The Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program offers several ways for people living or working in Hackensack to help grow a greener, cleaner and also healthier city.
From February through September, the program provides several community events in Hackensack:
- Monthly meetings of the Environmental Justice Alliance (EJA). The EJA brings together residents and also representatives from Hackensack organizations. They work to ensure environmental problems do not burden unfairly anyone. In addition, they seek fair access for everyone to environmental benefits such as trees. The next EJA meeting will be February 26, from 7 to 8 p.m., at The Second Reformed Church in downtown Hackensack.
- A family-oriented environmental painting class on March 23 at Rinconcito Musical in downtown Hackensack. This event presents the class in English and Spanish.
The Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program received a PSEG Foundation grant to support the painting and display of rain barrels in Hackensack, New Jersey.
On February 26, from 7 to 8 pm, the EJA, a project of the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program, will meet to discuss the upcoming green infrastructure plan in Hackensack. Green infrastructure is a set of strategies, often involving nature, designed to manage flooding.
Program leaders also plan to explore the possibility of partnering with the Hackensack Public Schools district to install a rain garden at Hackensack High School. A rain garden absorbs much more stormwater, and can be more beautiful, than grass alone. If the district approves the partnership, the EJA plans to invite community members to help build the rain garden.
Join the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice Program
“We hope a lot of people will get involved,” said Leonardo Vazquez, Executive Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNCF), the producer of the program. “We want the strategies to help Hackensack be guided by the people who live and work here.”
The Foundation invites the public to learn more about the program and also its events. Visit the program’s webpage. To RSVP for the events, please go to the NNJCF’s events page.
Last year, a consortium of Hackensack-based organizations launched the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program. The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation led the development of the program. The consortium includes the City of Hackensack, Greater Bergen Community Action, and several other organizations.
For further information about the program, contact Leonardo Vazquez at leo@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608 extension 2.
