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Governor Phil Murphy commemorated the first official Juneteenth holiday at Calvary Baptist Church.  On June 18, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Mayor Andre Sayegh, and other state, county and local elected officials and community members descended upon Calvary Baptist Church to celebrate Juneteenth and sign the Fair Chance in Housing Act (S250/A1919), barring landlords from asking potential tenants about their criminal history on housing applications.  According to Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, a member of Calvary Baptist Church, “Under this law, landlords are implored to take an honest look at the application process and not paint every individual with a conviction with the same broad stroke.  We’re fighting generational poverty, homelessness and hopelessness through social justice reform measures, such as this one’.

Housing instability is one of the key determinants of recidivism.  This legislation aims to eliminate a barrier to those individuals with criminal records from the cycle of housing instability and homelessness.  This legislation, sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight is historic.  It is the first national ban-the-box in housing state-wide legislation.  New Jersey has made history with this piece of legislation and that history was signed into law at the Historic Calvary Baptist Church.

Our city, the City of Paterson, has been hit hard by the COVID 19 pandemic.  So, it makes sense for Calvary Baptist Church to step up to the plate when asked and serve as a community vaccination site.  The Community Vaccination event, held on March 1, March 29, and April 5 allowed Calvary to partner with the State of New Jersey Department of Health and FEMA while vaccinating 2,500 people.

“It was a major undertaking, but an awesome way to help get our community back,” says church employee Lanisha Makle-Ridley, who assisting in coordinating the event. “Many people came to Calvary to get vaccinated who were unable to secure appointments elsewhere.”

It may have been a chilly February Saturday, but the volunteers of the Calvary Baptist Church Community Outreach Ministry did their best to make everyone feel warm. The event was Coats, Cookies & Cocoa, a winter clothing give-away for neighbors in need that also featured popular treats for the kids. In all, volunteers gave away 300 children’s coats, which were provided by Operation Warm, a national nonprofit.