Service Partnerships Strengthen NA Ties to Newark
By Ed Lisovic
Newark Academy has a long-standing history of signature community service partnerships with organizations in its origin city of Newark, and the school’s 250th anniversary has brought an enhanced focus on the place NA called home for nearly two centuries. Through these partnerships with Newark organizations, Newark Academy has successfully implemented service-learning in which students partner with the broader community in mutually beneficial ways.
Tutoring Programs
A new tutoring partnership with the House of Miriam in Newark — cleverly dubbed Operation Education — was kickstarted last year by seniors Asher Herman ’24, Jayan Shah ’24 and Anuj Awasthi ’24 as part of their IB Diploma Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project. Through this partnership, Newark Academy Upper School students have been able to tutor middle school students at Newark’s Speedway Avenue School and 13th Avenue School.
“We want to make sure that these partnerships are equally beneficial for everyone involved,” says NA Director of Community Service Sarah Fischer. “Not only can we research teaching methodologies through this tutoring partnership, but we can find support and connection with the community in Newark. When students make that connection, they often continue to work with our signature partners long after they graduate from NA.”
Apostles’ House Transitional Housing Center
New this year was NA’s “adoption” of two housing units in the transitional housing center at the Apostles’ House in Newark, which has been one of NA’s signature partners for nearly a decade. NA families furnished the apartments with artwork, furniture, rugs and more in a community-wide effort to source materials that would make the units welcoming for the residents. Over the last two years, NA students have also been enhancing the outdoor spaces at the Apostles’ House through the creation of murals and community gardens.
“I really loved being able to be hands-on in the Newark community and create something that wouldn’t just benefit the Apostles’ House, but the greater area as well,” says Sadie Trynin ’26, who designed the mural alongside Carolina Dias-Sotiriou ’25.
For the last nine years, NA has hosted families from the Apostles’ House for an on-campus holiday party that includes a family-style meal served by NA students, along with presents and musical performances by student-artists. The Apostles’ House Holiday Party is a continuation of a now 20-year tradition that previously benefited children in Newark’s Suburban Cultural Education Enrichment Program (SCEEP).
Covenant House Homeless Shelter
Another one of NA’s signature partnerships is with Covenant House in Newark, which serves homeless youth ages 18–25. NA students participate in a bi-annual “Sleep Out” to raise money for the Covenant House by sleeping outside regardless of the weather. Last year, NA students raised over $30,000 and have surpassed a cumulative total of $100,000 raised since first participating in the Sleep Out in 2014.
Michael Wyche ’25 and Emily Herbert ’26 now serve on the Covenant House Junior Board, which meets quarterly and engages student volunteers to expand the nonprofit’s mission.
“I was beyond excited to be part of such a great cause,” says Michael. “As a student, I approached this opportunity by understanding the commitment it requires, but also recognizing that I could be a leader at such an impactful organization.”
Yet as NA students seek new ways to serve communities in the school’s origin city of Newark, community service offerings continue to ensure that these partnerships are mutually beneficial.
“It’s important that our students don’t fall into a single story of Newark’s urban environment,” Sarah says. “Newark has resources and opportunities, as well as issues and challenges, just like every other city. When we talk about things like sustainability and environmental justice, Newark’s community leaders are at the forefront of facing these issues and developing solutions. Service opportunities are just one way we can help support and publicize their work, as well as bring their valuable knowledge and experience to our students.”
As NA looks ahead to the next 250 years, the city of Newark will remain a crucial partner in the next chapter of NA’s story — one built on compassion, service and community.
