La Casa de Don Pedro launches $1.2 Million El Barrio Wellness in Newark
- MAREJ
- 4 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Partnering with RWJBarnabas Health
NEWARK, NJ — La Casa de Don Pedro celebrated the grand opening of the $1.2 million El Barrio Wellness, a comprehensive mental health center located at 76 Clinton Ave., the former home of fellow community development organization, El Club del Barrio.
Once a haven for Puerto Rican families and a pillar of support during Newark’s HIV/AIDS and drug crises in the 1980s, the three-story brick building has been reimagined to meet one of today’s most pressing challenges: community mental health. Its revival marks the next chapter for a site that has long symbolized mutual aid, cultural identity and resilience for generations of Newark residents.
El Barrio Wellness offers bilingual, trauma-informed counseling for children, adults and families, delivered through a Liberation Health model which acknowledges the cultural and systemic forces shaping mental health. Services include individual and family therapy, group sessions and community workshops – all designed to meet people where they are, in a space that reflects their lived experiences.
Backed by a range of community supporters, including RWJBarnabas Health and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, El Barrio Wellness represents a major step forward in expanding access to equitable care.
