(lr) Atiya Jah Rashidi, director of equity and VP of community relations, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Marci Felsenfeld, Senior Program Officer, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey; Hector Varona, Senior Relationship Manager, M&T Bank; Craig Drinkard, CEO, Victoria Foundation; Leonard Robbins, Senior Program Officer – Lending, LISC; Nicole Fields, CEO, St. James Health; Dominic Lee, CEO, Brick Networks; Balpreet Grewal-Virk, SVP, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health; Michael Bright, CEO, Newark YMCA; Atiyah Weiss, Executive Director, Burke Foundation; James Burke, Director, Burke Foundation; Kim Cook, director of social impact and community investment, New York Beth Israel Medical Center; Evan Weiss, Executive Director, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA); Sharnita Johnson, VP, Strategy, Impact and Communications, Victoria Foundation. (Credit: RWJBarnabas Health)
Health system makes initial $3 million investment with plans to replace CHWs and SNAP navigators
Newark, NJ, March 18, 2026 – RWJBarnabas Health joined with the BRICK Network, St. James Health Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and the YMCA of Newark and surrounding areas to build the South Ward Health Center in Newark. This public-private partnership is supported by a $3 million investment from RWJBarnabas Health as part of the system. Our healthy communities Initiatives to improve patient access and health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, our mission is to build and maintain a healthy New Jersey — and that commitment extends beyond the walls of our hospitals.” said Mark E. Manigan, President and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health. “Our investment in the South Ward Health Center, supported by funding from the State of New Jersey, reflects our commitment to expanding access to care, promoting prevention and addressing the root causes that affect health. This strong collaboration – formed by trusted partners such as BRICK Network, St. James Health and YMCA of Newark and nearby counties – makes investments possible when combined with public partners to invest in sustainability.”
Beyond the initial investment, RWJBarnabas Health plans to place Community Health Workers (CHWs) and SNAP Navigators at the South Ward Health Center – expanding access to quality health care in New Jersey’s largest city.
through Our healthy communities, RWJBarnabas Health partners with local leaders, health care providers, civic organizations, clergy and community-based organizations to strengthen critical social and health care infrastructure and expand patient access to care, healthy food, nutrition education, transportation, economic mobility, and stable housing. Supported by community health resources from the state of New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health has invested more than $151 million in community health initiatives beyond traditional medical care to create and sustain long-term health for residents and communities.
“At RWJBarnabas Health, wellness is what we’re all about.” Balpreet Grewal-Werk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health. “And when we talk about wellness, we mean more than care in hospitals. We mean prevention. We mean access. We mean meeting people where they are. So I can’t think of a better investment for us in a community that we work closely with here in Newark.”
The groundbreaking marks a turning point for community stakeholders and residents in the South Ward, who have long called for comprehensive care that allows the neighborhood to go beyond health to wellness. Through community meetings, surveys, and feedback gathered by the BRICK Network, residents named a need for access to health care, affordable healthy food, maternity care, and holistic support for children and families.
“It’s more than a health center, it’s the physical embodiment of what our community has asked for and deserves.” Brick Networks CEO Dominic Lee said. “Our children and families guide our work. By listening to their voices, we increase access to health care and remove barriers that prevent people from living their dreams and building lasting prosperity.”
The new 50,000-square-foot building will include a community room for meetings and workshops, a full-service pharmacy, a maternal health department, a primary care suite, flexible space for nonprofit partners, and state-of-the-art classrooms for health and culinary education. The center’s design and services are rooted in ongoing community dialogue, starting with the temporary health site opened by the BRICK Network and St. James Health, which informs the comprehensive proposals now underway. The center will open in April 2027.
Community leaders and stakeholders see the center as a model for breaking the cycle of inequality. Nicole Fields, CEO of St. James Health commented“For too long, families in South Ward have had to navigate fragmented systems to access primary care. This center will bring together maternal health, pharmacy, primary care, and health education under one roof. Our partnership believes that access is a right, not a privilege.”
The wellness center is already fully funded at a cost of $48 million to build, with an additional $5 million needed to pay off the mortgage, bringing dreams of access to a debt-free, sustainable facility. In addition to RWJBarnabas Health, funding for the project was supported by the Victoria Foundation and through a federal appropriation from the late Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr.
“The YMCA is proud to bring the 11,000-square-foot Express YMCA, which focuses on fitness, prevention, and healthy living, to the South Ward Health Center.” said Michael Bright, president and CEO of the YMCA of New York and Vicinity. “By combining mobility, medical care, and community services under one roof, we are making access to health a reality and a reality for South Ward families.”
The project responds directly to the voices of the Newark community and stands as a testament to the power of citizen-led action. It will provide a swing space for non-profit and community-based organizations, making it a hub for community collaboration.
“We are investing in the dreams and voices of Newark residents.” Craig Drinkard, Executive Director of the Victoria Foundationwhich has invested $2 million in the health center so far. “Our neighbors have made it clear that they envision a Newark where everyone has what they need to protect themselves and their families. We invite foundations, policymakers and neighbors to join us in building a stronger support network for our city.”
Many other sponsors and supporters make the health center possible, including Break Network, St. James Health, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, M&T Bank, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (US House appropriation), Victoria Foundation, Senate Majority Leader Senator Ruiz, Senate Brook Health Foundation (NNJ), New Jersey Health Foundation. Jersey, Wells Fargo, LISC, American Growth and Reinvestment Fund.
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Regarding the health of RWJBarnabas
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthy New Jersey. It provides excellent patient-centered care and is the state’s largest safety net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing to the homeless and economic opportunity to the most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to increasing access to care includes transformative partnerships with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute – the state’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
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