Leonard Jeffries was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, educated in Newark Public Schools, graduated from Sussex Avenue School in 1951, after completing Roseville Avenue School which he attended up to the 6 th grade. He was born on January 19, 1937 at the Women and Children's Hospital on Central Avenue and 10 th Street. They say, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." And Newark provided that experience. Newark was made up of many African villages or sections of our city. His special village was the 14 th Street neighborhood in the Roseville Section. All of the families took care of one another. He lived on 14 th Street across from the Spelmans (the late Rev. Dr. Harry Spelman, his son and Dr. Robert Spelman), The Fosters (the late Dr. Albert Foster), the Olivers, the Chrenshaws, and many others. His mother's family lived on 13 th Street and his father's family lived on 12 th Street. Most of the families and youth went to the church down the block—Mount Sinai Baptist Church. All children developed a sense of self-worth and race pride. As a teenager, Lenny sensed he was on a mission. He was interested in the formation of our young men and women. His formal education came from the Newark Public School system were he became President of his graduation class at Sussex Avenue School, January 1951. His later schooling was at McKinley Jr. High School and Barringer High School where he graduated with honors.