Mayor Ras J. Baraka joined United Way of Greater Newark (UWGN) President and CEO Catherine Wilson today in a press conference to relaunch the Newark Thrives Youth Program Locator. The program is a comprehensive multi-lingual online tool designed to seamlessly connect young people and their families with a wide range of educational and recreational programs throughout the city. The press conference was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, located at 1 Avon Avenue.

The Newark Thrives Youth Program Locator now features an intuitive interface that allows users to filter search results by location, age, interest, cost, and availability, ensuring that every family can find programs that meet their unique needs. The platform provides detailed information about each program, including schedules, activities, enrollment procedures, and contact details. It also offers resources for children with special needs and supports multiple languages to accommodate all families in our diverse community.

“I want to thank the United Way of Greater Newark, Newark Thrives, the Boys &Girls Club of Newark, and the three young people who showed tremendous innovation in enhancing this platform,” said Mayor Baraka. “This tool will enable youth and families to engage in meaningful and structured environments to help advance their personal, cultural, and social capacity – all at the same time. It will also allow caring institutions to put their information on this website, so they can attach themselves to a pipeline of young people, who seek to enter their programs. They have created an opportunity to make this process easier for youth and their families.”

Last year, three youth, Jabree Christopher (Senior),Teniola Awonorin (Junior), and William Navarro (Senior) from Gateway Academy and Donald M. Payne Sr. Technical School worked with a website development team to improve the existing site.

Attendees today were treated to a live demonstration of the website’s features, showcasing how easy it is to navigate and utilize. Attendees experienced firsthand how the multi-lingual platform makes finding the right programs for children efficient and user-friendly.

“Today was a fantastic demonstration of what we can achieve when we come together to support our young people. The enthusiasm and positive feedback we’ve received are testaments to the vital need for such resources in our community. The Youth Program Locator is more than just a tool; it’s a bridge connecting our youth toa world of opportunity and support,” said Ms. Wilson.

With the successful launch of the Youth Program Locator, UWGN continues its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and support services for all children in Newark. The organization remains dedicated to collaborating with local communities to ensure that the platform remains an invaluable resource for families across the city.

For further details about the program, visit their dedicated page: Why YPL - Newark Thrives.

For photos, click here.

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