Honoring the Legacy of Brother Najee Seabrooks

May shines with importance as Mental Health Awareness Month and is a sacred time when we should unite to light a clear path towards healing and supporting and understanding the importance of our mental health. For the Paterson Healing Collective, this month holds an even deeper resonance—it is a chance to honor the incredible legacy of our Brother Najee Seabrooks.

Najee was a beacon of compassion and resilience who dedicated his life to serving as a violence intervention specialist. Through the Paterson Healing Collective, he offered solace and guidance to those impacted by the trauma of violence. Tragically, on March 3, 2023, Najee’s own plea for help was unheard, ending in a devastating loss that echoed throughout our community and was heard nationally. Yet, in the wake of his profound tragedy so much healing work has been birthed in his name.

Earlier this year, Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced a new era of support for mental health initiatives across New Jersey. Their commitment to investing up to $12 million in the Community Crisis Response Team Pilot Program demonstrates dedication to New Jersey residents. The Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Crisis Response Act, signed into law in January 2024, stands as a beacon of hope in our quest for justice and healing. Named in honor of Najee Seabrooks and Andrew Washington, this legislation paves the way for community-led crisis response teams, ensuring that no individual in crisis is left behind. New Jersey is currently leading the way nationally on how states are reimagining public safety and with smart and strategic investments such as this, we will continue that trajectory.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the incredible sponsors of this transformative legislation, especially Paterson’s Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, whose leadership has been instrumental in championing our cause. Together, we forge a path towards a future where every voice is heard, and every life is valued.

This week, I am extremely proud to announce the opening of the Paterson Healing Hub. The Healing Hub is as a testament to Najee’s enduring spirit and is where his legacy lives on and is written into the very foundation of this refuge. This safe space for Paterson’s youth is dedicated to nurturing, empowering, and supporting our youth’s potential. From the peaceful comfort of a game room to the energetic force of a media center, each space brims with the potential to inspire and awaken greatness. At the core of the Healing Hub combines a dedication to comprehensive youth services, blending academic and vocational guidance with therapeutic nurturing. We are excited about the potential hope this space can bring to those who visit.

Paterson is the largest city in Passaic County and the third largest city in the state of New Jersey. The city was one of the first planned industrial cities in the United States and is a community filled with rich history, culture, and most importantly incredible people. This May, as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, the Paterson Healing Collective will be embarking on a transformative journey. The Paterson Healing Journey is a year-long odyssey dedicated to the healing of our community and was created with the belief that healing is essential for mental health, our initiative seeks to educate, raise awareness, and provide support to all those in need. The Paterson Healing Collective is proud to kick-off Paterson Healing Journey will focus on the people of our community through community healing and will encompass education, awareness, and supportive measures. Healing supports our mental health and can be approached in various ways and looks very different for everyone, and this year we will be promoting strategies that can help those going through the healing process.

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, let us embrace the transformative power of community-led, trauma-informed care. Through collaboration with law enforcement and community organizations alike, we stand ready to provide the support and resources needed to nurture healing and resilience in every corner of our city. Together, we can build a future where no one suffers in silence, and every individual finds the support and understanding they deserve.