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July 2023 Newsletter

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SWEA News & Updates

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Message from

Our Founder & Executive Director

Welcome July!

Greetings South Ward Family,

As we begin to celebrate Black Family Month, Family Reunions and National Minority Mental Health Awareness month this is your opportunity to relax and enjoy family time. The summer months allow families to visit our parks, beaches, work in the garden and explore outdoor activities.

We wish you a safe and enjoyable summer. Live, Love, Laugh and we will see you in September!

Peace and Blessings,

Kim Gaddy, Executive Director

Harambee House

The SWEA team traveled to Atlanta Georgia to participate in the Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice, Southeast Regional Summit. The 5 day conference consisted of daily Tai Chi, Breakfast and Lunch, Keynote Speakers, Youth Track and breakouts sessions.


The topics included an International, Statewide and Local perspective on current and future priorities of the Environmental Justice Movement. EJ Activists and stakeholders from all the states in the EPA Region 4 were present. Kim Gaddy and Asada Rashidi were presenters for two workshops focusing on community organizing and solutions for Air pollution at Ports.


Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Mildred McClain charge throughout the conference was "Harambeeā€ Letā€™s pull together to build power to achieve Justice in our lifetime and save Mother Earthā€ The goal of the summit was to create a 10 year action plan to address the impacts of legacy pollution, cumulative health effects, climate change impacts and workforce development; jobs is the justice agenda.

South Ward Community Celebrates Juneteenth

The national holiday celebrating the emancipation of slavery in America ending in 1865 in the aftermath of the Civil War, resulting from the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation, was observed here in the South Ward on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Mayor Ras J. Baraka and South Ward Councilman Patrick Council co-sponsored a community street festival on Bergen Street where various community based organizations, health and wellness organizations, and city agencies staffed information booths distributing literature to residents on their community services. This event brought out a number of street vendors selling merchandise and an array of food trucks catering to diverse appetites. The children were treated to amusement and carnival rides.


The festival allowed families to bring their children out to this event to understand the history of this celebration and the significance of being free from being enslaved. The Juneteenth Street festival had an amazing program hosted by Rhenotha Whitaker from Clinton Hill Community Action. Entertainers, speakers, poets and a plethora of community leaders and activists were on the center stage. Kudos goes out to the team that brought this event together!

New Staff Highlights

Vanessa Campbell

Hi, Iā€™m Vanessa! I love animals and spending time with my family. I like to read, travel, swim and write poetry. I have the cutest little ESA dog whose name is Royal, and he always gives the best kisses and cuddles.ā˜ŗļøI am a team player, but I work very well independently also. Iā€™m easy going, and I like making new friends as well as expanding my resources and building professional relationships. Iā€™m excited to be a part of the SWEA family and I look forward to working with you. 

Pamela Koontz

My name is Pamela Koontz. I'm from Newark, New Jersey. Iā€™m excited to learn about the environment and what the status of our city is. I donā€™t want to live in a dying world. I believe everyone should have the best environment to live in, and that it makes a difference on your mental health. I enjoy painting, writing, and taking care of my plants Kanupa and Milo. I am going into my sophomore year at Lycoming College, I plan to major in Anthropology and Art History with a minor in Human Services. I love interesting facts, if you see me help me learn something new!

KC Campbell

My name is KC Campbel from Newark, New Jersey. I am a senior at Seton Hall Preparatory school.  I am a calm, collected person and hard worker. I work hard to try to become a better person every day. I am a very humble person. I donā€™t let success get to my head. But I do enjoy success and I appreciate those that help me. I am a bowler as well; being a bowler has taught me the value of hard work. Also, my career in bowling has given me a lot of insight on how to live my life. I try to be the best bowler I can be when I step out on the lanes. I am a caring and respectful person. I am always willing to help and support my teammates while I am bowling. I will go the extra mile to be successful in the classroom and on the lanes.  

Clean Water Action Warehouse Convening

There was a gathering of New Jersey environmental activists at the Warehouse Convening sponsored by Clean Water Action in Princeton, NJ on Saturday, June 24, 2023 to address the plight of warehousing and its impact on the environment in New

Jersey. The goals were to support the zero emissions campaign for warehouses, advocating for stronger policy and legislation through indirect source review, lifting up important element from the Office of State Planning Warehouses Guidance Document, and building a grassroot base of activist and diverse voices that work for change in the

sitting and operations of warehouses.


Tolani Taylor, Zero Emissions/Warehouse Organizer from Clean Water Action was the chief facilitator for this event. There were presenters that highlighted the data and the negative impacts on employees as well as the neighboring communities. In fact, warehouses are disproportionately located in Black and Latinx communities. According to the research, there are 1777 warehouses in NJ and 380,000 estimated

daily truck trips that serve warehouses statewide.


There were breakout sessions with the participants to address: Elections, Updating

Master Plans, Reduce Emissions & Traffic, Regional Public Role in decisions making

and Community Benefits Agreement.

Air Quality Alert

The Canadian Wildfires were still affecting Newarkā€™s air quality towards the end of June. The South Ward Purple Air Monitor locations readings on June 29th around 1:40pm were as follows:

  • Club Eclipse - 144
  • Clinton Hill Early Childhood Center - 140
  • Newark Beth Israel Medical Center - 142
  • Clinton Ave Firehouse (NJ54CC) - 139
  • Frelinghuysen Ave Firehouse (NJ7347) - 135

These readings are in the orange zone of the air quality index, meaning that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.


The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Action day for Essex County and several others in the state. An Air Quality Action Day indicates that dangerous levels of Fine Particulate Matter in the area may reach or exceed unhealthy standards. Sensitive individuals, including those with heart or lung disease, the elderly, and the young should limit strenuous activities and the amount of time active outdoors.


Here are 2 things that could help you when the air quality worsens;


  • Wear a mask, N95 are proven to help
  • Clean ventilation systems and use an air purifier system if you have one


Our environment has NO WALLS and we must be more aware and connected to staying safe and prepared. To learn more about the Environmental Justice movement and our better air quality movement connect with us at www.Southwardea.com



To track the air quality in the South Ward go to Purple Air Map.


If you need a mask or any other assistance, please contact us at 862-658-9573 or swea@southwardea.com.

SWEA Senior Advisory Board Member Highlight: Mary Darden

This month SWEA continues to recognize the amazing members who comprise our Senior Advisory Board. We are proud to spotlight one of Newarkā€™s community legends, Ms. Mary Darden, who has been a noted community and social justice activist in the State of New Jersey. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia and is a graduate of Norfolk State University and received her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University in Newark. She has been the recipient of numerous meritorious awards for her contributions to her community. Because of her extensive involvement not only in the civil rights movement, but also in Newark politics in community organizing, she has been regarded as an historian and respected community leader.


Mary Darden migrated to Newark in 1961 from the south, as did many other Blacks of that time to seek better opportunities and to begin her career. She was born into a hard working middle class family who valued education and upward mobility. Her first job in Newark was working as a social worker for the City of Newark. Mary Darden's career included working as a social worker for the noted Springfield Avenue Community School, a school whose curricula emphasis was on Black ā€œlife-styleā€. In addition, she served as the Director of Work World, Inc., a job readiness youth training program and the Director, Council for Airport Opportunity where she retired in 2008. Mary Darden was elected to the Newark Board of Education and served on many community advisory boards. Being a person with visual disability she also serves as an advocate for those who also share the same visual challenges as she does and works very closely with The NJ Commission for the Blind. She attends the Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church and is a member of the Motherā€™s Board.


Environmental justice and the health related illnesses that affect our community are extremely important to her. Being a resident of the South Ward she understands the environmental impacts it is having on the community. She believes having an intergenerational engagement would be viable in fighting collectively to advocate for healthier communities. According to Ms. Darden it is necessary to bring the youth and seniors together to share the history of Newark

and have the conversation on how to move forward in our fight for progress.


We certainly welcome Ms. Darden to our Senior Advisory Board and look forward

to her further commitment to our community.


These 3 Newark Seniors Are 'Legends' In Their Community

Announcements:

  • NO monthly SWEA meetings for the months of July and August
  • Starting July, the SWEA Office will not be open on Fridays until September

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