2 Newark Community Leaders Honored: Education, ‘Quality Of Life’

NEWARK, NJ — Two community leaders in Newark were recently honored for their work with a pair of local service organizations.

Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray Thomas presented commendations to Cesar Vizcaino and Dominique Lee last month.

Vizcaino is the executive director of Partnership West Inc. Business Improvement District in Newark’s West Ward. Lee is the CEO and founder of BRICK Education Network in Newark’s South Ward.

The presentation was held at the Essex County Hall of Records in Newark.

The county board of commissioners shared the following background about each group – and how important Vizcaino and Lee’s contributions have been:

‘NEW AND GREATER HEIGHTS’

Partnership West Inc. Business Improvement District (PWI) was founded in 2016 by visionary local government leaders, community not-for-profit institutions, and businesses owners, as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit that improves the quality of life in the West Ward of Newark. PWI makes sure curbs and sidewalks are clean and safe, public spaces are lushly planted, and local businesses are marketed for their quality and uniqueness. Currently, PWI is the largest BID by area in New Jersey, serving over two hundred businesses. It is committed to transforming this community into a safe district where businesses and residents thrive through responsible stewardship to realize its potential.

Cesar Vizcaino has been the Executive Director of PWI since 2019, and an executive board member from 2015 to 2018, leading the organization to new and greater heights enriching Newark’s West Ward neighborhood and the lives of its residents. Cesar comes from Newark as the first generation born to recently immigrated parents from the Dominican Republic, and was committed to community service from a young age. Before joining PWI, he served as VP of Business Development and Entrepreneurship with the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, and as a Legislative Aide with the Newark Municipal Council. Cesar has served on trustee, executive, and advisory boards of numerous groups, including the Roseville Community Charter School, Essex County College, NJPAC, American Legion Post 152, the NAACP, the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County, the New Community Corporation, the Dominican Parade of Essex County, and the Dominican American National Roundtable. He is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is thankful to be supported by an exemplary circle of friends, his parents Cesar and Belinda, his sister Janet with her husband Jonathan and daughter Isabella, and his daughter Tiaris currently at Montclair State.

‘TRAILBLAZER IN THE WORLD OF EDUCATION’

Building Resilient Intelligent Creative Kids (BRICK) Education Network began at Shabazz High School, where a group of Teach for America alumni recognized an urgent need for better educational pathways. They aimed to radically improve educational outcomes starting from elementary levels. In partnership with Newark Public Schools, the group successfully turned around two underperforming schools and later chartered Achieve Clinton Hill Charter School to further serve kids in the South Ward. In the last 14 years, BRICK has stayed rooted in its mission to remove barriers that prevent students from reaching their potential. Along the way, it has created holistic support systems — from housing to prenatal care, to education and beyond — that lay the groundwork for academic success and ensure students not only meet but exceed grade-level expectations. In 2018, BRICK launched the South Ward Promise Neighborhood, a powerful collaborative effort of more than 30 organizations working together to invest in South Ward families. BRICK has developed and tested a new school model that fundamentally reimagines how to support the life trajectory of children most impacted by systemic poverty and racism. The organization is focused on codifying its model, expanding to more communities, and continuing to innovate and build out sustainable solutions.

Dominique Lee, the founder and CEO of BRICK, is a trailblazer in the world of education. His commitment to breaking down systems of oppression and providing equitable education opportunities for all children has been recognized as an example for educators across the country. Under his leadership, BRICK opened Achieve Charter School in Newark, expanded to Buffalo, and secured two Promise Neighborhood Grants to expand programming and opportunities in the South Ward Promise Neighborhood. Dominique’s innovative approach to education has garnered national recognition, including front-page coverage in The New York Times, a feature in “The Prize” by Dale Rusakoff, and a 2011 spot on TheGrio's “100: History Makers in the Making” list. His work has also earned him numerous awards and fellowships, and he serves on numerous influential boards such as LEAD Charter School in Newark, Middle Collegiate Church Freedom Rising in Manhattan, and Jersey City Medical Center.

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