NJCDC Breaks Ground on Major Youth Center Expansion, Opening New Doors for Paterson’s Young People

View our short reel and extended video from the groundbreaking ceremony

On Friday, October 16, NJCDC joined the City of Paterson, elected officials, community partners, supporters, and local youth to celebrate a milestone years in the making: the groundbreaking of a major expansion of our Great Falls Youth Center.

The ceremony marked the start of construction on a new, approximately 40,000-square-foot youth facility at 54 Front Street, directly adjacent to our existing Youth Center. Together, the two facilities will give Paterson’s young people new spaces to learn, play, develop skills, and prepare for their futures.

For NJCDC Founder and CEO Bob Guarasci, the project reflects a commitment that has guided our organization since its founding in 1994: ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to reach their full potential. “We asked the young people what they wanted, and we listened,” Bob told the crowd. “And what we see rising out front here today is the result.”

More Than a Recreation Center

For years, NJCDC’s Great Falls Youth Center has provided a welcoming environment where local teens can spend time after school, build friendships, receive mentorship, and explore new interests.

Building on that foundation, plans for the new facility include a full gymnasium, performance stage, STEM makerspace, e-gaming room, animation studio, entrepreneurial suite, and rooftop space. These spaces will combine athletics, arts, technology, and career exploration to reflect the diverse interests and ambitions of Paterson’s youth.

A key component is College Central, a new partnership with William Paterson University that will bring college and career readiness resources directly into the neighborhood. At the ceremony, University Provost Dr. Amy Ginsberg outlined plans for college application and essay workshops, financial aid guidance, academic enrichment, career preparation, and mentoring. The initiative will serve not only high school students but also adults interested in beginning or returning to college.

Public Vision, Private Generosity

The groundbreaking brought together an extraordinary group of people whose advocacy, generosity, and collaboration helped make the ambitious project possible. NJCDC Chief Program Officer David Gelman served as emcee, reflecting on his 20-year journey with NJCDC and the growth of its youth programs over that time.

Congresswoman Nellie Pou, who championed the project during her years in the New Jersey Legislature, joined Mayor Andre Sayegh, Senator Benjie Wimberly, Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz, and City Council President Lilisa Mimms, Vice President Maritza Davila, and Councilman Luis Velez at the celebration.

Mayor Sayegh emphasized that the project’s importance extends well beyond recreation, particularly in creating pathways to higher education and entrepreneurship. “It's not just about breaking ground today. It’s about breaking barriers,” he said, describing the new facility as an “empowerment center” that will help young people access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

NJCDC also recognized philanthropist Marilyn Clark and longtime supporters Robert and Linda Daleo, whose generous contributions have helped bring the project to fruition.

NJCDC Board Vice Chair Eric Daleo, the couple’s son, spoke about the importance of private philanthropy to achieve transformational results. His family’s relationship with NJCDC spans decades. Bob Daleo, who previously served as NJCDC’s Board Chair, recalled that Eric first introduced his parents to the organization while serving as an intern. What began with an initial contribution grew into a longstanding partnership that continues to benefit generations of young people.

Young Voices, Big Ambition

While the ceremony featured many distinguished guests, some of its most meaningful moments came from the young people the new center will serve.

Kazier Balmer, a John F. Kennedy High School student and enthusiastic Great Falls Youth Center participant, brought humor and heartfelt appreciation to his remarks. Describing the existing Youth Center as a second home, Balmer expressed excitement about the basketball court, gaming opportunities, and other activities to come. “This isn’t just a new building — it’s a new chapter for the young people of Paterson, and we’re ready to make it count!” he told the crowd.

Fellow John F. Kennedy High School student Anowara Riya shared her experiences with NJCDC’s youth programs. The younger sister of former Paterson Youth Council President Adiba Rupa, Anowara spoke about the Youth Center’s lasting impact and the opportunities it creates for successive generations of Paterson youth.

The ceremony also featured Tiffani McCutchen, who sang Paterson’s anthem “Lean on Me,” a fitting tribute to the community partnerships that have sustained the project.

NJCDC Director of Community Outreach Eddie Gonzalez delivered an emotional closing address, reflecting on his experiences growing up in Paterson, the challenges the community has faced, and the importance of providing young people with caring adults who believe in them. For Eddie, the new facility is more than construction: it is an investment in every child who will walk through its doors — and in the future of the city he has long called home.

A Place to Belong

As the ceremony concluded, NJCDC leadership, public officials, supporters, and young people gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking, marking the start of a new era for the Great Falls Neighborhood.

The expanded Youth Center will be a place where a young athlete can develop confidence, an aspiring entrepreneur can explore a business idea, a future college student can find guidance, and a teenager looking for somewhere to belong can discover a supportive community.

For NJCDC, the groundbreaking is both the culmination of years of determination and the beginning of something even more important: new opportunities for thousands of Paterson’s young people.

As construction begins, the message from Friday’s celebration is clear: Paterson’s young people deserve spaces that match the scale of their ambitions — and a community willing to invest in them.