GBCA Newsletter Winter 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 1 From the CEO

3 HSBC Awards Financial Literacy Grant 3 Jersey City Early Head Start Expansion 3 GBCA’s Strategic Plan Retreat 4 Operation Holiday

4 Foundations Help Early Head Start 5 Head Start Scrapbook

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Reflecting on the past year of dynamic growth and change, we now look forward with great expectation to more of the same in 2016.

We are over 700 persons strong and growing, creatively working in 36 facilities across three counties, addressing the changing face of poverty in North Jersey.

And by creative, I don’t just mean in the intellectual sense. We are actually creating (building) things: a whole new school, affordable housing, more classrooms, new offices, a new Credit Union branch...later this year, we will build a new health center,

begin construction on a new apartment building in Hackensack, and create more solar installations.

The organizational structure of GBCA continues to evolve in response to new business models and partnerships, and we are grateful for the team of seasoned professionals, both inside and outside of GBCA, who are helping to guide us on our path: pros in finance, law, technology, architecture, city planning, and real estate.

But the real creative spark continues to come from our teams working in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

8 Bergen LEADS visits Cliffside Park Head Start 9 Community Partners: Workforce Development Board 10 Outreach Team Visits HIP 10 GBCA is a HUD Housing Counseling Agency 11 HR Update: Steven Leitner and Kaye Lee 12 Real Estate Development and Management 12 GBCA Spring Gala

Robert F. Halsch, Jr., GBCA President & CEO, presenting “The GBCA of Tomorrow” at the retreat.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 community—our educators and Social Services staff, our planners and grant writers—our professionals across the agency who help us connect with the socio-economic realities being experienced by North Jersey residents. And their creative approaches in early childhood and adult education, financial services, energy, nutrition, and housing, increasingly respond to both the changing face of poverty, and the changing face of our communities.

We are actively aware that there exists a huge gap between who the government says is poor (a family of four earning less than $24k), and the huge cohort of people who are effectively living in poverty at even double that income. In North Jersey, a family of four earning $60k is still not earning a living wage. Our challenge as a community is to move beyond simply what government will fund, and leverage that investment with new partners and new models for financing and service. Our strategic planning is driven, in part, by this underlying principle.

Across the spectrum at GBCA, our customers speak 56 different languages and dialects. We may very well live in the most multi-cultural part of the world.

As an organization, we will be striving in

new ways to be culturally competent—to be the bridge between immigration and integration.

We view it as a tremendous privilege to be able to engage with such a diverse community, and we are particularly aware of how important it is to be a place where victims of an increasingly xenophobic society can find acceptance and opportunity.

While GBCA is very heavily engaged in education, we are every bit as much a learning organization as we are a teaching organization.

We know that we will not be relevant if we don’t first understand what economic and cultural distress looks like in 21st century New Jersey, and second, if we don’t learn from those who are innovating new approaches to dealing with these realities.

We do not pretend to know all that needs to be done to address the persistent condition of poverty, but we are sincerely committed to evolve and to innovate—to learn from those who can help us better understand— and to be as relevant and impactful as our talents and resources will permit.

We invite all who are interested in our work to step up and join with us, as together, we endeavor to change lives for the better in North Jersey.

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Global banking and financial services firm HSBC recently awarded GBCA $7,500 for its financial literacy program.

The program includes workshops on topics including basic banking, credit and loans, savings, and budgeting. Individual credit counseling is also provided.

The program benefits low-tomoderate income individuals, helping them gain the critical tools needed to understand the path to financial independence.

This program is led by staff members of GBCA and 1st Bergen Federal Credit Union, who are certified in financial and credit counseling.

This past December, 35 GBCA staff members reviewed and revised the organization’s 2015-2017 strategic plan.

The review included workshops “Redefining Poverty in the 20th Century” (led by Gerard Haizel), “Challenges of a Rapidly Changing Ethnic, Religious and Cultural Mix” (led

by Mary Cudina with the assistance of Joey Santangelo) and “Is GBCA a Successful Organization? How Can You Tell?” (led by Joe Brown). Presentations included: “Marketing and Communications” (Carole Lotito), “Real Estate and Facilities” (David Wenegrat), and “Technology” (Steven Leitner).

President and CEO Robert F. Halsch, Jr. finished up the formal talks with “GBCA of the Future” (see highlights of Bob’s presentation on Page 1).

GBCA is one of only five organizations in the country to be selected to participate in a national pilot program aimed at creating a seamless continuum of early child development for youngsters ages 0-5 and their families. GBCA was selected to implement this pilot program in Jersey City and has been providing Head Start and Early Head Start services for the past 18 months in New Jersey’s second largest city.

The national pilot reflects the increasing focus on early child development from as early as pregnancy and birth to 5 years old, when they enter kindergarten. Studies have repeatedly shown that the earlier children are exposed to this comprehensive developmental process, the better they perform through out their entire academic lives.

Four Jersey City Head Start classrooms were converted by GBCA’s Real Estate division to eight Early Head Start (infant) classrooms, which are now filled with giggling babies and toddlers. Additional infant/toddler classrooms will soon come online with the opening of a brand new school being developed in partnership with the Jersey City Housing Authority.

Executive Vice President and COO, Allan De Giulio, Ph.D., closed the retreat.

“The CAP of today looks nothing like what I first experienced, and it’s not the CAP we’re going to see in the next couple of years,” said the 30-year GBCA veteran.

the past, naming the considerable expertise of long-time experts at the agency.

Dr. D closed by thanking the participants for their lively and candid input and promised that the conversation would continue.

He called out the outstanding success of GBCA’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. “That’s not just Joe Brown and Jessica Massler prepare for the workshop me saying it, it’s the world saying “Is GBCA a Successful Organization? it, by continuing to give us resources to keep going on and to keep breaking new ground.”

He cautioned, “If you are comfortable with today’s GBCA, you may not be happy tomorrow.

To change is to grow is to succeed.” But he advised his audience to also consider and embrace what has succeeded in

Operation Holiday 2015 served 775 children in Bergen County by providing toys during the holiday season to families who might not otherwise be able to afford them. The effort was again organized and led by Marianne Bente, GBCA Data Management Analyst, who has been running the program since 2003. Joey Santangelo assisted.

The companies, churches, and groups that donated included: 1st Congregational Church of River Edge; Bergen County Bar Association; Bimini Bay Outfitters (and the Folsom Group); Brown & Caldwell; Central School in Glen Rock; Colonial Moving; ConnectOne Bank; Galilee United Methodist Women; Glenmark Pharmaceuticals; Hackensack High School; Hackensack University Medical Center Pediatrics; Knitwits; the National Association of Letter Carriers; Parisian Beauty Academy; Prospect Transportation; United Labor Agency; ICNJ; the Whittier School in Teaneck, Girl Scout troop 95963 through the Kids Wish Network (first time), and family and anonymous lobby donations.

GBCA recently received new funding from two New Jersey-based foundations to support the expansion of Early Head Start in Paterson, Garfield, and Jersey City.

The generous grants, received for the first time from The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation ($65,000) and The Nicholson Foundation ($159,877), will provide critical training for staff, and equipment and materials for new classrooms to serve children from birth to age three.

Thanks also go to the women of the GBCA executive office and the GBCA maintenance department, who helped with intake and distribution, organizing gifts, and collecting donations from companies and individuals throughout the Greater Bergen community.

Donald R. Conway, Chair

Freeholder David L. Ganz

Sercan Zoklu, Vice Chair

Freeholder Tracy Zur

Joseph Rutch, Treasurer

Julie O’Brien

Soraya Gonzalez, Secretary

Lourdes Cortez

Christopher Irving

Mitchell Kahn

Jerry Lombardo

Vanessa Sosa

James Young, Board Attorney The CAPsule Editor-in-Chief: Allan De Giulio, Ph.D. Editors: Carole Lotito, Jessica Massler Production: Marianne Bente L to R: Marianne Bente and Joey Santangelo

Children were all smiles when Dr. Grunstein and his dog, Snickers, arrived in their special van at Paterson’s Eastside Head Start location on December 2nd.

Head Start/Early Head Start provides complimentary dental screenings for every child in the program.

Children have no fear of the dentist when the calm, friendly doctor arrives in a colorful van, accompanied by his lovable pup.

Dr. Robert Grunstein’s gentle dog Snickers, a 4-year-old Labradoodle, takes all the paperwork in stride.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and also to give back to those in need.

GBCA’s Paterson Head Start was able to do that for its families through its partnership with Star of Hope Ministries. Staff members handed out “Boxes of Love,” which provide all of the food items for a full Thanksgiving meal.

L to R: GBCA Paterson Head Start family workers Carla Carter, Latisha Thaxton, Mirtha Juraschka, Carmen Guzman, Juliska DeJusus, Alana Alexander, and Cheryl Lewis distributing “Boxes of Love” for Head Start families.

GBCA Jersey City Head Start Parent Coordinator Stephanie Latasa coordinates the “Share Our Strength Cooking Matters” program for Head Start parents. Every month, a registered dietician from a local supermarket takes the parents on a 60-minute tour of the store, giving them practical hands-on tips for preparing healthy meals easily and affordably.

GBCA Jersey City Head Start Parent Coordinator Stephanie Latasa (center) leads parents to a lesson in smart and healthy food shopping

On December 10th, GBCA’s Head Start Paterson Eastside site hosted a holiday brunch for grandparents and other relatives and caregivers of Head Start students.

Ms. Geneva Lyew, GBCA Head Start Site Manager for St. Steven’s, chats with “Grandma Wanda” at the annual holiday brunch.

Santa came to Paterson Head Start this December and brought along his helpers from Benjamin Franklin Middle School of Ridgewood.

The preschoolers attended an assembly where the middle school students performed holiday songs and invited the younger children to dance with them and play along with bells and drums. The children’s expressions were priceless as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” started playing, and Santa strolled in!

After the assembly, the Head Start students returned to their classrooms, where the middle school students gave them each a wrapped present. Each child excitedly guessed what might be in his or her package, and then each classroom was visited once again by Santa Claus, reminding them all to be good boys and girls. The students thanked Santa for their gifts, and then the middle schoolers read each class a story. After the story, the kids colored, and finally presented the middle schoolers with arts and crafts projects, thanking them for an exciting Gift Day.

Bergen LEADS observer Jody Street, from Boiling Springs Savings Bank, enjoys lunch with Yasmin Sert’s class.

Eight members of Bergen LEADS, a Bergen County volunteer leadership organization, recently visited Greater Bergen Community Action’s Head Start site in Cliffside Park as the field visitation requirement of their Education Seminar.

Each member of the group sat in on a different class. LEADS members participated in the children’s lunch period and then read to the students as part of the school’s literacy curriculum.

Afterward, the group learned about the program from Cindy Fernandez, GBCA Bergen Associate Director of Education, and Carole Lotito, Director of Marketing & Communication.

Sponsored by Bergen Volunteer Center, Bergen LEADS began in September 2008, and has graduated 180 selected individuals with a connection to Bergen County.

Bergen LEADS alumni typically go on to leadership roles in nonprofit, government, and volunteer endeavors throughout Bergen County, including public office, volunteering, and service on executive boards.

(Standing) Associate Director of Education Cindy Fernandez speaks to the Bergen LEADS classroom observers.

“No Workforce Development Board can exist on its own and serve people well,” believes Tammy Molinelli, Executive Director of Bergen County’s Workforce Development Board (WDB), a board of 40 community and business members, which creates strategies for the Bergen County workforce system and invests in people who are unemployed, under-employed, or on public assistance. The board represents a crosssection of the community, including experts in a variety of job-related fields such as literacy, disability, business, education, and social service.

The agency partners with GBCA to provide high-quality employees who are often hired temporarily to fulfill a requirement, and then stay on permanently. GBCA also offers services, such as energy bill assistance, to jobseekers who need some financial help while they are between jobs.

Formerly a private industry recruiter in New York, Tammy has been the WDB’s Executive Director since 2003. She finds the position is especially suited to her. “It combines my two passions--helping people and workforce development.

“What keeps it fresh is that every day can be completely different from the next. I thrive on the challenges that the position presents.”

Tammy works with all populations including welfare recipients, the disabled, small businesses, multimillion dollar corporations, community developers, and job seekers of every age, at every income, education, and skill level. She helps to make sure the WDB works with as many community partners as possible, giving her the latitude to ensure that resources are used and invested efficiently, to maximize the benefits to both the job seeker and the business customer.

Her greatest challenge is “being innovative in a government system that is highly regulated and prescriptive,” but she succeeds by using imagination, intelligence, and determination. She is grateful to also work with exemplary community partners who add value to the public workforce system (One Stop Career Center).

Tammy gets her inspiration from her staff members, job seekers, committee members, board members, and community partners. Every day, she witnesses service to others in action.

Rather than naming a single success, she says her “greatest accomplishments lie in the daily commitment to finding and maintaining quality partnership and continuing to build relationships.

Tammy Molinelli, Executive Director of Bergen County’s Workforce Development Board

“Success stories for clients and businesses are what matters most. I’m proud to say we have a lot of them.”

GBCA presented a program to HIP staff, who work with disabled people of all ages, showing how GBCA services could make a tremendous difference in the lives of many of the HIP clients. PICTURED L TO R: Mark Maguire, and Alison DuBois wait to speak about their service areas as they listen to Figen Tabakci speak about GBCA’s free or affordable Education and Training Classes.

In November, a GBCA outreach team of Alison DuBois, Figen Tabakci, Matt Cerullo, Mark Maguire, and Carole Lotito met with the staff of Heightened Independence and Progress (HIP), a Bergen County nonresidential center designed to provide services to individuals with significant disabilities.

The outreach team explained the many GBCA programs that could benefit the group’s clients, who represent a wide cross-section of ages and mental and physical challenges. For instance, SAFER home improvement provides a trusted, expert resource to build ADA-compliant rooms and wheelchair ramps.

Many clients speak very little English—so GBCA’s English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are an ideal solution. Landlord-tenant issues are a constant concern, so the Greater Bergen Housing Coalition’s expertise will be welcomed by many HIP clients who are struggling.

Young adult HIP clients, in particular, have financial issues to manage, and Alison explained that large or small group financial counseling classes could be held right at the HIP facility on Main Street to better accommodate their groups.

The meeting set the stage for what will certainly be many future collaborations.

GBCA is a certified Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Counseling Agency, providing the following types of housing counseling for low-tomoderate income individuals in Bergen County:

 Pre-purchase counseling  Pre-purchase Home Buyer Education     

Workshops Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners Non-delinquency post-purchase workshops Rental housing counseling Rental housing workshops Services for homeless counseling

For more information on housing counseling, call GBCA’s Financial Assistance, Residential, and Energy Services (FARES) Division at 201-488-5100, or visit their offices at 316 State Street in Hackensack.

Steven Leitner has moved into his new role as Chief Innovation Officer of GBCA. He is primarily responsible for managing the process of new ideas and innovative projects at GBCA, helping to oversee new growth of the organization. He is also helping Kaye Lee transition into his role as Director of Technology.

Steven has begun work on leading the effort to revive CAP Solar, GBCA’s unique green technology business collaboration that specializes in the implementation of solar energy projects designed to lower operating costs for Community Action Agencies and other non-profit organizations serving lowincome communities.

He is currently working with the Massachusetts Community Action Program in creating a plan to bring solar power to more non-profits and lower income individuals in other parts of the country.

Steve has been with GBCA since Spring of 2014, organizing the agency’s response to the myriad technological challenges we must face in the 21st Century.

With more than 14 years of experience in the technology sector in a variety of businesses, Kaye Lee’s goal is to make all of GBCA’s technology “run more efficiently and smoothly. That will ultimately make all programs easier for everyone in the agency to use.”

He is already starting to migrate all of GBCA’s Microsoft Office systems (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OneNote, etc.) to cloud*based Microsoft Office 365. As a Certified Microsoft Office Professional, Kaye is especially well-suited to lead this major effort.

What keeps him interested in technology is “the challenge of figuring out the inner workings of complex systems and guiding users out of the technological maze, while making their experience more pleasant.”

Kaye was born in South Korea in 1974 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1981. Besides tinkering with new technology, Kaye enjoys spending time with family and friends and working on home improvement projects when he is outside of the office.

Though Kaye is often seen in the field at all GBCA locations, his office is currently at 241 Moore Street.

He can be reached at (201) 968-0200 X7455. *Applications that are made available to users via the Internet and stored on large servers (computers used for storage).

Companies typically utilize cloud-based computing as a way to increase capacity, enhance functionality, or add additional services on demand more cost-effectively.

PICTURED L to R: Steven Leitner and Kaye Lee.

GBCA’s Real Estate Division has made tremendous strides in the past months, providing affordable housing, early childhood educational facilities, improving living conditions, and giving a new home to our 1st Bergen Credit Union .

Highlights include: CLIFFSIDE PARK: (pictured below): Constructed four affordable housing units, which will be sold at the end of March.

A lottery, which received more than 300 applications, was held for potential moderate-income buyers in May 2015 for the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. Preference was given to individuals whose homes were affected by Superstorm Sandy.

HACKENSACK: 1st Bergen Federal Credit Union moved to Its new retail location at 93-95 Main Street.The space was totally renovated; the beautiful new facility has already seen an uptick in foot traffic and new customers. A Grand Opening is being planned for the Spring. The men at The Ladder Project, GBCA’s sober living facility, were thrilled with the new kitchen that was installed there, including a six-burner stove (which replaced a hot plate), and new cabinetry.

JERSEY CITY: Six Head Start classrooms were converted to 12 Early Head Start classrooms, eight of which are filled; four await licensing. The new Head Start Preschool Education Center is nearly finished at the A. Harry Moore facility and occupancy is expected in the Spring.

PATERSON: Three Head Start classrooms are being converted to six Early Head Start classrooms. The project is expected to be completed by mid-March.

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