Hello Sheila, and Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter!

As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, we have so much to celebrate at Josephine’s Place—especially our 21st anniversary! That’s right, we’ve spent over two decades empowering women in our community to embrace their journeys and become the incredible women they wish to be.

This season is bursting with excitement! We’ve welcomed new funding opportunities, launched a dynamic entrepreneurship program, and honored the vibrant traditions of Hispanic Heritage Month. And the festivities don’t stop there! Mark your calendars for our Annual Fall Celebration on November 20, 2024—celebrating good people doing good things in our community!

Join us as we reflect on the amazing achievements from this summer and look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. There’s always room for one more at Josephine’s Place—let’s grow together! Keep reading to discover all the wonderful things we’ve been up to and what’s in store for the future!

Sheila Casey, Executive Director

EMPOWERING CHANGE

Josephine's Place is one of five local non-profits that received a generous Local Impact Grant from NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU, and Comcast NBCUniversal!

We are proud to announce that Josephine's Place is a winner of The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation’s 2024 Local Impact Grants Challenge. The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation is granting $2.5 million this year to non-profits that are strengthening our communities.

By winning this competitive grant, we hope to continue strengthening our community. Grant programs like this help us achieve our mission to educate, enrich, and empower women in their journeys to becoming the women they desire by driving our local communities forward and fostering a culture of equity and inclusion. We will use the funding to add instructors to meet the growing demand for ESL and computer training classes. Funding will also purchase various programming materials such as books, learning materials, handouts, notebooks, and more.

"We are thrilled to receive this award and regional recognition," said Executive Director Sheila Casey. "Our services can now be expanded and our women will benefit greatly. We cannot thank NBC Universal enough." This grant is more than an award to our program - it is a celebration of our mission and we are very happy to share this exciting opportunity for growth.

Other award recipients include Rebuilding Together Long Island, City Living NY, Children of the City, and INTEMPO. Further information may be found here .

Healing Hearts Through The Arts: A Celebration of Resilience and Hispanic Culture

On October 3, the incredible women of Josephine's Place took center stage at the Snyder Academy, captivating us all with a powerful exploration of healing through art! This vibrant event blossomed from our music therapy group, led by Maria Politano. Together, these talented women showcased their remarkable resilience and the rich tapestry of their Hispanic cultures.

From the rhythmic beats of Colombia to the heartfelt melodies of Peru and the festive spirit of Mexico, the evening was an outpouring of creativity. We were treated to beautiful folk songs, nostalgic pop hits, moving poetry, expressive spoken word, and energetic dance performances that left us in awe.

It was an unforgettable experience, and you can watch the full video here!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated cast, amazing volunteers, supportive staff, and all the friends of Josephine's Place. Your contributions made this night a truly magical celebration of community and culture. This program was made possible in part by the 2024 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

Watch the Performance

Envisioning Entrepreneurs:

Building Her Future

Workshops, through the Envisioning Entrepreneurs Program in collaboration with Rising Tide Capital's Community Business Academy, are underway to help women start their businesses. We are already supporting 24 women through this incredible program.

We have also featured a workshop held by Michelle Roncal that stressed the importance of the Internet to today's business climate. Upcoming workshops include creating an online platform, budgeting, vision boards, and strategic planning for capital investments.

Support for this program is provided by the Citizen's Bank Foundation, Westfield Service League, and the Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation.

Fall Programs — What's Ahead!

We’re off to a fantastic start this season with some amazing trips and activities! Recently, we celebrated the Fall Festival at the Great Swamp Refuge and joined the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth for the inspiring Saint Vincent's Day of Service. Plus, we’ve launched two new workshop series focused on entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

We have an exciting lineup of classes and workshops designed to boost your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness! Join us for arts and crafts, a six-week parenting workshop with Bayway Family Success Center, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Meditation by Heart & Mind Elizabeth, yoga, and much more.

Don’t miss out—check our calendar and follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Check Out October's Calendar

Women of Josephine's Place at Saint Vincent's Day at Convent Station, Morristown, NJ

Josephine's Place at the Friends of Great Swamp Fall Festival, Basking Ridge, NJ

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

On Wednesday, November 20, we’re excited to host our 21st Annual Fall Celebration at Hanover Manor in East Hanover. This event is our largest fundraiser, supporting our vital programs that educate, enrich, and empower women. This year’s theme, "A Place of Belonging... Feels Like Home," promises an evening filled with warmth, community, and connection.

We’ll honor the life of Perry Herwood with the Mother Josephine Marie Humanitarian Award, presented to Maureen Herwood, Cecilia Cunningham, and Pattie Cunningham. We’ll also recognize the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth for their 165 years of service with our Spirit of Caritas Award. Additionally, Home Power Yoga will be celebrated as an Outstanding Community Leader, and we’ll recognize Carmen Hernandez, an artist and dedicated participant at Josephine’s Place, for her contributions.

The evening will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 6 pm, a delicious dinner, a silent auction, a 50-50 raffle, a tricky tray, a wine pull, and our first-ever AMEX gift card raffle!

There are many ways to contribute: generous sponsorships help support our essential programs, donations of products or services for the silent auction are greatly appreciated, and advertising in our Gala Ad Journal (both print and digital) will be distributed at the event and on our website.

We hope to see you on November 20! For more information, please check the links below.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Ad Journal

Dinner & Raffle Tickets

Our Honorees

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS AT JP!

Summer was jam-packed with exciting activities, from family movie afternoons and arts and crafts sessions to museum and beach outings. We made sure to prioritize the needs of our women and their families every step of the way.

We enjoyed some unforgettable experiences this summer. Thanks to East Coast Warehouse, families had a fantastic time at a Staten Island FerryHawks game. We also celebrated the 4th of July with a joyful barbecue, made even sweeter with Italian ice sponsored by Councilwoman at Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste. Our Family Arts and Crafts sessions, organized by Urban Inspiration Company, brought out the creativity in everyone, making this summer truly special!

As summer drew to a close, we partnered with local churches and generous individual donors to prepare over 60 children for the upcoming school year. A heartfelt thank you goes to Holy Trinity of Westfield, The New Life Fellowship Ministries, Urban Inspiration Foundation, Rose Melilo, and Alyssa Lopez for their incredible support. The children had the opportunity to choose their backpacks and fill them with essential supplies!

Beach Day Bliss! The women and children of Josephine's Place enjoyed a sunny day at Ocean Grove Beach before indulging in delicious ice cream at Day's Ice Cream Shop.

First Ever Family Barbecue! Celebrating 4th of July at Warinanco Park where we shared food games, and family scavenger hunt with prizes!

Back to School Ready! We helped more than 60 students were able to select their own backpacks and fill them with all of their essentials on their school supply lists.

Josephine's Place was able to attend a Staten Island FerryHawks game thanks to our friends at East Coast Warehouse!

New Citizens

Huge congratulations to our newest U.S. citizens—Mirian Araujo and Maria De Silva! We also have new students who have submitted their applications to take the test!

Thanks to their dedication and the coursework at Josephine's Place, they're fully prepared to embrace their new rights and responsibilities, including voting on November 5!

A special shoutout to Iris Rubio for her unwavering support in helping our women achieve their citizenship dreams!

Iris Rodriguez and her cohort of aspiring United States citizens. Classes offered on Thursdays at 4:00 pm

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

In September, Josephine's Place had the honor of hosting the Port Authority of NY NJ as they came together to honor the victims of 9/11. We want to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude for their incredible volunteer efforts and the lasting impact they made in our Robbins Room.

The dedication shown by the Port Authority team was truly inspiring. They not only contributed their time but also their compassion, helping to reimagine our space in a way that honors the lives lost on that tragic day. Their work has fostered a beautiful spirit of benevolence and community within our center.

The women of Josephine's Place have already begun to share their love for the transformed Robbins Room, which now radiates a sense of tranquility and hope. This reimagined space serves as a reminder of the strength of community and the power of coming together for a meaningful cause.

We are profoundly grateful to the Port Authority of NY/NJ for their commitment to our mission and for bringing a renewed sense of purpose to our center. Thank you for helping us create a space where hope and healing can flourish!

You Can Get Involved Too!

Inspired by the Port Authority's dedication? You can get involved in our volunteer opportunities at Josephine's Place. Whether it’s helping with events, organizing activities, or contributing your skills, every effort makes a difference.

Reach out to us to learn more about how you can lend a hand and support our mission. Together, we can continue to foster a welcoming environment that uplifts our community. Your involvement could be the spark of hope someone needs!

Learn More

Josephine's Place

A sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

622 Elizabeth Avenue

Elizabeth, NJ 07206

908-436-0099