25 Days of Giving

Dear Family and Friends,

Great things are happening in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey. Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), a community development corporation, is on the front line of shifting the economic and social fabric of the historic Lincoln Park area by transforming a neighborhood once full of crime, abandoned buildings and vacant lots, into a vibrant, cultural and arts district filled with affordable housing, green space, and healthy food options; indeed, exciting opportunities for families to live, work, and play. Just look at what we have achieved with your faithful support and LPCCD’s focused commitment to community change.

· Constructed 66 US Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED certified affordable housing units and 18 units of USGBC LEED certified mixed-use housing The completion of these units has boosted neighborhood stability, diminished blight, and attracted new residents. This development has helped to spur local businesses and generated an increase in the economy and activities of the Lincoln Park neighborhood as a whole. 

· Graduated 74 people from our Green Job Training Program with an 85% placement rate. Graduates now earn livable wages in jobs such as energy auditors and/or have started their own businesses. 

· Presented the renowned Lincoln Park Music Festival, among the largest of its kind in the State of NJ, highlighting the historic diversity African American artists in the State; attracting approximately 50,000 attendees in 2014. 

· Organized over 100 community meetings, partnering with residents to address quality of life issues such as crime, drugs and lack of resources. Meetings resulted in the creation of a tenant’s association, increased neighborhood police patrol and community stabilization.

· Promoting health and wellness among Lincoln Park residents, the Lincoln Park Community Farm"Get Your Share” program provided more than 100 Newark residents with organically grown produce. 

Now, 10 years later, our work remains relevant and I am asking for your help. LPCCD is leading the creation of an arts and cultural district that contributes to the revitalization of a neighborhood and the City of Newark. Become a part of community change and support the important work that LPCCD, a 501(c)(3) organization, is accomplishing in these challenging times by making your tax-deductible contribution today.

Sincerely,

Anthony Smith,
Executive Director

Anthony Smith Appointed Executive Director of Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District

Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) proudly announces that Anthony Smith has been appointed Executive Director by a unanimous vote of the board of directors.  Anthony Smith is a well-established leader in Greater Newark and is best known nationally as the executive producer of the Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival that celebrates Newark, NJs contribution to American music and culture.

“Anthony carries the flame for our mission and vision.  He has the institutional knowledge and local and national relationships necessary to actualize the next phase in the neighborhood’s development,” says Dr. Theresa Marshall, President, LPCCD Board of Directors.

Smith Led LPCCDs Community Engagement and Marketing for Eight Years And 

He Produces the Lincoln Park Music Festival and Music Speaks Series

 

As the long-time director of marketing and community affairs, Anthony Smith brings years of experience in organizing grassroots residents and local stakeholders and cultivation of corporate, government and philanthropic partners to support Lincoln Park initiatives.  Anthony Smith explains that, “Lincoln Park is an accomplished anchor institution that brings life back to Southern Broad St.  What we do is creative place making to reframe and rebrand the national and international narrative about living in Newark.  LPCCD integrates arts and African American music, sustainable development, use of green space, health and wellness, and food access.  We are doing more to increase our internal capacity, expanding our network of strategic partnerships and seeking to increase our financial sustainability.  We are renewing our focus on quality of life issues and are taking major steps to continue our neighborhood transformation.” 

About Anthony Smith, MBA, Executive Director, LPCCD

Anthony Smith, Executive Director of Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), has over 20 years of experience in arts and tourism marketing, urban communications, project management, and operations.  Since 1998, while working for Councilwoman-At-Large Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins, Anthony was significantly involved in establishing and growing LPCCD.  Smith joined LPCCD on a full time basis 8 years ago.  During his tenure at LPCCD, he has cultivated successful partnerships with dozens of international corporations and many more community based organizations.  He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support operations and major initiatives including the flagship Lincoln Park Music Festival and Music Speaks, which he executive produces and grew from 2,500 attendees to well over 50,000.  Anthony Smith is also the founder and CEO of Jambalaya Productions, a full service events management company.  With Jamabalaya, Anthony has consulted the New Orleans, LA Office of Tourism, Arts and Entertainment, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center.  Smith holds a BA in Marketing from Stockton State College and an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University where he studied a semester abroad in Wroxton, England for International Business.  Since 2004, he’s been an adjunct business professor at Essex County College, Newark, NJ where he teaches leadership and global business. To read Anthony Smith’s full bio visit http://lpccd.org/team/anthony-smith/

About Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District 

Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) is a nonprofit  501C (3)organization with a mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive cultural and arts district in Lincoln Park, in Newark, New Jersey.  LPCCD achieves its mission through arts and cultural programming, sustainable development, preservation of historic infrastructure and community leadership and engagement. Specifically, LPCCD is transforming the Lincoln Park Redevelopment Area, an 11- acre, four block site into an arts and cultural district. Projects include building mixed-use housing units, hosting annual music festivals, historic preservation and restoration projects and urban agriculture.  LPCCD emerged out of meetings with local residents, civic leaders, business people and the city administration that were coordinated by the Regional Plan Association. This process identified a desire to develop and pursue a vision to create a comprehensive cultural and arts district and ultimately lead to the independent establishment of LPCCD.   To learn more about LPCCD visit, http://lpccd.org/about-us/

Contact:

Kimberlee S. Williams

FEMWORKS

973-280-6533

kwilliams@femworksllc.com