‍Newark, NJ-October 29, 2024—Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Chief Sustainability Officer Nicole Hewitt-Cabral today announced the 2024 recipients of the Love Your Block Program, which empower residents to establish innovative, community-driven projects that beautify and revitalize their neighborhoods. Through mini-grants of up to $5,000, the program inspires grassroots solutions to environmental challenges, making Newark’s neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more vibrant.

“Because our neighborhood environments both reflect and amplify our thoughts and feelings, what they look like and how they contribute to our quality of life are a central aspect of our community wellbeing,” said Mayor Baraka. “Our impact on our block, and our block’s impact on us, is a two-way street that requires our best imagination, creativity, and accountability. I’m proud of and grateful for the Newarkers awarded these grants, who are meeting that challenge as responsible residents, and showing their love for one another.”

This year the City of Newark’s Office of Sustainability received a record number of applicants, and made awards to the largest amount of community organizations since the Love Your Block program began in Newark in 2019. This year, the City of Newark is awarding 29 projects across all five wards. The new initiatives range from community garden expansions, vacant lot transformations and landscaping for beauty and safety, to pedestrian and pet waste disposal receptacles, and signage improvements.

“The excitement we have seen around the Love Your Block Mini-grants Program is a testament to the power of what is possible when residents work together with neighbors and their local government to solve problems they are encountering in their communities,” said Ms. Hewitt-Cabral. “By providing support and resources directly to community groups, Love Your Block empowers residents to play a central role in moving Newark forward.”

The Love Your Block program strengthens connections between residents and city leaders, building a foundation for long-term community collaboration. Love Your Block cultivates social cohesion and collective action, with volunteers taking pride in their role in enhancing public spaces and improving quality of life. As Newark continues its efforts to revitalize neighborhoods, the Love Your Block program remains a key initiative in empowering residents to lead innovative, environmentally focused projects that contribute to a healthier, more resilient city.

2024 Love Your Block Awardees:

1. Abbotsford Artisans for Autism Collaborative (West Ward)
2. Abbotsford Neighbors (West Ward)
3. Bridging the Blocks Association (South Ward)
4. Brothers Building a better Nation (Central ward)
5. Circle of Life Shelter (South Ward)
6. Clark Street Block (North Ward)
7. Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (Central Ward)
8. Mount Prospect Heights Community Garden (North & Central Ward)
9. Northwest Developers (North Ward)
10. Pine Grove Center (West Ward)
11. Push Healing & Helping Together (West Ward)
12. South Ward Youth Landscapers with Weequahic Park (South Ward)
13. STEAM URBAN Farms & Gardens (North Ward)
14. Urban Agriculture Cooperative (South Ward)
15. Street Sweepers (South Ward)
16. Aisha & Harper Domestic Violence Foundation (South Ward)
17. Rz (Raise) The Flags (Central Ward)
18. Newark Community Street Team (South Ward)
19. I Blossomed in Newark (North, East, Central Ward)
20. Rare Gems (West Ward)
21. Girard and Randolph Place Block Association (South Ward)
22. OGBN (West Ward)
23. Greening the Streets in the Ironbound (East Ward)
24. Signage and Steam integration (South & North Ward)
25. Cherish your neighborhood (Central Ward)
26. Iglesia Christiana Emmanuel Inc. (North Ward)
27. Forest Hill Curbside Beautification Team (West Ward)
28. Sanford Place Block Association & Friends (West Ward)
29. Israel Memorial team (Central Ward)

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