The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) invites community leaders, business owners, artists, cultural organizations, and residents to participate in the Community Conversation National Heritage Area gathering in New Jersey. This free event takes place on June, 2026 from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), located at 1 SOPAC Way in downtown South Orange.
Participants may attend in person or via Zoom and register conveniently online. Refreshments will also be provided.
Community Conversation National Heritage Area: Four Distinctive Stories Unite North Jersey
The proposed North Jersey National Heritage Area celebrates the region’s rich heritage. In particular, it focuses on four interconnected themes: innovation and industry, suburbia and planned communities, transportation and infrastructure, and immigration and migration. These narratives position seven counties as a compelling heritage tourism destination. The region spans Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex counties. As a result, the Community Conversation National Heritage Area initiative fosters cultural experiences and sustainable economic growth. At the Community Conversation event, participants will discover what makes their community distinctive. First, they will explore the North Jersey National Heritage Area initiative and its opportunities. Second, they will identify culturally or historically significant places in their area. Most importantly, they can recommend these locations for inclusion in the future National Heritage Area.
This mural by artist Adam Gustavson at NJ Transit’s Highland Avenue station in Orange reflects key themes of the Community Conversation National Heritage Area in New Jersey, showcasing the region’s historic hat-making industry. Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Adam Gustavson
Currently, the NNJCF and the North Jersey National Heritage Area Council lead this collaborative effort. The Council comprises more than 80 partner organizations working together. Notably, they are pursuing Congressional designation of a National Heritage Area. The National Park Service will administer this federal designation. Consequently, it will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding. Furthermore, the initiative will generate hundreds of millions in broader economic impact. In fact, the Community Conversation National Heritage Area will boost community development in low- to moderate-income areas. Additionally, the designation creates cultural entrepreneurship opportunities. Finally, it preserves the region’s diversity of cultures and historic sites.
Expert Facilitators Leading the Community Conversation
The Community Conversation: National Heritage Area event features three nationally recognized facilitators. NNJCF Executive Director, Leonardo Vazquez, will facilitate this discussion. Furthermore, Vazquez brings nationally recognized expertise in urban planning, creative placemaking, and social justice.
August Carlino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation, will co-lead the discussion. Dr. Nancy Morgan, heritage development specialist from Point Heritage Development Consulting, will also participate. She possesses extensive National Heritage Area experience. Notably, she previously directed the Cane River National Heritage Area in Louisiana.
Get Involved and Support the Initiative
Regional leaders enthusiastically support the National Heritage Area initiative. Former Governor Thomas H. Kean backs the effort. U.S. Representative Thomas Kean Jr. also supports the project. State Assembly members Clinton Calabrese and Shama Haider and State Senator Britnee Timberlake endorse the initiative. Additionally, the Union County Board of Commissioners supports this transformative project.
Educational and cultural institutions have joined the coalition supporting the proposed National Heritage Area. These include the New Jersey Preservation Alliance, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Hudson County Community College, Orange Historic Commission, West Orange Arts Council, Union Township Historical Society, Durand-Hedden House & Garden, Historic Radburn, and the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance. Furthermore, Housing and Neighborhood Development Services Inc. and LISC New Jersey endorse it. Dozens of additional regional organizations also recognize the transformative potential of this initiative.
For additional information about the Community Conversation or the North Jersey National Heritage Area, contact Leonardo Vazquez directly. Send an email to leo@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608, extension 2.
The NNJCF also welcomes donations to support the North Jersey National Heritage Area project. Donate conveniently online. Alternatively, send a check payable to The Northern N.J. Community Foundation. Write “NHA” in the memo line. Mail checks to Northern New Jersey Community Foundation 1 University Plaza, Suite 102 Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
