On November 21st, we will host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner at BGWC Studio in downtown Newark, where individuals and families experiencing food insecurity can stop by to receive a freshly prepared Thanksgiving meal to go, along with care packages. We are grateful to have a chef preparing the meals, allowing us to provide a warm, comforting holiday dinner to those who need it most.

This is our second year bringing this vision to life, and we are hoping to make an even greater impact. We believe that when a community comes together, we can do more than provide a meal. We can remind our neighbors that they are seen, valued, and never forgotten.

The wisdom of elders takes center stage in this intergenerational celebration! Students from First Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue Elementary Schools perform original choreography inspired by the generations who came before them. The program closes with a heartfelt conversation between the children and residents of a Newark senior center who will share stories and life experiences.    

Don’t miss: “Elders’ Stories: Portraits of Resistance, Resiliency and Respect” on view through December 10 at the Newark Public Library’s Main Branch. The exhibit features photographs of members of NJPAC’s Elders Council, a group of prominent Black leaders.

• November 29, 2026
• Time: 7 PM
• Venue: Prudential Center
• Details: Hip-hop festival featuring LL COOL J, SWV, Method Man & Redman, Lil’ Kim, Kool G Rap, Onyx, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and other artists.
• Price: Check the ticket seller.

Resource tables @ 5PM

Film screening @ 6PM

Panel conversation @ 7PM

A lump that goes unchecked. A chest pain that is ignored. As healthcare costs soar, many New Jersey residents put off medical visits in order to afford rent, utilities and food. 

This Standing in Solidarity conversation brings together medical and policy experts to answer challenging questions such as, why is healthcare so expensive? Is there a cure for skyrocketing costs? And what are some New Jersey resources to make quality care more affordable? 

The Healthcare Divide is a FRONTLINE documentary about healthcare inequities and how pressure to increase profits in U.S. hospitals is endangering the care of low-income populations. The Standing in Solidarity film series is sponsored by the PSEG Foundation. 

In partnership with Dodge Poetry, the program will open with poetry from Ray Jane, a Brooklyn-based spoken word artist whose first book is Black Like That.

Following the film screening, a panel conversation will be moderated by Deborah Visconi, President and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, NJ. 

Our panelists 

Rochelle Evans, RN, Executive Director, Healthcare Foundation of the Oranges  

Iris Jones, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Family Health Services at the New Jersey Department of Health  

Dr. Arnold Williams, Medical Director/Chair, RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center in Toms River, NJ

• Date: December 15, 2026
• Time: 5:30–9:30 PM
• Venue: Dutch’s Restaurant
• Price: $125
• Details: Year-end business networking, conversations with entrepreneurs and advisors, and professional connections.
• Link: https://www.newarkhappening.com/event/do-good-business-holiday-event/32528/

• Venue: Mulberry Commons
• Details: Seasonal ice skating, food, shopping and winter activities. Confirm exact operating dates.

• Date: December 31- January 3, 2027
• Venue: Prudential Center
• Details: Disney skating spectacular featuring characters from films including Encanto, Toy Story, The Princess and the Frog and Moana.
• Times and prices: Check the individual show dates and ticket seller.
• Link: https://www.newarkhappening.com/event/disney-on-ice-presents-magic-in-the-stars/33083/