‘Breaking The Glass Ceiling’ In Newark: Unique NJ Nonprofit Celebrates 25 Years Of Fire And Art

NEWARK, NJ — A New Jersey nonprofit is celebrating its 25^th year of inspiring local youth with the magic of fire and glass.

For more than two decades, GlassRoots, a nonprofit based in Newark, has been empowering youth by teaching them glassmaking skills through outreach programs, field trips and art classes. The organization deals with the flip side of the art world, too – commissioning intricate pieces for awards ceremonies and creating outdoor murals, mosaics and sculptures. It also rents studio space to the general public.

Over the years, the nonprofit has reached tens of thousands of young people throughout the Greater Newark area.

>> READ MORE: NJ Nonprofit Forges Bright Futures For Youth With Fire And Glass

GlassRoots recently took a look back at its past quarter-century in Newark. Their retrospective is reposted below, with permission.

Twenty five years ago, GlassRoots started as a table and two torches at the Boys and Girls Club of Newark thanks to the unique vision of our pioneering founder, Patricia “Pat” Kettenring.

A business school professor at Rutgers who specialized in art administration and social entrepreneurship, Pat was also a passionate glass collector who sensed that the glass arts could uniquely demonstrate crucial life and career skills to the young people of Newark after visiting Hilltop Artists in Tacoma, Washington. She witnessed their glassblowers working closely with local youth - fostering engagement, wonder, resilience and patience - and saw its potential to impact young lives back home in Newark.

Her unorthodox vision fueled GlassRoots’ expansion to our current space at 10 Bleeker Street: a 5,000 square foot glass art center that serves 5,000 individuals annually. In our 25 years of service, we have reached 40,000 participants and grown to offer a dozen programs for people ages 9 to 90 - all due to our founder’s fierce commitment to the magic of fire and glass.

Twenty-five years after we first fired up those two torches, GlassRoots remains an inclusive, women-led organization that provides unparalleled public access to glassblowing and the glass arts - a traditionally male-dominated industry that can be difficult to navigate as an outsider. This fiscal year alone, women comprise 62% of our Programming participants and four of the organization’s five Executive Directors have been women including our current Executive Director, Carol Losos

In reflecting on our evolution, Carol shares, “As we’ve grown, our spirit of inclusion has drawn participants of all ages and backgrounds - ranging from a Date Night class to a Girl Scout Troop or a university seeking a handmade glass award. These offerings provide access to the public while generating essential funds to support our free programming for Newark youth - the core of our mission.”

Our “herstory” informs both the present and the futures we’ll ignite as we look toward the next 25 years and beyond. Inclusion and accessibility define our programming imperatives each day including the creation of PRISM Club: An LGBTQ+Artmaking Collective for young adults seeking a creative safe space; TrainUp: our training initiative for new Teaching Artists and NextGen|A Glassblowing Apprentice Program: a hands-on, semester-long mentorship for aspiring glassblowers to hone their craft.

Seasoned glass artist and GlassRoots Director of Programs, Michelle Knox, affirms, “In my experience of 25 years as a glass artist, GlassRoots holds a unique space in the industry landscape by not catering to established artists but to emerging artists. We stand out as a space that harnesses the power of glass to empower youth. We've mastered unveiling the mystery of the material so everyone experiences the magic of glass for themselves.

When I look around at our peers, I’m proud to see scores of other women-led arts and culture organizations here in Newark including the Newark Museum of Art, Project for Empty Space, Newark Arts and Arts Ed Newark. It’s incredible and shows how much things have progressed!

And when you talk about glass, specifically, women are also leading the Glass Art Society, Urban Glass in Brooklyn, The Corning Museum of Glass, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s glass art program and Pittsburgh Glass Center - just to name a few! We’re coast to coast.”

Hearing our impact directly from the women of all generations in our community underscores the vitality and continued relevance of our mission. GlassRoots alumna, Gwyneth Mochino, joined GlassRoots as a business student at Hudson County Community College. She eventually progressed to the NextGen: A Glassblowing Apprentice program and considers GlassRoots “more than just a glass-blowing studio—it's a beacon of hope and opportunity in Newark, crushing barriers and making art accessible to the youth in the community. GlassRoots isn't just shaping glass; it's shaping futures.

GlassRoots Teaching Artist, Patricia “Trish” Buggy, credits GlassRoots with supporting a career pivot after 25 years as an interior designer. Having reignited her passion for mosaics after a visit to Barcelona, she enrolled in a Bead and Business Class that ended right before the onset of COVID. She returned a year later for studio access, applied to a Teaching Artist position and has become a deeply admired stained and fused glass instructor and mentor to less experienced Teaching Artists.

Trish is currently the lead teacher for our new “Creative Aging” course for students age 55 and older and enjoys teaching a class “geared to creating social connection and community, enhancing cognitive function and memory while promoting emotional well being by creating art together in an inclusive space.”

As Vice-President Communications and Programming for Newark Regional Business Partnership (NRBP), Maya Curry connects Newark’s small and big businesses and nonprofits to opportunities for growth. Curry is also a proud GlassRoots alum who engaged in several GlassRoots programs ranging from community service and a summer internship to our Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit (YES) Program and, ultimately, as a part-time employee.

Curry reflects on her experience here: “As someone who is naturally introverted and was once painfully shy, GlassRoots is the place that really allowed me to begin to come out of my shell and to feel comfortable presenting and expressing myself in front of people. GlassRoots is a place that strengthened my confidence and helped me become comfortable speaking with new people. These are skills that are critical to the development of girls and women in the workplace and beyond. It is also a place where I met some of my most beloved girlfriends. I would be a different person without GlassRoots!"

Twenty-five years after we lit our first sparks, GlassRoots is expanding to a 10,000 square foot destination in Newark’s Arts and Education District in the spring of 2026. Visible from street level and accessible to all, this larger facility will strengthen the organization’s impact throughout the Greater Newark community by expanding our celebrated offerings: free programs for Newark youth, affordable and accessible glassmaking classes and group experiences for all audiences and myriad learning and employment opportunities for emerging artists and young creatives.

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