Hackensack, NJ -- The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s (NNJCF) Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program won a 2024 Environmental Achievement Award from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). The award was presented at ANJEC’s 51st annual Environmental Congress on Friday, September 27 at Rowan College of Burlington County in Mount Laurel.

The award recognizes exceptional projects carried out by environmental commissions and nonprofit organizations that benefit the local environment. The award’s criteria examine the project’s impact, originality, educational value, innovation, and response to a need in the community.

Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice

The Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program seeks to reduce flooding and improve environmental conditions for residents in central Hackensack and other parts of the city affected by flooding through collaboration. The program works to make the City of Hackensack greener, cleaner, and healthier, as well as more beautiful and sustainable for residents, businesses, employees, and visitors.

“The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation is very honored to receive an ANJEC Achievement Award. This award recognizes the success of a diverse collaboration with our partners,” said Leonardo Vazquez, Executive Director, Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.

The Foundation leads the program in partnership with several organizations -- Greater Bergen Community Action, Hackensack Public Schools, the City of Hackensack, The Second Reformed Church of Hackensack, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack Art Club, and Johnson Public Library.

“This award also acknowledges the importance of engaging community members, including Monica Chavarria-Malin, Reverend Carolyn Davis, and Ted Malin in the program’s work. In addition, dozens of volunteers, such as the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance’s new co-chairs Pedra Del Vechio and Amrisa Niranjan have been instrumental to the implementation of the program,” explained Vazquez.

Since its inception in March 2023, the program held meetings and workshops on different topics. These include flooding, stormwater flooding and combined sewer overflow, the use of green infrastructure to reduce flooding, and the no mow lawn. The program also developed and implemented projects to form an environmental justice alliance, produce and install a rain garden at Hackensack High School, paint a community mural with volunteers, and create rain barrels professionally painted and displayed in a temporary exhibition in Carver Park that were given to community members.

Support for the program comes from a range of donors. These include The Funders Network, AARP, Valley Bank Foundation, M&T Bank Foundation, PSEG Foundation, The Rotary Club of Hackensack, TD Charitable Foundation, and others. More information about this program may be found at http://tinyurl.com/GreenInfrastructureJustice.

Donations Appreciated

The NNJCF seeks donations to continue the program’s services and projects. 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].