Newark, New Jersey has officially made Faith Evans’ legacy part of the city’s map. The Newark Municipal Council adopted Resolution 26-0436 on April 15, 2026, authorizing the honorary and ceremonial naming of the intersection of Grumman Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue as “Faith Evans Way,” with the ceremony taking place on June 13. The resolution also makes clear that the official street names remain Grumman Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue, meaning “Faith Evans Way” stands as a ceremonial tribute rather than a legal street-name replacement.
That detail matters because this is not just a celebrity photo-op. Newark’s own resolution lays out why Evans received the honor: she was born in Florida but raised in Newark, graduated from Newark’s University High School in 1991, built a multi-decade career as a Grammy-winning recording artist, songwriter, arranger, record producer, author, and television executive producer, and became the first female artist signed to Bad Boy Records.
Before the plaques, Grammys, platinum albums, and national stages, Evans’ voice was being shaped in Newark. BMI’s MusicWorldnoted that Evans developed her vocal style in Newark churches and that she later performed background vocals for artists including Mary J. Blige, Pebbles, Tevin Campbell, and Christopher Williams. Her early songwriting experience is notable on records for Hi-Five, Mary J. Blige, Pebbles, Al B. Sure!, Usher, Tony Thompson, and Christopher Williams. …