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Newark, NJ — June 6, 2025 — Branch Brook Park Alliance has received a $25,000 grant from Citizens Philanthropic Foundation to support the organization’s Workforce Development: Park Ambassadors program, a youth workforce initiative that provides young people from Newark and surrounding low-to-moderate-income communities with meaningful early work experience, career-readiness training, leadership development, and financial empowerment.
The Park Ambassadors program uses Essex County Branch Brook Park as a living learning environment where participants develop practical workplace skills while contributing to the care and preservation of one of New Jersey’s most treasured public landscapes. Through hands-on stewardship, mentoring, resume-building, interview preparation, communication practice, project planning, and financial literacy activities, participants gain the confidence and experience needed to pursue future educational and career opportunities. “We are deeply grateful to Citizens Philanthropic Foundation for investing in the next generation of Newark’s workforce,” said Thomas B. Dougherty, Jr., President and CEO of Branch Brook Park Alliance. “This support allows us to provide young people with paid, structured, and meaningful work experience in Essex County Branch Brook Park while helping them build leadership, communication, financial literacy, and career-readiness skills that will serve them well beyond their time in the park.” Citizens’ support will help Branch Brook Park Alliance provide honorariums, supervision, supplies, tools, and field-based learning opportunities for Park Ambassadors. The program introduces participants to career pathways in conservation, horticulture, historic preservation, public service, nonprofit leadership, and community-based environmental stewardship. The grant also aligns with Citizens’ broader commitment to strengthening communities, expanding economic opportunity, and supporting workforce development. Through the partnership, Park Ambassadors will participate in financial empowerment activities focused on budgeting, saving, banking basics, credit awareness, and responsible financial decision-making. “Public parks are powerful places for learning, service, and opportunity,” Dougherty added. “By investing in the Park Ambassadors program, Citizens is helping young people see themselves as leaders, workers, stewards, and contributors to the future of their community.” The Park Ambassadors program also produces visible community impact. Participants help lead and support stewardship projects that improve the park’s gardens, landscapes, walking areas, and public spaces. These activities benefit residents, families, students, seniors, and visitors who rely on Essex County Branch Brook Park as a free and accessible place for recreation, wellness, cultural connection, and environmental relief. Since its founding in 1999, Branch Brook Park Alliance has worked to safeguard, restore, and enhance Essex County Branch Brook Park, a 360-acre landscape masterpiece and the centerpiece of America’s first county park system. The Alliance advances its mission through park stewardship, workforce development, community programming, wellness initiatives, education, and strategic partnerships. About Branch Brook Park Alliance Branch Brook Park Alliance is the nonprofit conservancy dedicated to safeguarding and enhancing Essex County Branch Brook Park. As stewards of this remarkable 360-acre landscape masterpiece, the Alliance works to preserve the park’s historic design, expand equitable access, strengthen community well-being, and support responsible park care through partnerships, programs, volunteerism, and workforce development.
Branch Brook Park Alliance’s Annual Lecture and Jazz Luncheon Celebrating Community, Culture, and Conservation Supported by PSE&G
Newark, NJ — June 4, 2025 Branch Brook Park Alliance is proud to announce generous support from PSE&G for its sponsorship of the Clement A. Price | Olmsted Lecture & Jazz Luncheon, taking place on Thursday June 12, 2025 at Essex County Branch Brook Park. This inspiring gathering will feature a dialogue between Christian Cooper, Emmy winning host of Extraordinary Birder on National Geographic, and local Advocate, Attorney, Author and Musician - Junius Williams, and honor Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. and Prudential Financial for their leadership and stewardship of Newark’s most beloved green space. The event brings together civic, corporate, and community leaders to advance the Alliance’s mission of equity, preservation, and public health through park-based programming. The Alliance is grateful for the steadfast partnership with PSE&G, whose commitment to environmental and community well-being continues to energize impactful programs in the park. “We look forward to this important gathering and also celebrate our partnership with Branch Brook Park Alliance, which has had a positive impact on our entire community, including our many park cleanup volunteer activities,” said Calvin Ledford, president, PSEG Foundation and director, PSEG Corporate Social Responsibility. “From workforce development, to STEM and other educational youth programs, to sustainability efforts, the Alliance ensures we have much needed green space today and treasured assets for our community’s tomorrow.” “PSE&G’s continued support speaks volumes about their belief in the power of public spaces to transform lives,” said Thomas B. Dougherty, Jr., president of Branch Brook Park Alliance. “Their investment allows us to engage thousands of residents in wellness programs, educational opportunities, and environmental stewardship—while safeguarding the future of this extraordinary urban park.” Revitalizing Essex County’s Branch Brook Park The Branch Brook Park Alliance has been the primary partner with Essex County to revitalize Branch Brook Park, which opened in 1895. Park enhancements have been supported with grants from corporations, the New Jersey Green Acres program, the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, philanthropic organizations and community members. In addition, the Alliance has sponsored a variety of programs to clean the waterways, spruce up the park, maintain the cherry tree collection, develop an urban greenhouse farm, among other activities. About Branch Brook Park Alliance We champion a masterwork of landscape architecture, conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and designed by the Olmsted Brothers. The centerpiece of the first county park system in America located in the renaissance city of Newark, Essex County Branch Brook Park now enjoys new life. Together with a community of friends, we restored the park’s historic design and are refreshing it for today's lively use. Projects already completed by the partnership are new ball fields, extensive cherry tree plantings and restoration of historic park sites set the stage for complete renewal. Today, Essex County Branch Brook Park hosts annual events, sports and concerts. Like the park's renowned annual Cherry Blossom Festival, these activities attract thousands. For more information or to support the work of Branch Brook Park Alliance, visit www.branchbrookpark.org. Media Contact Thomas B. Dougherty, Jr. President, Branch Brook Park Alliance [email protected] (973) 969-1189 |
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