Developer Paul Silverman to be Honored at Creatives Conference

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) and Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announce developer Paul Silverman will be recognized for his company’s dedication to the arts and public art and also the inclusion of artists’ work in his projects. The recognition takes place at the inaugural New Jersey Creative Communities Conference 2025: The Art of Community Well-Being (NJCCC 2025). The conference, a gathering of leaders, doers, thinkers, and also artists throughout the Garden State, takes place on Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The conference occurs at Hudson County Community College Culinary Center (HCCC), 161 Sip Avenue  in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The NJCCC 2025 is produced by the NNJCF, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Hackensack, and Hudson CCC, a public community college in Jersey City. The statewide conference will attract municipal, arts, and business leaders. The conference will also gather artists in all fields, healthcare and wellness workers, and grantmakers. In addition, students and scholars, architects, civil engineers, placemakers, and urban planners will come together and explore innovative ways to make communities better for everyone through art and creative placemaking. The conference provides participants with the opportunity to connect and also find inspiration to create new projects.

Honoree: Developer Paul Silverman

Developer Paul Silverman, a Principal of SILVERMAN, will be honored at the New Jersey Creative Communities Conference for his company’s dedication to the arts and public art.

During the NJCCC’s luncheon, Silverman, a developer and a leading practitioner of creative placemaking in real estate, will be honored. As a Principal of SILVERMAN, the real estate development company co-founded with his brother, Eric, he restored historic landmarks, championed the development of mixed-use buildings, and created residential, commercial, office and industrial spaces. As a businessman and developer, Silverman has advocated for the local arts scene, curating rotating art exhibitions in the lobbies of his properties and hosted semi-annual art shows to showcase emerging talent. In conjunction with his brother, he co-founded elevator, a dynamic creative space offering studios for artists and makers of all disciplines.

In addition to his work as a developer, Silverman is also a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist. He holds a deep commitment to community engagement, as well as the arts. Among his activities, he is Trustee Emeritus at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Chairman of the Youth Foundation of Jersey City, and also an active volunteer with City Sail. In addition, he supports several organizations, including New City Kids, Art House Productions, Team Wilderness, and other nonprofits throughout Jersey City and Hudson County.

Plenary Session

The conference opens with a welcome from Dr. Yeurys Pujols, Ed.D., Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Excellence at Hudson County Community College. The plenary session, Creative Financing for the Arts in New Jersey, follows featuring a panel discussion outlining strategies that can be used to support the arts in communities, especially with the uncertainty of federal funding. Speakers for the session include Tai Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA); and Annie McAdams, Public Art Administrator, City of Hoboken Cultural Affairs. In addition, Christine Goodman, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs City of Jersey City; and Phil Abramson, AICP/PP, Principal, Topology, Inc. will present. Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Executive Director of the NNJCF, will moderate the panel discussion.

These breakout sessions and workshops occur in the following four tracks:

1. Art and Community Health. Art and artful environments benefit mental and physical health and well-being.
2. Community Economic Development. The arts and placemaking boost local economies, create jobs and support cultural entrepreneurship.
3. Empowering and Supporting Public and Social Practice Artists. Information will be provided about training and supporting artists and emerging artists, who want to help communities.
4. Inclusive and Accessible Communities. The arts can help make places more welcoming and comfortable for everyone.

Workshop Sessions

These workshop sessions are scheduled to take place.

• Creative Placemaking 101: Find Your Place in Creative Placemaking – Kadie Dempsey, CORE Creative Placemaking, Morristown
• Public Art, Process + Hip Hop. Sherwin Banfield, Artist
• Resilient, Mutual, Development: How to Use Art and Design to Help Communities Grow. Juanli Carrion, Assistant Professor of Design Strategies, The New School Parsons
• Working with Artists– Lauren Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts
• Community Colleges as Local Cultural Centers  – Drs. Christopher Reber and Yeurys Pujols, Hudson County Community College
• Public Art Adaptation for Hospitals – Robin L. Goldfischer Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Valley Health System, Inc.
• The Healing Stage: Examining the Therapeutic Impact of Dance and Art – Maria Daniel, Dancer and Adjunct Instructor, Hudson County Community
• Getting Started in Public Art for Creatives – Emily Gilman Beezley, Public Artist and Founder of Springboard
• Integrating Arts Effectively into Downtown and Commercial Corridors  – Tracy Gavant, Main Street POPS
• Curating with Inclusivity – Michelle Vitale, Hudson County Community College
• Art, Healing, and Creating Connections – Rodney Camarce, Manager of Wellness, Grounds for Sculpture; Sam Hwang, Director of Guest Services at Grounds for Sculpture
• Inclusive Creativity: Building Accessible Spaces in Art and Social Media  – Danielle Lopez, Hudson County Community College

Panel Discussion

A panel discussion focusing on art in health and also healing will draw upon these leading experts in their fields.

• Creative Cures: Exploring the Role of Art in Health and Healing. Panelists: Athena Toledo MPS, ADC, CDP, ATR-P, Art Therapy Advocate & Art Educator; Ralph Andre, Principal and Creative Director, Mean Genius, Co-founder of CANVS; Catherine Hart, Drawer, painter, and mural artist/collaborator; Diane Dragone, Founding Director, choreographer, and teacher, The Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company and The Kennedy Dancers School; Brooke Hansson, Chief of Administrative Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, Jersey City; and Stephanie Daniels, Division Director for Community Relations and Social Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, Jersey City. Moderators: Stephanie Daniels and Brooke Hansson of the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services

Throughout the conference, Express Yourself, an art therapy activity, will take place during lunch and breaks. Zulisha Morales will facilitate the activity.

Registration and Discount Tickets for Professional Artists

Make your plans now to attend the conference! Register for the NJCCC 2025 conference online. Visit the site to find a range of ticket prices available for general admission, exhibitors, artists, the luncheon honoring developer Paul Silverman, and also the reception. In addition, Hudson County Community College faculty, staff and students may attend the conference and reception free-of-charge. These participants need to register in advance with an HCCC education email.

Scholarships Available for Public and Social Practice Artists

The NNJCF also offers a limited number of $25 scholarships to artists producing public art or interested in learning how to transition from their individual practice into the public and social practice art field. Furthermore, these scholarships, made on a first-come, first-serve basis to artists in all disciplines, offset the $50 artist discounted ticket cost at the conference. Artists may apply for a scholarship by sending an email to artsbergen@nnjcf.org. with their interest. In addition, they need to provide a link to a website or social media page demonstrating their work. For more information, visit the conference’s registration page.

Sponsors and Supporters

The NNJCF seeks sponsors and also donations to support the NJCCC 20225. Sponsors will connect with decision makers and influencers. Furthermore, sponsorships support programs to enhance quality of life in North Jersey communities. They also provide scholarships for HCCC students.

Find sponsorship opportunities online. Sponsors for the conference include Silver – Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services and Track – LISC New Jersey. In addition, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority joins them, as an Event sponsor. Supporters for the conference also include a collective contribution made by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and the Investors Foundation. For additional information about sponsoring the NJCCC 2025, contact the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s Executive Director, Leonardo Vazquez, via e-mail or call 201-568-5608 extension 2.

Donations Welcome

The Foundation welcomes donations of any size. Make your donation now online. Contributions may also be sent by check made out to ‘The Northern N.J. Community Foundation’, with ‘NJCCC 2025′ entered 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 sponsorships, donations, or the NNJCF, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail.