Elizabeth “E” Ruebman has developed and implemented innovative public policy initiatives, built powerful community-based organizations and programs, and designed effective advocacy campaigns. Currently, E was the co-founder and Managing Director of the Community-Based Public Safety Collective and the Deputy Director and Policy Director of the Newark Community Street Team. Collaborating with Aqeela Sherrills, she helped raise money and propel the organization to be survivor-driven, especially supporting Black and Brown men and victims of law enforcement and street violence. She co-led the buildout of South Ward Public Safety Roundtable, where the community has equal footing with law enforcement to determine the approach to community safety.
E served as the Special Advisor for Victim Services to the New Jersey Attorney General, where she introduced 2 new trauma-based programs for victims of violent crime, Hospital Based Violence Intervention (now 9 in NJ) and Trauma Recovery Centers (now 4 in NJ), national models for reducing retaliatory and repeat violence working especially with black and brown men. She ensured more equity in the allocation of $63 million in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds by funding programs for gun violence victims and other victims of community violence and creating capacity building programs. Previously, she facilitated the Mayor’s Safer Newark Council to design and implement a public safety strategy to achieve a 20% reduction in violent crime in Newark by 2020, in part by reducing retaliatory violence and lowering levels of community trauma. E also built a new state-wide chapter of Crime Survivors organized around policy change and advocating for new programs for victims of violent crime.
E is a jazz and live music fanatic who never misses an opportunity to have fun, laugh, dance or be in community. She believes that all living beings are sacred and is a devoted vegetarian. Above all, E is proud to be a single mom who raised three kind, compassionate and hilarious young adults who love to hang out with their mom.
