Stepping Up for a Cure: Newark Nonprofit UCC to Host MS Walk

NEWARK, NJ — United Community Corporation (UCC), Newark's designated Community Action Agency, will host its first Walk MS-Newark this weekend, inviting residents, advocates, and families to West Side Park in the city's West Ward neighborhood to raise awareness around vital support for those living with multiple sclerosis.

The event, which will be held Sunday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., serves as a landmark moment for the city’s health and wellness landscape. The initiative aims to build a local support network for families impacted by MS while highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and accessible care. Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body.

By bringing this walk to Newark’s West Side Park, UCC is ensuring that local residents have a platform to advocate for research and resources within their own community.

“We’re proud to bring our community together for something bigger than ourselves,” said Rhonda Battle, NJ Build Life Skills Coordinator at UCC. “On April 19th, every step we take is for awareness, for support, and for every family impacted by MS because this walk is how we move closer to real change and, one day, a cure.”

Here is what residents need to know for the event.

• What: Walk MS-Newark
• When: April 19, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Where: West Side Park Trail, Newark, NJ
• Registration: Participants are encouraged to arrive early or visit uccnewark.org for more information.

The event will feature the walk along the West Side Park Trail, as well as information stations regarding MS resources and community health services provided by UCC and its partners.

The event is made possible by the support of Newark Police Department 4th Precinct; Newark West Ward Councilman Dupre Kelly; HOPE Worldwide; and Partnership West, Inc.

Want to support UCC's first MS Walk? Join UCC's Team here.

Want to get involved by volunteering at the event? Contact UCC Outreach Coordinator Alexis Grey at alexis.grey@uccnewark.org.

For more information about Walk MS-Newark or to learn how to get involved, visit uccnewark.org or email info@uccnewark.org.

About United Community Corporation (UCC): United Community Corporation is the designated Community Action Agency for the city of Newark. Since 1964, UCC has been dedicated to helping low-income, disadvantaged, and at-risk individuals and families become self-sufficient and improve their quality of life through a wide range of social services and community programming.