Positively Welcoming

Positively

Welcoming

Dawniqua Bailey

Quality of Life Ambassador, NDD

Dawn has been a Quality of Life Ambassador for almost six years. She observes and reports on things like homelessness or broken city assets. She checks in with store owners to hear their needs or concerns, and she assists pedestrians with directions and provides other guidance.

Caring about people is foundational to her personality. She loves interacting with all the residents and visitors to Newark Downtown District. Although she doesn’t always know everyone’s name, she feels a definite bond with the people she has been seeing coming and going over the past five years. She acknowledges that Newark has a reputation for being a rough city, but in her experience, there are many friendly, courteous people all over Newark.

She describes her work environment as “fabulous.” Her work is like a family, even when, she laughs, “there is dysfunction. It doesn’t matter, just like a family, we love them all.”

“I am really grateful for the opportunity I have had to grow and advance in this company.”

She has a special place in her heart for our residents without addresses. She refers them to resources and checks on them regularly, but the warmth of her personality means she always wishes she could do more to help people who are in need.

A favorite memory is the first NDD holiday tree lighting that she attended. “It was so special to see the community come out and enjoy something we were putting on.” She looks forward to the Holiday Winter Village every year.

Favorite place:

Newark Library. “I grew up in that library and now I love taking my kids there as well. They have great activities, reading programs, enrichment programs, game rooms, etc. It’s a wonderful place for families.”