New Community Corp. Celebrating 45 Years of Service

“Out of the Ashes Came Hope” will be the theme of New Community Corporation’s 45th anniversary gala, scheduled for Saturday, March 9 at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel and Conference Center in East Rutherford.

The celebration, which begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception to be followed by a short program, dinner and dancing, will include a tribute to founder Monsignor William J. Linder’s “50 People I Admire,” a list that includes the likes of royalty, community activists, scholars, musicians and  former  governors Jim Florio and Thomas Kean.

“You have to provide people with the tools and opportunities to use their God-given talents to move forward,” Florio said in praising New Community for its holistic approach to improving quality of life for inner city residents. 

New Community Corp. was founded in 1968 shortly after riots tore through Newark’s Central Ward, leaving dozens of burned-out businesses and homes in its path. Twenty-three people died, more than 1,000 were wounded and more than $15 million worth of property was destroyed.

Over the years, New Community saw its operations expand beyond housing to include others critical services like day care, job training, transitional housing for the homeless, health care, education and even banking services, the latter of which is provided through the New Community Federal Credit Union.