Developer Paul Silverman to be Honored for His Support of Public Art at NJ Creative Communities Conference

Honoree Paul Silverman

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) and Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announce 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 at the inaugural New Jersey Creative Communities Conference 2025: The Art of Community Well-Being (NJCCC 2025). The conference, a gathering of leaders, doers, thinkers, and artists throughout the Garden State, takes place on Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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.

Honoree Paul 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 Christopher M. Reber, President of 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  – Drs. Christopher Reber and Yeurys Pujols, 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

Throughout the conference, Express Yourself, an art therapy activity, will take place during lunch and breaks. Zulisha Morales will facilitate the activity.