Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Ade’Kamil Kelly is a proud product of the city and a passionate advocate for youth, education, and community. Raised by his grandmother — the matriarch and moral compass of his family — Ade learned early on the power of family, faith, and service. Those values have fueled his lifelong commitment to giving back and building up the people of Newark.

 

As a young person, Ade found mentorship and leadership at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, eventually serving as president of its Keystone Chapter. He graduated from East Orange Campus High School in 2014 and never lost sight of where he came from. Whether mentoring youth, coaching basketball, or organizing communities, Ade has spent his adult life fighting for the next generation.

 

Today, Ade serves as Program Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark — where he returned in 2022 to lead the very programs that helped shape him. Since then, he’s launched new school-based sites, rebuilt programs, and helped lead major improvements in youth outcomes. His work is grounded in firsthand experience, strategic leadership, and a deep belief that Newark’s children deserve the absolute best.

 

Ade’s public service goes beyond the Club. He mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters, leads local basketball programs, and has helped organize citywide civic efforts — including surveying thousands of residents about quality of life issues and participating in a national conversation on gun violence and youth safety.

 

Now, Ade’Kamil Kelly is running for the Newark Board of Education with a bold message:
Let’s Do This — for our kids, our schools, and our future.