Unity Square Neighborhood Revitalization Project

Unity Square is a social justice effort and community organizing of Catholic Charities in New Brunswick. We empower community leaders to have a voice in civic affairs and to make real, positive changes. We run a community center at a former fire station at 81 Remsen Avenue. In our community center we offer many events including:

1. Labor Rights and Fair Jobs Against Wage Theft
2. Tenants' Rights
3. Crime & Safety in the Neighborhood
4. Community Gardens
5. Immigrant Rights
6. Career Education & Training
7. Pedestrian Safety
8. Leadership Development
9. Community Social Events
10. Driver’s License education
11. Housing Resources and support
12. Choice Food Resource Center

UNITY SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECT

Unity Square is a community organizing and social concerns initiative of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen that works to empower community members and catalyze change in a 36 block residential neighborhood of New Brunswick, NJ. 

Unity Square’s efforts focus on a target neighborhood of about 6,000 low-income residents.  Most neighborhood families are working poor, and have young children. Most of the adults are Spanish-speaking immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

Led by community leaders, Unity Square works closely with partner organizations, city officials, and other stakeholders to achieve its goals. Among its accomplishments are New Brunswick’s only bilingual Crime Watch group; the passage a first-of-its-kind city ordinance aimed at preventing wage theft; the hosting of a bilingual candidate forum for the New Brunswick School Board elections; the maintenance of a growing system of community gardens; education and outreach to over 2,000 residents on tenant rights issues; the revitalization and rehabilitation of local housing residences; and the opening of the Choice Food Resource Center in October of 2022 providing residents with a shopping model in choosing foods that meet their families’ needs.

Unity Square is primarily supported by the Department of Community Affairs Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) Program.

Location:

Unity Square Community Center
81 Remsen Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ, 08901
Phone: 732-545-0329

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