(RECAP) Go Green! Earth Day Celebration at Jersey Explorer Children's Museum

This past Saturday, the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum hosted the 'Go Green! Earth Day Celebration', presented by the Bridge Of Books Foundation and NJ Youth Corps. The highlight of the event was NY Jets starting offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who was on hand to present and read his children's book titled 'Brick's Way Go Green!'

There were various 'Go Green!' themed tables to help celebrate Earth Day. Tables included information on how and where to recycle, as well as computer games with recyclable themes. We showed a educational documentary on the positive effects of recycling. We also offered a book swap, where guests could bring in their old and used books and walk away with brand new ones. There were arts and crafts initiatives for the kids to make a commitment on going green. Outside the museum, volunteers alongside Youth Corps and the Bridge Of Books staff, planted flowers and added fresh soil to our garden.

Guests of the 'Go Green! Earth Day Celebration' were offered a gracious selection of literature from the Bridge Of Books Foundation. There was food offered in the park courtesy of Robert from First Fridays and Councilwoman Andrea McPhatter. Mr. Ferguson, who was a very gracious guest, stayed to sign a few books, give motivational advice to the kids and take a complete tour through the Jersey Explorer.

We would like to thank the community at large (special thanks to the local youth football teams) for attending and participating. Special thanks to Abby Daly and all the great people at the Bridge Of Books Foundation. We will continue giving away free books throughout the spring and summer, so make sure you stop in and visit us!

 

Go Green! Earth Day Celebration at Jersey Explorer Children's Museum

GO GREEN! with NY Jets D’Brickashaw Ferguson

April 8, 2015 (Holmdel, NJ) – GO GREEN! with New York Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson as he joins the Bridge of Books Foundation and the New Jersey Youth Corps for an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25 at The Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum.  

GO GREEN! focuses on the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and features fun activities for the whole family.  Crafts, games, gardening, exhibits and recycling demonstrations will take place from 10 am until 3 pm. 

Ferguson, left tackle for the New York Jets, will join the celebration at 1:30 PM to read from his children’s book Brick's Way Go Green!. Free copies of Brick’s Way Go Green! will be distributed to all children in attendance throughout the day.  Attendees are invited to bring gently used children’s books for donation to the Bridge of Books Foundation and take part in a Book Swap, selecting children’s books to take home.   

            “I am grateful to D’Brickashaw Ferguson for his generosity in supporting our cause,” said Abigail Daly, Bridge of Books Foundation Founder and Executive Director.  “Access to books is the single biggest barrier to literacy development in the United States.  In many towns throughout New Jersey, there are homes that have only one or two books.  At Bridge of Books, we believe every child has the right to own a book.  Our goal is to distribute 1 million books by 2020.”

             

            “We are excited to partner with the Bridge of Books Foundation for this Earth Day Celebration,” said Gary Patnosh, from the NJ Youth Corps and The Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum.  “We support their mission and believe that literacy opens the door to greater opportunities. In addition to providing thousands of children with an interactive and educational experience at the museum, the NJ Youth Corps welcomes the opportunity to send every child home with books from the Bridge of Books Foundation.”

Founded in 2003, Bridge of Books Foundation works to provide an ongoing source of books to underprivileged and at-risk children throughout New Jersey.  Located in Holmdel, NJ, the Foundation has facilitated the distribution of almost half a million books in order to support literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Visit www.bridgeofbooksfoundation.org for more information.

The Jersey Explorer Children's Museum is a project of the New Jersey Youth Corps at New Jersey City University.  Built and staffed by young adults from the Youth Corps, the museum provides academic and vocational opportunities to these at-risk young adults and educational enrichment to the thousands of children who visit.  The Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum is located at 192 Dodd Street, East Orange, www.jerseyexplorer.org.

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East Orange, NJ Great Pumpkin Carving and Haunted House (Part 1)

Saturday October 25th, the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum hosted a wonderful community event -  The Great Pumpkin Carving and Haunted House spectacular! The brand new staff and students of NJ Youth Corps did an amazing job working countless hours in support of this function. Councilwoman Andrea McPhatter in collaboration with the Powerzone Foundation, First Friday Youth Commission and other valuable supporters brought together families in Essex County for a theme of spooky celebration and fun!

NJ Youth Corps were dressed for the occasion with scary costumes and eye popping makeup to match! Over a hundred guests attended the festivities and had a glorious time. There were guided tours through our popular exhibits such as the Ancient Tomb and Jukebox, all specially decorated with a Halloween twist.  Special thanks to all of our volunteers and attendees! Our pumpkin carvers were extremely creative with their designs. Check out some cool pictures below. 

NJ Youth Corps Service in the Community (Part 1)

On Wednesday October 9th, NJ Youth Corps worked locally in the Jersey City community servicing a resourceful food pantry as well as the historical Loews Theater.

"Lets Celebrate" is a non profit agency that works to help people in need with donated groceries and other social services such as financial education and affordable housing. NJ Youth Corps worked as a team to help stock their pantries and prepare bags of food for the clients stopping in. It was a very humbling experience for our students, especially the few that lived right up the street and recognized some of the people in need. Unfortunately, issues such as hunger effect many individuals and families regardless of race, gender and even career status. Even some of those that have jobs, struggle with low wages or lack of full time employment and find it difficult to afford three square meals a day. NJ Youth Corps engaged with some of these individuals and families by serving up hot lunch meals for them.

At the Loews Theater, the staff assisted in organizing and cleaning efforts. They swept, mopped and moved various items to different locations in the theater. The management was very appreciative of Youth Corps efforts. These community service projects will continue throughout the finish of 2014 leading into 2015.

NJ Youth Corps and Jersey Explorer Children's Museum @ 24 Hours Of Peace in Newark, NJ

24HrsofPeace is our outdoor cultural event aimed at addressing violence through the performing arts. Music, Poetry, Dance, Film and Spoken Word are the vehicles we will use to promote the message of peace and unity in the community. Please join us August 29th 6pm on Clinton Avenue in Newark between Treacy Avenue and Bergen Street. -  https://24hrsofpeace.wordpress.com/

NJ Youth Corps along with the Jersey Explorer Children's Museum were eager to give a helping hand to such a monumental event that directly involves the talents of young people making a positive difference. 

Radio Host, Hip Hop Artist and Activist Hakeem Green showed his support by visiting the JECM before '24 Hours Of Peace' took place. He was in awe of our museum and staff as well as our informative, thought provoking exhibits. 

Hakeem is one of the key organizers for the 24HoursofPeace event, which is presented by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Thanks to our connections and supporters we were able to donate over a thousand books over the weekend for a unified effort on decreasing violence in Newark and increasing support for the talented citizens who are spreading awareness and promoting peace and love.