What We've Achieved
As Your Central Ward Council Member, LaMonica Has:
Serving Young People; ensuring they have the necessary supplies for schools each year.
Hosted a back-to-school giveaway, pop up back to school events, and supplied back to school supplies to students and families during Central Ward back to school nights.
Created Community Involvement Events
Focusing on community involvement and engagement events for Central Ward Residents such as Black History Month Celebrations, Harvest Festivals, Women Wellness Events and many more. Focusing on building morale and bridging the gaps in the Central Ward.
Brought City Hall to Residents Doorsteps through Community Meetings and the creation of Community Street Meetings
By creating more engagement with Central Ward Residents there has been progress in informing residents on many different City opportunities and information. We created City Hall to Your Door Steps Initiative. Through this initiative Street Community Meetings and the L&L (Listening & Learning) Community Tour throughout the Central Ward was possible.
A Cleaner Central Ward
The Central Ward Councilwoman has hosted and led many community clean up events in partnership with Community Leaders and Community Members. We also created a social media campaign around residents keeping their communities clean.
Recreation Activities for our Youth Community
Through public and private partnerships we have been able to service our youth population with a variety of recreational opportunities. We have hosted pop-up hockey, game nights, and wellness pop up events.
The Hope Box Project
Through our Community Clean Up's we established a beatification component which included installing art murals on our electrical boxes throughout the Central Ward. This also extended our Arts & Culture mission in the City to aim to incorporate art to all areas of the Central Ward. We also included a competition among our Central Ward Schools to involve our youth in the process of beautifying their communities and engaging in the process.
Community Health Events
Preventive healthcare and wellness is very important for Councilwoman McIver. In partnership with University Hospital and other community based organizations we have hosted Community Health Fairs, Free Health Screenings, and Women Wellness Summits.
Created Affordable Housing
Since 2018 the Councilwoman has created and advocated for affordable housing within the Central Ward. In four years we have opened Boulevard West (100% Affordable, Mixed Income), Somerset Brownstones, The Walker House (20% Affordable), 915 Broad Street (48% Affordable), Latana (100% Affordable, Mixed Income), One Theater Square (20% Affordable). We have also completed rehabilitation projects on affordable housing projects in the Central Ward such as Garden Spires, 440 Washington (Saint James), Spruce Spires, Villa Victoria Seniors & Townhomes, and Pilgrim Baptist Village I & II. With many more to come.
Covid 19 Relief Efforts
In the height of the pandemic the Councilwoman was instrumental in bringing resources including food and PPE to Central Ward Residents. During Covid19 we distributed over 26,000 meals and over 30,000 masks to Central Ward Residents. The Councilwoman was on the frontlines serving Central Ward Residents.
Central Ward Wellness Tour
After 20++ months of Covid19 residents were dealing with much emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritual. With the declined focus on mental and social emotional health and wellness we created the Central Ward Wellness Tour when we brought wellness through yoga and meditation to communities within the Central Ward.
Resilience in The Central Ward
During the height of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police, the world was in despair. Many Urban Cities across the nation was experiencing many protesting that sometimes resulted in rioting. When protesters decided to choose Newark, Councilwoman McIver was on the frontlines with residents.
Council Member For The Day Program
Councilwoman McIver created the Council Member for the Day Program to introduce young people in the Central Ward to civics and the governmental process. Through the program, young people are educated on the basics of local government and inter-working relationships and processes.