Grace Community Services Celebrates Founding Members 80th in a Big Way

July 18, 2016 - Jersey City, NJ - In celebration of Joyce Davison’s legacy, Grace Community Services is holding her 80th Birthday Party on October 21st at Grace Van Vorst Church. There are few people active in downtown Jersey City that do not know Joyce Davison. A fixture in the neighborhood since 1981, she has long been involved in her community.

One of her proudest accomplishments was assisting Grace Van Vorst Church with founding the Grace Community Services (GCS) organization in 1995. Started on humble beginnings and ideas, it is thanks to the hard work, determination and creativity of Joyce Davison that Grace Community Services has served thousands of breakfasts to food insecure and homeless people for over twenty years. GCS also provides a week-day morning haven for seniors with wellness programs, opportunities for self-expression, companionship and fun.

For her efforts at Grace Community Services and other initiatives she was a 2003 recipient of the Jersey Journal’s Everyday Hero award.

Born October 24th 1936, in St. Alban’s, Queens, she graduated from Andrew Jackson HS (Class of 1953). Joyce went on to earn her Bachelors Degree in 1956, at Cortland, SUNY. In 1966 she received a Masters of Science degree in Sociology from Rutgers University. And completing her education at University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica in 1989 she earned her PhD in Educational Psychology.

Joyce has pursued a life-long interest in Social Justice, starting in 6th Grade as she stood up to school authorities when she perceived a friend was being treated unfairly, Joyce has not flinched when she saw injustice. She has been active in politics as well as the civil rights, anti-war, and anti-death penalty movements.

As a teacher, activist and organizer, Joyce has taught school from first grade through university level. She conducted workshops in non-violence in Northern Ireland, the South Bronx, the Netherlands, Chicago, Jamaica and Newark, NJ. In addition, from 1970 - 1973 she served as Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs in Newark, NJ under Mayor Ken Gibson.

Grace Community Services is honored to host her 80th birthday event on Oct 21. But when asked about gifts, Joyce had this to say “There is a gift that would make me happy, a stable foundation for GCS.”

In consideration of her request, the group is hoping to raise $30,000 for GCS so it can continue for another 20 years. Grace Community Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

All community members are urged to save the date for Joyce’s birthday celebration on October 21st 6:30 pm at Grace Church in Jersey City.

Grace Community Services Web Page: http://www.gracecommunityjc.org/

Video Testamonial of Grace Services: https://youtu.be/zi9YBw2_3eA