July 17, 2024

Started 9:00 am|Ended 3:00 pm

Healthy Communities

Two Collaboratives, One Vision

On July 17, Jersey Water Works and Lead-Free NJ members gathered at Montclair State University in Montclair for their Annual Membership Meetings. The 150 attendees came from different sectors—community organizations, grassroots groups, municipal/state government, federal agencies, education, utilities—to support the work being done to advance New Jersey’s water infrastructure and remediate lead holistically.

The JWW agenda featured:

1. Welcome Remarks: Monitoring Progress and Staying the Course
   • Andrea Sapal, Jersey Water Works
   • Richard Henning, New Jersey Utility Association and JWW Steering Committee Member
   • Pete Kasaback, New Jersey Future and JWW Steering Committee Member
   • Patricia Ingelido, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
   • Lucia Middleton, The Watershed Institute
2. Advancing Water Infrastructure Mini-Keynotes
   • Funding Our Work & Water Workforce Development
     • Speaker: Matthew DeNafo, PE, CME, President, Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA)
   • Exploring EPA’s Proposed Water Restructure Rule Opportunities in New Jersey
     • Speaker: Andy Kricun, Moonshot Missions, JWW Steering Committee Co-Chair
   • A Short Overview: Water Policies and Funding Opportunities
     • Speaker: Diane Schrauth, New Jersey Future
3. Issue Impact Updates and Progress Presentation
   • Moderator: Nicole Miller, MnM Consulting, JWW Steering Committee Co-Chair
   • Roundtable discussions were led by steering committee members, co-chairs, backbone staff, and members.
4. Tapping Into Funding Office Hours
   • Representatives from NJ Infrastructure Bank, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions / Environmental Finance Center, and New Jersey Future Funding Navigator
     • John Notte, NJ Infrastructure Bank
     • George Rolon, NJ Infrastructure Bank
     • Charles Jenkins, Municipal Finance & Construction Element/ New Jersey Water Bank, NJDEP
     • Samantha Thomas, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
     • Ryon Bassi, Bureau Of Water System Engineering, NJDEP
     • Tess Clark, AICP, Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions / Environmental Finance Center
     • Lee Clark, MABC, Funding Navigator Program, New Jersey Future

The LFNJ agenda featured:

1. Special Meeting for Lead-Free NJ Hub Leads
2. Panel Presentation – Advancing Systems-Level Change Through Community and Collaboration
   • Moderator: Kelvin Boddy, Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
   • Shanikwa Lemon, Paterson Alliance, LFNJ Community Hub Leader
   • Kandyce Perry, Office of Environmental Justice, NJDEP
   • Geovanni Cantizano, PRAC of Southern NJ, LFNJ Community Hub Leader
   • Xin “Leo” Li & Jennifer Barrientos, NJDCA Lead Assistance Program
3. Lead-Free NJ Committee Conversations
   • Housing Committee Updates
     • Bert Cooper, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
   • Health Committee: Addressing Lead Screening Challenges in NJ
     • Elyse Pivnick, Isles & Sheila Caldwell, School Nurse (Co-Chairs)
     • Maria Emerson, Virtua
   • Water Advocacy Committee: Investigating Filter First Policy in NJ
     • Deandrah Cameron, NJF
     • Yvette Jordan, NEW Caucus