MEDIA ADVISORY:  A CITY'S RESPONSE TO SUICIDE THROUGH PUBLIC ART
WHAT: The Jewish Renaissance Foundation's (JRF) Emerging Civic Leaders for a Healthier Community Cohort 5, with Deborah A. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of the JRF, Mayor Helmin J. Caba, and local community members and stakeholders, host the unveiling of the suicide prevention sidewalk murals at the Brighton Avenue Teen Center located on 56 Brighton Ave. This year's cohort addressed the public health problem by spotlighting the importance of mental health and suicide awareness through positive art messaging. 

WHERE: The Brighton Ave Community Center at 56 Brighton Ave, Perth Amboy, NJ, 08861 

WHEN: Thursday, August 18, 2022, 4:00 PM

WHO:  
• Precious Ojeda, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Achievement Program (LEAP) Program Coordinator
• Deborah A. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, JRF
• Olga Muizcian, Mural Artist
• Honorable Mayor Helmin J, Caba

WHY: The Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF) is Community Action Agency for Middlesex County East and a designated Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Under the organization's Leadership and Entrepreneurship Achievement Program, the Emerging Civic Leaders for a Healthier Community 5th cohort focused on suicide prevention through positive art messaging.  Their project-themed, "Mental Health is Real, Let's Make it a Big Deal," was presented to the Perth Amboy City Council at the August 8th Caucus meeting, resulting in the approval for a mural permit in front of the Brighton Avenue Community Center. This initiative comes at a time of the U.S. Transition to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.   to put crisis care more in reach for people in need.  The five (5) art messages are set to educate residents that suicide is a preventable public health problem and a call to action on community-based strategies for suicide prevention.
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