Victoria Foundation Announces Place-Focused Neighborhood Approach

Three Newark Neighborhoods at the Heart of Effort to Strengthen Community Power and Well-being

Newark, NJ – August 29, 2024 – Victoria Foundation is proud to announce the Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative, its expanded place-focused approach to strengthen the power and self-determination of communities in Newark, New Jersey. The Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative is Victoria Foundation's long-term commitment to building power and generational well-being at the neighborhood level, focusing on the three neighborhoods of Fairmount Heights, Lower Broadway, and Upper Clinton Hill. The Foundation is underpinning the neighborhood focus with city-wide funding approaches that complement efforts in those specific communities and influence resources that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries.

"Newark has a rich cultural heritage and vibrant Black and Brown communities," shared Victoria Foundation's Executive Officer Craig Drinkard. "We are looking forward to working in partnership with residents and community organizations to put Victoria Foundation's investments and voice to work with them, to see their visions for their families and communities into reality." He added, "Our commitment to these neighborhoods reflects our dedication to amplify community voices and address the historical consequences of disinvestment. Victoria Foundation is keen on listening, learning, and co-creating a future in collaboration with the people who call this city home."

A longstanding Newark funder, and one of the oldest foundations in New Jersey, this place-focused approach builds on Victoria Foundation's longstanding relationships in communities. The expanded Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative approach builds on the partnership with LISC-New Jersey, which launched in 2016 and focused on Fairmount Heights and Upper Clinton Hill.

This announcement signals that the Initiative has expanded to include Newark's Lower Broadway neighborhood, which is home to a significant Latinx community, the fastest growing ethnic group in the city, driving Newark's population gains since 2010. By prioritizing this neighborhood, Victoria Foundation aims to leverage critical resources to support the priorities of the growing Latinx community in Newark.

Announcing the place-focused approach is the next step in operationalizing Victoria Foundation's new mission, a historic pivot to focus on community-informed strategies to grow the power of Black and Brown residents and other marginalized communities in Newark. The Foundation sees this neighborhood-focused approach as a way to make larger, bolder investments in deep relationship with community partners, to cultivate change that has long-lasting impact and ripples across the city.

"The Victoria Foundation's overarching goal is to empower the community, ensuring that systems and policies reflect and uphold the needs and visions of Newark residents," shared Frank Alvarez, Victoria Foundation's Chair of the Board. "We aim to foster an environment where stability, well-being, and long-term community power are not just supported, but actively pursued through our actions and investments. By making larger, focused investments, we believe our support will go further toward these goals."

The Victoria Foundation has made $3 million in investments in the Thriving Neighborhood Initiative in Fairmont Heights and Upper Clinton Hill since 2016, leveraging more than $18 million in investments from partners, including the Maher Charitable Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Regional Foundation. LISC-New Jersey has been a lead partner in this work, bringing their expertise in community engagement and community-led development to these investments. They will continue to have an essential role in this work.

Victoria Foundation's lead partners in the three neighborhoods are enthusiastic about the deeper investments and focus:

• "LISC-NJ is proud to be a part of TNI and stands ready to ensure the strength and permanence of this platform, which affords our organizational and resident leaders with a 'community of practice' and platform of consistent, value-added resources and support that yields a steady collection of collaborative, sustainable responses to our neighborhoods' most pressing needs."– Jorge Sam Cruz, Executive Director, LISC-NJ

• "For us, this partnership is more than a collaboration; it's a powerful opportunity to help families achieve economic prosperity in the neighborhoods we serve. Together, we are paving the way for stronger, more resilient communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive." – BRICK Education Network

• "Victoria Foundation is no stranger in leading bold, innovative new approaches to long-standing challenges facing the city. We are excited to help the Foundation write its next chapter as we focus on resident power-building and collaboration to drive sustainable change in the Clinton Hill neighborhood." – Khaatim Sherrer El, Executive Director, Clinton Hill Community Action

• "FOCUS is extremely elated to be selected to deepen this work and partnership with Victoria Foundation. The opportunity to build on the assets of the community is both exhilarating and profound. By expanding the partnership with Victoria Foundation, we can truly qualify and quantify the voices of the community and stretch our impact." – Maritza Aráuz, Executive Director, FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc.

• "La Casa de Don Pedro is excited to be a key partner in Victoria Foundation's new neighborhood approach plan for the city of Newark. Together, we will strengthen and expand upon the many programs and services that connect the more than 50,000 people we serve annually to the critical resources and tools they need to not only survive, but also to thrive." – Peter T. Rosario, President & CEO, La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc.

• "Social change requires resources, and Victoria Foundation listens to those closest to the problem to develop solutions and best determine how funds should be utilized. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Foundation to implement effective grassroots programs to expand opportunity for families in Newark." – Vivian Cox Fraser, President & CEO, Urban League of Essex County

This year, the Victoria Foundation is also marking its 100-year anniversary, celebrating deep-rooted relationships and partnerships with local leaders, organizations, and residents. In October, Victoria Foundation is hosting the "Newark Future Forum" to dive deeper into the themes of youth self-determination, economic justice, and power building with local leaders, experts from communities, and national field leaders.

For more information about Victoria Foundation and its commitment to Newark, visit VictoriaFoundation.org.

About Victoria Foundation

Founded in 1924, Victoria Foundation is a private foundation based in Newark, New Jersey, with an endowment of $300 million. Since 1964, Victoria Foundation has focused most of its resources on children and families living in Newark, New Jersey, with grants totaling over $340 million. The foundation recently announced a new framework that will direct its grantmaking, investments, and relationships on addressing systemic causes of generational poverty in Newark by focusing on strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, promoting youth self-determination, and responding to pressing needs. Learn more at victoriafoundation.org.