GrassROOTS Community Foundation

10/23/2025

As you know, GrassROOTS leads a turkey challenge contest each year.

This year’s Turkey Challenge is slightly different.

A coalition of women are coming together to address food insecurity.

With SNAP benefits at risk and the cost of food continuing to rise, more families are facing hunger. We’re bringing together as many women as possible to raise $30,000 to support those experiencing food insecurity in New Jersey.

The current host committee members are:
Lisa Maxwell, MasterCard
Talia Young, Newark Symphony Hall
Kween Moore, Urban Creative Arts
Aamira Garba, Lovelee Wines
Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, GrassROOTS Community Foundation

Our efforts will go toward Georgia King Village and other communities of need in New Jersey

TURKEY CHALLENGE 2026
October 25- November 21

10/16/2025

This!!!!

10/16/2025

Good morning everyone🌞!!!
My name is Farida and I am beyond pleased to officially introduce myself as the GrassROOTS Social Media Manager🥳!!! I’m currently a junior at NYU and I’m majoring in Media and Communication, with a focus in advertising and marketing.

I’ve been a part of the GrassROOTS family for a little while now and this foundation has played a major role in how I see and appreciate my identity as a Black woman! I’m a Jersey-made Sagittarius who loves fashion, traveling, and food🤭!!!

I can’t wait to take on this new role and showcase 💞👸🏾👸🏽👸🏿💞!!!

09/16/2025

Take 2 minutes today to do some deep breathing. Breathing is the most vital function for maintenance of life. Slow and deep breathing is an integral part of a good health practice. It renews air throughout the lungs.

Deep breathing is capable to induce an effective way to improve mood and stress.

09/15/2025

09/13/2025

GrassROOTS Prez Dr. Janice Johnson joins Girls For A Change in Richmond, VA for their annual Black Girl Rally!!

Girls For A Change will host its annual Black Girl Rally on Friday, Sept. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Victory Theater & Event Center in Chesterfield.

09/10/2025

It’s that time of year again!

, our mental wellness program starts on September 15th.

With so much going on we hope you will choose to take the time to care for yourself and the young people in your life.

***Please take the time to breathe, move and connect.***

Researchers shows that when we do these things daily we become healthier. Being healthy adults increases the likelihood that we will have healthy children and communities.

You can take the pledge for wellness on our website. Let’s get and stay well together.

09/08/2025

We spent our Sunday at West Orange High School with some older adults and youth reading together. It was a chance to showcase GrassROOTS’ intergenerational literacy program-GenLit.

Thankful for the partnership of Department of Senior Services, WOHS’ Catherine Connors and the Mountaineer Mentors.

As always big thanks to Rachael Worthington Walker for the book selection. After The Fall was an excellent choice.

08/18/2025

Please vote for Dr. Janice Johnson Dias and Chastity Lord’s presentation

The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Dakota Medical Foundation in Fargo.

08/08/2025

Join the GrassROOTS Community as we embark on a five-year intervention and study to transform three libraries across Jamaica—where literacy rates are low and youth crime is high.We know that libraries are more than books—they are safe, inclusive spaces that spark curiosity, creativity, and unite communities. They strengthen educational resilience; offer technology access and mentorship; build digital literacy skills, essential for academic and career success; foster peace and trust, even in conflict zonesResearch shows libraries can reduce violence by promoting dialogue, literacy, and opportunity. With the help of some amazing folks, especially those at Desmond Technology—we are transforming these spaces. Literacy is a foundation for freedom, and we need our children to be free. Let’s invest in youth and communities.

07/17/2025

Today, members of the GrassROOTS team with Desmond Technologies will travel to Montego Bay to St. James Parish Library to see first hand the work that is being done to renovate the library.

See the pictures of current state and a rendering of what it will be like by the opening of the new school year.

Youth will have a podcast room, new computers and furniture. This is phase one of our Crime and Literacy Intervention and Study.

We welcome your support.

06/01/2025

a time was had. Stay tuned for words and pictures and videos.