The Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration Alumni Network hosted its inaugural event on February 16, 2011. Alumni, faculty, current students and local community members convened at the Paul C. Robeson Center to celebrate SPAA's legacy of public service and promote a new era of SPAA alumni involvement.

The evening's keynote speaker was the Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor of the City of Newark and a longtime supporter of SPAA. He captivated the audience with his empowering message of hope amidst adversity. The topic of the Mayor's talk was "Managing in Difficult Times," and he stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and approaching administrative challenges with creativity and fairness rather than only focusing on the obstacles impeding progress. Booker challenged all those present, both Rutgers alumni and future public servants, to embrace the idea of being "prisoners of hope."