Community Health Workers: Building a Better New Jersey Together Highlights

On Tuesday, August 26, 2026, the Community Health Worker (CHW) Hub and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) hosted Community Health Workers: Building a Better New Jersey Together for CHW Awareness Week. The program had 100+ CHWs, CHWs Supervisors and CHW Allies come together for the celebration. Here are some highlights from the celebration:  

CHW Hub Committee Highlights 

Below are some, not all, of the committee’s accomplishments for the past year: 

• Infrastructure and System Capacity Committee (led by Partners in Health): Conducted high-level mapping of priority populations and need areas across the state, identifying regions within New Jersey where CHWs can make the most impact. 

• Engagement, Recruitment, and Retention Committee (led by Partners in Health): In just a few months, a group of 15-20 CHWs and allies came together and developed a name, logo, a purpose, mission and vision and strategic priorities for a future CHW Professional Association in New Jersey. 

• Certification Advisory Committee was established through a collaborative effort between the Certification, Education, and Curriculum Committee (led by Camden Coalition) and the Sustainability and Employment Committee (led by Seton Hall University). This sub-committee, composed primarily of CHWs from diverse settings and CHW employers, has identified preliminary competencies for CHW training within the state, along with an initial framework for the certification process. 

Community Based Organization Highlights 

CHW Hub invited community-based organizations (CBOs) and clinics to showcase the incredible work their CHWs are doing across the State of New Jersey. These efforts were recognized, along with the powerful impact CHWs continue to make in the lives of community members. While not highlighted here, the CHW Hub also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Children’s Home Society of NJ, University Hospital of Newark, Trenton Health Team, AIDS Resource Foundation for Children/ St. Clare’s, Newark Department of Health & Community Wellness and Sanctuary Foundation for Veterans for their ongoing work in our communities.  

• KinderSmile Foundation: Provided oral health education sessions in multiple languages, including Haitian-Creole in Essex and Mercer Counties 

• Cherry Hill Free Clinic: In March 2025, launched Compassion Cupboard Food Pantry in partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey in Camden County 

• Centro Comunitario: Organized events and partnered with organizations that provide free or low-cost services, such as, COVID-19 and flu vaccines, health screenings eye testing and mammograms, pap smears, and prostate cancer screenings in Hudson County 

Special thank you to KinderSmile Foundation, Cherry Hill Free Clinic and Centro Comunitario CEUS for sharing their pictures.

Community Health Worker Awards 

CHW Hub, in partnership with NJDOH, proudly presented awards to nominated Community Health Workers across the state in recognition of their outstanding contributions and dedication to the communities they serve. Below are the awards and the winners:  

New Jersey Community Health Worker Excellence Award: This award honors CHWs that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and gone above and beyond in driving meaningful change for their clients and community. 

• Northern Region:  Sharae Robinson (University Hospital of Newark), Matilde Aldana-Gonzalez (Centro Comunitario CEUS), Shirley Gamboa (KinderSmile Foundation) 

• Southern Region: Charles Brown (Cherry Hill Free Clinic), Melissa Zambrana (Camden Coalition), Ana Spencer (The Cooperative) 

New Jersey Community Health Worker Hero Award: This award recognizes CHWs who exemplify unwavering compassion and whose selfless efforts have uplifted individuals by strengthening relationships within their communities.  

• Northern Region: Julissa De Souza (WomenRising), Gino Veliz (Norwescap), and Umme S. Choudhury (Health Coalition of Passaic County) 

• Central Region: Maria Sellas (The Children's Home Society of NJ) 

• Southern Region: Hindira Garcia (Cherry Hill Free Clinic), Adriana Ortiz (Children’s Home Society of NJ) and Noemi Torres (The Cooperative) 

New Jersey Community Health Worker of the Year: This award recognizes CHWs that have made tremendous contributions not only to their clients and community, but also to the advancement of the CHW Workforce. 

• Northern Region: Omar Clay (Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness) 

• Central Region: Ariana Bazan (KinderSmile Foundation) 

• Southern Region: Maria David (Cherry Hill Free Clinic) 

We also want to acknowledge the CHWs who were nominated but not selected as award recipients this time. Their work and dedication remain deeply valued and continue to make a meaningful impact in our communities. 

Tashira Rivera (The Cooperative), Pamela Carr (The Cooperative), Juanita Holt- Smith (ARFC/St. Clare’s), Violet Ibrahim (Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey), Ofelia Laangeraap (Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey), DaNayjah Jones (The Cooperative), Yodegy Pena (The Cooperative), Johanne Blackhall (Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey), Austin Lawson-Hogban (University Hospital of Newark), Jenny Arias (Health Coalition of Passaic County), Kim King (University Hospital of Newark), Tracy Taylor (Rutgers Health Infectious Diseases Practice), and Ayesha Rogers (University Hospital of Newark)