"A Message from the Mayor"

“Our children are often surrounded by centers of negativity in their communities every day, so we have to wrap our arms around them and give them hope,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “Each Center of Hope is designed to give our children positivity and counter the negative factors that they witness. This Center will embrace our children with special needs. This will also be a site for Municipal IDs, which are so vital to the community. We are working to make Newark a city we can all believe in,” said Mayor Baraka. This Division provides comprehensive recreational and cultural activities for the citizens of Newark.The Centers of Hope strive to be the leader in promoting community health and well-being through fun, higher learning, progressive and memorable experiences and activities for everyone. This Division identifies and implements activities and programs that will reinforce success oriented, character building attributes.

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There are currently 7 facilities throughout our city:

• The Club House
• Hayes Park West
• Leaders 4 life
• Marion Bolden Center
• Pennington Court Housing Complex
• Vince Lombari Center
• West Side Park