The Hoboken Housing Authority has partnered with local non-profits and with City Hall to teach adults about computer coding, and to teach teens about artistic expression and the environment.

An organization called CODE IT is teaching a computer programming language called Python for adults aged 18-39 who live in the HHA projects.

Another group, Artis Love +Action, is teaching how to express social issues through various artistic media. The results will be shown at Mile Square Theater in August.

At the same time, Leo Pellegrini, director of environmental services for the city, has established a summer work program for Hoboken high schoolers to help with various citywide green infrastructure projects.

The Hoboken Housing Authority is the agency that oversees the federally funded low-income and senior buildings on the west side of town.

HHA Executive Director Marc Recko said, “I’ve been the director of the Housing Authority for about 18 months now, and there wasn’t much going on. A community like ours is so much more than brick and mortar. Residents need activities and job training and support. We are fortunate that a number of non-profits have been committed to working with our residents.”

Software engineering and other job skills

“We just graduated our first class of students,” said CODE IT Executive Director Da’Shone Hughey.

The 13-week program uses a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops, and projects to teach programming. According to Hughey, the program also teaches financial planning and resume writing, and students leave with a LinkedIn account.

“By the time students graduate from CODE IT, they will have a minimum of three projects in their software engineering portfolio,” said Hughey.

The free program takes students between 18 and 39 years of age “who are committed to reinventing themselves and taking ownership of their future.”

“You may not have gone to a private school or gotten a high school diploma, but just because you live in the Hoboken Housing Authority doesn’t mean you can’t learn,” said Hughey. “We want to help focused people get out of the cycle of poverty and better themselves.”

The course meets in a community room in 311 Harrison St. and accepts 12 students each round with a goal of about 40 students each year.

“If you aren’t coming to class and you don’t show up, if you are not committed, we will remove you and give your spot to someone else on the waiting list,” said Hughey.

Jalen Edward Miles, a 22-year-old resident of the Hoboken Housing Authority, just graduated from the course.

“I’ve always been semi-interested in computers,” he said. “This course has been very influential. I started the program and now I’ve been motivated. I got a job and I actually just got my high school diploma a couple of days ago. I learned how to think smarter and more effectively. A lot of it is just math and common sense.”

Hughey said, “We are actually trying to raise funds so that we can offer a stipend to the students who attend, and if you are late, we dock you $5 for every minute you miss. We want our students to take this seriously. This is work. This is their job.”

Hughey said the group hopes to raise about $300,000 through a GoFundMe page and an upcoming fundraiser that’s being planned.

“We are doing good work but we are running on fumes. We need help,” said Hughey.

Hughey said he got a call on Monday from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will send Community Information Officer Johnson Joy to observe the course and speak to the students.

The next course is slated to begin Aug. 21 and applications can be found online at www.code-it.tech. To donate to Code It go to https://www.gofundme.com/codeithoboken.

A camp for self-expression

Artis Love +Action is a New York City based non-profit started by Hoboken resident Namibia Donadio who will bring her program to her hometown for a two-week camp starting July 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The camp, for 20 children aged 12 to 18, aims to create a platform of artistic expression for Housing Authority residents.

“I think art is an equalizer,” said Donadio. “I think the ability to think critically about your world in a place where you can express those thoughts freely is truly amazing.”

The two-week camp will utilize theater, photography, poetry, and chorus, for this expression.

“This is a social awareness program where the point is to create pieces that express what they think about the world around them and how to impact the now, their present,” said Donadio.

So far the free camp already has seven students signed up. All of them had to complete an application answering questions about how they feel about their world, impacting their everyday lives.

“Some said they feel there is no togetherness in the community, others said they wish to beautify the area around them, some had concerns with pollution, or needing more youth activities, and others said they wished they could change where they lived,” said Donadio.

The camp will end with a showcase at the Mile Square Theater.

“We are inviting the community to come and attend and hear what they have to say through their own words,” said Donadio.

“I don’t hope to create or help the next generation of artists, I hope to help young people remember their power and give them the opportunity to reconnect their identities with their community and families and help give them the language and medium to express themselves,” said Donadio.

According to Donadio the program will utilize donated materials, space at the housing authority, and professional artists who have donated their time to teach. But Donadio is still looking to raise about $15,000 to help provide the artists with a stipend and offset some of their costs.

To apply for the camp, go to https://www.facebook.com/ARTisLoveandAction/

To donate to Artis Love + Action go to https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/profile?id=15588.  

Green infrastructure training

The summer green infrastructure programming for high school aged students has finished its second week, according to Pellegrini.

Residents discussed such a program in February after a teen resident of the Hoboken housing authority was killed in his home, allegedly by acquaintances from Jersey City. Residents at the time said there were not enough programs for youths.

The five-week program ends Aug. 10 and will train 48 high school aged students on green infrastructure and broader life skills such as mock interviews and financial planning.

“We’ve learned a lot about how to change the environment and take care of it.” – Iris McGowen

“We took people with no regard of their past job experience,” said Pellegrini. “We were hoping for about 50 people to participate, but when we were doing the application process we had about 72 who were initially interested and have 48 who are now in the program.”

Pellegrini said, “They are showing up and learning about green infrastructure and how to maintain bio swells and rain gardens, but we also have several seminars for them on resume writing and financial literacy.”

The teens work 20 hours a week four days a week and get paid $8.50 per hour.

16 year-old resident Iris McGowan said, “We’ve learned a lot about how to change the environment and take care of it… We are trying to make things better. If we don’t take care of it no one else would. I actually have like a biology class tomorrow where they will teach us about flooding and stuff.”

Shakea Coleman of the Housing Authority, said “We are trying to help clean up and better the community. We are working all over Hoboken picking up trash and weeding.”

“I think it’s important they learn about green infrastructure and the impact storms have on Hoboken,” said Pellegrini. “It allows them to have a better understanding of how their area is affected and protected.”

Marilyn Baer can be reached at Marilynb@hudsonreporter.com

Man charged in Hoboken hit and run

According to a press release from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, a Jersey City man was arrested and charged in relation to two Hoboken car accidents which caused one pedestrian to be hospitalized and closed city streets.

On Tuesday, April 16, shortly before 3 p.m., Hoboken Police Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident that occurred on First and Bloomfield streets in Hoboken.

A black Honda Accord allegedly fled the scene and then allegedly struck a pedestrian in the area of First and Hudson streets.

Multiple parked vehicles were allegedly struck by the Accord before it came to a stop when it allegedly struck a building at 99 Hudson St.

The pedestrian, a 56-year-old male from Brooklyn, was transported by Emergency Medical Services to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was treated for multiple injuries to his lower extremities. He is in stable condition.

A second victim, the driver of a vehicle involved in the initial collision at First and Bloomfield streets, was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The driver of the Honda Accord, Oscar Moran, age 66, of Jersey City, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault by auto and third-degree assault by auto, and driving while intoxicated.

The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit is investigating this case with assistance from the Hoboken Police Department.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Historical walking tour announced

The Hoboken Historical Museum will serve as the host to a new series of architect- and archivist-led historical walking tours, as part of its “Greetings from Hudson County: A Postcard History Then and Now” exhibition.

The tours celebrate May as National Preservation Month and are co-organized with the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission.

The tours will provide an overview of Hoboken’s historic churches and public buildings, as well as the various architectural styles that make up the fabric of Hoboken’s residential streetscapes, from worker housing and cold-water flats to modest and grand single-family homes.

Tour dates are April 28, May 19, and June 30. Each date covers a different section of Hoboken.

Advance registration is required, because each tour will be limited to 20 people. Each tour will last about two and a half hours and will take place rain or shine. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Hoboken Museum members).

For more details on the tours’ itineraries visit hobokenmuseum.org.

 Refugees welcomed in proclamation by Stevens student government

The Student Government Association at Stevens Institute of Technology passed a proclamation this week declaring that Stevens Institute of Technology welcomes refugees.

The resolution states, “The 106th Senate of the Student Government Association and students of Stevens Institute of Technology welcome refugees and declare their support for the resettlement of refugees no matter their religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or country of origin, in Hudson County and call upon other New Jersey communities to join them in supporting a stronger national effort to resettle the world’s most vulnerable refugees.”

The Church World Service and other resettlement organizations have settled more than 5,000 refugees in New Jersey since 2007 from more than 25 countries, including Sudan, Iraq, Burma, and Somalia.

Nasir Montalvo, the SGA Senator who proposed the proclamation, said: “Places of higher education have a responsibility to their students to protect them and provide them with the tools necessary to succeed. That being said, I think this proclamation is an important step for Stevens to become a more inclusive community for all, and to stand with their community members who are refugees. I can only hope now that after the document makes its way through upper level administration, Stevens will take concrete actions to support the refugee community’s rights.”

As of April 15, 46 Refugees Welcome Proclamations have been passed by a state government, county governments, city councils, mayoral offices, and college and high school student governments.

“All of us can play a role by letting our elected officials in the city hall, state house and Congress know that we care about helping others,” said Ashley Houghton, tactical campaign manager at Amnesty International USA. “We want our leaders to support laws that help refugee families who have nowhere else to turn by welcoming them as neighbors.”

“Hoboken from Above” opening reception announced

 On Sunday, April 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. The Hoboken Historical Museum will host a free opening reception for its new Upper Gallery exhibit “Hoboken from Above.”

The exhibit will showcase Hoboken’s cityscape from above in photographs by Greg  Miller.

Miller has been an avid photographer since his early days as a reporter for the Bergen Record, when he calculates he shot upward of 3,500 photos each year on the job. Since then, he has spent 31 years in print publishing with Thomson Reuters, which moved his job from lower Manhattan to Hoboken in 2015.

The move to one of Hoboken’s waterfront buildings gave him a unique vantage point for viewing Hoboken’s cityscape from above. His exhibition, “Hoboken From Above” is the result of his adventures to high points all over town.

“I wondered what Hoboken would look like from the tops of some of the iconic buildings and began to ask people to allow me access to some unique places, like the bell tower of Saints Peter & Paul Church on Hudson Street,” he said.

The exhibit will remain on view through June 9.

The exhibit is supported by a block grant from the State/County Partnership program for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

 Hoboken author earns Christopher award

 Hoboken resident and author Dawn Raffel will receive a Christopher Award for The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved Thousands of American Babies, (Blue Rider Press/Penguin Random House).

It is one of 11 books to be honored on May 23 at the 70th annual Christopher Awards in New York.

The book tells the tale of Dr. Martin Couney who saved thousands of babies more than 100 years ago in world fairs.

Drawing on historic documents, original reportage, and interviews with surviving patients, Raffel tells the story of Couney’s mysterious carnival career, his larger-than-life personality, and his unprecedented success as the savior of fragile, tiny babies.

Raffel is a journalist, memoirist, and short story writer whose work has been widely anthologized. A longtime magazine editor, she served as Executive Articles Editor at O, The Oprah Magazine. She teaches creative writing at Columbia University and at Summer Literary Seminars. She also works as an independent editor.

The Christopher Awards were created in 1949 to celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.”

Visit www.christophers.org for more information about the awards. For more information on the book and Raffel read “The doc who saved premature babies-via the worlds fair” at Hudsonreporter.com

Hoboken launches Hydration Station Program

The Hoboken Hydration Station Program is an initiative by the Hoboken Green Team to reduce the number of single-use plastic water bottles in Hoboken. Participating local businesses (restaurants, cafes, bars, etc.) will now allow you to refill your reusable water bottle for free.

Look for a Hoboken Hydration Station sticker in the storefront window to identify participating businesses. For a full list of Hydration Stations visit www.hobokennj.gov/hydration. 

Businesses and schools invited to join composting pilot program

Hoboken and Community Compost Company offers free curbside pickup of food scraps services to local businesses and schools.

To learn more about free compost pickup, visit www.hobokennj.gov/compost.

Register for Spring Fling cleanup day

Members of the community are invited to join Hoboken’s third annual Spring Fling, a community-wide day of service dedicated to cleaning up Hoboken parks and public spaces.

Hoboken residents, businesses, and community groups work together on a hands-on, high-visibility service project.

Spring Fling will be Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For the first time this year, participants can register for the project that interests them most using VolunteerMatch. They can register as groups or individuals.

By registering through VolunteerMatch, participants can learn about future volunteer opportunities with the city.

Community cleanup projects may include mulching tree pits; planting; weeding; painting benches, railings, or other public areas; and removing debris from public property.

More than 500 residents participated in 34 projects in the 2018 Spring Fling.

To register and for more information, visit:www.hobokennj.gov/springfling.

College and graduate students can apply for cybersecurity program

On Friday, April 5 a national cybersecurity program, Cyber FastTrack, designed specifically for undergraduate and graduate students, was launched by 25 governors to encourage more young people to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

Participants need to be at least 18 years old and be registered at a regionally accredited community college, four-year college or graduate school to qualify.

Undergraduate and graduate students who want to participate in the free program must be at least 18 years old and registered at a regionally accredited community college, four-year college or graduate school to qualify. The program awards top scoring participants with scholarships to advanced cybersecurity courses, with a total prize value of up to $2.5 million to win.

The program is delivered online so that students can complete it alongside their other studies.

The program awards top scoring participants with scholarships to advanced cybersecurity courses, with a total prize value of up to $2.5 million to win.

The program consists of three stages, CyberStart Assess, CyberStart Game and CyberStart Essentials. Each stage features a series of digital challenges that are designed to introduce participants to important concepts in the field of cybersecurity.

When registered, participants will be sent a link to the first stage, CyberStart Assess, which consists of a series of questions that measure problem-solving skills and the potential for a career in cybersecurity. The second stage, CyberStart Game, involves tackling more than 200 real-world challenges, including identifying security flaws and uncovering a cyber criminal’s digital trail. Finally, CyberStart Essentials will build on these foundational skills while working through exercises, quizzes and interactive labs.

To register for the program, undergraduate and graduate students need to sign up here: https://www.cyber-fasttrack.org/. 

Hoboken hires city engineer and head of Office of Constituent Affairs

Mayor Ravi Bhalla has hired resident Caroline Caulfield as the head of the Office of Constituent Affairs and Kimberli Craft as the city engineer.
Both positions are full time. Caulfield will earn $55,000 and Craft will earn $125,000 in their new roles for the city.
The city last had an office of constituent affairs under Mayor David Roberts’ administration in 2009.
Caulfield is a fourth-generation Hobokenite. Grandfather Patrick Caulfield was a building inspector for the city and grandfather Daniel Kiely was a police inspector.
Caulfield joins City Hall from U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s Newark office, where she served in the area of constituent relations and correspondence.
Bhalla said, “She has a love and knowledge of Hoboken that is key in helping address the needs and concerns of residents.”
Caulfield earned her B.A. in Political Studies and Human Rights from Bard College.
“I have tremendous pride in being from Hoboken, and I believe City Hall has an obligation to make our city more responsive to the needs of residents,” said Caulfield. “I look forward to serving all of the city’s residents, paying close attention to the needs of our lower-income residents and those who have been impacted by our city’s rapid growth.” Caulfield’s first day will be on Tuesday, May 29.
As for Craft, she will oversee the development and maintenance of city roads, utilities, and public construction.
Craft comes to Hoboken from Montclair, where she has served since 1999 as township engineer. She designed and inspected street and park improvement projects, performed traffic studies, and focused on traffic safety and efficiency.
“I am thrilled to welcome Kimberli Craft to our team,” said Bhalla. “I’m excited about bringing her vision and perspective to Hoboken, and residents will be happy to know that she has a stellar track record of completing public projects on time and on budget. I also want to commend the City Council members who encouraged me to consider bringing an in-house engineer approach to the city.”
Craft also owned her own engineering consulting firm and worked as an engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation and for Parsons-Brinerhoff, now known as WSP-USA. Craft received her Master in Public Administration from Rutgers University and her B.S. in Civil and Urban Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Craft’s first day will be on Tuesday, June 5.

Hob’art Gallery presents a new exhibit

Hob’art Gallery presents the new exhibit “Captured Moments” at 720 Monroe St., an exhibit of traditional and fabric mediums by artists Lily Zane and Donna L. O’Grady. They experiment with oil paintings and fabric-based cut & stitched art.
The exhibit will be on display from Friday, May 18 to Saturday, June 16. A reception to meet the artists will be held on Friday, June 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. 5 p.m. and by appointment.
In their pieces, the artists depict memories of moments in time, places they’ve been, and conversations they’ve heard. The thread of abstracted realities and “other worldliness” is immediately apparent although each artist executes her ideas with a different technique. Zane will exhibit her fabric and stitch artwork, and O’Grady will exhibit her oil paintings on tin and canvas.
Gallery information can be obtained on the website www.hob-art.org and from the Director France Garrido (201) 319-1504 or director@hob-art.org.
Free parking is available on the side of the building on Seventh Street between Jackson and Monroe streets.

Elysian Charter School celebrates 20 years

Elysian Charter School will celebrate its 20th year as a school with a block party on Sunday, May 20. The party will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1460 Garden St. and all are invited to attend.
The party will include an honor ceremony at 3 p.m. as well as an inflatable obstacle course, food trucks, live music, school tours, the premier of “The Elysian Movie,” and fun activities sponsored by local businesses.

Memorial Day Parade will be Wednesday

The 120th Hoboken Memorial Day Parade will take place on Wednesday, May 23. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall at 94 Washington St. American Legion Post 107 has organized the parade.
This year’s Grand Marshall will be Michael DePalma, a decorated U.S. Army Captain who served with the Third Infantry Division & the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom He is currently a detective with the Hoboken Police Department.

Hoboken Charter names Joanna Weintraub principal of Upper School

Hoboken Charter School (HCS) announced last week that Joanna Weintraub will assume the role of Upper School principal starting in July 2018.
With over twenty years of school experience in both instructional and leadership roles in public and independent schools, Weintraub will bring HCS invaluable experience she has acquired in her diverse educational background.
She has worked at The Chapin School and Town School in New York and Kaplan Cooperative Preschool and Elysian Charter School here in Hoboken.
Weintraub received a B.A. from Yale University and then went on to complete her M.S.Ed. at Bank Street College Graduate School of Education and more recently her M.A. in Educational Leadership at Montclair State University.
A long-term Hoboken resident, Weintraub is committed to serving her community and served on the Mayor-Elect Transition Team Education Committee last year and was Chair for the United Synagogue of Hoboken’s Star of Israel 100th Anniversary Youth Activities.
“I look forward to contributing to the upper school’s continued development as a leader in service learning,” said Weintraub.
HCS Executive Director Deirdra Grode said the school engaged in an extensive search to find the right person to lead the upper school community.

Waterway ferry additions and discounts on Fleet Week, Memorial Day weekend

All uniformed military personnel and veterans with identification can ride for free on NY Waterway ferries during Fleet Week from May 23 to May 29.
Kids under 12 years old ride free on all ferries between New Jersey and Manhattan from Saturday, May 26 through Memorial Day, May 28.
New $7 downtown weekend ferries will launch from Port Imperial and Hoboken on Saturday, May 26.
Thousands of sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will be in Manhattan for Fleet Week New York. Hosted nearly every year since 1984, Fleet Week New York offers ship tours, musical performances, athletic competitions, interactive World War II displays and other events – including a Memorial Day ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
For more information, visit nywaterway.com/Fleetweek or call 1-800-53-FERRY.

The OLG FunFest will take place June 2-3

The 13th annual OLG FunFest will take place the weekend of June 2-3 at Church Square Park.
“OLG’s Funfest is one of Hoboken’s best summer events — with activities for the whole family,” said Chris Gizzo, chair of the event. “Every year, over 100 parishioners look forward to organizing the event and bringing the community together.”
NiteFest will take place on Saturday June 2 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. when the parking lot next to Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 400 Willow Ave., will be transformed into The Thirst Mony, an outdoor biergarten. Visitors will be able to enjoy craft beers, sangria, music by DJ Tim Nelson, a variety of food, a tricky-tray featuring Mets tickets, the used book sale with interesting finds and games of chance for the adults plus activities for the kids.
This year’s NiteFest special guest is “Magic by Vincent.” Magician Vincent Gigante will mesmerize all with his sleight of hand.
To cap off the fun, the OLG Cornhole Tournament returns for a second year. Sponsored by Willie McBride’s, the tournament begins at 6 p.m.
Teams can register in advance by sending an email to olgcornhole@gmail.com. There is a $20 entry fee per team – and participants must be 21 years old. The winner will receive the Willie’s Cup and a free happy hour at Willie McBride’s.
On Sunday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the festival continues. Children will enjoy pony rides, face-painting, bouncy houses and an inflatable slide, and there will be various vendors and a 50/50 raffle. The FunFest welcomes Caricaturist James Monaghan, who will create personal portraits from noon to 2 p.m.
Proceeds from the NiteFest and FunFest will go toward the restoration of Our Lady of Grace Church. Listed on the U.S. and N.J. Register of Historic Places, the church features paintings and vessels gifted by European royalty.
Tours of the church will take place at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Following each tour, a concert will be presented by Our Lady of Grace Music Director Kathleen McNally, who will be playing on the historic and majestic custom-built 1909 Wirsching Grand Organ.
The Funfest is held rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the bouncy houses, face-painting and children’s activities will be held in Our Lady of Grace School next to the church.
Admission to both the NiteFest and FunFest is free. For more information, see the Our Lady of Grace FunFest website at: http://www.olgfunfest.com.

Mayor signs executive order for paid parental leave

Mayor Ravi Bhalla signed an executive order on Wednesday to ensure the full salary of city employees on parental leave by supplementing weekly wages provided through New Jersey Family Leave Insurance.
The state insurance program pays up to two thirds of a person’s salary with a cap at $637 per week. Bhalla’s executive order will have the city make up the difference, allowing city employees to receive their full wages while on parental leave.
Anna Seguinot, the legal secretary in Hoboken’s Office of Corporation Counsel, is expecting her first child and was present for the executive order signing.
“I want to thank Mayor Bhalla for signing this executive order,” said Seguinot, “as it now allows me to focus on being a new mom and not on whether I am going to be able to pay my bills during my maternity leave.”
Ryan Sharp, director of Transportation and Parking, is expecting his second child and was also present.
“It was tough after our first child, trying to cobble together vacation and sick time to care for my newborn,” said Sharp.
To be eligible, a person must have served as a full-time city employee for at least one year at the time of applying for Paid Parental Leave. The employee must also be approved for the Family Medical Leave Act or the New Jersey Family Leave Act as well as the Family Leave Insurance provision of the NJ Temporary Disability Benefits Law or subsequent amendments, and they must not have used this benefit within a 12-month period.

Christ Hospital hosts heart and lung seminar

CarePoint Health-Christ Hospital will hold a free seminar about dealing with heart or lung disease as part of its Lunch & Learn Series from noon to 1:30 p.m. on May 22. Attendees will learn how to better manage congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Proper nutrition will be discussed. Those wishing to attend should preregister by emailing Holly.Goroff@CarePointhealth.org or Nancy.Aleman@CarePointHealth.org. RSVPs are requested no later than the morning of May 21.
The seminar will be held at Christ Hospital, 176 Palisade Ave., Jersey City. Anyone seeking additional information may call Aleman at (201) 341-1310.

The Provident Bank Foundation gives grant to WomenRising

WomenRising, Inc. will receive $7,500 in funding to its Workforce Development & Digital Literacy Training Center to address barriers and access to employment for women in Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, and Hoboken.
The center provides wrap-around services for women by addressing employment needs such as internet and computer access for job search and placement, and by addressing personal needs through their domestic violence services, youth and family services, and permanent supportive housing.
This is one of more than $200,000 awarded to projects and programs throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania by the Provident Bank Foundation (PBF).
A major grant funds projects and/or programs that address one or more of PBF’s funding priority areas – community enrichment, education and health, youth and families. Major grants provide between $5,000 and $25,000 in funding, and support organizations that have identified an immediate need in the community and the individuals they serve.
“The level of diversity and depth of the organizations and programs selected for this year’s first cycle of Major Grants truly amazes us, and we are so proud to invest in these initiatives,” said Jane Kurek, executive director, The Provident Bank Foundation. “The foundation looks forward to further developing such collaborative partnerships which will give way happier, healthier and safer communities.”