Come meet Isaac Millman a Holocaust survivor, as he shares his experiences. Mr. Millman, is the author and illustrator of the book “Hidden Child.”

For more information, please contact Danny Feliciano at (973) 483-2703 ext 2204.  The talk will be held at 4pm at 23 Broadway.  Please RSVP to Mr. Feliciano.

More than 250 people gathered at the Newark Museum on Thursday, February 9^th 2012 to attend “Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow,” La Casa’s history panel in tribute to its 40^th anniversary.   Facilitated by Roland Anglin, PhD., Executive Director of the Initiative for Regional and Community Transformation and Faculty Fellow at the Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, Rutgers, the panel featured two of La Casa’s founders – Alfonso Román and Elba Andino, noted historian Dr. Robert Curvin, community development expert Grizel Ubarry, and Raymond Ocasio, Executive Director.  Board President Zoraya E. Lee-Hamlin Mary Sue Sweeney Price, Director of the Newark Museum welcomed the audience.

Highlights of the event included a discussion of the founding principles and rational for the development of La Casa in the historical context of the social and political movements of the late 1960s.  Listeners were told of the agency’s community organizing roots that borrowed from the empowerment ideology of the Young Lords and Don Pedro Albizu Campos, a leader of the Puerto Rican nationalist movement.  Just as African Americans were struggling for their rights and freedoms, Puerto Rican groups and activists saw that generations of Puerto Ricans were alienated from their culture with no national identity, aside from second class citizenship.  This discrimination and little understanding of Puerto Rican history and culture led to the rationale of the La Casa’s mission – to empower and foster self-sufficiency of the community.  Through this mission, the founders sought to address the community problems they faced, including police brutality, the public housing crisis, unemployment, education, and health care.

The discussion continued to how these community organizing Puerto Rican roots evolved into a comprehensive social services and community development corporation.  The discussion turned to how La Casa continues to strive to meet the needs of the evolving community, no matter where residents come from, while still embracing its roots.  Some of the challenges raised for the future included how to manage the dynamics of the changing face of the neighborhood, limited and competitive funding streams, and how to support the education of the city’s youth.

The program was made possible by Presenting Sponsor, Newark Museum, 40^th Anniversary Legacy Sponsor, Prudential, Platinum Sponsor Citi Community Development, and Gold Sponsor, Chase.

Photos of the event can be viewed at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacasadedonpedro/sets/72157629301557137/

Join La Casa de Don Pedro as we celebrate the places, the institutions, and the people…the gems that breathe life into this great city.

Newark’s Treasures will be held on Wednesday, April 4th at the Prudential Center, from 6-10 PM.  To purchase tickets, sponsor, or purchase a journal ad click on the “Get Involved” link.

The Lower Broadway Quality of Life Plan has been published and the work has just begun. Representatives from the neighborhood block associations, clubs, watches, churches, businesses, and residents are invited to attend the second Lower Broadway Neighborhood Association meeting tonight, Wednesday, January 11th at 6:30 PM.

When:   Wednesday, January 11, 2012.  At 6:30pm

Where: Wynona Lipman Gardens Community Room, 200 Cathedral Court, Newark, NJ

Note:     Please RSVP to either Jessica Desir or Roberto Frugone at (973) 485-0701 ext. 4641.

To see the flyer, click here.