​Dimitri Charles' family immigrated from Haiti in the 1960s. His maternal grandfather, Emmanuel, gradually brought his children to the United States. They began their journey in Brooklyn, New York, after leaving Au Tord du Nord (Au Cap), Haiti. Emmanuel’s eldest daughter, Edeline, met and married Mario Charles, whose family had also immigrated from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Eventually, the families settled across the bridge in East Orange, New Jersey, when Dimitri's grandfather was the first in the family to become a homeowner on N. Arlington Ave. 

Edeline, a homemaker and caregiver for the elderly, and Mario, a hardworking provider, and scholar raised three children: Dimitri, Daphney, and Darmil. Edleline and Mario's strong sense of faith and community led them to become founding members of Mt. Olive Church of God in Orange, New Jersey—now one of the largest Haitian churches in the state and around the world. Their children were raised within the embrace of family, community, and the church. 

All three children attended Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, where Dimitri stood out as a talented basketball player, earning a full scholarship to Rider University. At Rider, he earned a degree in teaching, media and communications. His career path led him to become a Newark Public School teacher, the head of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentorship program, a Central Ward Liaison in Mayor Cory Booker’s administration, and currently an entrepreneur focused on revitalizing abandoned properties in addition to being a respected Newark firefighter.

Britnee Timberlake's paternal family traces its lineage to Durham, North Carolina, and Mobile, Alabama, with ancestral roots dating back to the transatlantic slave trade. Britnee N. Timberlake’s paternal grandparents, Mary Whitley (Timberlake) and John Harvey Jones, carried this legacy. John, of Native American and African American heritage, hailed from Mobile, while Mary’s family in Durham experienced firsthand the aftermath of Emancipation. Both migrated separately to Manhattan, New York, during the Great Migration, settling in Harlem—known as the "Black Mecca." As the eldest of six siblings, Mary worked tirelessly to support her family, finding jobs for them upon their arrival. She built a career as a domestic worker and entrepreneur, earning extra income through sewing and cooking for clients, including church leaders, the Masons, and Eastern Stars. John, a merchant marine and luxury service driver, was deeply committed to his work, family, and neighborhood. He was very well known and respected and was able to speak of friendships with legendary figures in history ranging from Billie Holiday to the founder of the now famous Silvia's restaurant. 

John and Mary’s union led to the birth of Britnee’s father, Philip Timberlake, in Harlem. Mary later moved to Jersey City in the late 1960s, where Philip played basketball under legendary coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s High School. He then attended Upsala University, where he became a basketball standout. At Upsala, Philip met Cathy Walsh, a student from Levittown, Pennsylvania, whose family had Irish and French-Canadian heritage. Her ancestors immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century, with her maternal side first settling in New Hampshire before relocating to Levittown, and her paternal side establishing roots in Trenton, New Jersey, before making their way to Levittown as well.

Philip and Cathy married, and Philip later joined the elite 82nd Airborne as an Army 1st Sergeant. Cathy pursued work at various duty stations, primarily educating adolescents with mental and physical challenges. Together, they raised three children—in a blended family: Kisha, Chad, and Britnee. The Timberlake children grew up in military communities all over the globe, gaining a broad perspective on the world. Britnee later returned to East Orange to care for her grandmother and attended Seton Hall University, where she earned degrees in political science, religious studies, and nonprofit management.

In 2011, Britnee attended a birthday party. There, she met Dimitri, who was there attending the East Orange Clifford J. Scott Thanksgiving weekend reunion. They instantly connected over much conversation, but mainly over discussion about housing and community development. Britnee had recently co-founded the Essex Community Land Trust, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing, while, Dimitri was already an established developer of vacant and abandoned properties, in the process of forming his own nonprofit called Partnerships Community Development Corporation, which focused on mentoring youth and revitalizing the community.

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Through their shared passion for community development, they teamed up to restore an affordable house. As a result, Dimitri and Britnee fell in love and became inseparable. Dimitri later joined the Newark Fire Department in 2014 while continuing community development. Simultaneously, Britnee pursued a career in public office eventually serving as a County Commissioner, State Assemblywoman, and a current State Senator.

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As a testament to their dedication to renewal and stability, Dimitri and Britnee revitalized a once vacant and abandoned house in East Orange, NJ, transforming it into their cherished family home right down the street from where Dimitri’s grandfather purchased their first family home in the 1970s. There the Timberlake Charles reside with four out of five sons—Daniel, Dimitri Jr., Damascus, and Davian. 

Their unwavering commitment to service and community empowerment lives on through the Timberlake Charles Community Empowerment Foundation and Center, where they continue to uplift and inspire those around them.

Family Scripture: Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

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