By Newarker Team

Every quarter, we get a ton of updates from our friends at organizations, non-profits, and other entities around Newark and greater New Jersey. We’ve decided to select some to share with our readers every issue! Welcome to our new Community Press section. Add us to your listserv: Newarkermag@gmail.com

South Ward Residents Celebrate Harvest Fest with Food, Fun, and Fall Festivities Across Clinton Hill

NEWARK, NJ – October 22, 2024 – Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) and partners celebrated its biggest Harvest Fest yet on October 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with activities spread across three beautiful locations in the South Ward. From live performances and carnival games to a bustling farmers market and a special pumpkin patch, the festival brought together families and residents from across Clinton Hill for an unforgettable day of fall fun. Starting at Hawthorne Farm, located at 30 Demarest Street, the festival expanded to two additional locations: the Clinton Hill Sound Stage and the popular Bergen Street Pumpkin Patch. Residents were given a $10 Farmers Market voucher to shop local produce, enjoyed hayrides between locations, and took part in activities ranging from petting zoos to Zumba, all while
bringing people from all over the community together. This year’s Harvest Fest continued a tradition that began in 2021 in partnership with the Greater Newark Conservancy and South Ward Special Improvement District (SID) and has only grown in scope since. The addition of the Clinton Avenue Sound Stage this year allowed for live performances and more entertainment options, making the event even more engaging for South Ward residents.

“We’ve always believed in the power of bringing the community together, and this year, with the festival spread across three locations, we were able to include residents from all parts of Clinton Hill. No one was left out,” said Ronice Bruce, Executive Director of South Ward SID. “It’s about celebrating the fall season and making sure everyone, no matter where they live, can join in the fun.”

West Ward resident Pamela Daniels commented, “I’ve never seen a hayride in Newark! This is truly amazing. We are grateful for what CHCA and their partners are doing to uplift the community. It gives residents a different view of their community.”

About Clinton Hill Community Action
Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) is a nonprofit, community development organization that engages residents and partners to revitalize the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Newark’s South Ward. We believe this work must be led by residents, alongside partners who understand the centrality of the role of residents in naming challenges, identifying solutions that are most responsive to their hopes and aspirations, and collaboratively acting for sustained progress. CHCA facilitates this collaborative action and advocacy with a focus on quality, affordable housing, food security, economic empowerment, and environmental justice. Since our founding in 2019, we have worked to build trust in the community and engage residents to address long standing issues.

Contact:Rhenotha Whitaker
Deputy Director of Programming
Clinton Hill Community Action
201-228-0757
deputy@clintonhillaction.org

Over 400 Residents Gather for Clinton Hill Community Action’s Second Annual Jazz in the Streets

September 27, 2024, Newark, NJ — On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA), in partnership with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), hosted a spectacular evening of live jazz, culture, and community spirit at the Clinton Avenue Sound Stage. The second annual Jazz in the Streets event, continuing CHCA’s 5th anniversary celebrations, drew over 400 attendees, making it CHCA’s largest event to date. Taking place on the same day as Halsey Fest, Jazz in the Streets underscored the message that there is room in Newark’s outer wards for vibrant arts programming that residents can enjoy right at their doorsteps. The night was a vibrant celebration of the power of arts and culture to unite and uplift the South Ward. Attendees, dresses in their best Roaring 20’s attire enjoyed live performances from renowned jazz musicians Gail Campbell as an opening act and headliner, Carrie Jackson, both proud South Ward residents and lifelong Newarkers, adding a special local flair to the evening. The event also featured delicious food and an inspiring atmosphere of community togetherness.

Councilman Patrick O. Council, who sponsored the stage and venue for the event, was in attendance and praised CHCA’s work, stating, “Wherever the city of Newark is going, the South Ward is going to get it there first.” His words highlighted the crucial role CHCA plays in driving positive change within the community. The significance of hosting the event on Clinton Avenue, a historic corridor of the South Ward, underscored the commitment to reclaiming public spaces for community joy and connection.

Local support came from various organizations, including the Newark Police Department’s 5thPrecinct, CHCA Seniors in Action, Newark Beth Israel Hospital, South Ward Environmental Alliance, South Ward SID, and several neighborhood block associations such as Osborne Terrace, Bridging The Blocks, 10th Street Block Association, The Number Block Collective, Clinton Place, 16th Street Block Association, 17th & 18th Street Neighborhood Association, Girard and Randolph Place Block Association, and the C. Cherry Foundation. These partnerships, along with the 5th Precinct’s captain’s wife providing her homemade empanadas, highlighted the collective effort to create an inclusive and welcoming event.

Contact:Rhenotha Whitaker
Deputy Director of Programming
Clinton Hill Community Action
201-228-0757
deputy@clintonhillaction.org

Great Oaks Legacy students team up with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District foor Newark’s “Slam Dunk the Junk” Community Cleanup

NEWARK, N.J. – Oct. 10, 2024: On October 10, twelve female students from Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) teamed up with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) to clean up Newark’s South Ward as part of the city’s ‘Slam Dunk the Junk’ initiative. The students helped clean up a vacant lot on Astor Street and the surrounding area by picking up trash, raking leaves, and revitalizing the space to enhance their neighborhood.

“It feels good to be outside doing something productive for the community,” said GOLCS 10th grader Savani Robinson. “Not a lot of people take the time to clean up trash, so this really makes a difference. Plus, we’re having fun while doing it.” Robinson and her classmates are part of a young women’s leadership group led by Ms. Kaylarose Scott, a first-year educator at GOLCS. In just two months, Ms. Scott has built a group of 12 young women who meet three times a week to develop leadership skills and positively impact their community. The group incorporates Social Emotional Learning (SEL), focusing on self-awareness, accountability, building community, and academic success.

“We pair social impact with academics to make a difference,” Ms. Scott said. “I’ve seen tremendous progress in two of my students—one is now on the honor roll, and another is close to reaching that goal. The group has been truly transformative.” GOLCS 10th grader Omaiah Barrett has experienced the group’s impact firsthand. “Being in Ms. Scott’s group has taught me how to connect with my classmates,” Barrett shared. “I’ve learned about the different personalities and challenges people face. This group has helped me open up and not be so closed off.” The cleanup was organized by LPCCD Community Organizer Warren R. Thompson Jr., in collaboration with the Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC). “It is a source of pride to witness young people engaging hands-on in community involvement and developing civic pride in our Lincoln Park neighborhood.” states Thompson. Through the NPSC’s Data-Informed Community Engagement strategy, LPCCD works with Rutgers University – Newark to address high-need areas like Astor Street, where the cleanup took place.

“This event teaches these young women about the importance of being part of a community,” Thompson said. “Learning this responsibility at a young age is crucial. As they grow older, they’ll understand the value of community involvement and the role they play in its well-being. This cleanup helps them understand the vision and mission behind our work.” Looking ahead, Ms. Scott hopes to continue making a positive impact through community service projects. “Getting the girls out in the community is extremely important,” she said. “I’d like to do some sort of community service project with my scholars every month. They’ve never done something like this before and they’re really enjoying it. It is fostering their ability to come together as girls.”

About Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is an open-enrollment, tuition-free, PK4 through grade
12, public charter school system with campuses across Newark, New Jersey, where college matriculation rates historically have been low. We give our students the academic skills and socio-emotional support they need to build upon their own strengths and abilities sothat they are ready and able to achieve their dreams. We bridge the educational
opportunity gap by setting rigorous expectations within a framework of individualized
support and a community committed to supporting equity and celebrating diversity. We
are dedicated to preparing all of our students for success in college, careers, and life. Our
track record of student achievement proves our belief that life-changing transformation
happens when preparedness and readiness meet opportunity. For more information, visit
greatoakslegacy.org or follow us on Facebook.

*Please note that the community press section is derived directly from organizational press releases. The Newarker does not endorse, offer opinion on, or advocate for any position, organization, political organization, governmental official, or any of the content contained in the community press section unless explicitly stated otherwise.