The HUBB
HFNJ is proud to have been an early and sustained partner of fpYouthOutcry’s The H.U.B.B. (Help Our Youth Be Better), an organization that has grown from a promising grassroots effort into a cornerstone of trauma-informed youth support in Newark. Through a series of strategic grants and hands-on partnership, HFNJ’s investments have both stabilized the organization and helped deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for hundreds of young people facing significant challenges. Since 2017, HFNJ has provided the organization nine grant awards totaling $749,913.
The HUBB serves youth ages 11 to 18 who are at risk of academic failure, involvement with violence, or have untreated behavioral health needs. Through performance-based art therapy, The HUBB provides young people with opportunities to record music and podcasts in an on-site studio, participate in restorative justice circles, and connect to trained counselors who understand the realities of their neighborhoods.
HFNJ’s partnership began in 2017 with a $25,000 grant to pilot The HUBB’s Trauma Recovery Center. At that time, HFNJ was the organization’s first funder following its nonprofit designation. Beyond financial support, HFNJ staff worked closely with fpYouthOutcry’s leadership to strengthen governance, build operational systems, and connect the organization to key stakeholders.
HFNJ’s investments have yielded powerful results. In the most recent grant period alone, more than 500 unduplicated youth participated in over 750 therapeutic arts sessions, with pre- and post-surveys showing measurable gains in emotional expression and resilience. Four Youth High-Risk Interventionists completed 40 hours of specialized training and conducted more than 750 mediations and de-escalations, contributing to safer neighborhoods. Bi-weekly group counseling led to improved stress and trauma management for 72% of participants, while community trauma-awareness workshops reached 182 residents.
HFNJ’s funding has also helped The HUBB mature as an organization. Financial systems were strengthened, new programs such as the Literacy Lab and Grubb@TheHUBB were launched, and partnerships with other community partners were deepened. As Newark experienced a notable decline in violent crime, The HUBB’s trauma-informed, community-centered work has been an important part of the broader ecosystem promoting healing and hope.
Together, these outcomes reflect how sustained philanthropic investment can empower a community-based organization to grow, innovate, and change lives—one young person at a time.