Thursday, October 24, 2019 Westmount Country Club  Premier Event Underwriter
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IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN ITS MISSION OF EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE OF PATERSON AND SALUTES THE EFFORTS OF GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY PAST AND PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMON GOAL
WELCOME TO NJCDC’S
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Dinner
CONTENTS 3 DINNER PROGRAM 5 FOUNDER’S LETTER 6 HONOREES: CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY
9 ABOUT NJCDC 36 OUR ADVERTISERS NJCDC’s CEO Bob Guarasci thanks Steven Spielberg for shooting the West Side Story re-make in Paterson
NJCDC BOARD OF TRUSTEES Donald F. Buckley Chair TD Bank Anthony Coscia Vice Chair Windels Marx David Berninger Treasurer Valley Bank Lori Grifa Secretary Archer
Christina Braden-Moore BD
Victor J. Herlinsky, Jr. Sills Cummis
Bob Daleo Thomson Reuters (Retired)
William Pascrell, III Princeton Public Affairs Group
Etta Denk Bank of America
Kenyatta Stewart, Esq. Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley
Robert Garrison Laborers’ International Union
Martin Vergara II Morgan Stanley
Robert Guarasci, Ex-Officio NJCDC Founder & CEO
32 Spruce Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 Tel: 973.413.1600 | E-mail: info@njcdc.org Website: njcdc.org New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) is a non-profit community development and social service agency organized as a public charity under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Ad Journal design by Beth Hyslip. Printed by Ace Reprographics, Paterson, NJ
Theodore Best III “graduates” from our Paterson Family Center Preschool
DINNER PROGRAM
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Dinner
Special thanks
Welcome
to all of tonight’s
Don Buckley, Chairman, Board of Trustees New Jersey Community Development Corporation
sponsors, attendees,
CEO’s Remarks
and advertisers for
Bob Guarasci, Founder and CEO New Jersey Community Development Corporation
helping to make this evening a success!
Video Presentation The Impact of NJCDC NJCDC Program Participants
Presentation to the Honorees Current and Former Members of the Board of Trustees The Honorable Phil Murphy Governor of New Jersey
Musical Performance Tiffani McCutchen & Friends
Dinner Raffle Winners & Closing Remarks Coffee & Dessert
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 3
Robert F. Guarasci, NJCDC Founder and CEO
FOUNDER’S LETTER
I want to welcome and thank you
Twenty-five years ago, I asked my friend Rob Long to join me in creating a new non-profit organization to transform lives and neighborhoods in the City of Paterson. And so began New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), based on the powerful belief that good people could make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. It has been twenty-five years of backbreaking but enormously rewarding work, building an organization that today serves more than 4,000 children and families each day in areas that include education, youth development, affordable housing, and community building. Over these 25 years, we’ve been able to invest more than $75 million rebuilding the area surrounding Paterson’s Great Falls with new housing, schools, a youth center, and other community facilities. We’ve worked with other groups to ensure the creation of a new national park in Paterson. We’ve started a 900-student charter school to provide enhanced educational opportunities to Paterson’s youngest students, and we’ve created four school-based teen centers to promote health, wellness, and student success. And we continue to work closely with a host of community partners on our Great Falls Promise Neighborhood initiative, whose bold objective is to help all 8,000 children living or going to school in this neighborhood to graduate high school ready for college and a career.
As proud as we are about the impact we’ve had over these 25 years, we understand that there remains a lot of work to be done. This summer, we announced a new partnership—with St. Joseph’s Health and New Jersey Community Capital—to build 70 units of “healthy home” housing for local residents. We are hard at work planning the transformation of the historic First Presbyterian Church into a new youth performing arts center, and we’re guiding the development of a new school building for our charter school’s 400 middle school students. These 25 years have been extraordinary. We’ve been privileged to receive significant support from foundations, corporations, government agencies, and caring individuals who share our vision for a revitalized Paterson. We’re extremely fortunate to have a committed Board of Trustees, a dedicated staff, and devoted community collaborators. And our charge is clear— to keep working as hard as we can to make as much change as we can. That was my goal 25 years ago, and it remains my goal today.
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 5
HONOREES
Current and Former Members of the Board of Trustees
“
We salute our current and
former Members of the Board of Trustees for their service and their steadfast support of our work to create opportunities to transform lives.
”
Bob Guarasci NJCDC Founder & CEO
Passion. Dedication. Commitment.
Current Members of the Board of Trustees:
Former Members of the Board of Trustees:
These are some of the words that best describe NJCDC’s board members—both past and present.
Donald F. Buckley, Chair Anthony Coscia, Vice Chair David Berninger, Treasurer Lori Grifa, Secretary Christina Braden-Moore Robert D. Daleo Etta Denk Robert Garrison Robert Guarasci, Ex-Officio Victor J. Herlinsky, Jr. William Pascrell III Kenyatta Stewart Martin Vergara II
Marcel Blythe Karen Brown Joseph A. Cabrera Andrew Colao Tracey Dedrick Jennifer Farrington Caren Franzini Noreen Giblin Sean Jackson Robert Long Amy Mansue Rev. Dr. Douglas Maven Jana McCall Spring Vaughn McKoy Gil Medina Maggie Moran Robert Nixon Maria Rouco Jeff Schechter Edward Truscelli Tom Webb Sarah Wills
Throughout these past 25 years, members of our Board of Trustees have helped guide the organization in the key areas of strategic direction and governance. They’ve promoted our mission to create opportunities to transform lives. And the Board has been our strongest advocates, bringing in new friends and supporters far and wide and doing whatever they can to tell the NJCDC story. Our board members are our greatest ambassadors, and tonight is a night to salute them for their tireless efforts on our behalf. We are grateful for their service to both NJCDC and the Paterson community.
6 NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
HONOREES
The Honorable Phil Murphy
“
We are grateful to Governor
Murphy for his commitment to improving the lives of children and families, and for his commitment to urban centers like Paterson and organizations like NJCDC.
”
Bob Guarasci NJCDC Founder & CEO
Governor of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, as he says, “grew up in a family that was middle class on a good day,” the youngest of four children with only one parent who graduated high school. His upbringing—where religion, a strong work ethic, education, and civic awareness were pillars of family life—shaped his values and priorities.
emphasis on restoring the state’s dominance in the innovation economy and stimulating economic development. This winter at NJCDC’s Rogers Meeting Center, he announced the creation of a new historic preservation tax credit program, designed to preserve historic buildings—like Rogers—all across the state.
Since taking office, Governor Murphy has focused on building a stronger and fairer New Jersey. He has signed legislation putting New Jersey on the path to a $15-anhour minimum wage, enacted the nation’s strongest equal pay law to combat gender wage discrimination, ensured all workers have access to paid sick days, and expanded Paid Family Leave. Under his leadership, New Jersey is also emerging as a leader in combatting climate change.
Governor Murphy has reversed prior years of budget cuts and increased funding for both New Jersey’s top-ranked public schools and NJ TRANSIT. And he restored state funding for Planned Parenthood and women’s health programs. He has also made New Jersey a national leader in tackling gun violence, and has expanded protections for the state’s immigrant and LGBTQ communities, among others.
Governor Murphy has put a new
Prior to taking office, Governor Murphy had long been deeply engaged in civic life and philanthropic
pursuits. He has led and supported charities to lift up troubled teens and domestic abuse survivors. Nationally, he served proudly as New Jersey’s sole representative on the board of the NAACP and as Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee. The Governor has also led national and state task forces, respectively, on education and public employee pensions and benefits. In 2009, he answered President Obama’s call to service and became the U.S. Ambassador to Germany until 2013. Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy live in Monmouth County and are the parents of Josh, Emma, Charlie, and Sam. A proud public-school product, Governor Murphy holds degrees from Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 7
Former Trustee Joe Cabrera (left) with Trustee and longtime Board Chair Bob Daleo
ABOUT NJCDC
Inspiring and empowering people with opportunities to transform their lives for 25 years …
Celebrating our 25th Anniversary, New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) is a nonprofit organization based in the heart of Paterson, New Jersey, the state’s third largest city. Our mission is to provide opportunities to transform the lives of children and families in the neighborhood we serve—Paterson’s Great Falls Promise Neighborhood—through education, youth development, affordable housing, and community building. What started in 1994 with two employees has since grown into a $12 million agency employing over 150 individuals performing a wide variety of services that enable our comprehensive cradle-tocollege pipeline of programs and services. Through this pipeline, NJCDC serves 4,000 children, teens, and families every day.
degree—it is also a neighborhood with a rich history and a great deal of hope and promise. And so we are optimistic about the future. While there is still much work to be done, we are proud of our accomplishments these past 25 years, including: • Investing $75 million in revitalizing the community • Creating 15 playgrounds and community gardens • Building 150 units of affordable and supportive housing • Founding a preschool, a K-8 charter school, and a STEM Academy High School
In 2008, we launched a place-based approach to community development throughout the neighborhood surrounding Paterson’s Great Falls. In 2015, we expanded our reach by extending the boundaries of the neighborhood—which we call the Great Falls Promise Neighborhood—and we now offer services to many of the 8,000 children living or going to school within the neighborhood. While it is a poor neighborhood—where the average household income is about one-third the state’s average, and only ten percent of residents have earned a college
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 9
Robotics is the topic at NJCDC’s STEM 101 Expo
ABOUT NJCDC
Education: Another Word For Opportunity
We offer high-quality education for Paterson students from preschool through grade 12. We believe that education is another word for opportunity, and that our efforts to instill a love of learning and to promote student success will help the more than one-thousand students we educate to ultimately reach their greatest potential. It’s a responsibility that we take very seriously, and we do it with a host of partners—from parents to community organizations and stakeholders. NJCDC founded and supports the operation of three schools:
connection to the Paterson community, drawing on a variety of resources to help students and families succeed. Garrett Morgan Academy is a high school for 200 students in grades 9-12 focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. We opened Garrett Morgan in 2000, and have graduated hundreds of students who have gone on to college and successful careers. Named for the turn-of-the-century AfricanAmerican inventor of the traffic light, the school provides students with a curriculum that makes STEM instruction relevant and accessible.
Our Paterson Family Center preschool provides 105 children with an evidence-based curriculum delivered by highly qualified staff in order to promote learning among our youngest students. The preschool also offers support to the entire family through before-school and after-school programming, as well as specialized staff who connect families to vital resources. The Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP) was founded by NJCDC in 2008 to help advance educational excellence in Paterson while promoting positive youth development and strengthening families. CCSP opened in 2008 as a K-3 school serving 400 students, and now serves 900 students in grades K-8. CCSP also has a strong
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 11
Tony Coscia, Vice Chair of NJCDC’s Board, sees Paterson students off on their trip to our nation’s capital
ABOUT NJCDC
Fostering the Next Generation of Engaged Citizens
In helping to foster the next generation of engaged Paterson citizens, NJCDC reaches beyond the classroom. We invest in the future leaders of our community at their individual points of development—particularly in the after-school hours in youth and teen centers, in non-traditional educational programs, and through unique leadership opportunities. By providing these young residents with a head start, safe haven and, for some, a second chance, NJCDC is consistently investing in the human potential of the great City of Paterson. Our Youth Development programs include our Paterson Youth Council, a year-long leadership development program that is the premier voice for the city’s young people; our Great Falls Youth Center, which provides a safe place for hundreds of neighborhood teens to study, learn computer skills, play instruments, socialize, and more; our Paterson Community School Corps (our AmeriCorps program), whose members work in several Paterson schools to eliminate barriers to academic achievement; an array of summer programs; and comprehensive “Teen Centers” at four area high schools to promote healthy lifestyles, educational enrichment, and support services to increase academic performance.
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 13
Keeping our residents healthy is an important part of our supportive housing programs
ABOUT NJCDC
Affordable Housing for Our Most Vulnerable Residents
We believe having a place to call home is one of the most fundamental human rights—and necessary to foster stability and personal growth. NJCDC prides itself on providing affordable and supportive housing in Paterson and the surrounding area to those vulnerable individuals and families who need it most.
To date, we have built 150 units of affordable and supportive housing. And we have a few projects on the drawing board that will allow us to expand our work in this area, and create even more opportunities for families to have a home of their own and to succeed.
We build and operate housing with on-site social services for individuals with special needs, including those who are homeless, mentally ill, those with developmental disabilities, grandparents raising grandchildren, and youth who are homeless or aging out of the foster care system. We’ve taken 100 homeless individuals off the streets and have given them an apartment of their own—while providing supportive services to help them live successfully on their own. Our goal is to offer those we serve a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home, to provide assistance in navigating everyday challenges, and, most importantly, to instill hope, confidence, and optimism among those we serve. These programs not only provide opportunities to transform individual lives, but serve as catalysts to help build social stability and safe neighborhoods.
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 15
NJCDC’s College Sendoff provides tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to deserving Paterson students
ABOUT NJCDC
Community Building for a Brighter Paterson
Since 1994, NJCDC has taken a lead in rebuilding and strengthening our community through the empowerment of—and in partnership with—those who live and work in our neighborhood.
an example of a comeback community by bringing people together, working on common interests, and advocating for change.
We engage local residents and business owners to care for and speak out on our shared interests through an active Community Advisory Board and an ongoing variety of events designed to build community cohesiveness. Since 2014, our Neighborhood Help Center has served as a one-stop-shop for assistance on a broad range of topics that concern neighborhood residents, including housing, immigration, job readiness, educational opportunities, and financial literacy. We host a variety of educational workshops, community forums, and family-friendly events to provide those we serve with valuable information and life-changing resources. We also regularly carry out neighborhood cleanups, and have built 15 playgrounds and gardens to help revitalize our neighborhood. Gardens allow residents to spend time outside in a relaxing atmosphere, while playgrounds encourage outdoor play, which is an integral part of a child’s development. With the help of our friends and partners, together we’ll continue to make the Great Falls Promise Neighborhood—the neighborhood we serve—
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 17
NJCDC Board Chair Don Buckley joins Bob Guarasci at our annual Holiday Party, where we distribute more than 5,000 donated toys to children in need each year
ABOUT NJCDC
We intend to continue serving as a powerful agent of change…
In celebrating our 25th Anniversary, we are pleased to honor Governor Phil Murphy and current and former members of our Board of Trustees. We are proud to honor Governor Murphy for his commitment to improving the lives of New Jersey’s children and families, and for his steadfast commitment to build a stronger and fairer state that works for everyone. We are also proud to honor current and former members of our Board of Trustees, who are and who will remain our greatest ambassadors and advocates. Without a doubt, our ability to get things done is attributable to special friends like Governor Murphy and our Board of Trustees, who embrace our mission and help whenever and however they can. On the milestone occasion of our 25th Anniversary, we pause to reflect on the road we’ve travelled and we are pleased with the impact we’ve been able to have on countless children and families. But more importantly, we are enthusiastic at the prospect of many more decades of offering programs and services to help those we serve overcome obstacles and reach their greatest potential. And so we intend to continue serving as a powerful agent of change, and we’re grateful for the continued assistance of our many friends and supporters.
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 19
Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s help ensured we could transform the former Rogers Locomotive Frame Fitting Shop into our headquarters
25 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
Our Milestones — 1994-2005
1994 Bob Guarasci asks Rob Long to join him in founding NJCDC 1996 Buffalo Avenue residence opens for adults with developmental disabilities 1998 Thomas Street residence opens to further expand supportive housing for people with disabilities Great Falls YouthBuild program, a GED & vocational training program for at-risk youth, is established 2000 Garrett Morgan High School, a STEM Academy, opens 2003 NJCDC rehabilitates the Rogers Locomotives Works Building at 32 Spruce Street and relocates its headquarters, and names it in honor of Senator Frank Lautenberg The Paterson Family Center preschool opens 2005 William Waldman Independence House residence opens for youth leaving foster care Three teen centers are opened at area high schools
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 21
Pure joy at the Community Charter School of Paterson’s Field Day
25 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
Our Milestones — 2006-2012
2006 The Paterson Youth Council, a leadership program for teenagers, is established
2012 Spruce Terrace Apartments opens for homeless men and women
2008 NJCDC completes its Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Plan
A new strategic business plan is adopted to replicate the success of the Harlem Children’s Zone in Paterson
Hawthorne Heights and Birch Arms Apartments open, providing additional supportive housing The Community Charter School of Paterson opens for 400 elementary students 2010 Congdon Mill Apartments, a joint venture with Longstreet Development, opens and provides 66 affordable housing units NJCDC opens the City’s first Full Service Community School at Paterson Public School No. 5 2011 Gov. Christie visits NJCDC to help launch the Great Falls Promise Neighborhood, and designates NJCDC as the lead agency The Great Falls National Historical Park is established and Bob Guarasci is appointed to its Federal Advisory Commission
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 23
Another new NJCDC playground for Paterson’s kids, this one at School No. 2
25 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
Our Milestones — 2013-2015
2013 The Great Falls Promise Neighborhood Initiative is created with a grant from The Nicholson Foundation
2015 The Great Falls Promise Neighborhood boundaries are expanded
Rosario Coscia Children’s Garden, William Carlos Williams Community Plaza, and the Good Food Garden open to provide parks and play space
The Shohid Minar Monument is built at Westside Park to commemorate Bengali history
The Rogers Storage Building is rehabilitated into the Rogers Meeting Center, nestled in the National Park 2014 The Neighborhood Help Center opens
Paterson University Corps launches, providing college students with volunteer and internship opportunities First Annual Senior Sendoff awards tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to Paterson students attending 4-year colleges
Elm Street Apartments opens for youth leaving foster care and grandparents raising grandchildren Community Charter School of Paterson opens a middle school and now serves 900 students in grades K-8 Three new playgrounds are built at area schools Parent Academy is launched to educate parents with preschool-aged children The First Annual Preschool Conference is held for Paterson’s early learning educators The Paterson Youth Arts program is launched to provide free arts education for Paterson youth
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Our students visiting Harvard University as part of the Paterson Youth Council’s annual Ivy League Tour
25 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
Our Milestones — 2016-2019
2016 Michael’s Energy Factory Preschool is purchased out of bankruptcy, keeping it open for 200 students 2017 Inaugural Ivy League Tour brings Paterson students to Harvard, Yale, and MIT Park Corner Apartments opens, offering retail space and 11 affordable apartments 2018 Great Falls Youth Center opens to provide a safe place for hundreds of neighborhood teens Community Charter School of Paterson celebrates its 10th Anniversary NJCDC holds its 25th Holiday Toy Drive & Party for hundreds of Paterson families 2019 First Annual Great Falls Neighborhood Summit offers local residents increased community engagement NJCDC partners with St. Joseph’s Health as the first project in the state’s new healthy homes initiative Paterson’s first Full Service Community School at a high school, John F. Kennedy, is opened NJCDC celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a series of events, including a Reception, a Concert at the Great Falls, and a Community Service Day
NJCDC TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER 27
Bob Guarasci at the demolition site of the future Spruce Terrace Apartments
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is Mayor Claus at NJCDC’s Annual Holiday Party
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Sisters enjoy one of NJCDC’s many family-friendly events
Anniversary Sponsor
NJCDC extends its sincere gratitude to the sponsors below for their generous support. To our many friends and advertisers who helped make this evening a success, WE THANK YOU!
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ANNIVERSARY LEVEL: BD • Thomson Reuters SPONSOR LEVEL: Bank of America • Florio Management • M&T Bank PSEG • Valley Bank FRIENDS LEVEL: AvalonBay • Broadridge Financial Solutions • CBRE Federal Home Loan Bank of NY • Innogenix • KPMG KOW Building Consultants • Lowenstein Sandler Merck • PNC • Railroad Construction • TD Bank V. Paulius & Associates • Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP