The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) invites the public to attend the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance’s (HEJA) next community meeting. The meeting will take place in person at The Second Reformed Church of Hackensack, and will also be available online via Zoom. The HEJA, a community group that focuses on helping people hit the hardest by environmental issues, provides resources for residents and people who work in the City of Hackensack to learn about strategies they can use to reduce future flooding in the area and make neighborhoods greener and healthier.

Green Infrastructure Guru to Speak

The meeting will feature a presentation by New Jersey’s green infrastructure guru -- Dr. Christopher Obropta, Professor, Extension Specialist and Director of the New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute at Rutgers State University. This past summer, Dr. Obropta and his team from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resource Program examined the extent of flooding issues in the City of Hackensack and the use of green infrastructure strategies to address them. He will present their findings and provide recommendations at the meeting. In addition, the HEJA will also discuss a proposed river walk event, its new mission statement, and plans for listening sessions and policy conversations with Hackensack residents.

The NNJCF invites anyone living or working in Hackensack, who would like to be involved in addressing flooding in the city or to help beautify Central Hackensack through additional green infrastructure, to attend and participate. Light refreshments of snacks and soft drinks will be served. People may pre-register for the event here, https://tinyurl.com/EJAOct2024. For information about the meeting, contact Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Executive Director of the NNJCF, at [email protected] or call 201-568-5608 extension 2.

Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice

This community meeting is part of the NNJCF's Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice project. The project seeks to reduce flooding and improve environmental conditions for residents in central Hackensack and other parts of the city affected by flooding. More information about this project may be found at http://tinyurl.com/GreenInfrastructureJustice.

The meeting is produced by the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Hackensack and Greater Bergen Community Action, as well as residents of Hackensack and representatives from several organizations in Hackensack. The project is supported in part by The Funders Network, AARP, Valley Bank Foundation, M&T Bank Foundation, M&T Bank Foundation, PSEG Foundation, The Rotary Club of Hackensack, TD Charitable Foundation, and other supporters.

Donations Appreciated

The NNJCF seeks donations to support the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice Project. Donations of any size are welcome. All donations received will be used to help create a community rain garden or other environmental projects benefitting the community. Donations may be made online at http://tinyurl.com/SupportGreenInfrastructure. Contributions may also be sent by check made out to 'The Northern N.J. Community Foundation' and enter ‘Hackensack Green’ in the memo line. Send checks to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 102, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.

For further information about the NNJCF, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail to [email protected].