In brief
Location: 233 W. Market St., Newark
Serving: Greater Newark area.
Key members: Richard Rohrman, CEO; Fred Hunter, chief operating officer; Elizabeth Mbakaya, chief financial officer.
Origin
New Community Corp. is a best-in-class community development corporation, or CDC, that was founded in 1968 in response to the 1967 violent civil unrest in Newark by the late Monsignor William J. Linder (who marched in the famed Selma to Montgomery March with Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Rep. John Lewis) and an accomplished core group of Black community leaders and white allies, including Tim Still, Willie Wright, Bob Curvin, Joe Chaneyfield and Ken Gibson. New Community has since provided affordable housing, critical social services and continuous economic opportunities throughout each stage of community members’ lives.
Mission
NCC’s mission is to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.
Goals
NCC has pledged to double down on existing initiatives to close the asset gap and reduce inequality in health care, education, affordable housing and workforce development. In addition, leadership looks forward to building and deepening relationships with corporate social responsibility and social impact partners in the Newark area and beyond.
Long-term goals include renovating additional affordable housing units in Orange and Jersey City, launching a homeownership pilot program and upgrading facilities for New Community Career & Technical Institute.
Achievements
New Community has invested over $80 million in strengthening and revitalizing its affordable housing units for seniors, families and the disabled for the next 20 years, and, in doing so, was able to enhance its financial position and generate revenue to continue its mission.
The organization has also kept dollars circulating within the local economy by ensuring that more than 60% of its employees are Newark residents, including for its own security and environmental services teams at its more than 12 properties and 1,812 housing units in Newark, Jersey City and Orange.
Programs
NCC has grown to become one of the largest and most comprehensive community development organizations in the country, providing services ranging from housing and health care to education and banking services.
Included in the New Community network is close to 2,000 units of housing for individuals, families, seniors and the disabled; an accredited post-secondary career and technical school; a 180-bed skilled nursing facility; a one-stop Family Resource Success Center; a transitional housing facility for homeless families; a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center; Adult Learning Center; a federally-insured Federal Credit Union; Financial Opportunity Center; two early learning centers; and afterschool, recreational and summer camp programs for youth.
New Community also produces a newspaper called the Clarion, which shares client success stories, resources and community news.
Fundraising
NCC raises money through grants, special events and individual donors.
Benefactors
Benefactors include corporations, small businesses, foundations, government entities and individual donors. Some top contributors include Victoria Foundation, the city of Newark, Essex County, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Greater Newark LISC, Prudential Foundation, Rutgers University, RWJBarnabas Health, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, University Hospital and the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
Finally
Many employees have utilized NCC services or housing at some point.
Conversation Starter
For more information, please contact Michelle Lang at mlang@newcommunity.org or call 973-497-4413. Those interested in donating can visit newcommunity.org and click the Donate button.
