Octopus made from waste in ocean debris.  Photo credit: Smithsonian's Ocean Portal

(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- Share your ideas at the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's (NNJCF) Environmental Art Brainstorming session on Monday, April 1, 2024 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.   The session will take place at the Hackensack Performing Art Center's (HACPAC) gallery on the lower level, located at 102 Street in Hackensack.  The session is open to the public and free.

This creative session continues the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice’s Barrels O’Art project to percolate ideas for environmental art that address climate change, flooding and other environmental issues.  Participants do not need to be professional artists; everyone is welcome to attend and share their ideas.  This session will focus on developing ideas for environmental art that can be installed near the community rain garden planned at Hackensack High School.

The session is produced by the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance – an extension of the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice -- and the Hackensack Art Club.  Donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to help build a community rain garden in Hackensack.

Parking is available across the street from the HACPAC at the Atlantic Street Garage.   Metered parking is also available on State and Warren Streets.

People may register for the session at https://tinyurl.com/mr2mtrfa.  For further information, contact Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Executive Director of the NNJCF, at leo@nnjcf.org or call 201-568-5608 extension 2.

This community session is part of the NNJCF's Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice project.  The project seeks to reduce flooding and improve environmental conditions for residents in central Hackensack and other parts of the city affected by flooding.

The session is produced by the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Hackensack and Greater Bergen Community Action, as well as residents of Hackensack and representatives from several organizations in Hackensack.  The project is supported in part by The Funders Network, AARP, Valley Bank Foundation, M&T Bank Foundation, PSEG Foundation, The Rotary Club of Hackensack, and other supporters.

The NNJCF seeks donations to support the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice Project.  Donations of any size are welcome.  All donations received will be used to help create a community rain garden or other environmental projects benefitting the community.  Donations may be made online here.  Contributions may also be sent by check made out to 'The Northern N.J. Community Foundation' and enter ‘Hackensack Green’ in the memo line.  Send checks to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 128, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.  For further information about the NNJCF, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail to nnjcf@nnjcf.org.

Founded in 1998, The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization based in Hackensack, New Jersey, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023.  The NNJCF works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups to improve community life.  Through collaborative partnerships, regional problems are identified and resolved. Opportunities are discovered and explored by talking and learning from each other and sharing ideas, best practices, services, and resources.  The Foundation's primary areas of work are the environment, arts and culture, public health, education, civic engagement, and philanthropy.