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As the year comes to a close and we
reflect on our journey together, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible collaboration and participation of
each member of our Newark community. We have achieved so much together, and it’s truly a source of pride to see how our collective efforts have blossomed. From tree planting initiatives to transformative Love Your Block, Newark! projects, the positive impact
on our community's quality of life is undeniable. We invite you to reminisce about your experiences with these initiatives—what memories stand out for you? Your stories and insights are invaluable as we strive for continuous improvement and growth.
We are excited about what lies ahead. After all, together, we can make anything happen—just like that time we all came together and planted a forest in a day… well, sort of!
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Stay connected with us on social media and subscribe to our email list to be the first to learn about our upcoming events and initiatives.
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The Office of Sustainability, Resilience & Community Transformation Highlights
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Rooted In Newark
This year, we proudly planted nearly 800 trees across the city, including new plantings along Martin Luther King Boulevard and in the Ivy Hill neighborhood during our volunteer tree
planting events.
We extend our sincere thanks to The Nature Conservancy for providing the trees and to our dedicated Sustainability Champions whose volunteer efforts made this work possible.
Love Your Block, Newark!
You spoke and we listened. We now have a revamped
Love
Your Block, Newark! that
prioritizes sustainability and resilience projects.
The application is now available, and we accept applications between February 14 and March 31, 2026, with decisions being made on a rolling basis. We will announce grantees on May
1, 2026, and the project implementation period is set to extend from May through September.
Additionally, new grantees will have the opportunity to engage in a mentorship program, connecting them with experienced partners who can provide valuable guidance. Grantees will
also have the opportunity to be integrated into OoSRCT's broader initiatives, enhancing community involvement and contributing to a healthier, more resilient urban environment for all residents.
Interested in applying for the 2026 Love your Block, Newark! grant or want to learn more? Join us at an upcoming virtual orientation session:
·
January 8 (12:00 - 1:00 pm),
click here
·
January 21 (6:00 - 7:00 pm),
click here
For more information contact the Love Your Block, Newark! Program Manager,
Valeria Angel.
Gen Green
The Gen Green team wrapped up a series of brainstorming sessions with local schools and after-school programs. The Gen Green team, our Youth Ambassadors, and the Gen Green Budget
Committee will develop the ideas they shared so that young people can vote on them early next year.
We will be announcing the winning ideas at a press conference on Earth Day 2026! Be sure to save the date!
Save the Date for our Chat & Chew
Join us for us for a
Chat & Chew—a relaxed, come-as-you-are conversation with the OoSRCT team. Over food and open dialogue, we’ll share our 2026 strategy and ways in which we can work together to create healthier, more resilient neighborhoods across Newark.
This is an opportunity to ask questions, learn about current initiatives, and share what matters most to you and your community. Whether you’re curious about trees, climate resilience,
food access, youth leadership, or ways to get involved, we’d love to connect and hear your perspective.
Food will be provided. All are welcome. Registration is required.
Click
here to register.
📍 Location: tbd
📅 Date: January 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 - 2:00 pm
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New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Alliance
We are honored to share that the Newark Office of Sustainability, Resilience, and Community Transformation was selected as a recipient of the 26th annual
Governor's Environmental Excellence Award
for climate resilience. This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the trust, partnership, and support of our community.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate us. Your confidence in our work—and in the vision we share for Newark—motivates us to continue showing up with
purpose, integrity, and care.
This honor belongs to the residents, partners, advocates, and City colleagues who collaborate with us every day to build a healthier, more resilient Newark.
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2025 has been a great year for sustainability in Newark! Thanks to your support, our initiatives have made a real impact — and there’s more to come.
Take a moment to reflect on the hard work and meaningful progress we’ve achieved together to make Newark a greener and more sustainable city for all.
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We proudly hosted Newark’s first-ever Sustainability UnConference—a two-day, community-driven event that brought residents, advocates, and partners together to co-create solutions
for a more resilient Newark. Featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, the UnConference centered community voices and generated actionable ideas that will inform the development of Newark’s new
Community Sustainability and Resilience Action Plan.
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On Earth Day, we proudly launched
Rooted in Newark, a citywide commitment to grow Newark’s tree canopy by thousands of trees over the next decade. Announced at a press conference in Sussex Park, the initiative reflects our shared
vision for a greener, healthier, and more resilient Newark.
To bring Rooted in Newark to life—and to celebrate community care for our neighborhoods—we published the City's first-ever
Urban Forestry Manual, streamlined our tree request process through
See Click Fix, and gave away around 350 free fruit trees to residents.
Neighbors, volunteers, and partners came together for meaningful moments of connection, including volunteer tree plantings on Avon Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and in
the Ivy Hill neighborhood, as well as at the Great Oaks Legacy Charter School through a special partnership.
Together, our community planted more than 80 trees through these volunteer events—and nearly 800 trees in total so far this year.
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We celebrated Newark’s commitment to building sustainable food systems at the
Nourishing Newark initiative's Brought to the Table event. The event also featured inspiring and welcoming remarks from Mayor Ras J. Baraka. Guests connected with local urban farmers, community
advocates, and sustainability leaders for enriching conversations over delicious food.
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To kick off Valentine’s Day, we shined a spotlight on our
Love Your Block, Newark!
grantees—past and present—whose passion for our city knows no bounds. This event served as a powerful reminder that when we come together to care for our community, we help Newark shine just as brightly as it’s meant to.
To further highlight the impact of the program, we hosted a mural unveiling for one of our 2024 grantees, Greening the Streets of Ironbound. The ceremony celebrated their hard work,
dedication, and the possibilities made achievable through the Love Your Block, Newark! grant.
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We launched
Gen Green, the nation’s first-ever youth participatory budgeting program focused on sustainability. Gen Green empowers young Newarkers to dream big, lead boldly, and help shape greener, healthier
communities across our city.
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Our 5th Annual CanoeMobile brought more than 400 fifth graders and 100 community members joined us to explore the wonders of the Passaic River and discover the incredible natural
resources available right here in our own community.
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Newark marked its first-ever Black Climate Week with two special community-centered events that celebrated sustainability, culture, and collective care. We kicked off the week with
a thrifting workshop at the Salvation Army, where participants explored the importance of sustainable shopping while uncovering some truly great secondhand finds.
We also hosted a live reading and community discussion of
We Are Each Other’s Harvest by Nathalie Baszile. Together, we reflected on the power of urban agriculture in Newark and its vital role in cultivating a more resilient, connected city—rooted in shared history, nourishment, and community.
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End of Summer Soiree
This past September we hosted our annual End of Sunset Summer Soiree at Greater Newark
Conservancy. Here guests enjoyed interactive games, live entertainment, delicious plant-based light bites, and the lush surroundings of the Greater Newark Conservancy.
We also unveiled our new name and logo. This refreshed identity represents our continued dedication to working alongside community members to take intentional, impactful steps toward
a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Newark.
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This month, we are proud to spotlight two Everyday Sustainability Champions—Ramadan and Liz. We first met Ramadan and Liz at our Arbor Day tree planting event, and since then, they
have become familiar and welcoming faces at our volunteer activities. Their continued commitment and enthusiasm help strengthen our work and inspire others to get involved.
Know someone making a difference in small but meaningful ways? Nominate an Everyday Sustainability Champion and sign up for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
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Sustainable Practices for Salting Your Roads and Sidewalks
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Here are some ways to lower the amount of salt used during this winter season:
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Don’t apply salt if the temperature is less than 16 degrees
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Don’t apply salt to concrete, gravel, or dirt driveways-try salt alternatives like gravel, sand, or cat litter to increase traction
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Use a salt-water solution instead of dry salt
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Use the right amount-Spread no more than one or one and a half cups of rock salt for every ten sidewalk squares or two parking spaces, with three inches
between each of the salt grains.
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Sweep up excess salt
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If your organization is interested in posting an upcoming event or current program in the
Newark Green Pulse:
1.
We must receive your request by close of business on the 15th of each month.
2.
We will post only one flier per organization in each newsletter.
3.
The event must be for the following month.
4.
We will be able to post three announcements per publication.
5.
Our has the discretion to not post flyers if it is not in line with the Office's goals/initiatives or in the event that we receive too many requests.
Please submit all flyers in PDF format to
sustain...@ci.newark.nj.us
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