Dana L. Redd is a lifelong resident of Camden City, who has spent the majority of her career working in the public sector since 1990. Born in 1968, Dana suffered the loss of both her parents at the age of eight. Raised by her grandparents in Waterfront South neighborhood, she attended Sacred Heart Grammar School, Center City Catholic Junior High and is a 1986 graduate of Bishop Eustace Preparatory High School in Pennsauken.
After graduating high school, Dana worked during the day to help raise her younger brother, while attending college part-time at night. A graduate of Rutgers University – Camden Campus, Ms. Redd earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies in 1996. She is the former Chief of Staff for Camden County Freeholder, Riletta Cream and former Director of Operations under the Department of Buildings & Operations for Camden County government until resigning from the position in January 2008. Presently, Ms. Redd is a full time legislator, serving in the 213th Session as State Senator representing the 5th Legislative District along with Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Jr. and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz Perez.
Dana’s driving force and personal inspiration has been her father, Ronald, and his expressed belief in Camden’s renewal and renaissance. He urged the family not to leave because the city was slated to experience a “comeback.” She firmly believes in the City Invincible, and it is to this end, that she serves the community.
While the Redd family has always been politically active for a number of years, Dana’s interest peaked in 1990 working as a volunteer for the Camden City Democrat Party. In 1992, she helped to establish the Camden City Young Democrats, working the Clinton-Gore Presidential Campaign as a local GOTV strategist. Ms. Redd continued her volunteerism in the Party and worked her way up throughout the years to become its municipal co-chairman in 1999.
Elected to Camden City Council in 2001 and subsequently re-elected in 2005, she has been a strong advocate for Camden’s diverse neighborhoods and has fought for issues of fairness and parity. During her first term, Ms. Redd became involved with the residents of public housing and the community to construct a competitive application for submission to the US Department of Housing & Urban Development - HOPE VI program. She, along with a hand picked delegation of Camden representatives, successfully lobbied Washington officials to secure a $20 million dollar designation for Camden while leveraging an additional $120 million for its Centerville Neighborhood. The infusion of resources has served as a redevelopment catalyst for the South side.
As Vice Chairman of Camden City Council, Ms. Redd serves as liaison to the Finance Committees and is a member of the Public Works Committee and Administration Committee. In 2004, she was highly recommended by her colleagues to serve as a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of the City of Camden, and ultimately selected as its Chairperson, serving in the capacity until March 2006. While a Commissioner of the Housing Authority, Dana worked to transition the agency back to local control, charted the course for professional development and stability of the Board, called for and instituted measures for fiscal accountability and service delivery to the residents of public housing, while maintaining a PHAS score as a Standard Performer.
In addition to her duties and responsibilities as a Council Member, Ms. Redd is a member of the New Jersey Redistricting Commission and has volunteered her time and talents to a number of organizations throughout the region including the American Red Cross Camden County Chapter Good Neighbor Awards Dinner Committee, the Camden County Board of Social Services, the Camden Eye Center, Virtua Health Foundation Board of Trustees, and Fairview Main Street Board of Directors. In February 2008, Dana was re-elected to a second term as Vice Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, and was a Super delegate for Senator Barack Obama attending the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
She is the recipient of numerous awards such as the African-American Women’s Network 1998 Bronze Star Award, 2001 Respond Inc. Award for Outstanding Leadership in Government, the Camden County East Branch NAACP 2002 Visionary Leader Award, and the 2005 Tabernacle of Faith Church, Inc. Church of God in Christ African American History Award as a Leader and Role Model.
Through her work as a public servant, Ms. Redd remains very passionate about empowering the lives of others, strengthening families and communities through partnerships and programs that offer an improved quality of life. Her favorite quote is taken from Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the US Congress, who said it best: “Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth,” and Luke 12:48 “To who much is given, much is required.”