Balozi Harvey

Robert Alexander Harvey was born in East Orange, New Jersey on January 26, 1940 to Clifton Harvey and Willie Bell Harvey. Balozi’s early years of education were spent within the City of East Orange Public Schools system. Early in his childhood, he was mentored about his Black race, African values, and African-American legacy by his father, a cook for Marcus Garvey and an activist in the Pan-African Movement. He made a pledge to his father that when he grew up he would help his African-American brothers and sisters discover and live their true African heritage. He later graduated from East Orange High School in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served with the Strategic Air Command for four years before being honorably discharged in 1961. He went on to study at Seton Hall University, where his major was political science. After graduating college, Harvey attended The United Nations language school in New York where he learned Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, and Zulu. [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. 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.

In 1964, Balozi became a personal guest of President Julius K. “Mwalimu” Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania, a proponent of North-South Dialogue who named him “Balozi” (Swahili word for ambassador and/ or statesman).

In 1965, Harvey converted from Christianity to Islam by joining The Nation of Islam, where he became a strong advocate for the holiday Kwanzaa.

In 1966, 18 months after his return to the United States, he served as the Job Recruiter for Tanzania, in which capacity he placed many African-Americans in professional and technical positions in Tanzania.

In 1967, Balozi founded and became Chairman of the Black Community Development Organization, a grass-roots community organization helping to instill Afrocentric values in African -American youth in various communities within Essex County, New Jersey. Balozi attended the inaugural Kwanzaa celebration launched by Dr. Malanga Karenga in Los Angeles, California in 1967.

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 Newark mayor's office as a Special Aide in the Office of Hon. Kenneth A. Gibson, the first black Mayor of Newark, for whom he handled international relations and protocol. From 1973 -1977, Harvey headed the Drug & Alcohol Control for the City of East Orange, New Jersey under the leadership of Mayor William S. Hart. 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 1983, the United Nations African and Caribbean Diplomatic Corps honored Harvey at a Testimonial Dinner for his twenty years of distinguished service and commitment to African and African-American causes. 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] In addition, he served as a consultant to the Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials in 1982. During his 13-year directorship (1982-1995), the Institute facilitated international transactions in excess of $50 million. In addition, 47 Heads of State and Government from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and South Pacific Islands, as well as over 400 high-level government and business leaders visited Harlem, USA as guests of the Institute, HUDC and Congressman Rangel. HTWTI  facilitated trade and investment relations between American small, minority and women-owned firms and developing countries; and promoted the development of the proposed $150m Harlem international Trade Center.

Harvey 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 1983, the United Nations African and Caribbean Diplomatic Corps, under the joint chairmanship of Ambassador Oumarou G. Youssoufou, Executive Secretary of the Organization of African Unity to the United Nations and Ambassador Serge Charles of Haiti, honored Balozi at a Testimonial Dinner for his twenty years of distinguished service and commitment to Pan-African solidarity and cooperation. A year later, he spearheaded the formation of the Essex County Pan-African Cultural Society, and became its Chairman.

In 1984, Balozi was elected as a member of 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.” The Partnership was headed by David Rockefeller, Chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank.

In 1988, Balozi was “enstolled” as King Nana Kablam I of the Village of Azzuretti in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. Later that year, Cheikh Moutada M’Backe, spiritual leader of the 7-million worldwide Mourid Islamic Community headquartered in Touba, Senegal appointed Balozi as His North American Representative and Spokesman.

In 1995, Balozi formed and became Chairman of Balozi & Associates (B & A), an international trade and investment consulting firm focused on exploring business opportunities in emerging African and Caribbean market economies. The firm opened offices in New York City, East Orange (New Jersey), London, Paris and Monrovia (Liberia). One client, ACTEL, is developing an $800 million satellite project in Africa in conjunction with Lockheed Martin. Balozi also served as Director of Global Mining Consultants (England) and Director of Guardian Scientific Africa (USA).

In 1995, Balozi established and became Chairman/CEO of His Majesty Traders, a business entity, and later that year founded and became Chairman of Human Bridges, Inc., a nonprofit charity. Two years later, in 1997, Balozi was appointed as Special Presidential Envoy of the Government of Liberia by H.E. Charles G. Taylor, President of the Republic of Liberia.

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. Harvey served as the President of MICA, the Mourid Islamic Community in America.[9]

During 2001 to 2002, Balozi served as Executive Vice President of Egg Solution, Inc., a European optical technology manufacturer with offices in Paris, New York and Los Angeles.

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] A year later, in January 2004, Balozi was appointed as Executive Director of the Essex County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) by County Executive DiVincenzo. He was a member of the Essex County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and served as the County Executive’s Municipal Liaison to the Township of Irvington, New Jersey. On April 26, 2016, the NAACP Chapter of the Oranges and Maplewood awarded Harvey its Presidential Award.

In his last few years, Balozi dedicated his life towards building cultural bridges between and among Africans (in the Motherland) and peoples of African descent (in the Diaspora); promoting the economic and political development of African-American communities, and African and Caribbean nations; and  forging relationships between and among peoples of all races and nationalities.

Balozi died on December 28, 2016 at the age of 76. He was survived by wife Judge Karimu F. Hill-Harvey of the Municipal Court of East Orange, and six childre. Since 1982, he had resided in South Orange, New Jersey, USA.