NJIT Co-Partners to Host Newark's Virtual Call to Collaboration
Starting Thursday, Oct. 15, NJIT will co-partner to host Newark’s 2020 Virtual Call to Collaboration (C2C) — a city-wide, 4-day virtual meeting that “unleashes imaginative strategic thinking, powers individual leadership and responsibility, and strengthens personal and professional networks for the betterment of the City of Newark.”
The 2020 C2C will look to build on the momentum of the inaugural event held at NJIT in 2019, which attracted more than 350 attendees and more than 75 vibrant, thought-provoking conversations, with topics that included supporting city entrepreneurship, collaboratively working with students to increase safety, forming and supporting existing artist collectives and arts centers, greening Newark, addressing gentrification, supporting Newark’s differently-abled community members and creating less racial separation in Newark.
The Virtual Call to Collaboration — produced by the statewide initiative Creative New Jersey (CNJ) in cooperation with the Newark C2C Host Team — will revolve around this year’s central thematic question, “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic downturn, and the rising calls for social justice, how do we unite our diverse communities and stakeholders to build upon Newark’s rich history, strengthen our city’s identity and support transformational progress?”
Discussion and breakout sessions across the multi-day event aim to generate dialogue around the city's critical issues, while amplifying often-marginalized voices and fostering cross-initiative and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen community cohesion. The event is free and open to the public via Zoom.
“We are building a people-powered, grass-roots movement that bridges the gap between established dominant culture decision-makers and local community leaders,” said Elizabeth Murphy, Creative New Jersey’s founding director. “We are humbled by, and in awe of, the transforming power and community commitment of the Newarkers we are so fortunate to collaborate with and we are excited to gather, virtually, with these insightful, strategic and visionary colleagues.”
“Across our state, I have seen how the CNJ format unleashes the power of local citizens to become change-agents in their neighborhoods and organizations,” said NJIT Hub for Creative Placemaking Director and Newark Host Team member, Suzanne Ishee. “It is through identifying specific needs and issues, collaborative decision-making and taking ownership that Newark neighbors will be empowered to make the places where we live work and play thrive. NJIT has shown a continuing commitment to champion this effort.”
Dates of the event are scheduled for Thursday, October 15 (7:00-8:30 p.m.); Friday, October 16 (9:30-12:30 p.m.); Monday, October 19; (7-8:30 p.m.), and Tuesday, October 20 (9:30-12:30 p.m.).
Newark’s C2C will offer participants an inclusive environment with opportunities to conduct breakout sessions available in Spanish and English Zoom streams. Event organizers expect participants will lead sessions in Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, and English, and many other languages.
Individuals interested in attending Newark’s Virtual Call to Collaboration can register for free:
For more information, visit www.creativenj.org or www.Facebook.com/CreativeN.
All Creative New Jersey’s statewide and local community-based programming is made possible through the leadership support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
