News from the Middlesex Chamber - Jan & Feb 2023

Member Spotlight: New Brunswick Cultural Center

The NBCC recently partnered with the City of New Brunswick and Middlesex County to honor the Police and Fire Departments for First Responders Day.

Strong community partnerships are at the core of the New Brunswick Cultural Center (NBCC) and its ability to provide Middlesex County residents with diverse and entertaining programs along with public art projects.


“We strongly leverage our partnerships on purpose; this organization is lean by design so we have the opportunity to involve the entire community,” explained Tracey O’Reggio Clark, interim executive director. “We rely on and support each other.”


Windows of Understanding, a community-building public art project that returned for its sixth year in early January, is just an example of how the NBCC and its partners help shape the cultural landscape in New Brunswick and beyond.


For this project, 18 non-profit organizations were paired with an artist facilitator to create original works of art that address issues related to building a healthy community: mental health, food equity, violence prevention, and women’s health. 


The works of art are on display at venues throughout New Brunswick - including the Middlesex County Regional Chamber office. Art is also displayed in nearby Highland Park, Metuchen and South Plainfield through April 1.


“Community wellness is front-and-center in the City of New Brunswick,” said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. “With New Brunswick being recognized as ‘The Healthcare City,’ we strongly support any effort to make our residents healthier and better-informed about access to healthcare. Windows of Understanding allows us to communicate this critical message.”


Windows of Understanding is presented in collaboration with the New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Rutgers, Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Highland Park Arts Commission, the Metuchen Arts Council and the South Plainfield Cultural Arts Commission. 


Participating Organizations: Brady – United Against Gun Violence; Middlesex County Center for Empowerment; Center for Great Expectations; Claymore Vets; New Brunswick Police Department; Elijah’s Promise; For KEEPS program, Saint Peter’s University Hospital; Highland Park Gives a Hoot; NJ Interfaith Center for Cancer Care; Maternal Wraparound Program, UBHC; Mental Health First Aid, Rutgers University; Metuchen Police Department; Moms Demand Action; New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association; REPLENISH; Rutgers Student Food Pantry; South Plainfield Social Services Department; Traumatic Loss Coalition; and Women Aware.


Business hosts include: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center, The Yard @ College Ave, New Brunswick Parking Authority, Harvest Moon Restaurant, Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Brunswick City Center, Rite Aid of Highland Park, Johnson & Johnson, Barca City, Eveyln’s Restaurant, Taco House, Mr. Subs, and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NJ Properties.


Programming partners include: New Brunswick Public School, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, First Presbyterian Food Pantry, New Brunswick Free Public Library, Mental Health First Aid, Metuchen Human Relations Commission, REPLENISH, Above Art Studios, Civic League of Greater New Brunswick, Women Aware, Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities at Rutgers University, Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance, and Zimmerli Art Museum.


The launch of this social justice public art exhibition is being led by a new component under the violence prevention issue Community Policing through Youth Engagement. A six-paneled “Bridging the Gap” art piece was created at Barca City Café & Bar by New Brunswick High School art teacher David Lago and 20 students from the New Brunswick High School Chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The student artists volunteered their time after school to create a mural that makes a positive connection between the youth and law enforcement.

The six-paneled “Bridging the Gap” art piece

“The Bridging the Gap mural is such an important piece of this year’s Windows of Understanding social justice public exhibition as it not only humanizes the relationship between youth and the police,” said O’Reggio Clark. “It also highlights the positive actions that are being done within the community that are not spoken about enough or may not be even known by the public.”

Students with David Lago and Capt. Michael Bobadilla at the 2023 Opening Reception.

The NBCC recently partnered with the City of New Brunswick and Middlesex County to honor the Police and Fire Departments for First Responders Day on October 28th with a mural right in front of the New Brunswick Fire Station, located at 93 Jersey Avenue in New Brunswick.

 

To celebrate Black History Month, NBCC is excited to partner with the Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, BIPOC@ MGSA, LLEGO (The LGBTQQIA People of Color Organization at Rutgers) and the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities at Rutgers University to host Windows of Understanding: Liberation Social on Thursday, February 16 at the Zimmerli, starting at 4:30 p.m. This festive soiree is celebrating BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities featuring the energetic vibes of DJ IZM 3000. Come sample delicious local food and network with local community partners. A guided tour of highlights from the Zimmerli’s newest collection will be open to all.

 

Want to get involved? Send NBCC a message on Instagram @WindowsOfUnderstanding, email WindowsUnderstand@gmail.com or call at 908 – 917 – 2862.

 

Learn more about the Cultural Center at www.NewBrunswickArts.org and on Instagram @ArtsNewBrunswick and on Facebook/NewBrunswickCulturalCenter.

Business Community Comes Together For 2023 Middlesex County Economic Outlook 

The 2023 Economic Outlook once again featured keynote speaker James Hughes, former dean of Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, at Middlesex College on January 24.


Hughes kept the crowd entertained and chuckling throughout his presentation, as he shared the good news and the bad news for New Jersey in 2023. Some positive news included gasoline price relief, a natural gas price plunge and a massive social security increase of 8.7%.

Connect with Local Leaders on February 15th

Join the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Government Affairs Committee for The Business of Government on February 15!


Featuring Panelists: James Polos, Executive Director of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority; Teri Jover, Business Administrator from the Boro of Highland Park and Frank LoSacco, Chief of Police of East Brunswick.

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at The East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road in East Brunswick

Click Here to Register

Join Us for the Mobility for All Conference

Tuesday, March 7, 8 AM-12 PM

Join the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Keep Middlesex Moving for the Mobility For All Conference, a forum addressing Safe, Sustainable and Equitable Transportation, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Professional Conference Center at ESCNJ, 1660 Stelton Rd. in Piscataway, NJ.


Featured Speakers

Enjoy Four 30-Minute Panels


  • Video Welcome from Congressman Frank Pallone
  • Moderators: Chris Gonda and Arlene Holt
  • Assemblyman Dan Benson
  • Ryan Sharp, Director of Transportation and Parking at the City of Hoboken
  • Erin Hill, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, NJ Transit
  • Hoa Wang, Associate Professor and Graduate Director
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University
  • Karen Alexander, NJTIP, Voorhees Transportation at Rutgers
  • Katie Ott Zehnder, Technology Department Leader Smart Columbus
  • Dave Lustberg, Arterial
  • Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento
Click Here to Register

Don't Miss the First Meet & Greet of 2023

Thursday, March 9, 5-7 PM

Join the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce for the March Meet & Greet on Thursday, March 9 starting at 5 PM at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick.


Enjoy complimentary light fare and a cash bar, while you make connections, build relationships, and expand your business with the best business community in Middlesex County.


The event will also feature a special behind the scenes backstage tour!

Click Here to Register

Give Back This Month With REPLENISH

Happening in February!


  • Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Superbowl Food Drive at Stop & Shop – sign up to volunteer or stop by and donate to our food drive!
  • Monday, February 20 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. - President’s Day of Service Volunteer Opportunity – contact me directly to sign up a corporate group of 5-10 people to work at our Distribution Center to help sort and bag food donations
  • Heart Themed Food Drive Flyer – conduct a Valentine’s Day food drive with your business, club, faith based or civic group and promote with our heart themed flyer that can be personalized in the center green section
  • Have a Heart Daily Giving Calendar – Use our attached daily giving calendar to inspire donations throughout the month of February
Click Here to Learn More

Mark Your Calendars

February Networking Breakfast

Join the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce for our February Networking Breakfast on Thursday, February 16th at The Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick.

Click Here to Register

Bernie Cohn Golf Classic

Save the date for our Bernie Cohn Memorial Golf Classic and 77th Annual Outing on Thursday, April 27, 2023, 7:30 AM at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township.

Click Here to Register
Have Some Exciting News to Share?
Submit A Promotion, News, Announcement or Upcoming Event

Members are encouraged to submit Promotions, News, Announcements or Upcoming Events to the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce by emailing thedailyupdate@mcrcc.org.


Submissions must include a brief summary and a copy-ready graphic, flyer or press release (PDF Only).


Postings may be featured in The Daily Update.

Welcome, New Members! Welcome Back, Returning Members!

Membership Reflects Central Jersey’s Growing Business Community


The MCRCC is pleased to welcome new members to our ever-growing Central Jersey business community. We are also grateful to our returning partners, who have renewed their commitment to America’s greatest chamber!


Welcome, New Members!


Two Men and A Truck

Barbara Ungar, Esq.

Olympus Construction

Spherion Staffing & Recruiting

Lozito Law

Crisp Analytics

Renaissance Plaza Square Apts.

P.A.R.T.N.E.R.


Welcome Back, Returning Members!


New Jersey Business & Industry Association

Forsgate Country Club

Johnson & Johnson

Donald McDermott

Office Evolution Woodbridge

Lee and Garasia, LLC

Solar Landscape

Community Options Inc.

City Wide of Central NJ

K&K Accounting Systems

Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement

KSI Auto Parts

Atlantic Health System

Consortium Companies

I.B.E.W Local Union #456

Jersey Commercial Lending

VoiceNEXT

Share A Horse Inc.

Grant Engineering & Construction Company

Middlesex County Improvement Authority

Hermann Services

Courtyard by Marriott Princeton

CFO Strategies

First Bank - Somerset

Parker Health Group, Inc.

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