Seventeen high school students in Essex County are celebrating a major accomplishment today, June 4th. The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) is graduating its 30th class from its Explorers Program — a college- and career-preparatory program that provides students with education, employment, and mentoring opportunities, among other things. Read on for more about the Newark Museum of Art’s Explorers Program and the 2025 class of graduating students.
Photo Credit: Newark Museum of Art
About the Program + 2025 Graduates
The Newark Museum of Art Explorers Program is a four-year paid internship that is available to high school students who are either from Newark, or attend a Newark school (public, private, or homeschool). The full program is comprised of 50 students. This year’s senior class of graduates includes 17 Newark students from various schools:
- Monica Cruz
- Nmesomachukwu Aghaji
- Ronald Palmer
- Temidayo Ogundare
- Nasir Glover
- Kassy Patino
- Janiya Wimberly
- Zaña Wooten
- Maurice Houston
- Moboluwaduro Fola-Akintola
- Deborah Emile
- Sumayah Orphelia
- Kamill Hicks
- Kayrelin Liranzo
- Aashi Bhandari
- Ayliana Hernandez
- Kamora Young
Photo Credit: Mike Peters
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The college- and career-prep program provides students with education, employment, and mentoring opportunities, as well as access to science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) within the museum setting. Every week after school and during the summer, the Explorers come to NMOA to participate in workshops about various subjects including public speaking, college, science, and the arts. The students also have the opportunity to go on trips to other institutions throughout the duration of the program.
Per a press release, the program has roots in one of the earliest museum-based after school programs in the world. Founded in 1913, The Junior Museum at the Newark Museum exposed local K-12 students to science and museum-provided resources such as fine art, decorative arts and music. The NMOA Explorers Program was formalized in 1995.
Photo Credit: Newark Museum of Art
The Explorers Program is “renowned for its impact and has been recognized with a National Arts and Humanities Award, the highest honor for an out-of-school arts and humanities program.” It has had a 100% acceptance rate to higher and continuing education institutions, including Rutgers, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Harvard, and Carnegie Mellon, among others.
“The Newark Museum of Art Explorers Program uplifts young people as they discover who they are, honor where they come from, and step boldly into who they’re meant to be,” Shirley Thomas Ward, Deputy Director of Learning + Engagement at NMOA said in a press release. “We invite participants to explore hands-on opportunities that encourage creativity, collaboration, and discovery through meaningful interactions with artists, scientists, and a wide range of professionals from our community. This embodies the core of the Museum’s mission: to provide inclusive, thought-provoking experiences that ignite curiosity and foster connections with new ideas and people.”
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7 AAPI Community Leaders Doing Amazing Things in Northern New Jersey
Montclair and the surrounding areas are known to be filled with innovative individuals who uplift the community each day. May is nationally recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and thanks to the help of AAPI New Jersey, The Montclair Girl is highlighting eight people behind beloved AAPI-owned businesses and nonprofits in Montclair who are giving back in meaningful ways. Read on to learn more about the stories behind these AAPI community leaders in Northern New Jersey.
Amber Reed + Roslyne Shiao | Co-Executive Directors of AAPI New Jersey
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Local residents Amber Reed, a Korean American adoptee, writer, and mother of two, and Roslyne Shiao, a second-generation Chinese American, experienced executive + nonprofit leader, and founding Board Member of AAPI Montclair, serve as Co-Executive Directors for AAPI New Jersey.
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With the mission of encouraging and advocating for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders statewide, according to its website, this organization, made up of over 40 community members, was founded in 2021 originally under the name AAPI Montclair. AAPI New Jersey is the same nonprofit behind cherished cultural events like Montclair's annual Color Run, a 5k celebrating Holi and Songkran, and the yearly Lantern Festival, which took place on May 17th for 2025.
Amber, who focuses on advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic growth, also works with the Episcopal Diocese of Newark’s Racial Justice + Healing Commission, as well as serves on the New Jersey AAPI Commission as Vice Chair. Along with her work with AAPI New Jersey, Roslyne leads the Teach Asian American Stories initiative, which helps support New Jersey educators in implementing the historic AAPI Curriculum.
Amol Sinha | Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ)
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Since 2017, Amol Sinha has served as the Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ), a Newark-based nonprofit advocacy organization focusing on issues like democracy + civic engagement, gender, sexuality, and reproductive freedom, and more. A "nationally recognized civil rights leader," according to the organization's website, he has spent his career "advancing racial justice, holding institutions accountable, promoting and defending rights and liberties, and spearheading impactful work to protect our democracy."
In his role, Amol has doubled the ACLU-NJ team, led multiple advocacy campaigns, and appeared in front of the New Jersey Supreme Court "more times than any non-governmental party," the website reads.
Archana Athalye | Director of Kulture Kool South Asian Cultural Center in Rutherford + Board Member of The Diversity Center
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Archana Athalye, who has extensive experience in the music, film, and arts industry, is the director of Kulture Kool South Asian Cultural Center, a nonprofit providing South Asian-based educational classes, workshops, and resources focused on performing arts, languages, and cultural engagement. The organization was first launched in 2009 and has locations in Montclair (127 Valley Road), Hoboken (720 Monroe Street, E-505), Edgewater (250 Old River Road), and Rutherford (225 Highland Cross).
Archana is also on the board of The Diversity Center, a group made up of "veteran cultural educators + enthusiasts," according to its website. The Diversity Center is a proposed space that hopes to "bring together the ethnicities and cultures in our community under one roof," and provide events that celebrate the arts, food, and culture of all backgrounds. The organization has yet to announce a potential location and opening date.
Bridget Placek | Co-President of the Montclair Fund For Educational Excellence
Montclair resident, writer, and mom of three, Bridget Placek, is the Co-President of the Montclair Fund For Educational Excellence (MFEE), an education-focused organization working to support Montclair teachers, advocate for mental wellness, and connect with the community. MFEE also hosts multiple local outreach events throughout the year and leads various initiatives working directly with educators, aspiring educators, and students.
Prior to her role at MFEE, Bridget began her career as a middle school teacher in the Washington Heights neighborhood of NYC. She later became a Literacy Coach, citywide lab site learning leader, and Assistant Principal for grades 5-8 and Special Education. She also served as the elementary school Vice Principal in Leonia and as an adjunct professor at the School of Education at City College of New York.
Kenny Mar | Sushi Chef at De Novo
Photo Credit: @denovomontclair
Kenny Mar, the former sushi chef at the now-closed Dai Kichi in Montclair, has been running the sushi bar at De Novo, located at 275 Bellevue Avenue, since the restaurant's sushi bar launch two years ago. Kenny began working with Dai Kichi in 2003, and in 2023, when Dai Kichi suddenly closed down, the town's top sushi chef was out of a job. That was when Demetri Malki, the owner of De Novo European Pub, approached Kenny about collaborating. "Upon learning about Daikichi’s closure after thriving for over 30 years, our hearts sank in sync with the Montclair community’s collective disappointment," Demetri explained to The Montclair Girl in January 2024. "The void left by its departure was palpable, compelling me to take action."
"[Kenny] was ecstatic that De Novo was willing and able to build a sushi bar that kept him in his local community and fill the void that Daikichi had left behind," Demetri previously shared. "It was a perfect fit for Chef Kenny, the Montclair Community, and De Novo! It truly feels like a win all around." Today, Kenny continues to serve the Montclair area with his sushi creations at De Novo.
Luck Sarabhayavanija | Founder of Montclair Hospitality Group + Restauranteur
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Luck Sarabhayavanija, founder of the chef-driven Montclair Hospitality Group, is the mastermind behind the Montclair eateries Ani Ramen (511 Bloomfield Avenue), pastaRAMEN (6 South Fullerton Avenue), MM by Morimoto (193 Glenridge Avenue), and the former Fatto con Amore.
Luck founded the group back in 2014 with the goal of "curating the world’s leading dining concepts, restaurant brands, and critically acclaimed culinary experiences," as per its website. Over the past 11 years, he has done exactly that--managing beloved restaurants that serve the Montclair community with innovative eats. His latest success was attracting none other than internationally renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto, best known as The Iron Chef, who’s set to open MM by Morimoto this spring. Luck was also an NJBIZ 40 under 40 honoree in 2023, recognized for his "notable successes and demonstrations of strong leadership" in the restaurant industry.
Nicole Xu | Owner of TheCoderSchool Montclair
Photo Credit: TheCoderSchool
Nicole Xu is the owner and general manager of the Montclair location of TheCoderSchool, a nationwide brand teaching over 5,500 students every week how to code in typed languages like Python and JavaScript with HTML and CSS. Located at 51 Upper Montclair Plaza, Nicole and her husband, Jonathan, work to prepare young minds for the future. "Jonathan and I have always been passionate about education and mentoring young kids," Nicole previously told The Montclair Girl. "We’re proud of the impact theCoderSchool has had on communities everywhere since our brand was founded in Silicon Valley back in 2014."
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Along with her work at TheCoderSchool, Nicole has owned a music academy and piano retail distribution company for over 10 years. She and her husband are also involved in many volunteer organizations, working with young children in sectors like special education.
