Public Invited to Attend the Series of Community Events April 10-14
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Division of Community Development (DCD)
to invite the entire community to join in the celebration of National Community Development Week, a
unique opportunity to highlight the valuable resources and services our community has to offer. Various
events will take place all week long throughout Jersey City.
DCD will host various events at various locations citywide with activities to provide a safe and inviting
space for the public to learn about the importance of community development and utilizing grant funding.
“Our partnerships with the community are the reason we have been so successful over the past ten years
and have achieved as much as we have in a relatively short time. While this is what we strive for yearround, this week, we are placing added emphasis on strengthening those relationships and supporting our
community’s direct needs for further progress,” said Mayor Fulop. “We're excited to celebrate the
achievements of our community and continue to build on the progress we have made together."
Jersey City will celebrate National Community Development Week from April 10-14, 2023, with a series
of events to raise awareness of the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Program, including:
1. April 10: Virtual Lunch and Learn Champion Chats: Honoring Community Heroes
2. April 11: Annual Action Plan Public Hearing: Voice your Vision Shaping Jersey’s Future
3. April 12-14: Nonprofit Crawl: Impact Journey: Discovering Pathways to Change
4. April 15: Unity in the Community: Celebrating Connections and Collaboration Block Party
To kick off the week-long celebration, Monday's private ceremony recognizes our outstanding community
members for their impactful work in the community, including Steve Cunningham representing Team
Wilderness, Roxy Arrojo from the Educational Arts Team, Max Benjamin of CARA Squared, and
Elizabeth Hurley with Northeast New Jersey, an affordable housing developer.
Tuesday’s public hearing allows residents to comment on
proposed recommendations for specific activities to be
undertaken by Jersey City. The three-day nonprofit crawl
will offer a unique opportunity to tour the facilities of
funded partners in different sectors, including Direct
Services, Affordable Housing and Construction, and
Nonprofit Partnership and Engagement.
Lastly, the Community Development Open Space event
will provide a space for nonprofits, stakeholders, and
partners to share information about their programs and
services, aiming to highlight the importance of CDBG in
the minds of those in Washington and increase program
funding.
Deja Anderson, Director of Community Development,
added, "Jersey City is proud to participate in National
Community Development Week and showcase the vital
work being done by our funded partners. Through our
programs in Direct Services, Affordable Housing and
Construction, and Nonprofit Partnership and Engagement,
we are working to improve the quality of life for all
residents in Jersey City. This week provides a unique
opportunity to bring attention to the importance of CDBG
funding and its role in strengthening our community."
Jersey City has been receiving CDBG funds from HUD for several decades, with the funds allocated to a
wide-range of important projects, such as affordable housing, public infrastructure improvements, public
services, and economic development initiatives.
National Community Development Week was created by the Council of State Community Development
Agencies in 1986 to bring national attention to the CDBG program through grassroots support, making it
a critical time for appropriations as work on the upcoming FY 2024 HUD funding bill will be in the initial
stages.
Jersey City invites everyone to join in the celebration of National Community Development Week to
showcase importance of community development in Jersey City and the impact it has on our most
vulnerable residents. For more information, please visit the DCD website.
