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.