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Community Organizing


Whether it’s advocating for affordable housing, environmental justice, safe streets, or immigrant rights, Ironbound Community Corporation plays a unique role in organizing the community to fight for its rights. Our central position in the community informs us of pressing community needs and shapes the projects we take on. For those projects, residents are armed with the information necessary to make change happen.

Some examples of past and present community organizing include:

  • Housing Rights: ICC is helping residents of low-income housing complexes advocate to maintain affordable housing and better living conditions. Today, residents are fighting for the removal of several stories of shipping containers, blocking light and airflow and taking views and recreational space away from hundreds of low-income residents (Newspaper article). We work with residents to hold the Newark Housing Authority accountable as many housing projects are threatened with neglect and closure.
  • Riverbank Park: One of only two parks in the Ironbound, this key recreational resource was almost lost when government looked to build a minor-league baseball stadium in its place. Residents rose up with ICC to preserve this vital green space, forming the non-profit group SPARK, which today and runs programs like the cultural arts festival and a community learning program.
  • Environmental Awareness: By making residents aware of potential environmental hazards, ICC and the community secured many cleanup projects, like the remediation of a contaminated dioxin site. Today, ICC is working with officials to make sure community members are informed on issues like the lead-laden Astroturf that was recently removed from a local soccer field.
  • Immigration: ICC hosts a number of community dialogs around immigration and human rights. Our programs provide access to legal assistance and ensure that immigrants know their rights and what services are available to them – while connecting them to each other in the process.
  • ICC supports a wide range of collaborations that impact our community including: community blockwatches, super neighborhoods, school advocacy and parent involvement.
  • The Ironbound Superneighborhoods Group includes many of Ironbound's organizations, and meets monthly to discuss quality of life issues, such as garbage and litter, making the neighborhood more green, beautification, community safety, and neighborhood quality of life. The Ironbound Superneighobrhoods meets monthly (usually the second Monday of the month) at 7 PM at St. James Parish Center (Madison & Elm St., enter through the rear). Confirm date by calling Nancy Zak at (973) 589-3353.

    ICC always welcomes volunteers who want to take charge and improve the quality of life in our community.