Since September 2016, our Community Fellows program has reaffirmed the commitment of local young people to the vitality of our shared home. Our Fellows develop their own passions through projects in social justice, community health, the arts, and civic engagement. Together, we reinvest local talent back into the strength of our social fabric.

In the Fall of 2018, the Fellows program was renamed in honor of Reverend Joe Thomasberger, a longtime ally of The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County, our founding congregation, a member of the UU Congregation at Montclair, and the late husband of Becky Doggett, a founding board member of the HUUB. As the minister of North Orange Baptist Church in 1967, Rev Joe witnessed families in his neighborhood lose their homes and recreational centers to the construction of Route 280. Recognizing the significance of this loss, he partnered with the YWCA to create The Outpost: a program that offered recreation, family services, and college guidance to families. Later, while engaged in community ministry in Newark, Joe led statewide campaigns advancing early childhood education and health care for low income children.

Reverend Joe Thomasberger’s life was one dedicated to asset-based youth ministry and a commitment to our younger generations. He believed greatly in helping young people find their footing and their voice. His work was of profound significance in and around Orange, and we at The HUUB find ourselves lucky to have called him an ally and dear friend. It is our great honor that our Fellows carry on his legacy of youth empowerment and community enrichment.

HUUB Joe Thomasberger Community Fellows in (roughly) chronological order

Cohort #1 (2016-2017)
Holly Barszcz – Solidarity Potlucks
Khemani Gibson – Immigrant Dreams coffee hour series & KYR trainings
Patricia Rogers – Amplifying Youth Voices workshop series

Cohort #2 (2017-2019)
Cesar Presa — SoundScapes Concert Series
Ray Sykes — Don’t Drop The Mic Showcases
Stephen Batiz — Kiatud Creative, Vile Vortex Art Show
Amonnie Nicolas — Still life classes
Brianna Velez — Creative non-fiction writing classes

Cohort #3 (2020-2021)
Loodmy Altema — Planning 2 Stay 1:1 organizing
Miphilove Milord — Planning 2 Stay 1:1 organizing
Eirvkha Prophete — Orange is the New Black Pop-up Entrepreneurship Market

Cohort #4 – CORA Redevelopment Study Canvass Response & “Stories & Dreams” (2022-2023)
Ana Maria Toporek
Christopher Barton
Sharee Harrison
Kami Willis
Hawwa Hayes
David Fleitas-Guillen

Cohort #5 – Filter-First Lead Free Community Cares Pamphlet & Cleveland Street Block Study (2025)
Hannah Cho
Lavon Boykins