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.���

���The NCFCU appreciates the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for allowing us to provide financial assistance to local small businesses in their time of need,��� said NCFCU Director Mulu Gebreyesus.

One of those small businesses is Akwaaba Gallery, an art gallery located on South Orange Avenue in Newark���s West Ward. Laura Bonas Palmer runs Akwaaba Gallery, which she owns with husband Ray Palmer, Senior Property Manager of Manor Family for 91心頭.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Akwaaba Gallery was forced to close as were many local businesses. The gallery had only been open for a little more than a year and did not qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Bonas Palmer heard about the possibility of a small business grant and contacted Gebreyesus to learn more. She submitted the necessary documentation and was approved for the grant.

The funding is for the operation of the gallery. Although Akwaaba Gallery closed to the public on March 16, Bonas Palmer explained that she set up a new show in the space and shared it with the public virtually. The virtual show was available online and showed photographs of the art on display on the gallery walls. People were able to browse the show online and purchase pieces as if they visited the gallery in person. Bonas Palmer said people are still buying art despite the current economic climate.

Akwaaba Gallery reopened July 22 with visitors required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Hand sanitizer dispensers are also installed in the space. The virtual show is still up in the gallery for visitors to see in person. Bonas Palmer expects to hang the next show in September for an October opening. Visitors should RSVP for the October show to ensure social distancing can be maintained.

In addition to general operations, Bonas Palmer plans to use some of the grant money to help kickstart a reading and arts club for children in the neighborhood around Akwaaba Gallery, including those that are a part of NCC.

���My vision is to get the kids engaged in the arts and make them feel like what���s happening in Newark, what���s happening in the neighborhood is for them as well,��� she said. ���They���ll come in, they���ll see the art that���s on the walls. Maybe sometimes we might have artists come in and talk to them.���

She also plans to purchase books for the children to help them build their libraries and have individuals come and read to them periodically.

In addition to the grant NCFCU facilitated, Akwaaba Gallery also received a small arts-related grant from the City of Newark. Bonas Palmer plans to use some of that grant to help with the reading and arts club as well.

Bonas Palmer said she had the idea for an art gallery for nearly a decade before Akwaaba Gallery opened. She had contemplated purchasing a property in downtown Newark but ultimately decided on the current space in the West Ward.

���A lot of people questioned why I would even consider putting a gallery in the West Ward,��� Bonas Palmer said. ���My response to that has always been why not? Art is for everyone.���

That mindset permeates in the way Bonas Palmer runs Akwaaba Gallery. Akwaaba means welcome and Bonas Palmer always wants people to feel accepted in the space. There is no charge for visitors to enter the gallery and view the artwork. She encourages people of all ages to come inside.

The pandemic and forced closing of the gallery for four months has been difficult, but Bonas Palmer is grateful for the grant money the gallery has received and is optimistic about the future.

���It���s challenging, but I think it���s going to work itself out,��� she said.

Gebreyesus is glad NCFCU has been able to help local small businesses like Akwaaba Gallery with the COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program.

���NCFCU is proud that we were able to assist a few local businesses in applying and getting approved for the grant up to $10,000,��� she said.

���NCC has risen to the challenges brought on by COVID-19. Even during a global pandemic, our dedicated staff members have embodied our mission, finding ways to safely provide essential services to our residents and clients in the community at a time of great need,��� said NCC CEO Richard Rohrman. ���I want to especially thank our teams at Extended Care, Security and Housing who have been continuously working to help our seniors and disabled residents through this crisis. As we move forward in a new normal, we will continue to make adjustments to our operations as necessary, always keeping in mind the health and safety of our employees and those we serve.���

Members of NCC���s Board of Directors have remained involved during the pandemic.

���As a Board, and working very closely with the Management Team at 91心頭, we have witnessed the enormous toll COVID-19 is taking on our residents, employees and the community at large,��� said NCC Board Chairman Dr. A. Zachary Yamba. ���With dedication and compassion, the leadership team at NCC rose to the occasion to minimize and contain the spread of this deadly virus and to ensure that lives were saved and livelihood was protected.���

Before action was taken by government officials in New Jersey, NCC leadership created a task force made up of department directors and senior leaders to discuss and create plans for each department���s response to the virus. When it became clear that COVID-19 was going to impact the state and NCC���s footprint, those plans were put into practice.

���Our early action made an impact,��� said NCC Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter.

Hand sanitizer stations were installed in all NCC buildings and increased cleaning protocols were put in place in early March. NCC���s Environmental Services Department has maintained cleaning and sanitizing protocols throughout the pandemic, at times with fewer staff members.

Across the board, NCC has leveraged remote activity. Meetings moved to remote means to limit in-person contact. Many employees who were able to perform their duties off-site did so at least part of the time.

Each of NCC���s departments has made changes in response to the pandemic. The following provides highlights from these different areas.

91心頭 Extended Care Facility
To help reduce the risk of infection to residents and staff members of the skilled nursing facility, Extended Care has taken several steps. Visitation was suspended and the building was closed to the public in March. Screening of staff members was put in place, including temperature checks before the start of every shift. Staff members were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) to use when caring for residents. Plexiglass was installed at the reception desk to serve as a barrier. A specialized environmental professional group that used EPA approved disinfectants sterilized the entire building, from the basement to the fourth floor. Each floor was cleared for several hours during the disinfecting. In addition to the deep cleaning, staff members continually clean the facility with government-approved cleaning products.

All residents and staff members were tested for COVID-19. Residents who tested positive were isolated and staff members found to have the virus were removed from duty and not permitted to return until they received a doctor���s clearance. Retesting was completed in late May and isolation protocols remain in place for those with positive test results.

As an additional precaution, the facility designated a washing machine to launder linens and personal clothing for residents who were identified as COVID-19 positive.

Hunter said Extended Care staff members deserve recognition for their commitment to the residents.

���We have a dedicated group of folks working at Extended Care in all areas, from laundry to nurses to security,��� he said. ���They���re doing a fine job. I���m proud of them.���

Extended Care received a donation of face shields and ear savers from SOMA NJ 3D Printers Alliance in May, which staff members put to good use when attending to residents��� needs.

Security
Members of the NCC Security Department have continued to provide services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of staff and residents. They wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and take other preventative measures to keep them as safe as possible. In addition to their traditional duties, Security personnel make sure everyone at their post wears the proper PPE and adheres to social distancing guidelines. For increased safety, Security staff members have minimal direct interaction with the general resident population.

Plexiglass has been installed at Security stations throughout the network to protect staff members from other individuals��� coughs and sneezes.

Members of Security have also assisted with the execution of COVID-19 testing at NCC senior buildings.

Environmental Services
NCC���s Environmental Services Department has managed emergency work orders for NCC residences and cleaned common areas and the grounds throughout the pandemic. Personnel installed hand sanitizer stations in all NCC buildings and plexiglass coverings at security posts. The department was also tasked with handling procurement of PPE for all departments except Extended Care.

Resident Services
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Resident Services has continued to provide support for NCC residents. Resident Services Coordinators conduct phone wellness checks on residents twice per day. The calls range from five to 40 minutes and provide residents with a listening ear. Coordinators have managed more than 1,500 cases per month during the pandemic. In addition to the wellness checks, they provide rental payment and rental assistance reminders; assist tenants filing for unemployment; provide families with baby food, diapers and clothing as needed; help residents complete their census forms by phone or internet; assist residents who don���t normally file tax returns apply for stimulus checks; make routine hospital calls after admission to keep track of residents��� health and wellbeing; call in necessary prescriptions; teleconference with residents to assist with doctor calls after residents experience symptoms possibly related to COVID-19; and share resources related to COVID-19 with residents, including referrals to mental health services when needed.

The Emergency Food Pantry has remained in operation throughout the pandemic, providing food to the community on its regular schedule, opening the first business day after the 15th of each month. Food is also provided to the community on the first Tuesday of each month. During the pandemic, the Emergency Food Pantry has served more than 500 clients per month including seniors, adults and children. From March to April, the food pantry fed 1,069 clients. The number of individuals in need of assistance is expected to increase with a high unemployment rate.

Resident Services Coordinators have facilitated the distribution of meals to residents in NCC���s senior buildings, which have been provided by the City of Newark. They also ensure residents receive food commodities donated by food banks and others.

���The meals are sorted and delivered daily by the Resident Services Coordinators. They do a fantastic and tireless job in assuring that all who want a meal will receive a meal,��� said Hector Torres, Director of Property Management. ���Our Resident Services Coordinators have been true heroes from day one of this pandemic. I applaud them and their relentless efforts to make sure our residents are at least provided a meal or food during this crisis.���

For more photos of Resident Services in action, click here.

Property Management
NCC residents were informed about COVID-19 through flyers, building intercoms, website updates and follow-up telephone calls. Residents were given ways to reach out to their Property Managers and Management offices to provide for minimal physical contact and when Newark instituted the shelter-in-place order, all physical contact was eliminated. To ensure residents have the most up to date information, the Property Management Department provides flyers and posters and makes follow-up phone calls with updates about changing protocols and food distributions.

Property Managers continue to be at buildings daily and address the recertification process for residents as best as possible with physical limitations. The residents have been cooperative and understanding during the pandemic.

COVID-19 testing for residents and staff members at NCC senior buildings began in May. services were coordinated with Sunrise Diagnostics and the City of Newark. All residents and staff members in the buildings receiving testing were given the opportunity to be tested in the Community Room. A doctor was on site for testing. Social distancing guidelines were adhered to for the testing and residents waited outside for their turn to be swabbed. Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 had their primary care physician notified.

���There are many people to thank and give appreciation to as we move forward to assure that NCC is doing all it can to make sure our residents are looked out for,��� Torres said. ���The true meaning of community is reflected during times such as we are experiencing and our employees are true warriors and heroes each and every day.���

Family Resource Success Center
The Family Resource Success Center has remained available throughout the pandemic to ensure that vulnerable, low-income families and individuals can remain in their homes and have access to resources and benefits during and beyond the crisis. The center offers guidance and support to ensure residents are connected to critical local and national resources, and social outlets to maintain their economic and mental health to lessen the impact of the pandemic.

���As the hub for NCC services, we are connecting residents to a range of strategies and activities. We will continue to support communities in an effort to address needs during this public health crisis, and respond to future needs,��� said Family Resource Center Director Joann Williams-Swiney. ���We hope to leave our communities better prepared and secured for future emergencies and crises.���

The Family Resource Success Center connects individuals to the myriad of services provided by NCC, as well as outside entities. During the pandemic, the center has referred clients and provided the following services: online training programs available through 91心頭 Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI); senior services; health care services for seniors, the disabled and uninsured; housing resources through NCC and specialized housing for those with HIV, the homeless and veterans; counseling services; benefits screenings; energy assistance; prescription assistance; free tax prep, which continues since the tax deadline was pushed back to July 15; detox placements; food referrals; rental assistance programs; financial literacy programs; furniture referrals; and legal services.

Harmony House
Harmony House, NCC���s transitional housing facility for homeless families, has been open for regular services throughout the pandemic and is accepting new referrals. The staff has provided 854 case management hours in eight weeks. Food is also distributed to families through collaboration with the City of Newark and other supporters. Family counseling is available through Family Service Bureau for all families.

Family Service Bureau (FSB)
Family Service Bureau (FSB), a licensed outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment center, has continued to operate during the pandemic with remote services. FSB provided 1,200 sessions in eight weeks with a combination of telehealth and telemedicine.��

In addition to servicing community clients, the facility has worked with NCC employees as part of the Employee Assistance Program to provide free support during these difficult times. Mental health and substance abuse services are also available to senior residents and Harmony House families.

In addition, FSB is providing free COVID-19 crisis counseling services to families, individuals and youth living in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. Services are available through the Disaster and Terrorism Branch of the State of New Jersey and are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 973-272-7488 or email FSBNJHH@newcommunity.org to utilize the services.

91心頭 Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI)
NCCTI was forced to suspend all on-campus classes because of the pandemic. To adjust to the new normal, the school made preparations and began offering three online programs. Clinical Medical Assistant and Patient Care Technician programs began online May 11 and the online Automotive Technician program starts June 8.

���We were able to adjust and offer online learning to ensure we are continuing the pipeline of skilled and trained workers in health care and automotive,��� said NCCTI Director Rodney Brutton. ���We were able to change our delivery in a matter of weeks and meet our enrollment goals. And the quality has not been jeopardized or diluted.���

Brutton is thankful for NCC���s IT and Finance departments for their assistance making sure online students had the tools and resources necessary to participate in the programs. He also said the Communications Department was instrumental in promoting the online programs, which helped recruit the desired number of students.

The Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) continued its operations during the pandemic, offering financial coaching, job readiness and retention support remotely. The FOC also continues to conduct financial literacy workshops remotely and shares information about topics and online events.

Work for the Newark 2020 initiative also continues during the pandemic. As a community hub, NCCTI personnel participate in weekly conference calls with representatives from other organizations involved in Newark 2020, including Ironbound Community Corporation, Urban League of Essex County, La Casa de Don Pedro and the Newark Alliance, which heads the initiative.

���We are still engaging Newark 2020 clients to assess their education level and work experience and connect them to current job openings within the Newark 2020 employer network,��� Brutton said.

Personnel also took an active role in recruiting job seekers for a new virtual career coaching series called Level Up Now!, which is an initiative through the City of Newark and Ironbound Community Corporation for Newark 2020. Sessions began April 29 and continue weekly through June 17. The series includes virtual and essential job opportunities, employer partner facilitators, training on the virtual workplace, remote task delivery, the building power of digital profiles, resume enhancement, virtual interviewing techniques and connections to career coaches.

Adult Learning Center
In-person classes had to be suspended in March because of the pandemic, but the Adult Learning Center moved its classes online April 20 for its last session of the fiscal year. All services are being offered through Google Classroom and Google Meets at their regularly scheduled times. Students were able to pick up their books from the center, which now has office hours of Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While Adult Learning Center Director Cristhian Barcelos said the transition was a challenge since it had to be done quickly and using technology staff members weren���t necessarily familiar with, he said it has been successful and has enabled students to continue their education.

���Our instructors and students have demonstrated an immense capacity to adapt and overcome the challenges that we are facing, especially in the middle of a pandemic and financial crisis,��� Barcelos said. ���We do not know what awaits for us in the future, but we are working very hard to be prepared for anything that comes our way.���

Early Learning Centers
Both Community Hills Early Learning Center (CHELC) and Harmony House Early Learning Center (HHELC) closed their doors in March because of the pandemic. But just because students and teachers couldn���t come together in the classroom doesn���t mean the learning stopped. Staff members at both centers have continued communicating with families and teaching children through virtual means like Zoom and ClassDojo. Parents share photos and video clips of their children engaged in learning activities. NCC personnel have also reached out to families to provide support through email, WhatsApp and text messages.

HHELC students participated in the Week of the Young Child remotely this year. Throughout the week, they made their own music objects; explored food and cooking; built structures using blocks, wood or legos; and created artwork.

CHELC staff members participate in weekly conference calls to stay updated and discuss how they are dealing with their new normal. Spanish speaking teachers provide remote learning in Spanish for families who primarily speak that language.

Newark Public Schools provided ShopRite gift cards for families at both CHELC and HHELC to help them during this difficult time. Center directors arranged for a family representative to pick up the gift cards.

For photos of CHELC and HHELC families, click here.

Youth Services
Youth Services has provided remote learning to children in the Family Friendly program and the after-school program at the NCC Neighborhood Center. In addition, mentoring services through the Teen Empowerment Network (T.E.N.) program is continuing remotely and assisting high school seniors in preparing for college.

Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF)
Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF) has been operating remotely off-site. Staff members have provided 639 outreach efforts with a total of 240 case management hours.

91心頭 Federal Credit Union
The 91心頭 Federal Credit Union has remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours changed slightly and are currently Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monsignor served others as a priest following his ordination in 1963. Five years later, he founded 91心頭, which has served inner-city residents for 50 years and continues to provide critical services like housing, job training, health care and child care.

Those who knew him say he fought to get what was needed for community members and helped others without expecting anything in return.

91心頭 CEO Richard Rohrman said Monsignor was very hands-on in his approach.

���He touched so many people. And he didn���t do this from up on high. He did it right in front of you, face to face, shaking your hand and walking you through his vision of where he wanted you to be,��� Rohrman said. ���The people of the city of Newark have lost their greatest and most persistent champion. There is physical evidence of Monsignor Linder���s legacy throughout the city, but his most important legacy is the difference he���s made in many people���s lives through the 91心頭 mission.���

Upon its founding in 1968, 91心頭 has had the mission ���to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.��� Monsignor lived by that mission and worked to ensure those that needed assistance got it.

Housing was a major need. The first NCC housing development, Homes Court, which provided family housing, opened in 1975. Construction on the most recent, A Better Life, a supportive housing facility for chronically homeless individuals that Monsignor envisioned, was completed in 2017. In between, Monsignor oversaw the creation of numerous housing facilities for seniors and families in Newark, Englewood, Jersey City and Orange.

He was also at the helm of NCC when it opened the 91心頭 Federal Credit Union in 1984, took on the renovations at St. Joseph Plaza in 1985 and opened the nursing home, 91心頭 Extended Care, in 1986.

Harmony House, 91心頭���s transitional housing facility for homeless families, began housing people in 1989 and the Pathmark Shopping Center opened in 1990, helping to alleviate the food desert that existed in Newark at the time. Monsignor welcomed Gov. James Florio to the grand opening of the shopping center.

Monsignor was very involved in education, even before the founding of 91心頭. He established the Queen of Angels – Seton Hall University Remedial Reading Program in 1964 at the Newark parish to which he was assigned after his ordination. He served as the administrator of the Queen of Angels Parish School from 1966 to 1973.

Education has always been an important part of 91心頭 as well. Under Monsignor���s leadership, 91心頭 Workforce Development Center opened in 1999. The school is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that offers certification programs in a variety of fields. Also in 1999, NCC established New Horizons Community Charter School in Newark. In 2001, NCC received its first adult literacy education grant which led to the current NCC Adult Learning Center. 91心頭 also operates two facilities for young children: Community Hills Early Learning Center and Harmony House Early Learning Center.

In addition to these services, Monsignor established the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship Fund, which has helped families afford to send their children to Catholic high schools. The goal was to provide a good educational foundation and encourage the students to continue on to college.

Children and parents have expressed their gratitude over the years, saying the scholarships allowed for them to attend a school they otherwise wouldn���t have been able to afford. The scholarship fund remains in place to continue to help young people get a head start on pursuing their dreams.

Family, friends, colleagues and members of the community celebrated Monsignor���s life and accomplishments at two masses: one at St. Rose of Lima where he served as pastor and the other at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the home church of the Archdiocese of Newark, where he was ordained May 25, 1963.

Father Beatus Kitururu, who is very involved in NCC and knew Monsignor well, delivered the homily at the St. Rose of Lima mass. He discussed how Monsignor���s faith played a large role in his life and because of that faith he was able to help so many others.

���Those who knew well Monsignor Linder realized that he never gave up on anybody,��� Father Kitururu said during his homily. ���He stood to the end by those who needed the love of God even when some cheated him or betrayed him or spoke ill of him.���

Father Philip Waters delivered the homily at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart mass. He focused on how Monsignor worked hard and successfully helped the people of Newark.

���Many other efforts in the city were built on sand ��� but his were built on the rock of faith which stood against all the storms that blew against them. Many other programs have been blown away. NCC endures,��� Father Waters said in his homily. ���But this man who was willing to walk with the poor and the disenfranchised built a legacy which will last as long as people of faith are willing to grasp his vision.���

Monsignor didn���t keep himself apart from those he served. In retirement, he remained a Newark resident and when he needed additional medical care, he moved into 91心頭���s nursing home, Extended Care. He also decided prior to his passing that he wanted the funeral home that provided services for the patients who could not pay to handle his arrangements.

At the repast celebrating Monsignor���s life and legacy, which was held at St. Joseph Plaza following the funeral mass June 16, those in attendance were encouraged to share their memories. More than a dozen took to the microphone to tell the crowd how Monsignor impacted their lives.

Several talked about how once they met Monsignor, he directed their path in life and had great vision for their future, often seeing something for them that they didn���t see themselves. Many also discussed how he taught them what service to others truly meant and inspired them to give back.

���The one thing that I learned from him and 91心頭 was service,��� said Cecilia Faulks, 91心頭���s first employee. ���He taught me service was the righteous way of living.���

Gilda Rogers, who helped Monsignor write his memoir ���Out of the Ashes Came Hope,��� said, ���I just learned from him in the two-year process working with him on that book what it really meant to be of service to people. I thought I knew, but I didn���t.���

91心頭 Board member Edgar Nemorin said Monsignor pulled God-given talents out of everyone and positively influenced them.

���I wouldn���t be who I am today if it wasn���t for Monsignor Linder,��� he said. ���I wouldn���t be involved in community service.���

CEO Rohrman said Monsignor played a large role in his career.

���I���m eternally grateful to him,��� Rohrman said. ���It���s been just a wonderful experience starting for me in 1981 working with him. And he���s really put me in a place that I never would have been without him.���

Although Monsignor is no longer physically present, the mission he created remains the driving force behind 91心頭. Rohrman said NCC will continue to serve residents with Monsignor���s vision in mind.

91心頭 Board Member Dr. Zachary Yamba spoke prior to the mass at St. Rose of Lima, saying he is grateful for Monsignor���s love, kindness and humanity.

���He always remained true to those who were downtrodden and poor and in need of help,��� Yamba said. ���And so the board members will continue to remain true to his vision because that vision and that legacy should not die with him.���

Miles Callender has completed an impressive amount of education: two associate degrees, two bachelor���s degrees, two master���s degrees and a doctorate. He currently works at Bethel Counseling Services in Newark as a substance abuse and mental health specialist. But it wasn���t always obvious that he would end up on this path.

What���s not surprising is that Callender entered a career path helping others. From the time he was young, he looked up to people who were making a difference in the world. He met Martin Luther King Jr. a week before his assassination and took part in the Walk for Understanding that took place after his death. He was 6 at the time.

91心頭 Founder Monsignor William J. Linder was Callender���s pastor at one time. His whole family attended Queen of Angels Church until its closing.

���That���s the history I come from: social justice, civil rights and to advocate for the less fortunate,��� Callender said.

He spent 15 years in the military, serving in the Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserves and United States Marine Corps. He received an honorable discharge from all.

Callender lived at 91心頭 Gardens Senior, 265 Morris Ave., Newark, for a time until he was removed from the building about 15 years ago for substance abuse. While he was a resident, he opened an account at 91心頭 Federal Credit Union. He remained a credit union member even after his departure and still uses its services today.

���Even in my worst state, they were always very, very supportive,��� Callender said of 91心頭 personnel. ���Mulu always said, ���Miles, you���re living beneath your potential. Just stop doing the drugs.������

Mulu Gebreyesus is the director of the 91心頭 Federal Credit Union. She always encouraged Callender to get sober and he has. Once he was free of drugs, he was able to focus on education, which has led to multiple degrees and certifications.

Callender has an Associate of Applied Science degree, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, a Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) and a Ph.D. in theology and ministry. He has studied at Essex County College, Eastern Bible Institute and Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Substance Abuse Addiction Specialist. He is a member of the national social work honor society Alpha Delta Mu. He also has a certification in anger management and is an HIV specialist.

���The first time I met Miles as a young man, he did not take any directions or follow anyone���s rules other than his own. Today Miles has accomplished the goals he has set for himself, and that made him an exemplary within his community,��� Gebreyesus said. ���Miles��� achievements show that one can dream and make the dream come true with hard work and dedication.���

In addition to meeting his own goals by completing his education, his career in social work is very fulfilling to him.

���It���s in giving that we receive. And that���s why social work is so gratifying,��� Callender said.

He uses his own past experiences to help with his work as a substance abuse counselor, though he said disclosure of his past is only necessary when it helps the client.

Callender is happy to be drug free and helping others but hasn���t forgotten all his experiences.

���I���m not ashamed of my past,��� he said. ���Those that don���t acknowledge their past are doomed to repeat it.���