New Jersey City University (NJCU) has announced a formal partnership with The BLOC Foundation, a nonprofit social impact organization founded in Elizabeth, dedicated to empowering underrepresented groups in the construction industry.
The agreement, which transforms unused campus space into a gateway for underrepresented women in the construction trades, establishes a workforce training program on NJCU’s main campus and creates a direct pathway from hands-on skills development to college-level credentials and degree programs.
Under the terms of the partnership, BLOC will utilize space in NJCU’s Visual Arts Building on Culver Avenue — including the university’s former Jewelry Making Workshop — at no cost to deliver its 16-week comprehensive construction training curriculum.
The program provides participants with hands-on skills training, industry certifications, and direct access to NJCU’s continuing education and academic programs through the Office of Adult and Continuing Education. Each training cohort is expected to include 25–30 participants, with an annual goal of certifying 150–200 students.
The agreement represents a creative and mission-driven use of underutilized campus space, converting a former arts facility into a workforce development hub serving groups who have historically been excluded from the construction trades.
BLOC participants will receive NJCU campus access and ID cards for the duration of their training, with the university providing computer lab access, secured storage, classroom space to support online certification coursework, and auditorium access for special events, guest speakers, and presentations. BLOC will supply all tools, materials, and personal protective equipment.
The mission of BLOC (The Black Ladies of Construction) is to drive urban redevelopment and create economic mobility for those who have historically been left out of the construction and real estate industries. BLOC serves women — including incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women — veterans, young adults of color, high school dropouts, and other underrepresented groups through its development programs that combine classroom instruction which include nationally recognized certifications.
NJCU President Andrés Acebo celebrated the partnership, saying, “At NJCU, we have always believed that opportunity must meet people where they are — rooted in the communities we are privileged to serve. Our partnership with The BLOC Foundation is a powerful expression of that belief, opening doors for women who have long been underrepresented in the trades and creating a clear pathway from workforce training to higher education. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that makes our campus, and our community, stronger.”
The partnership also aligns with NJCU’s broader commitment to workforce development and urban engagement, serving the diverse communities of Jersey City and the surrounding region. Participants who successfully complete The BLOC program will be actively encouraged to enroll in NJCU degree and certificate programs, creating a seamless transition from community-based training to higher education.
Natasha Davis, co-founder and CEO of The BLOC Foundation, emphasized the partnership’s potential as a national model.
“Our partnership with NJCU creates a powerful pathway that connects workforce training directly to higher education, allowing participants to transition from hands-on skill development into college-level credentials and degree programs,” said Davis.
The agreement, signed in November 2025, runs for one year from the launch of the Fall 2025 cohort and is designed to be renewed and expanded. Notably, the partnership includes provisions to carry forward the program after the completion of the merger with Kean University to form Kean Jersey City, expected to be finalized in Summer 2026.
