NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci with our Paterson Family Center preschool students

April was an exciting month here at NJCDC. Spring has officially sprung, and our programs are busier than ever! Participants in our Paterson Youth Council started the month by going on our Sixth Annual Ivy League Tour — visiting the campuses of Harvard, Brown, and MIT — and ended the month by hosting a public forum for the candidates in Paterson’s upcoming municipal elections. Our teens also hosted a Financial Literacy Day event at JFK High School, teaching important financial skills to their peers and classmates! Our Neighborhood Help Center held an open house, program participants watched the eclipse, and students at our Great Falls Youth Center released a new book and music video.

We’re also looking forward to a great deal in the coming months! Our annual ‘Fore the Kids’ Golf Outing is just over a month away, on June 10, and we have many other exciting events planned throughout the spring and summer. I can’t wait for you to join us!

Robert Guarasci

NJCDC Founder & CEO

On April 3rd and 4th, over 40 teens from our youth development programs went on our 6th annual Ivy League Tour! The students visited Harvard, MIT, and Brown.

NJCDC’s Neighborhood Help Center (NHC) held an open house on April 5. Residents spoke about how the NHC has helped them in so many areas, including healthcare, housing, immigration, education, and more!

On April 8, many of our programs celebrated the historic eclipse, which reached 92% totality here in Paterson. Students at our Great Falls Youth Center took advantage of their new rooftop patio to have a barbecue and watch the eclipse!

On April 16, our Paterson Youth Council hosted Financial Literacy Day at John F. Kennedy High School. The teens taught important financial topics to more than 100 of their peers!

Over the past few months, students at our Great Falls Youth Center have been hard at work expressing their creativity. Students in our Music in Motion program wrote an original song and filmed a music video, while other students compiled their art and poetry into a new book. On April 19, we held a release party, celebrating the book and music video!

Spring has sprung, and cherry blossoms are blooming throughout the Great Falls Neighborhood!

Watch our Earth Day video to learn about the beautiful cherry tree outside the Community Charter School of Paterson.

On April 24, teens from our Paterson Youth Council hosted a public forum for City Council candidates. The students asked them insightful questions on how they would handle important issues facing the city’s youth, allowing community members to make more informed votes in May.

Our annual ‘Fore the Kids’ Golf Tournament is almost here! Save the date for Monday, June 10, and sign up for tickets or sponsorships today!