A series of portraits celebrating Newark's 350th anniversary produced for radio station WBGO. 

Bina (right) and Margaret, two workers at Shifman Mattress Company in Newark. 

Rayvon Lisbon grew up moving from one foster home to the next. 

As a teenager in the South Ward he doubted his chances of getting out of high school and barely let himself dream of attending college. 

But in 2015 Rayvon graduated from Rutgers-Newark with a degree in Sociology. 

Perched atop a hill in the heart of Newark's Central Ward sits the famed Kruger-Scott Mansion. A soaring a powerful remnant of Newark's rich history as an industrial giant. 

The mansion, now on the national registry of historic places, was last owned by Louis Scott. She is believed to have been the city's first African-American female millionare. 

Scott's only daughter, Reverend Louise Scott-Roundtree, grew up in the house.

Kahli Raymond is 17 years old and had written six books. 

His experience in writing has earned him the recognition of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who hosted his first official book signing at City Hall.

Sam Brummer established Hobby's Delicatessen in 1962 and it has become a Newark institution.

Mark and Michael Brummer watched their dad run the business and today they run it themselves. 

In the mid-1970s Tracey Norman was the first African American transgender model to work in the beauty industry. She did so undetected. 

Tracey graced the pages of fashion magazines worldwideand was best known for appearing on a box of Clairol hair color before her outing nearly ended her career.

After nearly 30 years Tracey is back. Tracey is working again with Clairol as the face of the new, "As Real As Your Are" ad campaign.

In 1990 Pitts was an 8th grader at Chancellor Elementary School.

For most 8th graders graduating elementary school is the beginning of their journey in figuring out what they want to do when they grow up.                                                                                                       This was definately the case for Pitts. Her path paved it's way back to her elementary school as it's principal.

in 1982 the Newark Police Department hired it's first female officers. Mae Smith was one of them.

The women faced skepticism and discrimination but Mae stuck with it for 25 years. 

The Weequahic High School boys basketball team won two back-to-back state championships in 1966 and 1967. 

It was the first time in Newark school history and the memories are still fresh. 

68 year old Charles Tally was on both teams. 

Bill May has been photographing the world's most famous jazz musicians for decades. 

He also taught music to children in Newark for 40 years.