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From the Desk of Dr. Z
August 2009
Where does the time go?! This spring and summer, the ARFC was filled with much activity!
In June, the school year ended with a wonderful recital at the Academy Street Firehouse Theater where students performed a mix of contemporary world dances to a packed house. What a fantastic way to closeout an amazing school year, and bring us into 2 summer programs for youth. With assistance from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, we were able to purchase a second school bus to transport our Academy Street Firehouse students! This, along with our participation in the City of Newark's WIA employment program, allowed us to double our capacity this summer. And the new school bus will increase participation at the Firehouse in the Fall!
Our Firehouse Summer Day Camp provided 20 8-12 year olds with an intensive drama program, special field trips, and lots of fun! We have also enrolled 30 teenagers and young adults in the Firehouse summer work apprentice program. With continued support from the Prudential Foundation and our partnership with the City, the Firehouse was able to offer a summer work experience and career orientation to individuals who would otherwise be disengaged from school and work. The energy and excitement of the youth in the Firehouse is electric. laughter and smiles abound. We have even had bake sales in downtown Newark to benefit next year's Firehouse Scholarship Fund.
Speaking of scholarships - there are 3 new graduates of the Firehouse program entering college! They will join the distinguished ranks of other Firehouse students currently enrolled in higher education including young adults who were accepted at Rutgers University, Ramapo College of NJ, Hudson County College, Essex County College, The College of New Jersey, Howard University, William Patterson, Bloomfield College, Spellman and others. We take much pride in the success of our kids who have overcome many obstacles on their journey into adulthood.
The St. Clare's Social Services program in Newark welcomes Vashonna Hassett, Director of Social Services, to the ARFC family! In the few short months since Vashonna's arrival, her enthusiasm and dedication to the families we serve has already shown through. Our families experienced Sandy Hook on August 7th with a successful day trip that included beautiful weather, the sandy beach, bike riding, games, and a delicious cookout!
This summer we happily welcomed back Victor Tejada, our longtime transportation expert and driver at the Firehouse and St. Clare's Social Services programs. It is very good to have him back with us, healthy and ready to transport!
In housing news, the ARFC purchased 15 units of scattered-site homes, and has been awarded 43 site-based Section 8 vouchers from the Newark Housing Authority. This, along with the coming construction of 16 units on Roseville Avenue will double the ARFC's current housing capacity for families impacted by HIV/AIDS. We are also in the process of purchasing and renovating a new home for our Brighter Beginnings program. This project offers transitional housing for women with HIV/AIDS returning to the community from the NJ correctional system.
Our 3 St. Clare's Homes continue to provide loving care to 15 medically fragile babies. Pat Robinson, the House Administrator in Jersey City, has retired after 22 years of dedicated service to the ARFC. Over these past 22 years, the St. Clare's Homes have been able to provide loving care to over 1,500 babies, and we welcome Tajmel Staten, the new Jersey City House Administrator to bring us into a successful future!
A sincere debt of thanks goes out to all of the wonderful healthcare professionals who serve on the St. Clare's Homes Quality Assurance Committee chaired by Linda Stevens, our interim Director of Nursing. Mary Ellen McMorrow and Amber Zealand represent the Board on this Committee. We are putting the finishing touches on our Infection Control Manual, which will prepare us to deal with the emerging pathogens of our day, from MRSA to the flu. We would also like to welcome back Patricia Barbosa after her recent absence. To those who are still out or about to go out on sick leave, please know that you are in our thoughts.
There are lots of new faces at ARFC! Please join us in welcoming Child Healthcare Workers Marissa DeSantis (Neptune), Kaliqua Youngblood (Jersey City), and Giovanni Randolph (Jersey City). Also new to the ARFC team is nurse Johanna McCarthy (Jersey City) and driver Jenny Aguirre (Newark). It is very nice to have all of these new talents joining us!
Faye and I are also pleased to announce the addition of 4 dedicated individuals onto the ARFC Board of Directors. JohnPatrick King has been a volunteer and evaluator at the Firehouse, and is a teacher and head of the History Department at Brooklyn Preparatory High School. Miguel Oppenheimer joins us after retiring from 20 years as the ARFC's Chief Financial Officer, and will be instrumental as a member of the Finance Committee. We are also happy to announce the addition of our daughters Amber Romine and Monica Zealand, who, for the past 23 years, have both grown-up with and volunteered for the organization and its mission. Amber is a leader in the PricewaterhouseCooper Global Human Capital initiative, and Monica is a representative at Ethicon-Endo Surgery of Johnson & Johnson. We welcome our newest additions to the Board of Directors, and look forward to their valued role in directing the future work of the ARFC.
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