Community members are encouraged to add their voice to the mural with the chalk provided. We believe art should be interactive and community involved. So please, visit the Woodbury Junior-Senior High School front lawn and add your voice to this free-standing mural.

The artists who created this piece are De’von Downes and Loren Dann of the South Jersey Artist Collective. Dann says, “adolescents thrive with art, and deserve to be seen. The outside of the school made no representation to the voices inside. With the back in chalk paint this interactive mural allows students to express themselves and their ideas.” Downes feels it is important “that kids are able to see themselves as more than just child and student but as people with feelings and voices. To be able to see themselves in such a light that nothing can dim them- as chances for hope and change.”

Woodbury Heart & Soul, a program of the FAF Coalition, is a catalyst for positive change by actively seeking the collective wisdom of all residents, including those whose voices are often missing. We want to know what matters most to you, hopes and concerns, and ideas for action in Woodbury. Share your story with us today, because your voice matters.

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Thank you for your interest in the Share Your Story event at Evergreen Family Success Center (located at 21 Delaware St, Woodbury, NJ 08096) happening on Tuesday, August 16th from 2-3PM. There will be free food provided and you will be compensated $15 for your participation. Please fill out the brief registration below to participate in this event. ** You must register to participate in this event!

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How to Help:

We have many ways to get involved in Woodbury PRIDE if you would like to help out. Community events are more successful when we have community participation, involvement, and ownership! Please fill out the form below if you would like to volunteer and/or become a sponsor for PRIDE.

A massive THANK YOU to our Sponsor, Woodbury Community Pride!

Name *

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Last

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How would you like to contribute to the Woodbury PRIDE event? *

• I'd like to volunteer
• I'd like to be a sponsor

Your contribution will go towards purchasing the canvas, art supplies, and PRIDE items such as flags, buttons, etc.

Multiple Choice *

• Gather stories from Woodbury Residents
• Help folks write on the canvas
• Help kids do PRIDE crafts
• Any or all of the above

How would you like to contribute sponsorship dollars? *

• Donate now via PayPal
• I will mail a check

Check amount to be submitted: *

Someone will be in touch with you soon to provide an address for mailed checks.

Enter the sponsorship amount you'd like to contribute *

Once you hit submit, PayPal will open for processing!

Upload your logo (if applicable)

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

We may or may not use sponsor logos on materials, etc.

Please provide any additional details you'd like to contribute for your sponsorship.

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Announcing: New Program Coordinator

Woodbury Heart & Soul is looking for residents to tell their stories about what matters most to them, their hopes, concerns, and ideas for the future of Woodbury under the leadership of our new Program Coordinator, Kaitlin Rattigan.

The continued collection of our community’s stories will help create a comprehensive action plan for Woodbury’s future and strengthen the cultural, social, and economic vibrancy of our City. Seeking out hidden and missing voices and focusing on what matters most keeps the community at the center of Woodbury Heart & Soul’s mission. We are looking for people to both share their stories, as well as people who would like to help us gather stories from their fellow residents, neighbors, and peers.

Woodbury Heart & Soul is excited to introduce Kaitlin Rattigan, who has accepted the position of Program Coordinator. Kaitlin (she/her) moved to Woodbury with her partner and two children in August of 2020 because of the incredible racial diversity of the City and the public schools, while having a small town community feel. Kaitlin brings 14 years of community organizing experience to the role. As an organizer, Kaitlin has worked to address various societal injustices ranging from LGBTQIA+ advocacy, to racial justice work, to gender equity, to most recently labor organizing for worker’s rights.

Kaitlin has 9 years experience working with nonprofits, particularly startup organizations and programs. As the first Community Builder for Take The Lead, Kaitlin built online communities and programs where women could connect and support one another to gain power and equity in the workforce. As the first Director of Student Working Professionals, Kaitlin spearheaded strategy, daily operations, marketing, communications, and program management for the South Jersey startup organization that helps students from various backgrounds, including those from the juvenile justice system and those with developmental disabilities, evolve into socially conscious leaders. And as the Program Manager of State Adolescent Services at AccessMatters, Kaitlin oversees a youth serving sexual health counseling and education program with a particular focus on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth.

Since moving to Woodbury, Kaitlin immediately became involved in community groups and activities such as the West End Memorial Parent Teacher Organization and the Strategic Plan Steering Committee for the Woodbury City Public School District. Kaitlin has a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, focusing on gender equity and nonprofit management. Kaitlin says she is “excited to continue this important community work,” because she “believes the City of Woodbury should be a place where all people feel included, heard, represented, and welcome.”

Woodbury Heart & Soul is a catalyst for positive change by actively seeking the collective wisdom of all residents, including those whose voices are often missing. As part of the Transform South Jersey initiative, our team will lead Woodbury through the established Community Heart & Soul model. Through this process, we will identify partners, build relationships, determine options for the future, and work together to develop projects in Woodbury that our community cares about for years to come. Ultimately, we will establish a locally controlled community endowment fund to support the strategies that result from the Woodbury Heart & Soul process.

If you are interested and excited by this unique opportunity to share your story and/or gather stories from others in Woodbury, please reach out to Kaitlin Rattigan at 856-812-4027 or [email protected].

The post Woodbury Heart & Soul Seeks Stories from Woodbury Residents appeared first on Woodbury Heart & Soul.