June 2023 Newsletter

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SWEA News & Updates

Message from

Our Founder & Executive Director

Welcome Summer!

Greetings South Ward Family,

June is the month with the longest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We celebrate Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness, Stroke Awareness and Healthy Vision Month. Remember our Health is our Wealth family.

The South Ward is experiencing so many challenges with our pending zoning laws and bad air from the Canada fires.

Unprecedented is the word that Canadian officials have used to describe the massive wildfire that has spread across nine of their 13 provinces over the past week. Wildfires are not unusual to Canada but the uncontrollable blazes have now spread thick smoke across many states in America and this is now a notable concern for us.

As an Environmental Justice Organization, the South Ward Environmental Alliance is very concerned for the safety of our residents and especially those whose health may be more compromised because of existing illnesses such as COPD or Asthma. Our elderly population is already at risk daily from constant diesel emissions and poor air quality from port related activities. Our children are also at higher risk of future respiratory infections.

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 air quality movement connect with us at www.Southwardea.com

To track the air quality in the South Ward, click here: Purple Air Map

Zoning Law sets fundamental rules for how property owners in our Ward can use and build out their land. They are used by Planning & Zoning Boards to approve or disapprove everything that is built. Let your voice be heard on these critical issues, Submit Public Comments by June 16th and call your South Ward and at-large Council Members to discuss the critical changes that will forever change our three neighborhoods.

Lastly, as we travel throughout our community, let’s remember our children will be enjoying their summer activities so have patience, drive carefully and watch out for them.

Peace and Love,

Kim Gaddy, Executive Director

Panama Trip

The Moving Forward Network (MFN) Global Ports exploratory committee led by Mark Lopez, East Yards for Environmental Justice traveled to Panama with a delegation from the South Ward Environmental Alliance, Clean Water Action and the Harambee House.

The exploratory committee was able to make connections with local activists, health officials, scientist and historians to engage in conversations to build global relationships. The large Panamax ships travel through the Panama Canal to our Ports on the East and West Coast. Panama is a melting pot of proud cultures. The Panama Canal is a waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

Also, it divides North and South America. The most alarming Environmental Injustice was the hundreds of trucks on the road, which were the dirtiest and oldest trucks from the United States. As Environmental Justice advocates we don’t want our pollution transferred to other communities or countries. We want Environmental Justice through mitigation of the cumulative impacts of pollution so no person, neighborhood or country bears the brunt of diesel pollution.

Upcoming Events:

Click here to fill out the SWEA citywide poll

Learn more about the Replacement Ordinance's proposed changes to every Newark neighborhood.

SWEA Monthly Meeting via Zoom at 6pm on Wednesday June 28th

Monthly Meeting Zoom Link
NO monthly SWEA meetings for the months of July and August

Starting July, the SWEA Office will not be open on Fridays until September

Juneteenth Celebration Festival

Mayor Ras Baraka and Councilman Pat Council are hosting a Juneteenth Event Saturday, June 17th, from 11AM - 7PM come visit the SWEA table, on Bergen Street and Lehigh Ave
See flyer for more information

ArtsXChange Make Music Day

Use this link to register for the ArtsXChange Make Music Day
June 21st @ Mildred Helms Park 6PM - 8PM
See flyer for more information

MATCH Mini Grant

UPDATE! The MATCH Mini-Grant Application deadline has been extended to JUNE 30, 2023.
See flyer for more information.

James Young honored as an Essex County Legend

In celebration of Older Americans Month, the Essex County Legends Award Luncheon was held on May 31st at the Robert J. O'Toole Community Center and two South Ward residents were honored as this year recipients.

Congratulations to James Young and Ihsan Ali for your tireless actions to improve the quality of life of our South Ward residents through your environmental justice and beautifying the block activities.

Clinton Hill Community Action Healthy Homes Expo:

Safer Homes for Healthy Families

There was an outpouring of residents who attended the Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) inaugural Healthy Homes Expo: Safer Homes for Healthy Families on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Clinton Hill Early Learning Center. It was a day of celebration for the community and to increase awareness of creating a safe home.There were face painting for the children, door prizes, raffles, games and free food for all who attended. There were also an array of other health and home services for residents.

The event included a Housing & Environmental Justice Panel discussion that was led by Danny Feliciano from La Casa De Don Pedro who addressed the health problems of lead based paint in older homes and the home weatherization program that is available for residents. Dr. Jayshree Kunta, Director for Inpatient Pediatrics at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center did a presentation on asthma and children and the perils that affect the quality of healthcare they receive due to outstanding circumstances. Kim Gaddy, Founder & Executive Director of SWEA addressed the environmental impacts of pollution and its connection to children with asthma and the rising death rates of cancers in our community.

Clinton Hill Community Action held an awards ceremony to recognize their Healthy Homes Ambassadors. We would like to congratulate Asada Rashidi, Environmental Justice Organizer for SWEA and Betty Crockett, Air Quality Monitoring Advisory Board Member for SWEA for both being honored recipients.

SWEA Senior Advisory Board Member Highlight:

Bettye Dickerson

The South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) is proud of the work that we continue to provide in our community and recognize the many people and partners that assist us in meeting our goals. This month we would like to highlight Ms. Bettye Dickerson, a Senior Advisory Board member representing the Weequahic section.

Ms. Dickerson, born in Augusta, Georgia moved to Newark, NJ in 1965 and has resided in the South Ward with her family since 1990. She attended Rutgers University where she studied business administration and sociology. She was employed as an administrative assistant for the prestigious law firm of Hughes, McCroy, Connell, Foley and Geiser in Newark, NJ and is now employed by the County of Essex working in the Registrar’s Office working in Deeds and Mortgages.

Ms. Dickerson, a true community leader, is always assisting neighbors, family and friends advocating for services, volunteering to help with needed projects or being that concerned individual as a listening ear. She wears many hats as a wife, mother, and grandmother, always ensuring that her family is nurtured and productive. She is the Democratic Leader for District 36 and is a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church. Ms. Dickerson recognizes that her leadership in the community allows her to use her platform to influence and educate her community on the plight that pollution is having on our community. She has seen the devastation that the environment is having on our community and its impact on trees dying in Weequahic Park, the air pollution from the airplanes flying over our homes and the effects of trucks and diesel fuel have on our lungs.

The pride of the South Ward is one of the contributing factors that made her choose to move to the Weequahic section. She said she heard of the “Mighty South Ward” and wanted to raise her family in such a historic community. There are many advantages that we have living in this community. She says the accessibility to the park, airport and neighboring towns are just a few, concluded Mrs. Dickerson.. We welcome her civic spirit, her love and willingness to serve our community and her advocacy for a cleaner and healthier neighborhood.

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