicated employee of Verizon and a resident of Newark. Her hard work and desire to excel has elevated her to the position of Assistant Engineer in the Network Engineering/Capacity Management Operations. She is extensively exposed to the Switching and Digital network engineering; FIOS and FTTP deployment. Angella is also an American Bar Association Board Certified paralegal. Her continuous thirst for knowledge both professionally and personally, has resulted in a Bachelors of Arts in Justice Studies with a minor in pre-law studies from Montclair State University. Angella will continue her pursuit of higher learning when she enters Rutgers Law School next year. She was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in August 2007.

Ana P. Esteves

She was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in August 2007, is passionate about using the law as a tool to help the less fortunate. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and English from Rutgers University, Ana promoted awareness, outreach, and education about environmental justice and immigration issues in the Ironbound community. While pursuing her undergraduate and graduate studies, Ana worked as an emergency medical technician in Newark and had the opportunity to go to every public housing facility in the city. She understands the conditions and the needs of Newark’s public housing residents. Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Ana has provided translation skills and handled all types of legal matters for Newark’s residents – in both the public and private sectors. Now in private practice, Ana and her family reside in Newark.

Lenin Cruz

He was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by Commissioner Doria of the Department of CommunityAffairs in June 2008. Lenny Cruz grew up in Newark, attended Newark Public Schools, graduating from Barringer High School.  He is a graduate of NJIT, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.  He is a senior designer with the firm Keller & Kirkpatrick where he has helped with the site design of St. Phillips Academy among many other projects in the area.  Lenny is a passionate soccer coach in the Newark, Just One Soccer League and the Belleville Soccer Association.  Lenny is happily married with two children.  He is “looking forward to the challenge of making NHA the very best it can be.”