Events
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At REACH | Resilience, Excellence, and Capacity Hub, we believe in the power of community collaboration to advance health equity and drive lasting change.
This page highlights the impactful events we’ve hosted—bringing together community members, leaders, educators, and changemakers to address critical issues in education, employment, food access, housing, and population health.
We’re just getting started. Stay tuned for upcoming events designed to deepen connections, share knowledge, and strengthen our collective capacity. Together, we are building healthier, more resilient communities—one gathering at a time.
PAST EVENTS
Tackling Flooding in NJ Communities
Mr. Christopher Testa, Mr. Frantz Volcy, Mr. Intashan Chowdhury, Mr. Robert Hoffman, Ms. Marisa Mesrpoian, Dr. Michel Boufadel, Ms. Catherine Melendez 
Industry Leaders Unite 
Major Douglas Lemanowicz, Commanding Officer, NJ Office of Emergency Management 
State Senator Gordon Johnson 
Assemblywoman Shama Haidar with Senator Gordon Johnson
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Hosted by: The Center for Natural Resources (CNR), NJIT in collaboration with The Mitigation Unit – NJ Office of Emergency Management
As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing community resilience and health equity, REACH | Resilience, Excellence, and Capacity Hub—in collaboration with the Center for Natural Resources (CNR) at NJIT and the NJ Office of Emergency Management—hosted a high-impact workshop focused on flood mitigation strategies in New Jersey. The event was attended by State Senator Gordon Johnson and Assemblywoman Shama Haidar. A representative of Congressman Gottheimer also attended.
This convening brought together leaders from government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector to examine the multifaceted challenges posed by urban flooding and to explore innovative, community-informed solutions.
Event Highlights:
- Program Overview and Welcoming Remarks by Michel C. Boufadel
- Keynote Address by Major Douglas Lemanowicz
- Remarks by Christopher Testa
- Community Perspective from Robert Hoffmann
- Open Discussion moderated by Michel C. Boufadel
Major Douglas Lemanowicz, Commanding Officer, NJ Office of Emergency Management 
Major Douglas Lemanowicz, Commanding Officer, NJ Office of Emergency Management 
Dr. Michel C. Boufadel from Center for Natural Resources 
Dr. Omowunmi Sadik addressing the audience 
Mr. Christopher Testa, Mitigation Unit Manager, NJ Office of Emergency Management 
Mr. Christopher Testa, Mitigation Unit Manager, NJ Office of Emergency Management 
Mr. Robert Hoffman from City of Englewood, NJ 
Mr. Robert Hoffman from City of Englewood, NJ
Technology Showcase
3D Flood Models
Water Monitoring Carts
Large-Screen Visualizations
Key topics included:
- Regional case studies on storm-related impacts
- Strategic approaches to flood mitigation and infrastructure resilience
- Collaborative models for emergency management
- Open forums to generate actionable insights and policy recommendations
The event featured:
- A networking luncheon and formal welcome by NJIT leadership
- Presentations by senior representatives from the NJ State Police, NJ OEM, and local municipalities
- Panel discussions and an open Q&A session with subject-matter experts
REACH | Resilience Excellence and Capacity Hub 