The Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Leadership Center in Newark, located at 375 McCarter Highway, is currently under construction and will soon become a vibrant 5,436-square-foot community hub. This state-of-the-art facility will serve Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey's 13,800 youth members and 8,700 adult members and establish GSHNJ as a committed and trusted resource for families in Newark and a valued community partner.
In fulfilling the Girl Scouts’ mission, the center will provide innovative, equitable access to multiple dimensions of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, address gaps in the way programs have been delivered in the past, provide office space for council staff, and a gathering point for the local community. The center's flexible spaces will accommodate a wide range of activities and group sizes, ensuring it serves our evolving needs as we grow.
At its core, the Leadership Center will create an inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted and valued. Diversity and fairness will guide every decision, program, partnership, and initiative, ensuring that everyone’s personal growth is celebrated.
In addition to multiple programming spaces, the facility will feature a retail store, conference rooms, kitchen amenities, self-contained parking, and 24-hour security.
If you’re interested in learning more about opportunities or exploring partnership possibilities with the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, contact Leadership Center Director, Tenisha Malcolm-Wint at tmalcolm@gshnj.org.
Media Coverage
NJ.com - N.J. Girl Scout center to be ‘first of its kind in an urban area’
TAPInto Newark - Girl Scouts Heart of NJ New Leadership Center Marks Milestone in Newark | Newark, NJ News TAPinto
TAPInto Nutley - Girl Scouts Heart of NJ New Leadership Center Marks Milestone in Newark | Nutley, NJ News TAPinto
NJ Biz - Girl Scouts break down walls for new leadership center in Newark - NJBIZ
ROI-NJ - Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey holds 'wall breaking' for its 1st Leadership Center in Newark | ROI-NJ
Groundbreaking Event
On June 27, the leadership of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey joined executives of Paramount Assets and a host of distinguished guests at a “wall breaking” ceremony at the developer’s 375 McCarter Highway building in Newark. The event marked the beginning of construction on the Girl Scouts’ new Leadership Center.
Among those in attendance were City of Newark Council President and Congressional Candidate for CD-10, LaMonica McIver, Councilman Michael Silva, Senior Project Specialist for US Senator Cory Booker, Kaitlin McGuiness, Dr. Naima Ricks, Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, and local representatives from Audible, Newark Downtown, Newark Alliance, Invest Newark, NJ Children’s Foundation, Souder, Shabazz & Woolridge, NJIT, and the Victoria Foundation. These partners and community leaders stand united in supporting the creation of this vibrant hub, which will serve as a cornerstone for youth development and community engagement.
Read the full press release here (Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Holds “Wall Breaking” for its First Leadership Center in Newark, at 375 McCarter Highway (gshnj.org))
Images from the groundbreaking (below):
