Long-time non-profit leader succeeds Shannon Mason as Mercer Street Friends next executive director.
TRENTON -- Mercer Street Friends has chosen an executive director of a Newark nonprofit to serve the same role with the organization.
Armstead G. Johnson will succeed Shannon Mason, who resigned from Mercer Street Friends in March.
Johnson comes to Mercer Street from the United Community Corporation, which fights poverty in Newark.
Prior to that, he served as the executive director of All Saints Community Service and Development Corporation, which strives to help at-risk youth in Hoboken and Union City.
Johnson will take over for a predecessor who pioneered the creation of Trenton's first community school, at Rivera Middle School in Trenton, a program that received a $2.3 million federal grant last year.
Delia Pitts, chair of the search committee, expressed the team's eagerness to add Johnson's experience to Mercer Street.
"[We were] impressed with Mr. Johnson's fundraising, his engaging personality, his extensive supervisory experience in a variety of leadership roles, and his optimism about the future of Mercer Street Friends," Pitts said. "Armstead will be moving to the Trenton area and investing his enthusiasm, energy, and expertise in our community."
He starts the new position June 6.
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