Quality of Life Community Education And Engagement Program Launches

The Ironbound Business Improvement District (IBID) has organized an Ironbound Quality of Life Coalition that will be engaging and educating residents and businesses regarding common concerns including garbage disposal and recycling, pedestrian safety, scooter/e-bike/bicycle safety, and other issues of critical importance to keep the Ironbound District clean, safe, and welcoming.

“From the production and distribution of multi-lingual educational materials, both printed and digital, to special events and activities to engage everyone from students to seniors, to an Ironbound Heroes Gift Card Program, our goal is to connect with Ironbound stakeholders in many different ways and through many different community touch points,” Vince Baglivo, IBID Executive Director spelled out. “I want to thank our partners for joining this effort, and additional outreach will be made to other community organizations, churches and religious institutions, and cultural organizations.”

Participants in a kickoff event held recently at Peter Francisco Park near Newark Penn Station included IBID President Manny Lopes, East Ward Councilman Michael Silva, Deputy Mayor Ligia De Freitas, Annie Ferreira, Senior Aide to Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Nicole Fields, CEO, St. James Health, John Abeigon, President, Newark Teachers Union, Richard Fernandez, Principal Engineer, Newark Division of Traffic & Signals, Moacir Weirich, Pastor, St. Stephan's Grace Community Church, Vince Davis, VP, Relationship Manager/ Business Banking, Citizens, Chris Bernardo, CEO, Commercial District Services, representatives of Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, and representatives of the Newark Police Department and Newark DPW. Other Ironbound organizations, including the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC), and Mantena Global Health, are coalition supporters. The City of Newark’s two rental scooter operators, Bird and Veo, are also supporting the coalition’s efforts.

Councilman Silva noted that keeping the Ironbound clean, safe, and welcoming has been a top priority since he took office and has worked with the IBID to enhance streetscape services including testing a night shift during the 2022 holiday season and continuing that service in 2023.

St. James Health’s Nicole Fields detailed how the coalition’s printed materials will be available in all of their facilities, including in treatment rooms. St. James Health will also assist by printing material in house.

Newark Teachers Union President John Abeigon reminisced about his first job growing up in the Ironbound and ending his day by sweeping the sidewalk in front of the hardware store where he worked. He also reinforced the importance of engaging the Ironbound’s children, at school and at home, to promote the concept of “Clean Streets, Safe Streets.”

An Ironbound Heroes Gift Card Program, supported through grant funds including from Citizens Bank, will also be launched to reward Ironbound residents and business owners who are contributing to a cleaner community, and will reward others who notify authorities about illegal dumping and other quality of life concerns.

Community members from the Ironbound will also have the ability to nominate Ironbound Heroes, through the IBID’s social and digital media channels.

For more information about other programs and services provided by the Ironbound Business Improvement District, please visit GoIronbound.com or follow the district on Facebook at Facebook.com/goironbound, or Instagram at Instagram.com/goironbound.