East Orange, NJ, December 13, 2016: Naima Hall, Founder and CEO of Passion For Purpose Community Outreach, and Carthage Real Estate Advisors, LLC, are hosting a Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony for a brand new community center in the newly-upgraded Doddtown Plaza Apartments, located at 7 Long Street in East Orange, NJ.
The ceremony will take place at the apartment complex on Thursday, December 15th at 5pm. City officials and community supporters will join representatives from Passion for Purpose and Carthage Advisors for the event, which will include an official naming of the center in honor of the late Dean W. Britton, Jr. (1983-2006), son of First Ward Councilwoman Amy Lewis. A beloved scholar-athlete and martial arts devotee, Britton was on break from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania visiting his mother for Mother’s Day when a tragic fall at Soverel Park claimed his life on May 23, 2006. It has been 10 years since his untimely death and December 15, 2016 would have marked his 33rd birthday. In his 22 years, Britton’s friendly personality and compassionate spirit earned him respect and admiration from peers and adults alike. Hall decided to name the community center after Britton in honor of his memory and to serve as a source of inspiration and pride for children and families in the First Ward.
“I am extremely proud to be able to spearhead this effort and to help to offer such a vital resource to the children and families of Doddtown Plaza,” said Hall. “The fact that I am able to carry on the life and legacy of Dean Britton, Jr. is a double blessing.” Thanks to the generosity of Tristar Products, of Fairfield, NJ, the center will remain equipped with the latest technology — including nine (9) computers, a printer, fax machine and scanner that will be open as a free resource for city residents.
Planned programming includes job search assistance, GED preparation, and after school homework help. Beyond donation of the space for the community center, Hall said Carthage Advisors also donated $10,000 to help off-set the cost of leasing the space. Under the leadership of Hall, Passion for Purpose has been guided by its mission to empower women, men, children and families and to provide resources to help with everyday life. For over five years, the East Orange-based non-profit organization has worked extensively in communities throughout Essex, Union and Hudson Counties. From coordinating stop the violence rallies and domestic violence workshops to serving free Thanksgiving meals and sponsoring mentoring programs, the multi-faceted non-profit fulfills its purpose by responding to the evolving needs of the community.
For more information on Passion for Purpose Community Outreach, please visit www.passionforpurposecommunityoutreach.org. ### Carthage Advisors recently completed a comprehensive capital improvement project at Doddtown Plaza, including kitchen cabinet and tile replacements, installation of energy efficient appliances, extensive bathroom renovations, painting, landscaping, and upgrades to the heating, roofing and security systems.
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