
WE ARE
WHO
Believe in a Healthy Newark is a Culture of Health Initiative aimed at addressing social determinants of health in order to improve health outcomes for the residents of the South and West Wards of Newark.
FOUNDED IN 2015
The Believe in a Healthy Newark initiative started in 2015 with funding from the New Jersey Health Initiatives Building a Culture of Health in New Jersey – Communities Moving to Action program. As one of ten original grantees, we partnered with New Jersey Health Initiatives to develop projects that would address the social determinants of health that significantly contribute to health outcomes. The steering committee of BHN includes leaders from community-based organizations, academia, local government, health care organizations and philanthropy. After an initial planning year, we decided to develop three Impact Teams focusing on Food and Fitness, Healthy Homes and Adverse Childhood Experiences. During the past 5 years we have partnered with a number of community-based organizations to focus on lead poisoning, food insecurity and trauma. Since 2019, BHN has been funded by a generous grant from the United Way of Greater Newark. The mission of our coalition has been expanded because of the enormous challenge we all face as we seek to successfully address the COVID 19 pandemic. Our additional new mission is to do our part in helping the Greater Newark community remain healthy during this crisis.
MEET THE BELIEVE IN A HEALTHY NEWARK STEERING COMMITTEE

Ketlen Baptiste-Alsbrook
Chief of Staff
Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness
Darrin Anderson
Executive Director and CEO
NJ YMCA State Alliance Wellness/ NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids
Michael Bright
President and CEO
YMCA of Newark and Vicinity
Craig Drinkard
Co-Executive Director
Victoria Foundation
Keri Logosso-Misurell
Executive Director
Greater Newark Health Care Coalition
Leslie Kantor
Professor and Chair
Department of Urban- Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health
Adaobi Ndupu
Director of Health
United Way of Greater Newark
Denise V. Rodgers
Vice Chancellor for Interprofessional Programs
Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences
Chair, BHN Steering Committee

John Mooney
Founding Editor and Executive Director
NJ Spotlight News
Rafael E. Pérez-Figueroa, MD, MPH
Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Public Health Practice; Associate Professor of Urban-Global Public Health
Rutgers University School of Public Health
Pete Rosario
President and CEO
La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc
Amina Bey
Executive director of Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc.

Charles Venti
President
Inventive Strategies, LLC
Catherine Wilson
President & CEO
United Way of Greater Newark
Deniqua Matias
Executive Director of Clinton Hill Community & Early Childhood Center, Inc.

Jorge Cruz
Executive Director
New Jersey Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Kaleena K. Berryman
Executive Directorce
Newark Youth Career Pathways Program/Newark Alliance