30 Years of Creating Opportunities To Transform Lives Celebrating
Our Vision
NJCDC’s vision is that all 8,000 children living or going to school in Paterson’s Great Falls Neighborhood will graduate from high school — ready for college and a career.
About Us
Celebrating our 30th anniversary year, NJCDC is a non-profit community development and social service agency based in the heart of Paterson, New Jersey, our state’s third largest city. Our mission is to create opportunities to transform lives in Paterson and its Great Falls Neighborhood through education, youth development, affordable and supportive housing, and community building initiatives.
What began in 1994 with only two employees and an AmeriCorps program has since grown into a $18 million agency employing over 200 individuals that support every aspect of our comprehensive cradle-to-college pipeline of programs and services. Through this pipeline, we serve more than 4,000 children, teens, and families every day.
While the neighborhood we focus on is a poor one — the median household income is less than 40% of the statewide median and only 11% of residents have earned a college 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 over these past 30 years, including:
• Investing over $120 million in revitalizing the community
• Creating 15 playgrounds and community gardens
• Building 200+ units of affordable/supportive housing
• Founding a preschool, a K-8 charter school, Paterson’s first STEM high school, and a Youth Center
• Operating over 20 youth development programs
• Serving more than 4,000 children and families each day
Our Founder
Thirty years ago, I asked my friend Rob Long to join me in creating a new non-profit organization to transform lives in the City of Paterson. With the help of a group of dedicated AmeriCorps volunteers and the shared belief that good people could make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors, that organization became New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC). Since then, we’ve worked hard and grown a lot, providing more and more vital services to the people of Paterson. Today, NJCDC serves well over 4,000 children and families each day through a variety of programs and services in the areas of education, youth development, affordable and supportive housing, and community building.
Over the past three decades, we’ve invested more than $120 million — building new housing, schools,
and community spaces. We founded a full-service preschool and a charter school serving over 1,000 pre-K-8 students; launched a comprehensive initiative focusing on youth mental health services; served thousands of residents through our Neighborhood Help Center and the Paterson Financial Empowerment Center; and so much more. Each day, we continue to work closely with neighborhood residents on our Great Falls Neighborhood Initiative, striving to reach our bold vision that all 8,000 children living or going to school in this neighborhood will graduate from high school college- and career-ready.
Our charge is clear — to keep working as hard as we can to make as much change as we can. That was my goal 30 years ago, and it remains my goal today.
NJCDC Founder & CEO
About Paterson
Founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1792 around the power and beauty of the Great Falls, Paterson housed the factories that would ignite America’s Industrial Revolution. For nearly two centuries, Paterson was a vibrant city built around manufacturing and this majestic waterfall. However, in the 1960s, like most industrial American cities, Paterson ‘crashed.’ Unemployment skyrocketed, and buildings that were once symbols of America’s economic strength became symbols of the Silk City’s struggle.
Since 1994, NJCDC has been working to make Paterson a comeback city. We continuously seek to connect the dots between all of the elements necessary for comprehensive revitalization, including strong schools, safe and affordable housing, youth development, and resident-led advocacy.
In addition to its rich history, Paterson boasts a high concentration of Beaux-Arts buildings, quick access to numerous highways, proximity to New York City, and involved residents. Increasing numbers of individuals and companies are being drawn to the Silk City, contributing to a renewed sense of energy in Paterson.
Our Four Core Areas
The heart and soul of our work is in each of the following four core areas:
Education:
At NJCDC, education is another word for opportunity. We believe that the goal of education should be to instill in children a lifelong love of learning. Our high-quality, nocost education services are designed to help our scholars open their minds and reach their fullest potential.
Youth Development:
Our youth development programs are rooted in the belief that young people can overcome extraordinary odds to succeed in life. Outside of the classroom, we give Paterson youth a head start, a safe haven, connections with caring mentors, and opportunities to lead.
Affordable Housing:
Our goal is to offer residents 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. To date, we have built over 200 affordable and supportive homes.
Community Building:
We bring the community together through neighborhood clean-ups, beautification projects, playground builds, social activities, and leadership opportunities. The Paterson Financial Empowerment Center helps residents achieve financial stability through free counseling, while our Neighborhood Help Center connects residents with employment, housing, health, immigration services, and more.
Education
We offer high-quality, no-cost education for Paterson students in pre-K through 12th grade. NJCDC believes that the goal of education should be to instill a love of learning that persists throughout children’s entire lives and helps them reach their fullest potential.
NJCDC founded and operates the Paterson Family Center, a preschool that gives 105 of Paterson’s youngest students a head start; founded the Community Charter School of Paterson, which now has more than 900 students enrolled in grades K-8; and founded Garrett Morgan Academy, a small high school focused on science and technology.
Additionally, NJCDC is the lead agency at four of Paterson’s Full Service Community Schools: Public School No. 5, the Joseph A. Taub School, International High School, and John F. Kennedy High School.
Youth Development
In helping to foster the next generation of engaged Paterson citizens, NJCDC reaches beyond the classroom. We invest in the future residents and leaders of our community at their individual points of development — during after-school hours in youth and teen centers, in non-traditional educational programs, and through unique leadership opportunities.
Our Youth Development programs include our Paterson Youth Council, a year-long leadership development program; our Great Falls Youth Center, which provides a safe place for hundreds of neighborhood teens; two AmeriCorps programs, whose members work in several Paterson schools to eliminate barriers to success; an array of summer programs; comprehensive Teen Centers at four area high schools to promote healthy lifestyles, educational enrichment, and academic support services; and the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) Passaic County Hub, which provides vital mental health services to youth throughout Paterson and Passaic County.
Affordable Housing
We believe that having a place to call home is one of the most fundamental human needs necessary for stability and personal growth. NJCDC prides itself on providing affordable and supportive housing in the City of Paterson and the surrounding area to those vulnerable individuals and families who need it most.
To date, we have built more than 200 affordable and supportive homes. Many of these homes also offer onsite social services for individuals with special needs, including formerly homeless individuals, individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and youth aging out of foster care. These supportive programs not only provide opportunities to transform individual lives but also serve as catalysts to help build social stability and safe neighborhoods.
Community Building
Since 1994, NJCDC has taken a lead in rebuilding and strengthening our community through the empowerment of, and partnership with, those who live and work in our neighborhood.
We engage local residents and business owners to care for and speak out on behalf of our shared neighborhood through a variety of initiatives, including a Community Advisory Board, comprised of resident representatives. We also carry out neighborhood clean-ups and have built 15 playgrounds and community gardens to make our neighborhood a safer place to live and grow up.
In 2014, we opened our Neighborhood Help Center, a one-stop shop for assistance on a broad range of topics that concern neighborhood residents, ranging from housing to education to immigration. We also operate the City of Paterson’s Financial Empowerment Center, providing free, one-on-one counseling to help all Paterson residents achieve financial stability.
Community Parks & Gardens
Adding community green spaces, pocket parks, and gardens remains a key focus of our work.
William Carlos Williams Community Plaza
Rosario Coscia Children’s Garden
Shohid Minar Monument at Westside Park
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Renovated Lou Costello Park
Playground Builds
We’ve built a dozen playgrounds to give kids a safe, fun, and welcoming place to play and grow.
School No. 7 Playground Build
School No. 7 Playground Build
School No. 5 Playground Build
Community Charter School of Paterson Playground
Community Charter School of Paterson Student
30 THIRTY PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS THAT HAVE INSPIRED AND NURTURED THE GROWTH OF NJCDC
Bob Guarasci, Founder & CEO
Our Founder
Bob Guarasci has dedicated his life to building a better Paterson and creating opportunities for thousands of children and families. Bob has done something that’s quite remarkable — he started something from nothing and he’s grown it into one of the most accomplished community development organizations in the state.
NJCDC would not exist without Bob, who in 1994 asked his friend Rob Long to join him in founding the organization to make a difference in Paterson. Thirty years later, what started with two staff members and a small AmeriCorps program has grown into a multi-million dollar nonprofit organization employ-
ing more than 200 individuals who perform a wide variety of services that allow our cradle-to-college pipeline of programs and services to thrive.
A Paterson resident, Bob loves the Silk City. He is often referred to as “Bob the Builder” not only for his many brick and mortar projects in the city, but also for building hope and optimism among those who need it most. Under Bob’s leadership, NJCDC has invested over $120 million in the community — including over 200 units of affordable and supportive housing, three schools, a youth center, and 15 different parks and playgrounds. Bob has also led the organization’s push to serve a greater
number of those in need of our services, and at present we’re serving well over 4,000 children, teens, and families every day. Additionally, Bob played the lead role in NJCDC’s founding of the Community Charter School of Paterson, which serves 900 students in grades K-8 and itself employs another 150+ people.
And Bob’s service extends beyond NJCDC — he’s often hard at work as a board member of William Paterson University, Paterson Prep Charter School, Paterson Charter School Roundtable, the Health Coalition of Passaic County, and the Paterson Housing Authority.
For ten years, Bob served on the Federal Advisory Commission for Paterson’s national park — including as its chair — to help plan and create the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.
When asked about NJCDC’s future, Bob is both optimistic and ambitious. “As we look forward to our next chapter, one thing is for sure,” he said. “We’ll continue to make change and we’ll also make every effort to serve as many people as we possibly can — for I never want to look back and say we could have done more.”
The City of Paterson
The City of Paterson is NJCDC’s home and was once one of our state’s leading centers of commerce and industry. Founded by Alexander Hamilton as our nation’s first planned industrial city in 1792, Paterson once led our country in the manufacturing of everything from locomotives to silk to airplane engines during World War II.
Today, not unlike urban centers throughout the nation, Paterson struggles with a number of problems that include poverty and unemployment. But the most incredible thing about Paterson is its resiliency. Even in the face of its challenges, hope abounds in this 8.1 square mile city that is home to more than 160,000 residents. Paterson
remains a destination of choice for new Americans hailing from countries that include Peru, Bangladesh, and the Dominican Republic. Walk its streets — especially downtown— and there is a vibrancy that is unmistakable. Walk its neighborhoods, and you’ll see and feel the diversity of a city that embraces and welcomes everyone.
This is why NJCDC loves Paterson! It’s why we chose Paterson as our home in 1994, and why we are singularly focused — working hand in hand with our municipal government and community partners — on making Paterson a comeback city.
3The Great Falls
The majestic Great Falls of the Passaic River are Paterson’s — and perhaps the region’s — most impressive natural resource. Falling 77 feet over a gorge formed 13,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, the Great Falls inspired Alexander Hamilton to establish Paterson as America’s first planned industrial city in 1792. The Falls and the power they generated were largely responsible for Paterson’s emergence as a leading center of commerce and industry throughout the 19th century.
NJCDC long advocated for the designation of the area surrounding the Falls as a national park, a goal achieved in 2009 when President Barack Obama signed legislation making the park a reality. Over the last 15 years, we have worked closely with the lead organization in this effort — The Hamilton Partnership — to ensure the park spurs economic development. We’re grateful for our partnerships with the National Park Service and excited about the many projects in development, including the Alexander Hamilton Visitor Center and the Congressman Bill Pascrell Pedestrian Bridge.
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32 Spruce Street
32 Spruce Street is the nerve center of NJCDC. It’s our headquarters, as well as a building that houses important educational programs for those we serve.
32 Spruce Street was originally constructed in 1881 as a locomotive mill — it was the Frame Fitting Shop of the Rogers Locomotive Works. At that time, Paterson was making more than 75% of all locomotives in America. Over time, it transitioned to become a textile mill, and we bought it in 1997 as a vacant shell of a building.
With talented architects, we were able to undertake an $8 million adaptive reuse plan that repurposed this historic building to meet modern-day community needs. Today, the first floor houses the Paterson Family Center, a preschool for 105 three- and four-year-old children. The first floor also includes our Neighborhood Help Center. The second floor hosts offices and programming space for the Community Charter School of Paterson, and the third floor is home to NJCDC’s administrative and program staff.
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AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps — the national service initiative created by Congress and President Clinton in 1994 to “get things done for America” — is the bloodline of NJCDC. As our first program, AmeriCorps helped us grow into an organization that now serves over 4,000 children and families each day.
Our Paterson Community Schools Corps (PCSC) aims to eliminate barriers to academic achievement by recruiting promising college graduates to create opportunities for youth at full-service community schools, teen centers, and our Great Falls Youth Center. PCSC members provide daily instructional support, tutoring, and individual assistance; lead workshops for parents; organize community service activities; and much more. In 2023, we launched the Paterson Public Health Corps, which improves access to mental health services and resources for Paterson children and families.
Since 1994, we’ve graduated more than 620 AmeriCorps members, who have collectively given more than a million hours of service through the program.
First AmeriCorps Class in 1994
The Holiday Toy Drive & Party 6
The Annual Holiday Toy Drive & Party is our longest running tradition — we started it in our first year, 1994. For many of the children and families we serve, it is truly a holiday miracle.
The holidays can be a stressful time for many Paterson families. Parents struggling to provide housing, food, clothing, and other basic necessities often worry about how to make the holidays joyful and afford presents. Some are unable to give their children any gifts at all.
To help spread holiday cheer, each year NJCDC’s “elves” — also known as our AmeriCorps members — work hard to collect toys, gifts, and food from caring individuals, organizations, and student clubs. Last year, we collected more than 7,000 toys!
These donated items are then given to hundreds of Paterson children and families at our Annual Holiday Party on Christmas Eve Day. Each year, children watch in awe as Santa and his helpers hand out thousands of toys! They also enjoy face painting, bouncy houses, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, and other festive activities.
Over these last 30 years, we’ve helped to make the holidays brighter for more than 25,000 children!
Congressman Bill Pascrell 7
No recounting of the history of NJCDC would be complete without honoring the life and legacy of the late Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. A true native son of Paterson, Congressman Pascrell dedicated his life to public service, working tirelessly for the people of his hometown — and beyond. From his early days as a teacher to serving as Paterson’s Mayor, a member of the New Jersey State Assembly, and a U.S. Congressman for nearly three decades, his life was a testament to hard work, dedication, and an enduring love for the City of Paterson.
Congressman Pascrell’s impact on New Jersey — and Paterson — is profound. He was instrumental in creating the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, a landmark achievement that will benefit generations to come. His commitment to public safety, public health, and ensuring the well-being of families across the state was unwavering.
A longtime friend of NJCDC, Congressman Pascrell often engaged directly with our youth and families. Just recently, during our Youth Council’s trip to Washington, D.C., he met with Paterson teens, encouraging them to embrace their potential and channel their passion into meaningful community service. His genuine belief in the power of young people to shape the future made him not only a leader, but a mentor to the next generation.
We will always be grateful for his contributions, guidance, and friendship. His loss is deeply felt by all of us, but his legacy of service, dedication, and love for Paterson will live on. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. will forever be remembered not only for his remarkable achievements, but for his unwavering commitment to the people of New Jersey and the city he loved so dearly.
Paterson Family Center 8
Founded in 2003, our Paterson Family Center (PFC) preschool provides 105 three- and four-year-old Paterson children with an evidence-based curriculum and a team of qualified staff dedicated to their growth and education. PFC’s goal is for each graduate to enter kindergarten ready to thrive, equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed.
PFC provides a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where children develop physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. The preschool also supports the entire family through after-school programming and family workers who connect families to needed resources.
PFC harnesses a child’s natural inclination to play by providing planned activities and learning materials that enhance development through play and exploration. Students are taught in an environment where they can observe and interact with peers and adults; expand literacy and communication skills; make sense of the world through hands-on activities; develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills; and gain the self-confidence and independence to grow into caring, happy, and productive citizens.
YouthBuild 9
From 1998 to 2020, our Paterson Great Falls YouthBuild program provided a meaningful “second chance” for area youth who didn’t finish high school, allowing them to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma while gaining valuable vocational skills and job-readiness training to increase their employability upon graduation.
Based on a national model, this youth and community development program empowered participants to rebuild themselves as they rebuilt their communities through a combination of work, education, service, and leadership development.
Every YouthBuild student received a range of services designed to help them succeed, including intensive instruction to prepare for their High School Equivalency Diploma, along with vocational, computer, and
job-readiness training. Graduates could also earn certifications and skills required for careers in construction, food handling, nursing, and more.
The program’s ultimate goal was to promote self-sufficiency and sustainability for its graduates, while enabling them to give back to their community by constructing affordable housing, taking part in community service, and leading clean-ups.
During its operation, Paterson Great Falls YouthBuild successfully graduated nearly 500 individuals.
While we last operated the program in 2020, stay tuned as the State of New Jersey will be competitively awarding new YouthBuild grants in the near future!
First YouthBuild Class in 1998
Garrett Morgan Academy 10
Founded by NJCDC and operated in partnership with the Paterson Public Schools, Garrett Morgan Academy opened its doors in 2000 to provide students interested in building a career in transportation and technology with a curriculum that makes STEM instruction relevant and accessible.
Over the years, NJCDC has assisted in the ongoing operation of the school by providing an array of support services, including after-school programming, coordinating activities with corporate and nonprofit partners, and bringing in other resources to enhance student experiences.
At Garrett Morgan Academy — named for the turnof-the-century African American inventor of the traffic light — students engage in college prep coursework and receive one-on-one attention typically not possible in larger school environments. Garrett Morgan Academy has sent students on to colleges and universities such as NJIT, Rutgers, Allegheny, and Lehigh.
The Daleo Family
In the summer of 2002, a young man named Eric Daleo served as an intern at NJCDC’s headquarters. As with most interns, Eric helped us with a variety of different assignments. Eric enjoyed his internship so much that he introduced us to his parents, Bob and Linda Daleo.
After that summer, Bob and Linda began to support our work. Today they are one of our largest individual benefactors. Bob joined our Board of Trustees, and for several years he even served as its Chairman.
Bob and Linda — and Eric — understand that the definition of any successful life must include service to others. We are extraordinarily grateful for the generosity of the Daleo Family and the impact it has had on countless children and families. We’re also grateful that Eric is following in the footsteps of his father, having joined our Board of Trustees in 2019, and that his wife Katie and daughter Clara are active volunteers.
Lowenstein Sandler 12
In telling the story of NJCDC, an important chapter belongs to the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler. One of the state’s largest and most prominent law firms, Lowenstein accepted NJCDC as a pro bono client more than twenty years ago. And each year, we have been incredibly fortunate as Lowenstein attorneys have labored on our behalf — oftentimes on complex real estate transactions. Over the years, we’ve benefitted from millions of dollars in pro bono services designed to help us fulfill our charitable mission in Paterson.
At present, Lowenstein is helping us with a transaction to purchase the middle school campus of our charter school, currently owned by a private investor intent on selling the building. Our mandate is to secure the school for our students for generations to come, and we simply would not be able to undertake this complex tax-exempt bond financing effort without the skilled assistance of Lowenstein Sandler.
Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) Program 13
New Jersey’s Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program has been an important part of NJCDC’s toolbox to rebuild the Great Falls Neighborhood of Paterson and to provide residents with programs and services to help them succeed.
Under NRTC, New Jersey businesses can take a 100% tax credit and can earmark those funds for community development organizations with a state-approved neighborhood plan. It’s a wonderful program through which the state allows $15 million in corporate resources — money that would otherwise go to the general treasury — to flow to organizations like NJCDC.
This program has been transformational for us. Over the past twenty years, we’ve received nearly $15 million to help us undertake a number of brick-and-mortar projects, as well as to support our programs.
Many projects have benefitted from this program, including Park Corner Plaza, the Great Falls Youth Center, our Rogers Meeting Center, two new multifamily buildings, and — most recently — a project which will replace a derelict former go-go bar with a mixed-use building with retail space and affordable housing — right at the gateway to the Great Falls Historic District.
Some of our NRTC Projects
NJCDC would like to thank all of the corporations that have donated to us through this program:
Wellpoint
Columbia Bank
Blue Foundry Bank
Express Scripts
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
JPMorgan Chase
Lakeland Bank
M&T Bank
PNC Bank
Provident Bank
Prudential Financial
PSE&G
Railroad Construction Company
Sealy
Sterling National Bank
TD Bank
Thomson Reuters
Valley Bank
Webster Bank
14Governmental Agencies
NJCDC’s programs and services reach more than 4,000 children and families every day, and much of this is made possible by relationships we’ve been fortunate to develop with a host of governmental leaders and agencies over these past 30 years. Here are some of them:
New Jersey Department of Children and Families
DCF provides funding to enable us to operate many different youth programs, including Teen Centers, housing for youth leaving foster care, and county-wide youth mental health services.
New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
HMFA has provided us with millions of dollars in low-interest loans, enabling us to build many of our affordable and supportive housing apartments. Most recently, they supported the development of our Barclay Place Apartments through their innovative Hospital Partnership Subsidy Program in partnership with St. Joseph’s Health and CAPC.
New Jersey Department of Education
NJDOE currently supports our large after-school program at John F. Kennedy High School — Compete for Life — and also approved our application to create and open the Community Charter School of Paterson.
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
DCA has provided us with millions of dollars to support our work through the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program. Through NRTC, we have been able to construct new buildings — such as our multifamily infill apartments, Park Corner Plaza, our Great Falls Youth Center, and more — and to support programming ranging from youth arts initiatives to community outreach efforts.
City of Paterson
The City has provided us with funding that has allowed us to build affordable housing for city residents (HOME funds) and which also allowed us to operate programs to benefit city residents, such as a summer youth employment program (CDBG funds). We have also partnered with the City to operate the Financial Empowerment Center, which provides free, one-onone financial counseling to all residents.
County of Passaic
The County has provided us with funding through its Open Space Fund, allowing us to create new open space in Paterson, design new park space, and even rehabilitate our historic headquarters.
Paterson Public Schools 16
When we talk about partnerships being central to our work over these last 30 years, perhaps none has been as important as our work with Paterson Public Schools (PPS). The school district for almost 25,000 children, PPS has the awesome responsibility of ensuring a quality education for Paterson students. We’re fortunate that PPS has always recognized the potential of collaboration with community groups, and that NJCDC has always been part of their efforts.
Our Legislative District Delegation
We are incredibly grateful to our 35th Legislative District Delegation — Senator Nellie Pou, Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, and Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly — for their unwavering support and dedication to our work. Their advocacy for Paterson’s children, families, and community has been instrumental in helping us achieve our mission of creating opportunities to transform lives.
Through their tireless efforts, the dynamic team has secured critical resources and championed policies that directly benefit those we serve. Their commitment to education, affordable housing, youth development, and community revitalization has helped create a stronger, more vibrant Paterson.
We deeply appreciate their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to build a brighter future for Paterson.
In particular, we partner with PPS to operate four Full-Service Community Schools — School No. 5, the Joseph A. Taub School, International High School, and John F. Kennedy High School. In 2000, we collaborated with PPS to open the city’s first STEM high school, Garrett Morgan Academy, which is now part of International High School. We also depend on PPS’ support to continue operating the Paterson Family Center preschool.
We are grateful for our partnership with the Paterson Public Schools.
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Our Banking Partners
Over these 30 years, NJCDC has been fortunate to build strong ties with our region’s banks and financial institutions. They have provided us with considerable support, both financial and otherwise. They’ve given us grants to do our work and provided us with loans to build housing and community facilities. We’re also proud that many of their employees have volunteered their expertise with our Financial Empowerment Center and youth financial literacy initiatives.
TD Bank is a supporter of our place-based work in the Great Falls Neighborhood, including our affordable housing initiatives.
Provident Bank has supported programs for our youth, including the Homework Hall at our Clifton High School Teen Center, an intensive tutoring program that promotes academic excellence.
Bank of America has provided us with funding to build agency capacity to carry out our place-based work in the Great Falls Neighborhood.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York has provided significant assistance through its Affordable Housing Program, as well as ongoing philanthropic support.
Valley Bank has provided critical general operating support for many of our initiatives in the Great Falls Neighborhood, including actively volunteering in our financial literacy and empowerment programs.
M&T Bank is an ardent supporter of our Great Falls Neighborhood Initiative, designed to offer a continuum of services to young people from birth through college and career.
Our sincere appreciation to other banks who support our work:
• Citi
• Citizens Bank
• ConnectOne Bank
• Federal Home Loan Bank of New York
• Freedom Bank
• Kearny Bank
• New Jersey Community Capital
• North Jersey Federal Credit Union
• Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Columbia Bank supports our work in the areas of affordable housing and youth development.
Capital One supports our real estate development work, through which we are revitalizing Paterson with new and rehabilitated buildings.
• PNC Bank
• Provident Bank
• Santander Bank
• Spencer Savings Bank
• Webster Bank
• Wells Fargo
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In 2007, NJCDC convened a small group of Paterson parents and community stakeholders to introduce an idea — the creation of a new charter school located in Paterson’s Great Falls Historic District. While we had long enjoyed a very positive relationship with Paterson Public Schools, we wanted to provide parents with options and help advance educational excellence in Paterson. This vision became the Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP), a full-service community charter school, opening early, closing late, and providing weekend and summer programs, as well as being a welcoming place for all visitors. Opened in 2008 as a K-3 school serving 400 students, CCSP has now expanded to serve 900 students in grades K-8 across two campuses.
CCSP’s mission is to advance racial equity through an excellent education. It purposefully cultivates positive and academically excellent schools that prepare students with social and academic skills to pursue a choice-filled life and make meaningful contributions in Paterson and the world.
Our Board of Trustees
Throughout these past 30 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 and our greatest ambassadors, bringing in new friends and supporters far and wide and doing whatever they can to tell the NJCDC story. We are grateful for their service to both NJCDC and the Paterson community.
Our Current Board Members:
• Martin Vergara II, Chair
• Anthony Coscia, Vice Chair
• David Berninger, Treasurer
• Carline Morrison, Secretary
• Donald F. Buckley
• Christian Callegari
• Eric Daleo
• Nita Das
• Etta Denk
• Ulises Diaz
• Robert Garrison
• Robert Guarasci, Ex-Officio (NJCDC Founder & CEO)
• Victor J. Herlinsky Jr.
• William Pascrell III
• Kenyatta Stewart
(L-R) Carline Morrison, Don Buckley, Martin Vergara II, Nita Das, Michael De Blasio, David Berninger, Eric Daleo, William Pascrell III, and Etta Denk visited Hinchliffe Stadium as part of a recent Board retreat
Donald F. Buckley (Center)
Anthony Coscia, Board Vice Chair
(L-R) Board Members Don Buckley, Lori Grifa, Bob Guarasci, Bob Daleo, and Tony Coscia with Governor Phil Murphy (Center)
NJCDC’s longest serving Board member William Pascrell III
Martin Vergara II, Board Chair (Right)
David Berninger, Board Treasurer (Left)
(L-R) Kenyatta Stewart, Board Member and Vaughn McKoy, Former Board Member
Our Real Estate Development 20
Since 1994, we’ve invested over $120 million in the physical infrastructure of our neighborhood. We’ve developed over 200 units of affordable and supportive housing, built a K-8 charter school, and constructed several other community spaces to drive the revitalization of our neighborhood. We will continue to transform the neighborhood into a bustling community by developing more housing, schools, recreational spaces, parks, and community gardens.
We transformed an iconic building into the
We converted the historic Rogers Locomotive Works Storage Building into the Rogers Meeting Center, a community gathering and event space
William Waldman Independence House, a 10-unit building for homeless youth and youth aging-out of the state’s foster care system
Elm Street Apartments is a 20-unit apartment building for aging-out youth, as well as grandparents who are raising grandchildren
CCSP opened in 2008 as a K-3 school serving 400 students, and now serves 900 K-8 students across two campuses
Hawthorne Heights is a 13-unit apartment building we constructed for adults with developmental disabilities
Barclay Place Apartments has 56 units of affordable housing available to residents with chronic illnesses. It was built in partnership with St. Joseph’s Health and CAPC, and is directly across the street from St. Joseph’s Hospital
Park Corner Plaza is an 11-unit apartment building with ground floor retail space
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Teen Centers
Funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, NJCDC operates school-based youth service programs in four area high schools, serving nearly 6,000 high school students yearly. These comprehensive Teen Centers, guided by the philosophy of Positive Youth Development, are designed to promote healthy lifestyles — both physically and emotionally — so that local teenagers can complete high school successfully and progress on to higher education or into the workforce.
Offering free educational and recreational enrichment programming, tutoring, employment assistance, college advice, and counseling and support services year-round — both during the day and outside of school hours — NJCDC’s Teen Centers provide unique opportunities for those students in need of academic or emotional assistance, or just a safe place to relax and be themselves.
Our Teen Centers are located at Paterson’s International High School, Passaic Valley Regional High School, Clifton High School, and Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools.
Paterson Youth Council 22
Started in 2006, our Paterson Youth Council (PYC) is the premier voice for the city’s teens. This year-long leadership development program introduces members to topics ranging from education to public safety to the arts.
Made up of 30 dynamic young residents, PYC members meet regularly to discuss a variety of issues that concern their age group. They also meet with city leaders, such as the Mayor and members of the City Council, providing a platform from which Paterson’s best and brightest teens can help influence decisions that affect them.
Each year, the Youth Council also sponsors the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Recognition Awards, recognizing Paterson youth and community members who embody Dr. King’s vision for public service and civil rights. PYC members also perform community service projects, visit places like Washington, D.C., and take trips to college campuses, including the annual Ivy League Tour. Through the program, PYC members cultivate a sense of confidence, independence, and maturity.
Senator Frank Lautenberg 23
No recounting of the history of NJCDC would be complete without a tribute to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg. Senator Lautenberg, born and raised in Paterson, was a fierce fighter for the interests of our city during his nearly 30 years in the United States Senate. Senator Lautenberg secured significant funding for NJCDC, including $5 million toward the cost of our multi-purpose organizational headquarters on Spruce Street. It is now named in his honor.
Senator Lautenberg visited NJCDC often, especially to interact with children in our various programs. He would always talk about the value of hard work — and the importance of a college education. He worked hand in hand with the late Congressman Bill Pascrell to ensure the creation of Paterson’s national park. He loved his hometown, and it is a much better place because of him.
The Neighborhood Help Center 24
The Neighborhood Help Center (NHC) is our one-stop shop for community services, where neighborhood residents — and in particular the families of the children that we serve — can come for assistance on a broad range of issues, including housing, immigration, job readiness, educational opportunities, financial literacy, and more.
The NHC offers residents ongoing one-on-one assistance to help address their specific needs and build better lives and stronger families. We help troubleshoot whatever issue they are facing, and also connect them with much-needed resources. When families succeed and are stable, children have a better opportunity to thrive.
Additionally, the NHC offers a broad range of seminars and workshops that address various areas of community interest. These workshops not only inform residents about specific topics but also help them learn about all of NJCDC’s programs and services.
The Brownstone 25
It may seem odd that an event venue is on the list of what’s made our success possible over these 30 years, but The Brownstone is no ordinary venue. The Brownstone, in many ways, has become a second home for NJCDC and for many other groups in Paterson who gather in fellowship to celebrate, to commemorate, to honor, and — sometimes — just to have a good party!
So many of the signature events we’ve created and held over these past three decades have taken place at The Brownstone. Our annual youth service recognition event. Our annual Friends Breakfast. Our annual Casino Night fundraiser. All of these, and more, have been hosted at The Brownstone, and we’re grateful to its proprietors for such wonderful hospitality in support of our charitable mission.
COVID-19 Response 26
2020 brought challenges unlike any we had faced before, but it also demonstrated the resilience of our community. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it worsened longstanding issues in Paterson, such as poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Many families lost their jobs, struggling to put food on the table and to keep roofs over their heads. But we quickly rose to the challenge.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we raised over $100,000, enabling us to distribute 400 Chromebooks to students and provide more than $20,000 in grocery gift cards to families. At the same time, our staff quickly transitioned programs online, provided PPE to local residents, and kept our community connected through food giveaways, community celebrations, and virtual programming during those challenging times.
We are enormously grateful to all donors, big and small, who helped us respond to the pandemic.
Mrs. Marilyn Clark 27
It’s not often we feel like we’ve met an angel! In 2021, Mrs. Marilyn Clark reached out to see how she could support our work serving Paterson children and families. She generously donated $1 million to expand our Great Falls Youth Center, which serves high school students — and was quickly outgrowing its space.
The expansion included a new multi-purpose room in the existing building, as well as a new building that houses youth and community meeting space and a podcast studio. This flexible space will allow us to undertake important work, including youth leadership development and college access initiatives. Mrs. Clark has also made a generous donation to assist us in redesigning another building we own to provide mental health and other services to at-risk youth. In addition, she has also supported other causes in Paterson, including creating more safe, open green spaces for kids. Thank you, Mrs. Clark, for helping us transform Paterson into a city with a better and brighter future — and for showering us and those we serve with your incredible generosity!
Great Falls Youth Center
For too long, Paterson teens had few places to turn when looking for a safe, welcoming space to go during out-ofschool hours to do homework, learn new skills, and have fun. That changed in 2018 when NJCDC opened the Great Falls Youth Center, where high schoolers have access to a gaming suite, computer lab, open-concept kitchen, and modern podcast and music production studios. Also available are tutoring, workshops, college guidance, and abundant programming like trips, open mics, and movie nights.
Thanks to the tireless work of its dedicated staff and AmeriCorps members, the Youth Center — Paterson’s former American Legion Hall — quickly grew to serve over 100 students each day, more than the space could comfortably accommodate.
In 2023, with the support of donors like Mrs. Clark, we opened an expansion that allows us to serve more students and offer more programming than ever before! And now, planning is underway for yet another new building on the site, which will feature an indoor gymnasium, an academic enrichment suite, and entrepreneurial training space for youth.
10-Year Neighborhood Plan 29
Since 1994, we’ve been working hand in hand with neighborhood residents to improve their quality of life. We’ve worked with community residents and stakeholders to develop housing, community facilities, parks, schools, workforce programs, and — most importantly — community leaders. Between 2020 and 2022, with input from over 600 neighborhood residents, we facilitated the development of a new Great Falls Neighborhood Plan that has guided our work ever since.
This resident-led and resident-driven plan has six goals: An Empowered Community; Neighborhood Revitalization; Education and Youth Development; Quality, Affordable Housing; Arts and Culture; and Health and Wellbeing. As CEO Bob Guarasci said at the unveiling in March 2023, “Our new plan comes down to two concepts: unity and partnership.”
We are especially grateful to the Regional Foundation for their support, which has been instrumental in helping us create and implement this comprehensive plan. Their belief in the power of resident-led change is allowing us to continue improving the lives of those in our community.
Barclay Place Apartments 30
Housing is healthcare — and that’s the guiding principle behind Barclay Place Apartments, the first development completed under the state’s Hospital Partnership Subsidy Program. Developed in partnership with St. Joseph’s Health and New Jersey Community Capital — and located only a few hundred feet from the hospital — Barclay Place offers 56 units of affordable, supportive housing for individuals and families dealing with chronic medical conditions, with the goal of helping them stay healthy and out of the hospital. The onsite wellness hub on the first floor has office space to provide health and mental health services, health and wellness workshops, and referrals to healthcare providers. It even has a demonstration kitchen to promote healthy cooking and nutrition.
Barclay Place has won five statewide awards, including the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Housing. We are grateful to St. Joseph’s Health, New Jersey Community Capital, the NJHMFA, Arc Building Partners, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Enterprise Community Partners, the New Jersey Hospital Association, TD Bank, and Thriven Design for their funding and support, which made this groundbreaking development possible.
31NJ4S Passaic County Hub
In 2023, NJCDC proudly launched the Passaic County Hub of NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S), a program initiated by the NJ Department of Children and Families that activated 15 regional hubs statewide to offer free, comprehensive, prevention-focused social, emotional, and mental health support to students and their families. Given our extensive experience helping youth develop in and out of the classroom, NJCDC is well-positioned to serve Passaic County’s younger population.
The Hub provides evidence-based prevention and intervention services for K-12 students, available at public and charter schools, community centers, and online. Offerings include workshops, assemblies, and individual/group sessions, addressing vital topics like mindful parenting, coping strategies, substance abuse, suicide prevention, bullying prevention, and digital safety, tailored to the needs of each school or community.
Our dedicated team of prevention specialists and mental health professionals, recruited locally for cultural competence, is committed to the program’s success. In its first year, NJ4S has already provided supportive services to over 18,000 students and families throughout Passaic County!
With the continued support of NJDCF, we are successfully addressing the youth mental health crisis that emerged in the wake of the pandemic, and are helping our youth prevent and overcome struggles and become stronger, more resilient students.
Paterson Financial Empowerment Center 32
NJCDC operates the Paterson Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) in partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and the City of Paterson’s Office of Financial Empowerment. The Paterson FEC — the only financial empowerment center in the state — provides free, one-on-one financial counseling to all Paterson residents. Brought to Paterson by Mayor Andre Sayegh and modeled after a program established by Michael Bloomberg in New York City over a decade ago, financial empowerment centers aim to provide comprehensive support to help low- and moderate-income residents achieve financial stability.
The Paterson FEC, located on Van Houten Street, provides support on a broad range of financial topics, including reducing and managing debt, establishing and building credit, opening a bank account, creating a budget, buying a house, and more.
Our counselors have served over 530 residents since inception of the program.
Our Staff
NJCDC’s ability to accomplish its mission is inextricably tied to the dedicated staff who come to work each day to make a difference in the lives of the 4,000+ children and families we serve daily. We’ve been fortunate to attract staff members who are deeply committed to our work, understand the impact they have on
those we serve, and ensure we are creating opportunities to transform lives at every turn.
THANK YOU to all NJCDC staff — past and present — for all you have done these 30 years to help build an incredible organization.
Rob Long, NJCDC Co-Founder (Left)
Creighton Drury, Former NJCDC President
Our Future
While we have accomplished a great deal these past 30 years, there’s more to be done. Working hand in hand with neighborhood residents and leaders, we released our Neighborhood Plan in 2023, which lays out a shared vision and road map for the next decade. In the coming years, we’ll be busy with projects that include creating a Youth Arts Center at a historic church, turning an abandoned eyesore into affordable housing and retail space,
further expanding our Great Falls Youth Center, and working with the City of Paterson and others to transform Paterson’s Westside Park into much-needed recreational and community space.
Beyond more brick-and-mortar projects, we will continue to assess the needs of those we serve to develop and launch new programs to build a bright future for all Patersonians.
This new development will replace the former Dr.’s Cave Bar and Lounge at Spruce and Grand Streets with affordable housing and retail space, including possibilities for a restaurant or café
We’re planning the transformation of the historic First Presbyterian Church into a new youth performing arts venue
We’re expanding the Great Falls Youth Center to include an indoor gymnasium and even
A Special Thanks to Our Donors
We’re incredibly grateful that over these 30 years we’ve been able to raise a great deal of funding from those who believe in our work. We’re very proud that more than 90 cents of every dollar we raise goes directly to our programs and services. And we acknowledge the great trust that donors place in us to get things done.
While it’s simply not possible to name all of our donors, our largest funders over the years are listed on this page. To every single person, to every business or corporation, and to every foundation who has contributed to our mission — you have our gratitude and our commitment to do even more to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Mrs. Marilyn Clark
SJS Charitable Trust
NJCDC Board of Trustees
Martin Vergara II
Chair
Morgan Stanley
Anthony Coscia
Vice Chair
Windels Marx
David Berninger Treasurer
OceanFirst Bank
Carline Morrison Secretary BD
Donald F. Buckley
TD Bank
Christian Callegari McCarter & English
Eric Daleo Telos Advisers
Nita Das Financial Planning & Analysis Professional
Etta Denk Bank of America
Ulises Diaz Horizon
Robert Garrison Laborers’ International Union
Robert Guarasci, Ex-Officio
NJCDC Founder & CEO
Victor J. Herlinsky, Jr. Sills Cummis
William Pascrell III Princeton Public Affairs Group
Kenyatta Stewart, Esq. City of Newark
