Our Founder/President & C.E.O

Sharon D. Berry

Sharon D. Berry is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder of Project Re-Direct/Youth & Family Services. A dedicated educator and advocate, she brings more than ten years of experience as an English instructor and fifteen years as a Guidance Counselor. Her lifelong commitment to children and families inspired her to establish Project Re-Direct in 1996 while still serving as an exemplary educator within Newark Public Schools.

Focused on supporting underserved communities in Newark’s West Side Park, Project Re-Direct works proactively to strengthen families, prevent child abuse, and reduce juvenile delinquency. As President and CEO, Ms. Berry oversees event planning, grant writing, staff training, developmental workshops, counseling, marketing, and fundraising. Above all, she considers her most important role to be advocating for children and their families.

Deeply committed to child abuse prevention, Ms. Berry has watched with concern as economic challenges have reduced funding for essential services such as law enforcement support, public awareness programs, and family assistance. In response, she continues to design and champion programs that remain effective even in difficult economic climates. Each April, during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, she leads statewide public awareness initiatives that culminate in the “Gift” Springtime Campaign, extending through June. This campaign raises funds for the establishment of Project Re-Direct’s Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse—an initiative dedicated to prevention, early intervention, and family support.

 “There is no excuse for abuse,” Ms. Berry affirms. Her outreach efforts span New Jersey, from Essex County to Middlesex County, educating the public on preventing child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.

 A former School Counselor at South Seventeenth Street School, Ms. Berry now serves as Program Director for the Education for the 21st Century (EY2K Saturday) Program and the Summer Madness initiative, both held at the West Side Park Community Center. She coordinates recreational activities, field trips, life skills classes, academic instruction, and tutoring—bringing enrichment, structure, and safety into the lives of at-risk youth.

In 2026, Project Re-Direct proudly celebrates 30 years of service, marking three decades of impact since its founding on June 9, 1996. Over that time, the organization has served more than 5,000 children and raised over $300,000 for Newark Public Schools.

Ms. Berry holds a Master of Arts in Counseling and Humanistic Services from Montclair State University and a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from SUNY Cortland. She has also completed coursework in nonprofit management at Rutgers School of Business. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, and Phi Kappa Phi.

Looking ahead, Ms. Berry plans to become a licensed clinician and pursue a Ph.D. in organizational development and nonprofit management. She is the proud mother of two children, China Lai and Kristian, and resides in Middlesex County.

​