Newark Today: Grants, Arts Milestone, and School Board Race in Focus

Newark, NJ – A mix of neighborhood funding, arts programming, and education politics is shaping the local conversation this weekend.

Mini-grants open for ‘Love Your Block’ projects

The city is inviting residents to pitch ideas for this year’s ‘Love Your Block, Newark!’ mini-grant program, which backs small-scale projects that clean, green, or otherwise improve local blocks. Grants of up to $5,000 are available on a reimbursement basis, with priority for efforts that boost climate resilience, increase tree cover, address flooding or heat, and cut pollution and waste.

The 2026 application portal opened on February 14, and the city is hosting a series of orientation and brainstorming sessions at community sites across Newark through early March. Approved projects will run from spring into late summer, giving block associations, tenant groups, and youth-led teams a chance to turn ideas into visible change in their own neighborhoods.

Glass art center marks 25 years of creative impact

Newark’s glass art nonprofit GlassRoots is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026, highlighting a quarter-century of youth programs, public classes, and creative workforce training. The organization, now anchored in the downtown arts and education district, uses glassmaking to teach technical skills, entrepreneurship, and teamwork to thousands of students each year.

New seasonal classes, teen business workshops, and special anniversary events are planned throughout the year. The expansion into a larger, street-level space has allowed GlassRoots to increase the number of classes and partnerships it offers, positioning the center as a key cultural hub for the city’s evolving downtown.

School board race opens amid youth voting changes

Four seats on the Newark Board of Education are on the ballot for the April 21 election, and the candidate field is now officially open. The race comes as the district continues to navigate budget pressures and long-term planning in the years since regaining local control from the state.

This year’s contest continues a recent shift in Newark’s school politics. The city now allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections, giving thousands of high school students a direct say over district leadership. Youth-focused civic groups are expected to continue outreach and registration efforts as the filing period closes and the campaign season ramps up.

Looking ahead

Residents interested in shaping their neighborhoods or schools have multiple entry points right now: applying for a block grant, signing up for creative programs, or preparing to vote in the spring board election. City officials and community groups are urging people to plug in early, before deadlines arrive in March and April.

Sources

https://www.newarknj.gov/237/Love-Your-Block-Newark
https://glassroots.org/
https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2024/03/06/glassroots-announces-major-expansion-to-new-space-in-teachers-village-anchoring-the-citys-arts-and-education-district032024/
https://www.nj.com/mosaic/2026/02/newark-board-of-education-race-opens-for-april-21-election.html
https://njisj.org/vote16newark/
https://jerseybee.org/2025/02/03/newark-students-guide-to-voting-in-local-school-board-elections/