Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Chief Sustainability Officer Nicole Hewitt-Cabral today announced that the City of Newark will host a dynamic “Sustainability Unconference” on Thursday, June 26, from noon to 7:30 p.m., and Friday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both sessions will take place at the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall of Rutgers University-Newark, located at 15 Washington Street in downtown Newark. Advance registration for this FREE event is requested.

This innovative “Unconference” is designed to empower Newark residents as vital leaders in the city’s sustainability efforts. Unlike traditional conferences, this event is structured to be community-designed and led, ensuring that residents’ ideas directly shape the process and that they become key decision-makers in defining Newark’s sustainable future.

“An organic, holistic society based on the creative energy of nature requires the engagement of all people united as a single interdependent front,” said Mayor Baraka. “Cooperative, collaborative community is what Newark excels at – and what we must employ to shepherd our urban environment into an ecologically sustainable tomorrow. I have full confidence that this Unconference will produce a sound roadmap toward a wholesome and thriving future for Newark.”

The Unconference will kick off on Thursday, June 26, with opening remarks and presentations, followed by interactive brainstorming sessions. These sessions will empower attendees to co-design concrete action plans that they will then present on the afternoon of Friday, June 27. This hands-on approach ensures that the outcomes are practical, relevant, and driven by the community’s vision.

A highlight of the Unconference will be the keynote address on Thursday, June 26, by Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, CEO and founder of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC. Dr. White-Newsome is a nationally recognized expert in environmental justice and served as the first Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer in President Biden’s administration, where she spearheaded the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in U.S. history. Her expertise will provide invaluable insights as Newark builds its own comprehensive sustainability roadmap.

“This Unconference is more than just a meeting; it’s a movement,” said Ms. Hewitt-Cabral. “We are creating a space where every voice can contribute to a living document – our updated Sustainability Action Plan. This plan will reflect the priorities and aspirations of Newark, ensuring it’s not just a city document, but a community blueprint for a thriving, sustainable future.”

The Unconference will focus on 10 key action topics; all aimed at fostering collaboration and progress:

·         Empowering Community Leadership: Providing more opportunities for Newarkers to lead by co-designing the conference and future initiatives.

·         Actualizing Newark 360: Bringing aspects of the comprehensive Newark 360 plan to life through community action.

·         Fostering Community Building: Convening Newarkers for invaluable opportunities to connect and build relationships.

·         Elevating Resident Voices: Understanding and prioritizing the public’s concerns and ideas related to sustainability.

·         Clarifying the Office of Sustainability’s Mission: Informing the public about the mission, priorities, and functions of the Office of Sustainability.

·         Raising Awareness: Bringing critical sustainability and resilience issues to the forefront for public discussion.

·         Connecting City Government and Residents: Facilitating collaboration between city government and the public to solve sustainability challenges together.

·         Identifying Priorities for the Sustainability Action Plan: Gathering essential input for the upcoming update of the Sustainability Action Plan.

·         Creating a Community Sustainability Action Plan Framework: Building the foundational framework for a truly community-driven sustainability plan.

·         Building Momentum: Generating enthusiasm and sustained engagement for long-term sustainability efforts.

The current Sustainability Action Plan can be found here.

To register for this impactful event, please visit the website here, email sustainability@ci.newark.nj.us, or call (973) 733-8041.

Reasonable Accommodation will be made for the differently-abled, and interpretation services will be available if requested by June 23.

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