Balozi Harvey

Harvey was raised in East Orange, New Jersey, where he graduated from East Orange High School in 1957, before moving on to Seton Hall University, where his major was political science.[3]

Harvey was responsible for the founding and functioning of several organizations including the Black Community Development Organization, a grassroots community organization helping to instill Afrocentric values in African-American youth in various communities within Essex County, and Harvey & Associates (B & A), an international trade and investment consulting firm focused on exploring business opportunities in emerging African and Caribbean market economies. Balozi Harvey was also the king of Ghana and Cote'Ivoire. He also established and served as CEO of "His Majesty Traders", a business entity, as well as started and became Chairman of Human Bridges, Inc., a nonprofit charity.

Between 1970-1973, Harvey operated as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Representative to the United Nations for the Congress of African People. Harvey continued his international work through the mayor's office as a Special Aide in the Office of Hon. Kenneth A. Gibson, Mayor of Newark, for whom he handed international relations and protocol. He was then assigned as Mayoral Liaison to the UN where he worked to expand and strengthen trade between developing nations and Newark, New Jersey. Harvey worked as Mayoral Liaison to the Newark-Rutgers University Small Business Development Center in 1978-1979, and, in 1978, Harvey served as the President of the Newark United Nations Association.

Harvey spent many years partnering with Harlem, NY. In 1982, Harvey was appointed Executive Director of the HTWTI, Harlem Third World Trade Institute, as well international trade and investment promotion agency HUDC, The Harlem Urban Development Corporation in New York City.[4] The Institute is responsible for the hosting of, and partnership with, countless distinguished government officials and business leaders.[5][6] In 1984, Harvey was elected to the Board of Directors of the New York City Partnership, Inc., “a coalition of business and civic leaders dedicated to improving the quality of life in New York City.”[7]

Harvey has worked closely with several foreign dignitaries.[8] He was named the North American Representative and Spokesman for Cheikh Moutada M’Backe, spiritual leader of the Mourid Islamic Community headquartered in Touba, Senegal. In 1997, Harvey was appointed as Special Presidential Envoy of the Government of Liberia by President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Charles G. Taylor. Balozi served as the President of MICA, the Mourid Islamic Community in America.[9]

A resident of Essex County, Harvey was appointed Director of OCDAA, the Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action, in 2003. Through his post, he served as a member of the Essex County Disparity Study Commission and the Essex County Juvenile Justice Disparities Working Group. In 2004, Harvey was appointed as Executive Director of the EDC,[10][11] the Essex County Economic Development Corporation and Essex County Office of Affirmative Action.[12] Harvey died on December 28, 2016 at the age of 76.[13][14][15][16][17]