NJ.com: Sheila Oliver plaza continues legacy of civic engagement in Atlantic City

One year after Atlantic City dedicated its newly rebuilt City Hall courtyard as Sheila Oliver Plaza, the space continues to stand as a living tribute to the late lieutenant governor’s decades-long commitment to the city she loved.

For her niece, Renee Oliver, president of the Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation, the anniversary is both emotional and affirming.

“It was beautiful to see,” Oliver told Front Runner New Jersey in June, recalling the moment her family first learned the plaza would bear her aunt’s name. “She really loved Atlantic City. The first time I ever went to the beach, I was 8 or 9, and it was with my aunt — right here. She would take me throughout the summer. It was one of our favorite places.”

Oliver said her aunt often spoke of retiring in Atlantic City, a city she championed long before she held statewide office.

“She saw the promise. She knew all the jewels within Atlantic City,” Oliver said. “She believed it deserved support and resources at the highest level.”

According to the city’s announcement at the time of the dedication, Sheila Oliver Plaza was intentionally designed not just as a memorial but as a functional civic space — an inviting entryway to City Hall meant to encourage community connection, public gatherings and civic engagement.

The courtyard renovation included new seating, landscaping, accessibility improvements and open space for residents and visitors to interact with city services. Oliver said that purpose perfectly mirrors her aunt’s life’s work.

“She was a social worker first. Civic engagement was her foundation,” Oliver said. “The plaza acts as a catalyst for that. It reflects her longstanding commitment to Atlantic City and all the people who call it home.”

A champion for Atlantic City

As lieutenant governor and commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, Oliver played a central role in Atlantic City’s revitalization efforts. She worked closely with Mayor Marty Small Sr., whom she considered both a colleague and a friend.

“She took him under her wing in some ways,” Oliver said. “They shared a real vision for the residents and the city.”

Her initiatives included fair housing, community revitalization, homelessness prevention and the establishment of youth, senior and multicultural services within City Hall — programs that continue to serve Atlantic City residents today.

“She was a voice for the voiceless,” Oliver said. “It was never about her image. It was about the greater good.”

Oliver said her aunt would be deeply touched to be honored in Atlantic City, a diverse, majority-minority community where she invested so much of her time and energy.

“She would be extremely humbled,” Oliver said. “She didn’t set out to get awards or honors. But she would be thankful — truly thankful.”

Foundation continues her work

The Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation, launched by her family, aims to carry forward her legacy of “compassionate action” by empowering underserved communities and developing young women interested in government, public policy and community organizing.

The foundation’s annual Legacy Brunch, held on July 25 in Clifton, intentionally falls between Oliver’s birthday on July 14 and the anniversary of her passing on Aug. 1. This year’s keynote honoree was retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a longtime friend and mentor to Oliver.

The brunch also recognized women across New Jersey in fields ranging from education and health care to entrepreneurship, religion and government — including South Jersey leader Fatima Heywood, a familiar name to Front Runner New Jersey readers.

“They’re doing it. They’re killing it,” Oliver said. “The torch is being passed.”

A legacy rooted in service

As Atlantic City marks one year of Sheila Oliver Plaza, Oliver said her aunt’s spirit remains present in the city she cherished.

“I know her spirit is very much alive in Atlantic City,” Oliver said. “That plaza is a beautiful sight — and a reminder of everything she poured into this state.”