As work on the FY27 New Jersey State budget drew to a close, we were excited to get word that the efforts by the Paterson Healing Collective to secure state funding for its vital violence-intervention and healing programs were successful.
Our ability to advocate effectively for the Collective did not begin with a funding request. It grew from more than two decades of showing up, listening, building trust, and becoming part of the Paterson community.
From community walks and public-safety programs to neighborhood events and supporting local businesses, our team has worked to understand Paterson through the people who live, work, serve, and lead here. We have always believed that communities deserve to have their stories told in a respectful and honest way, acknowledging challenges while also recognizing progress and highlighting those working to bring people together.
Over the years, we have built meaningful relationships with residents, advocates, nonprofit leaders, business owners, public officials, and others committed to strengthening the city. We have also worked to create opportunities for local voices to share their perspectives, experiences, and accomplishments.
Those relationships became especially important as we supported the Paterson Healing Collective. Our advocacy included arranging meetings with elected officials and government leaders at the state and federal levels. The trust developed through real relationships in Paterson helped bring these leaders to the table and created meaningful opportunities for the Collective to explain its work, demonstrate its impact, and make the case for continued investment in community-based violence prevention and survivor support.
These efforts helped the organization secure funding this year, providing essential resources to continue serving individuals and families affected by violence.
We are grateful to the state and federal officials and staff members who took the time to listen, learn about the Collective’s work, and demonstrate their commitment to effective, community-based solutions.
Because government funding often must be renewed each year, the work does not end with this success. We are also advocating for legislation that would establish a permanent funding mechanism, giving the Paterson Healing Collective greater stability and the ability to plan confidently for the future.
Of course, it must be said that at the core of all of the conversations we help facilitate for the Paterson Healing Collective is real accomplishment. The team at PHC is out in the communities they serve every day, and the impact is real…. And measurable.
We are honored to support the Paterson Healing Collective and help share the story of its critical work with the decision-makers who can help sustain it. This effort is a reminder that meaningful advocacy begins long before a meeting is scheduled. It begins by showing up, earning trust, supporting community voices, and remaining committed to the people doing the work every day.
