Newark Nonprofit Hopes To Reach More Youth With New Office

NEWARK, NJ — One of Newark’s greatest assets is its young people. However, the city’s youth aren’t always able to connect with the resources and support that they need. Among Newark youth aged 16 to 24, more than 18 percent (nearly 1 in 5) are not in school and not working at a job, a recent study said – about 7.5 percent higher than the national average.

Hopefully, the Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s (SNLP) new office can help to put a dent in that need, spokespeople say.

Last week, the nonprofit held an open house for their new office at 24 Commerce Street. The space will allow the SNLP to expand its programs and reach more young people.

The Sadie Nash Leadership Project has been operating in Newark since 2008 and has provided social justice education to nearly 2,000 young women and gender-expansive youth in the city.

One of them – Zainab Clark – said the programs helped her realize that she wanted to get involved in social work, and to give back to the community that she grew up in.

“I think if I wasn’t a part of Sadie Nash, I wouldn’t be on the path that I am today,” Clark attested.

The Oct. 9 open house also included a ribbon cutting and comments from executive director Tené Howard, board member Tsihai Hanson.

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