NEWARK, NJ — Hundreds of Newark residents recently showed up for a celebration of community and unity in New Jersey's largest city.
Last month, the Newark Community Street Team (NCST) welcomed more than 200 people to Nat Turner Park for one of its annual "Heal the Block" events.
Guests at the block party found a festive medley of family friendly activities waiting for them: bouncy houses, petting zoo, game bus, food and more.
Meanwhile, local social service representatives were also on hand – peer support specialists, licensed clinicians, victim advocates, and credible messengers were all present – not behind referral desks, but in the park and offering information about trauma recovery services, resource navigation, case management and career tips.
The annual block party is more than a community fair, organizers say: it's a way to provide local residents with access to support in a place that they already live, gather, and seek connection.
The model operates on a principle NCST has practiced since 2014, organizers said: healing should not require a waiting list, a referral network or a paper trail.
The July 10 event was organized under the leadership of Chainah Williams, director of the Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program, who coordinated nearly 50 vendors, managed logistics, oversaw staffing schedules, and ensured the delivery of more than $11,000 in community investment. The event drew on the contributions of NCST staff across every department, including D'Renna Johnson and the Safe Passage team, the TRC clinical staff, and dozens of frontline workers and volunteers.
Williams said 'Heal the Block' was born from the belief that neighborhoods most impacted by violence deserve more than moments of crisis.
"They deserve memories of healing, celebration and investment," Williams said.
The goal? To reclaim spaces that have experienced hurt and transform them into places where children can laugh, families can connect – and hope becomes visible.
"We call it 'Heal the Block' because we believe love heals," NCST executive director Rey Chavis said.
"More than 200 people walked into Nat Turner Park on July 10 and found resources, connection and care waiting for them," Chavis said. "That is what NCST has been building for over a decade in Newark."
Another Heal the Block event was scheduled to take place on South 16th Street on July 31: the 21st gathering in seven years.
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