Tai Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
(JERSEY CITY NJ) -- The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) and Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announced that Tai Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), will join the inaugural New Jersey Creative Communities Conference: 2025 on Thursday, November 6, 2025 and share insights into strengthening economic development strategies to support the arts in communities, as federal funds decrease.
Developer Paul Silverman will be recognized for his company's dedication to the arts and public art and the inclusion of artists' work in his projects. The conference, a gathering of leaders doers, thinkers, and artists throughout the Garden State, takes place on Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 8:30am to 5:00pm at the Hudson County Community College Culinary Center located at 161 Sip Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The NJCCC 2025 is produced by the NNJCF, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Hackensack, and HCCC, a public community college in Jersey City. The statewide conference will bring together municipal, arts, and business leaders; artists in all fields; healthcare and wellness workers; grantmakers; students and scholars; and architects, civil engineers, placemakers, and urban planners to explore innovative ways to make communities better for everyone through art and creative placemaking. Conference participants will make connections, be inspired to create new projects, and meet prospective partners.
Tai Cooper from New Jersey Economic Development Authority to Speak
Cooper will join a distinguished panel of experts discussing innovative funding strategies for arts support across New Jersey's state and local communities. The panel aims to inspire municipal leaders to explore creative approaches for cultivating and sustaining arts programming through strategic financial investments.
As the leader of the NJEDA's communications and enhanced engagement strategy, Cooper plays a pivotal role in strengthening ties with policy-makers at federal, state, and local levels. Her work focuses on advancing strategic research and data-driven initiatives that promote equitable and inclusive economic development policies and programs, with a specific emphasis on generating greater social impact. In this capacity, she strengthens ties with policy-makers at the federal, state, and local level, as they look to advance strategies, research and data to help drive equitable and inclusive economic development policies and programs, with a specific focus on innovating and generating greater social impact.
Before joining the NJEDA, Cooper was the Deputy Chief Policy Advisor to Governor Murphy and led New Jersey's Federal Opportunity Zone initiative. Previously, she served as Chief Policy Advisor to Mayor Ras Baraka, where she provided policy analysis and project management across municipal agencies, with a focus on public safety, community engagement, philanthropy, and government innovation.
Honoree Paul Silverman, a principal of SILVERMAN
During the NJCCC's luncheon, Silverman, a leading practitioner of creative placemaking among real estate developers, will be honored. As a Principal of SILVERMAN, the real estate development company co-founded with his brother, Eric, he restored historic landmarks, championed the development of mixed-use buildings, and created residential, commercial, office and industrial spaces. Silverman has advocated for the local arts scene, curating rotating art exhibitions in the lobbies of his properties and hosts semi-annual art shows to showcase emerging talent. In conjunction with his brother, he co-founded elevator, a dynamic creative space offering studios for artists and makers of all disciplines.
Silverman, a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist with a deep commitment to community engagement and the arts, is Trustee Emeritus at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Chairman of the Youth Foundation of Jersey City, and an active volunteer with City Sail. He also supports several organizations, including New City Kids, Art House Productions, Team Wilderness, and other nonprofits throughout Jersey City and Hudson County.
Plenary Session
The conference opens with a welcome from Dr. Yeurys Pujols, Ed.D., Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Excellence at Hudson County Community College. The plenary session, Creative Financing for the Arts in New Jersey, follows featuring a panel discussion outlining strategies that can be used to support the arts in communities, especially with the uncertainty of federal funding. Speakers for the session include Tai Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA); Annie McAdams, Public Art Administrator, City of Hoboken Cultural Affairs; Christine Goodman, Director, Office of Cultural Affairs City of Jersey City; and Phil Abramson, AICP/PP, Principal, Topology, Inc. Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP, Executive Director of the NNJCF, will moderate the panel discussion.
Breakout sessions and workshops will be offered in these four tracks:
1. Art and Community Health. Art and artful environments benefit mental and physical health and well-being.
2. Community Economic Development. The arts and placemaking boost local economies, create jobs and support cultural entrepreneurship.
3. Empowering and Supporting Public and Social Practice Artists. Information will be provided about training and supporting artists and emerging artists, who want to help communities.
4. Inclusive and Accessible Communities. The arts can help make places more welcoming and comfortable for everyone.
Workshop Sessions and Panels
These workshop sessions and panels are scheduled to take place.
* Creative Placemaking 101: Find Your Place in Creative Placemaking – Kadie Dempsey, CORE Creative Placemaking, Morristown
* Public Art, Process + Hip Hop. Sherwin Banfield, Artist
* Resilient, Mutual, Development: How to Use Art and Design to Help Communities Grow. Juanli Carrion, Assistant Professor of Design Strategies, The New School Parsons
* Working with Artists– Lauren Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts
* Community Colleges as Local Cultural Centers – Dr. Yeurys Pujols, Ed.D., Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Excellence, Hudson County Community College and Salma Abdelwahed, Coordinator of Cultural Affairs, Hudson County Community College
* Public Art Adaptation for Hospitals - Robin L. Goldfischer Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Valley Health System, Inc.
* The Healing Stage: Examining the Therapeutic Impact of Dance and Art - Maria Daniel, Dancer and Adjunct Instructor, Hudson County Community
* Getting Started in Public Art for Creatives – Emily Gilman Beezley, Public Artist and Founder of Springboard
* Integrating Arts Effectively into Downtown and Commercial Corridors – Tracy Gavant, Main Street POPS
* Creative Cures: Exploring the Role of Art in Health and Healing. Panelists: Athena Toledo MPS, ADC, CDP, ATR-P, Art Therapy Advocate & Art Educator; Ralph Andre, Principal and Creative Director, Mean Genius, Co-founder of CANVS; Catherine Hart, Drawer, painter, and mural artist/collaborator; Diane Dragone, Founding Director, choreographer, and teacher, The Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company and The Kennedy Dancers School; Brooke Hansson, Chief of Administrative Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, Jersey City; and Stephanie Daniels, Division Director for Community Relations and Social Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, Jersey City. Moderators: Stephanie Daniels and Brooke Hansson of the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services
* Curating with Inclusivity – Michelle Vitale, Hudson County Community College
* Art, Healing, and Creating Connections - Rodney Camarce, Manager of Wellness, Grounds for Sculpture; Sam Hwang, Director of Guest Services at Grounds for Sculpture
* Inclusive Creativity: Building Accessible Spaces in Art and Social Media – Danielle Lopez, Hudson County Community College
* CAFE 101 – Overview of the NJEDA Cultural and Arts Facilities Expansion Program (CAFE) tax credit program - Barbara Vadnais, NJEDA Team Lead-Brownfield Incentives, Brownfields and Sustainable Systems, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).
Throughout the conference, Express Yourself, an art therapy activity, will take place during lunch and breaks, from 9:00am – 1:30pm. Zulisha Morales will facilitate the activity.
Registration and Discount Tickets for Professional Artists
Registration for the NJCCC 2025 may be done conveniently online at https://www.nnjcf.org/njcc25/ . Visit the site to find a range of ticket prices available for general admission, exhibitors, artists, the luncheon, the reception and other categories. Hudson County Community College faculty, staff and students may attend the conference and reception free-of-charge by registering in advance with an HCCC education email. The first 150 registrants of the conference will receive a complimentary day pass to the Montclair Art Museum, offering an exclusive cultural experience.
Scholarships Available for Public and Social Practice Artists
The NNJCF is offering a limited number of $25 scholarships to artists producing public art or who are interested in learning how to transition from their individual practice into the public and social practice art field. Scholarships for $25 each will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis to artists to offset the $50 artist discounted ticket cost at the conference. Artists in all disciplines – writers, painters, architects, designers and more – can receive scholarships and the discount. Artists may apply for a scholarship by sending an email with their interest and a link to a website or social media page that demonstrates their work to [email protected]. For more information, visit the conference's registration page.
Sponsors and Supporters
The NNJCF seeks sponsors and donations to support the NJCCC 20225. Sponsors will connect with decision-makers and influencers, and sponsorships will also support programs to enhance quality of life in North Jersey communities and provide scholarships for HCCC students.
Sponsorship opportunities may be found online. To date, sponsors for the conference include Silver – Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services, Track – LISC New Jersey, and Event – New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Supporters for the conference include a collective contribution made by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and the Investors Foundation and partner Montclair Art Museum. For additional information about sponsoring the NJCCC 2025, contact the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's Executive Director, Leonardo Vazquez, at [email protected] or call 201-568-5608 extension 2.
Donations of any size are welcome and may be made online at https://www.nnjcf.org/donation/. Contributions may also be sent by check made out to 'The Northern N.J. Community Foundation', with 'NJCCC 2025 entered in the memo line. Send checks to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 102, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. For further information about sponsorships, donations, or the NNJCF, call 201-568-5608 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Founded in 1998, The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization based in Hackensack, New Jersey, works with local governments, school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups to improve community life. Through collaborative partnerships, regional problems are identified and resolved. Opportunities are discovered and explored by talking and learning from each other and sharing ideas, best practices, services, and resources. The Foundation works to grow more creative and inspiring places, greener and healthier places, and more places of belonging and opportunity.
