FSB Director Christina Ward organized A Gathering of Hope & Healing with her team and The Black Poster Project. In addition to the display, FSB staff members offered free grief counseling for anyone in need.

���This is a really special event,��� Ward said.

The Black Poster Project brought about 200 of its 750 posters depicting individuals who lost their lives because of addiction and mental health issues. The display included a section with members of the military and another with family members who died from addiction. The posters, which included photos of the individuals as well as text about them, filled the atrium of the venue. Visitors were able to browse the display at their own pace.

The Black Poster Project founder Dee Gillen said the purpose of the display is not to make people sad but to honor those lost as well as to help those in recovery.

���You have to hear both sides,��� she said. ���You have to hear the recovery stories and the loss stories because people won���t understand how much work it takes to stay clean and sober. And that���s why we do it.���

The Black Poster Project Event Coordinator Dawn Pizzolato said the display also puts a face and a sense of humanity to overdose statistics.

���It could be anybody,��� she said. ���It could be you, it could be your friend, your neighbor.���

In addition to the display, the event featured three speakers who discussed their experiences with addiction and offered words of encouragement to those in attendance.

Actor Lillo Brancato Jr., best known for his performances in A Bronx Tale and The Sopranos, shared his story of addiction which caused him physical and emotional pain and ultimately cost him his freedom.

Brancato said his addiction was the cause of breakups, serious bodily injury to himself and the loss of a police officer���s life for which he served time in jail. Although he wasn���t the person to shoot and kill the officer, he was implicated in the crime because he had broken a window to get the attention of someone he knew to have drugs, which was considered a burglary attempt. Since the person he was with shot and killed the officer, Brancato was charged with felony murder because the officer was killed during the commission of a felony. Ultimately, Brancato was acquitted of the most serious charges but found guilty of attempted burglary in the first degree with bodily harm to a non-party. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

It took many years and nearly dying from an overdose in prison for Brancato to hear the message from a friend that he had to stop using.

���A million times before people tell you this. When you���re ready, you���re ready. And that day I was ready. I didn���t shrug it off. It really resonated with me,��� Brancato said. ���I���m all shackled up and as restricted as I was, I hadn���t felt that free in so long because I just felt like God was going to give me another chance.���

Brancato stopped using drugs and worked on his case with his lawyer. While serving his sentence after trial, he earned his GED and a two-year degree. Since his release from prison, he has returned to acting and helps others in recovery.

His message is to have hope in the future.

���Things always get better one way or the other,��� he said. ���Either the situation itself gets better or your ability to deal with it will get better.���

He encourages everyone to take control of their circumstances.

���We decide how we want to live our lives. And to use what we���ve learned and all the mistakes that we���ve made,��� he said. ���It���s very important not to keep making those mistakes.���

Author and podcaster Richard Kaufman spoke at A Gathering of Hope & Healing about his addiction which started with alcohol at the age of 11. When he was 20 years old, he robbed a police officer and was facing a grand larceny charge, which would have meant five years in prison. Instead, the police officer offered him the opportunity to attend meetings and drug court, which changed his life. He has remained sober since then, 35 years ago.

���The three most important words in the English language are: ���Today I decide.��� I decide if I live or if I die. I decide if I go to bed an addict or I wake up clean,��� Kaufman said. ���You can either be a victim or you can be a victor. And if you���re standing in this room and if you have five minutes clean, you are a victor. You no longer have to be a victim of your past.���

Director of Community Hills Early Learning Center (CHELC) Daniel Charles spoke at the event to serve as an inspiration for those in recovery and battling addiction.

���I���m coming to let you know that if I can get 31 years clean, one day at a time, the hope is that you may be able to do it too,��� he said. ���And I know if I can do it, you can do it.���

Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB) is a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center, welcoming the use of medication assisted treatment and psychiatric intervention. FSB has offices in Newark and Kearny. For more information or to make an appointment, call the Newark office at 973-412-2056 or call the Kearny office at 201-246-8077. You can also email fsbaccess@newcommunity.org or visit fsbofnewark.org for more information.

Actor Lillo Brancato Jr., who was featured in A Bronx Tale and The Sopranos, and Richard Kaufman, host and producer of the top 100 podcast Vertical Momentum, will be the speakers at the event.

Also included in the free event will be food and beverages, a tricky tray and free grief counseling from FSB.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. to purchase a sponsorship.

All proceeds from this event will go toward funding mental health and addiction services for those in need without the financial means to seek help.

Actor Lillo Brancato Jr., who was featured in A Bronx Tale and The Sopranos, and Richard Kaufman, host and producer of the top 100 podcast Vertical Momentum, will be the speakers at the event.

Also included in the free event will be food and beverages, a tricky tray and free grief counseling from FSB.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. to purchase a sponsorship.

All proceeds from this event will go toward funding mental health and addiction services for those in need without the financial means to seek help.

Folsom has the longest tenure with 91心頭. He will celebrate 40 years as a security officer in August. He has worked mainly in the organization���s residential buildings, with Hudson Senior in Jersey City currently serving as his main post. He started his NCC career at Extended Care where he met his wife who was working in the facility���s kitchen. The couple will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary in August.

He enjoys his work and doesn���t have plans to leave.

���I could retire now but I���m just not ready to sit back yet,��� Folsom said. ���I like being around different people.���

Grier-Porch greets visitors at the 91心頭 Health Care Building, which houses , , the Family Resource Success Center, Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB) and Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF). She has worked at 91心頭 for nearly 34 years as a security officer, serving in residential buildings and , which used to fall under NCC, in addition to her current post.

She plans to stay at 91心頭 until retirement.

���I love my job. I love working with the people that I work with,��� Grier-Porch said. ���91心頭���s a good place to be.���

Mansare will reach 30 years at 91心頭 in August. He first learned about 91心頭 from NCC���s late founder Monsignor William J. Linder, who was serving as the pastor at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newark. Mansare is a very traditional Catholic and was searching for a church after coming to the United States from Guinea in West Africa. He found St. Rose of Lima and became close with Monsignor Linder who encouraged him to continue his education and told him about the security positions available at 91心頭.

Monsignor Linder connected Mansare to lawyers to help him bring his fiance to the United States. He wed the couple and baptized each of their three children. Mansare���s connection to Monsignor Linder and his coworkers has kept him at the organization.

���I love 91心頭,��� he said. ���It���s like a family.���

Security Sgt. Barrow has worked at 91心頭 for about 30 years. He left the organization for a time to deal with family issues but decided to return.

���I came back because I love 91心頭,��� he said. ���I loved the job I was doing.���

Barrow first came to 91心頭 as a security officer in 1979, shortly after the organization had finished construction on many of its residential buildings. He has worked at a variety of sites and all shifts and was promoted to supervisor. He now supervises the 4 p.m. to midnight shift, ensuring the safety and security of residents, staff members and 91心頭 property.

Security Operations Manager Derek White is proud of the longtime personnel on his staff.

���They are all an asset to NCC and continue to help residents improve the quality of their lives,��� he said. ���I���d like to personally thank them for all they have done and continue to do. Their contributions are an important part of our continued success.���

The group of longtime employees has seen many changes over the years, including the expansion of buildings and services. Folsom remembers the creation of Harmony House, 91心頭���s transitional housing facility for homeless families, as well as the opening of the Health Care Building. The group also saw residential buildings go up and the rehabilitation of properties.

Commitment to 91心頭���s mission, a desire to help others and a sense of camaraderie has kept the longtime members of the Security Department at the organization.��

���In the Security Department, we all stick together to try to make everything better than before,��� Barrow said. ���You learn from your mistakes, build from your mistakes and you move on.���

While some are nearing retirement, they���re happy to come to work each day.

���Anybody that comes in that needs help, 91心頭 is there,��� Grier-Porch said. ���I���m glad that we can be of help to them.���

Coote focuses on finding permanent housing for Harmony House residents in her current role. She goes out in the field to find apartments and researches as much information as possible about subsidized housing, low-income housing, affordable housing and market rent rates in the area. In addition, she provides resources to help clients obtain employment and creates individual service plans for them.

Finding permanent housing that clients can afford is challenging.

���It���s very difficult because we���re in an era where the demand is so high but the supply is extremely low,��� Coote said.

She doesn���t let the circumstances discourage her, however. She is continuously looking for ways to help her clients move to self-sufficiency and has helped several move into permanent housing.

Harmony House Director Yonette Fredericks said Coote came to the department with optimism and an eagerness to help clients overcome their barriers to obtaining permanent housing.

���Ms. Coote, willing to pitch in wherever she is needed, continues to be a beacon of hope for the clients and, ultimately, her peers,��� Fredericks said. ���The Harmony House team is pleased to have such a bright and tenacious Relocation Case Manager who continues to demonstrate the passion and commitment to aiding the fight against homelessness.���

Coote has always been passionate about helping others. In her free time, she fed the homeless and hosted clothing drives. She grew fond of 91心頭 and its mission when she began volunteering at the Family Resource Success Center. Director Joann Williams-Swiney suggested that she apply for a job with the organization and provided her with a recommendation.

���Emily was and is courteous and kind to every client she encounters. She is straightforward in a respectful way which fosters a connection with the clients she works with. She is a go-getter and a determined young woman who cares about those in her community,��� Williams-Swiney said. ���Emily truly embodies the mission of NCC.���

Coote decided she wanted a career in social work shortly after starting her post-secondary education at Essex County College. Coote���s mother, who passed away when she was born, was a social worker. When she was 19, Coote learned about her mother���s career and the passion she had for helping others. She was told firsthand accounts of how her mother had helped people and made a positive difference in their lives. It was then she decided to pursue social work as a career. After , Coote attended and graduated with a major in social work and a minor in women and gender studies.

Coote previously worked at in Summit in an administrative role. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she took a job as a tool rental associate at , where she rented out equipment and demonstrated how it worked to customers. She enjoyed the position but wanted to find a role to use her social work degree.

The best part of the job for Coote happens when a client thanks her and understands the services she is providing.

Coote is grateful that Harmony House exists in the area because it offers private space for families, which is rare. Most shelters have communal areas instead of individual units with private kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

���I tell the clients all day that this shelter is considered the W [Hotel] to any other shelter in this city and in this county,��� she said.

In addition to privacy, Harmony House residents also have access to all the other services 91心頭 provides, including mental health counseling from Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB); free tax prep, furniture assistance and energy bill assistance at the Family Resource Success Center; and educational services from .

Coote doesn���t limit her contributions at Harmony House to her official duties as a Relocation Case Manager. She also pitches ideas for events that she coordinates if they get approved. Right before Valentine���s Day she arranged for licensed individuals to provide haircuts and hair braiding for Harmony House children.

���I like that Ms. Fredericks allows me to bring in some ideas and actually execute them,��� she said. ���It was a real success.���

FSB is a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center, welcoming the use of medication assisted treatment and psychiatric intervention. It has offices in Newark and Kearny. For more information about its offerings, visit fsbofnewark.org or call the Newark office at 973-412-2056 or the Kearny office at 201-246-8077.

The Retention Team, under the direction of NCCTI Director Dr. Sylvia McCray, is currently made up of four members. The team meets each Thursday to discuss attendance and which students have been chronically absent. While students who are absent receive a phone call that day, Andrea Kelly and Odette Phillip, who serve as Student Success Coaches and are members of the Retention Team, dig deeper to find out what is causing the absences and if there is support that they can offer to overcome any obstacles.

When a student communicates a barrier, the Retention Team member refers them to the identified resource that is needed. Referrals can be to the Family Resource Success Center, which provides assistance with food, transportation and housing referrals; Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB), which offers mental and behavioral health services; the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC), which helps clients improve their financial situations; or Career Services, which helps students obtain employment.

The Retention Team is not just involved with students who are having difficulty making it to class, however. Team members consistently reach out to all students to keep them on track, provide support should any issues arise and cheer them on when they are doing well. Contact is usually by phone and email.

���The Retention Team is a proactive solution-oriented process whose purpose is to involve all parties in the student educational cycle from Admissions to Career Services/planning; in providing an equitable, positive, problem-solving approach to assist students, families and teachers in developing effective solutions, identify instructional strategies, interventions and/or supports that may resolve or alleviate academic, behavioral, career planning and/or social-emotional needs,��� McCray said. ���The creation of the Retention Team leads to a continuum of educational programming and services for maximizing student success within the school environment while limiting or eliminating the barriers that prevent them from meeting the goal of completion. Over time, I believe this team will continue to see more positive results from their efforts.���

The team is also involved with campus student events. The first such event, the Student Appreciation Luncheon, was held on Oct. 27. Students from all programs gathered at the Main Campus, along with staff members and instructors, to enjoy lunch and each other���s company. It was also the first opportunity for some of the students to meet members of the Retention Team in person, particularly those in the Automotive Technician and Building Trades Specialist programs, which are held at the NCCTI Training Center.

The event also included the awarding of a certificate recognizing perfect attendance for the month of September. The hope is that seeing a peer getting recognized will motivate other students to come to class consistently.

Feedback from the event has been positive.

���Students spoke to me and they were really appreciative of it,��� Phillip said. ���They didn���t see it as just a sandwich.���

The Retention Team also arranged for students to get bags of candy on Halloween and is planning events around Thanksgiving and Christmas that will provide more opportunities for students to mingle with those in other programs.

Building that camaraderie among students in all areas of study will help to keep students engaged and hopefully coming to class.

���They have to feel when they come here, that they belong,��� Phillip said. ���This is not just a classroom to do this and get out. We have to make them want to come here. And that���s where we���re going.���

Holding students accountable for their punctuality and attendance is beneficial to their future as well. When they enter the workforce, employers will expect them to come to work on time each day and communicate promptly if an unexpected situation arises.

���I’m glad that we now have a Retention Team that works together to ensure that students attend classes each day and on time,��� said NCCTI Registrar Ramona Galley, who is also a member of the Retention Team. ���Most of our students are young and many of them are dealing with all kinds of problems (personal, housing, health, financial), and we point them to many different resources that can help them while in the program here. The team often has one-on-one meetings with students to discuss barriers and a plan for successful completion.���

Helping students on their journey to a successful career is rewarding for members of the Retention Team.

���When a student who wasn���t coming or was lapsing, that person is there now doing what they���re supposed to do. That satisfaction that I touched that student and it���s working,��� Phillip said.

Kelly sends students inspirational quotes to help motivate them. While it might seem small, the messages have resulted in positive interactions.

���I know two people that did respond. One said thank you and the other actually needed help. And we got her the help that she needed,��� Kelly said.��

The efforts of the Retention Team are meant to help students succeed and reach their full potential.

���We always want what���s best for them,��� Kelly said.

NCCTI is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that is currently enrolling for the following programs: Automotive Technician, Building Trades Specialist, Medical Assistant Clinical, Patient Care Technician and Culinary Arts Specialist. NCCTI also operates a comprehensive Financial Opportunity Center and Bridges to Career Opportunities Program sponsored by the local and national Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) offices. For more information, call 973-824-6484, log onto or visit 274 South Orange Ave., Newark.

New Jersey requires counselors to be licensed. There are two levels of licensure: licensed associate counselor (LAC) and licensed professional counselor (LPC). Both Arici and Lipari obtained their LAC after completing the graduate program at Montclair State University and passing the National Counselor Examination. Those with an LAC must work under supervision for 4,500 hours, or approximately three years, before becoming eligible to apply for an LPC license. Arici and Lipari both worked at FSB under supervision for the required time and received their LPC licenses in August. Now they are permitted to provide services independently.

Both Arici and Lipari decided to pursue a career in counseling because they wanted to help people. Lipari always wanted to help her siblings and friends when she was young and a high school class made an impact.

���I remember I took a psychology course in high school and it was so interesting to me. I found a calling for it,��� she said. ���So that���s what I did with my bachelor���s and when I graduated, there���s really not much you can do with your bachelor���s in psychology so I was looking for different things in the field. And being a counselor, it would help people. It felt like something I needed to do.���

Arici had experience receiving services. He was in foster care and had what he describes as a good therapist when he was a teenager. But he didn���t decide to pursue that line of work until he was in college working toward a different degree.

���I was going to school for computer science and then I decided about a year and a half into my program, I don���t really want to pursue this any more,��� he said. ���I was taking a psychology class at the time and I liked it. So I pursued that instead.���

When the time came to think about a job after graduation, Arici said he had the choice of social work or counseling. He chose counseling because he wanted to ���help people deal with their problems and how to solve those problems.���

Arici graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. He started interning at FSB in 2018 while pursuing his graduate degree and graduated from Montclair State University in 2019 with a master���s degree in clinical mental health counseling. That same year he became a permanent employee at the agency.

���I probably chose FSB because they���re a very community-oriented clinic with a high client population and that stood out to me,��� he said.

Lipari attended Rowan University for her undergraduate degree and graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in Spanish. She began her internship at FSB in May of 2017 while completing the graduate program at Montclair State University. She knew others at Montclair State University had interned at the agency and reached out to see if there was an opportunity. When her internship ended and she graduated with a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling in May of 2018, she wanted to become an employee at FSB, but there were no open positions at the time. Luckily for her, a position became available shortly after and she became a permanent employee in July of 2018. Aside from feeling comfortable at FSB and already knowing the procedures and clientele, Lipari said the agency offered supervision, which is required with the LAC license she had at the time.

���They give us supervision, which is really important, which you need to get your LPC. A lot of jobs don���t offer that. You have to pay out of pocket,��� she explained. ���That���s one of the good things about working here. They really give you the support that you need to succeed and move forward.���

FSB Director Christina Ward is happy to assist clinicians during their careers.

���Alex and Kim started here as interns and it���s been a rewarding experience watching them grow as clinicians,��� Ward said. ���Getting a clinical license is a journey in and of itself requiring a lot of education and a lot of clinical work hours. I have no doubt both Alex and Kim will show continued success in the counseling field.���

91心頭 Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter said he enjoys recognizing employees��� accomplishments.

���It���s great to acknowledge our hardworking frontline staff,��� he said. ���I think it���s exciting to celebrate their dedication to their clients, residents and coworkers, which seems to be a common theme here at 91心頭.���

As mental health clinicians for FSB, Arici and Lipari meet with clients one-on-one, provide case management, conduct outreach and work on treatment plans. They both work out of the Kearny office.

Arici���s favorite part of the job is the variety it brings with each unique client.

���Everybody���s different. I enjoy that part of the job. Every day feels different. Every session feels different,��� he said. ���I���m a people person. So I really enjoy that part of the job. It���s very rewarding at the end of the day.���

Lipari enjoys her clients��� successes.

���My favorite part is when I see people succeeding,��� she said. ���It���s nice when I���m seeing a client for a while and they���re starting to hit those goals and start implementing the different strategies we talk about. It���s rewarding to see that I���m having an impact on their mental health.���

Family Service Bureau of Newark is a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center with two locations. The Newark office is located at 274 South Orange Ave., Newark, and the Kearny office is located at 379 Kearny Ave., Kearny. FSB aims to provide each consumer with the resources needed to improve their quality of life. If you are interested in services, please call the Newark office at 973-412-2056 or the Kearny office at 201-246-8077 or email fsbaccess@newcommunity.org. More information is available online at fsbofnewark.org.

Ward first joined FSB in February 2021 as Director of Clinical Services for both the Newark and Kearny locations. She initially wanted to work at FSB to have a supervisory role. When the opportunity arose to lead the agency, she decided to apply for that position.

���I am really excited to promote Christina Ward to FSB Director. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Services and now will have the overall responsibility for FSB,��� said 91心頭 Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter. ���Christina has a lot of mental health and substance abuse experience and I am looking forward to FSB���s continued community impact under her leadership.���

As FSB Director, Ward oversees both the Newark and Kearny offices. Her responsibilities include running staff meetings, correspondence with state agencies, grant reporting, grant research and signing progress notes.

Ward previously worked as a corrections officer where she was introduced to social work. An injury forced her to leave that position. She then worked at a halfway house and decided to pursue a master���s degree in social work.

���I ended up just really enjoying it and being very good at it,��� she said. ���So then I got an internship at Integrity House, and that’s where I got basically all of my training.���

Ward interned at Integrity House while in school and was then hired as a counselor, which helped propel her career forward. After Integrity House, she worked at New Jersey Reentry Corporation due to her unique experience with law enforcement and social work. She then moved on to Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center as a Team Lead, which provided her with more on-the-job training and prepared her for the move to FSB. She had worked in managerial roles in previous industries, like retail, before entering the Health and Human Services field and decided to combine the two skills.

Ward finds her work rewarding.

���My favorite part of the field is watching people grow,��� she said. ���Having them come to you with an issue and then actually seeing them work through the issue and then leaving with hope for their future.���

Ward grew up in Newark and only recently moved out of the city. That has helped her in her roles at FSB.

���I relate to a lot of the people from this area,��� she said.

After graduating high school in Newark, Ward earned her bachelor���s degree in Technical Management from DeVry University and is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta honor society. She earned her master���s degree in Social Work at Rutgers University and is a member of the Phi Alpha honor society.

Ward got married in April and moved to Lyndhurst with her wife.

She is an artist and creates work with spray paint. When she was young, she attended Arts High School in Newark for its summer arts program and attended high school there for communications. She initially was an art major in college but decided to keep it as a hobby instead of a career. In her spare time, she also enjoys playing video games.