THANKFUL TUESDAYS with Deacon Laverne S. Williams, CSW

During this time of crisis and uncertainty many rely on faith for support and stability. The community is invited to join Laverne S. Williams, CSW, a Deacon at the Union Baptist Church in Montclair, for a free Zoom.us session, entitled "Thankful Tuesdays." During these sessions, Deacon Williams and her special guests explore important topics centered around faith and spirituality. The program is offered at 2 p.m. every Tuesday: individuals may participate online through the Zoom link.

Please join Deacon Williams on Tuesday, April 26 ,2022 as she welcomes guests Keith Da Costa and Julie Kinner who will detail their collaborative initiative under the Nourishing Newark Grants Program which provides fresh, healthy food to those experiencing food insecurity.
Keith Da Costa has been a leader in the healthcare industry for over 34 years. Mr. Da Costa has been a healthcare consultant for the past 15 years. He is the Executive Director of Caresparc Community Connections Inc. Caresparc Community Connections is a 501 © 3 nonprofit organization focusing on developing and delivering community-building programs in partnership with community residents, local and regional service providers across multiple industries. The team includes subject matter experts with deep cross-sector experience and strong relationships within the communities they serve, which allow them the resiliency, efficiency, and access to generate collaborative solutions with community members in uniquely valuable ways.

He is also the Founder and Managing Director of Caresparc Consulting Inc. Caresparc Consulting is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with a team of 13 consultants that specialize in designing evidence-based community engagement programs for at-risk populations in the realms of health, wellness, re-entry and sustainability through collaborative partnerships with corporations and community organizations. Additionally, Caresparc Consulting delivers fund development, strategic planning, and event management services. Under his leadership, in 2020, Caresparc Consulting responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic by launching the Caresparc COVID-19 Emergency Response Distribution Effort in Newark, NJ, in partnership with Table to Table and 42 other partner organizations to help address the issue of food insecurity. Each week a volunteer team bagged and delivered fresh produce and essential food items to 2,000 Newark residents. The effort delivered 1.4 million pounds of healthy food for Newark seniors and families over a 15-month period.

Before becoming the Managing Director of Caresparc Consulting Inc., Mr. Da Costa founded No Barriers Home Care Services. From 1988 to 2002, as Chief Executive Officer, No Barriers Home Care Services experienced significant growth with revenues of over $5,000,000 annually. With a commitment to hiring local Newark residents, Mr. DaCosta led the effort to hire 48% of its 200-member workforce utilizing participants from the “Work First New Jersey” initiative. Under his
leadership No Barriers received numerous awards and accolades for their work. In 1999 and 2000, Mr. Da Costa was recognized by Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman for his role in supporting New Jersey’s Welfare-to-Work program.


Julie Kinner has been with Table to Table since the very beginning. Coming from a background of retail, restaurant and kitchen, she started with Table to Table by volunteering at fundraising events and fell in love with the mission after hearing one of the recipient partners speak about hunger and how the food brings dignity to the people that need it. A single mom of two girls, one in college and the other a senior in high school, Julie is almost an empty nester, living in a 100-year old log cabin with her Bernedoodle, Bailey and loves spending free time at museums studying local history or curled up in her reading corner with a great book.

Laverne Williams, CSW is the Director of the PEWS (Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality) Program for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. Ms. Williams is a New Jersey Certified Social Worker, WRAP (Wellness & Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. With over 35+ years of experience in mental health service, Ms. Williams is a highly sought-after conference keynote and workshop facilitator. Her workshops have been presented to numerous statewide and local agencies, consumer organizations and family member groups. As an advocate on behalf of persons with mental illness, and a Deacon at her church, Ms. Williams diligently develops partnerships between faith-based communities and behavioral health institutions by bridging the gap between theology and mental health.

Ms. Williams was quoted in the best selling book, Option B – Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Gant.

To contact Deacon Williams please email: lwilliams@mhanj.org