About Us
OUR MISSION
To plan, design, and build a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the City of Newark’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
OUR VISION
LPCCD is an economically self-sustaining community that integrates its historic cultural assets, engaged residents, residential density, and visitor appeal to become a destination for all.
LPCCD HISTORY
Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District is a historic little neighborhood with a rich history and heritage in music, arts and culture – Lincoln Park. Originally called “South Park”, the neighborhood was originally named after the center of community life – the Old South Park Presbyterian Church.
After President Elect Abraham Lincoln stood on steps of the Old South Park Presbyterian Church and delivered an oration to a crowd of Newarkers just prior to his inauguration on February 21st, 1861, the park and neighborhood became known as “Lincoln Park”.
The nickname “Coast” was given to the Lincoln Park area in the 1920s and 30s because of the strip of black businesses, jazz clubs and booming nightlife.
According to historical records as found on RiseUpNewark.com, “The 1967 Newark Rebellion ended after five days of violence, death and destruction. But as the heat from the embers of the fire slowly dissipated, and the afterglow of the dying flames still lit the skies over the city, some of the people who saw a significant change in the power relations amongst black and white people began to see opening and opportunities that didn’t exist before July 1967.
The 1980s economic boom was nearly wiped out by the early 1990s in the State of New Jersey’s largest cities such as Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton and Camden. Enter Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District. A late 1990’s planning session which included community activists, community stakeholders, and local legislators, met with founding Executive Director Baye Adofo-Wilson to address these issues and actualize the formation of a unique hybrid organization that would redevelop the Lincoln Park neighborhood through the lens of the arts.
Currently, Anthony Smith, is the executive director for Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD). As a “native son” of Newark, NJ, Smith has led the organization since 2014. Smith managed the organization as it emerged from the national post-Fannie May crisis; national economic recession; and the global pandemic of 2020.
In its twentieth year, the organization is earmarked for a $3.5 Million infrastructure investment in its namesake Lincoln Park green space; will complete the $60 Million redevelopment of the historic Lincoln Park Church Facade Project (the former South Park Calvary Presbyterian Church); is the leading BIPOC developer and anchor institution sought out by major developers to revitalize pocket land parcels throughout the community and is culturally & visually transforming the community through music, the humanities, and visual arts.
LINCOLN PARK GREEN SPACE
The Lincoln Park neighborhood has a rich and significant past that has played an integral role in Newark’s history. The area’s namesake—the Park – is located in the heart of the neighborhood and has served a wide array of residents for more than 300 years as one of Newark’s original colonial-era ‘Commons’.
Known for its stately homes and notable families living on the Park’s western edge, the area formerly known as “South Common” was renamed to Lincoln Park after President Abraham Lincoln who visited the area in 1861.
Today, the park plays host to community events, wellness activities, and the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival which garners 50,000 residents and visitors over two weekends every Summer.
With notable amenities in the neighborhood and a picturesque 6-acre park, downtown Newark’s community of Lincoln Park is poised to become a thriving arts and culture district, healthy and engaged, with economic opportunities for all residents.
STAFF
Anthony
Smith
Executive Director
Ex-Officio, Board of Trustees
Anthony Smith Biography
Anthony Smith, a native Newarker, holds a BA in Marketing from Stockton State College in Pomona and an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University.
Over ten years, Smith reduced $2 Million in debt and has secured over $80 Million dollars for real estate development, green space revitalization, community organizing & engagement and arts & culture for the non-profit organization.
Susan
Austin
Director of Operations and Real Estate Development
Susan Austin Biography
Susan Austin is the Director of Development and Operations at LPCCD, where she directs the organization’s commercial and development projects.
She also leads LPCCD’s real estate and planning program Green Suite as well develops strategies to procure funds to support the organization’s annual operating budget.
Ms. Austin has a B.B.A in Finance from Howard University and an MSW from Columbia University.
Susan has served LPCCD for nearly 20 years.
Mozell
Baker
Finance
Assistant
Mozell Barker
Mozell Baker is the finance assistant for LPCCD. Mozell leads the vendor sales for the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival; handles daily A/P processes; manages vendor/supplier relations; oversees the timely, accurate processing of invoices, purchase orders; prepares and manages draw downs, expense reports, credit memos and payment transactions.
Mozell serves as office manager for the organization and holds an associates degree in accounting from Sawyer College.
Mozell has served LPCCD for nearly 20 years.
Warren R.
Thompson, Jr.
Community
Organizer
Mozell Barker
Warren Thompson Jr, MSW, is a professor in the Social Work department at Rutgers University-Newark and the Community Engagement Officer for Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District.
Warren has a rich history of working with marginalized populations and has served as the Director of Operations for Integrity, Inc.; the Program Director of Urban Renewal Corp.’s Residential Community Corrections and Emergency Housing Divisions, and the Program Director of the Residential Community Release Programs for Volunteers of America – Northern New Jersey.
Warren attended Rutgers University where he achieved his Bachelor of Arts and Master degrees from the School of Social Work as an advanced standing student in Non-profit and Public Administration.
Warren has served LPCCD for more than 3 years.
Ashley
Simonelli
Grant and
Adminstrative
Associate
Mozell Barker
Ashley Simonelli, LSW, is a licensed social worker with a masters in social work from Fordham University and multiple degrees and certifications from Rutgers University Newark, and Passaic County Community College’s Human Services and CADC programs.
Ashley started work at LPCCD as an MSW intern and currently works as a Grant Manager and assists in the community organizing division of the organization.
Ashley has served LPCCD for more than 3 years.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Anthony Schuman
Director of Graduate Programs, NJIT
Chairman, Board of Trustees, LPCCD
Jorge Santos
Chief of Staff, NJ Economic Development Authority
Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, LPCCD
Tisa Rountree
Principal Cash Management Analyst, PSEG
Secretary, Board of Trustees, LPCCD
Charles Thomas
VP Financial Planning Prudential Financial
Treasurer
Antoinette Richardson
Chief of Staff to Essex County Board of Commissioners President
Board Member
Arturo E. Osorio
Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Rutgers University Newark
Board Member
Rev. Fred L. Sullivan II
Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church | Commercial Real Estate Professional
Board Member
Sylvia K. Alston
Managing Partner, Momentum Risk Management
Board Member
Theresa Marshall
President of The Hooper Group, Inc. and ADVENTUS II Inc.
Board Member
PARTNERS & AGENCIES
FESTIVALS UNITED
Festivals United is an unprecedented coalition of the top music, arts & culture festivals in the city of Newark, NJ the largest metropolis in the State of New Jersey and third oldest in the United States. Founding festivals include the Lincoln Park Music Festival, Halsey Fest, Afrobest Fest, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Gay Pride and Newark Winter Village.
In collaboration with the Newark City Parks Foundation, Festivals United collectively reaches over 10 million in marketing impressions, over 100,000 attendees and creates over 800 creative economy jobs combined each year.
The Festivals United coalition is a proud recipient of the FY 2025-2026 NJEDA A.R.T. Grant.
LINCOLN PARK ALLIANCE
Mandated by the Office of the Mayor Ras J.Baraka, the Lincoln Park Alliance is an advisory board committed to enhanced quality of life and standard of living in and around the historic neighborhood of Lincoln Park in the city of Newark.
The Lincoln Park Alliance’s mission is economic and cultural revitalization through short- and long-term strategies developed and implemented collaboratively by stakeholder institutions and engaged civic leadership.
Founding anchor institutions include Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Newark Arts, Newark Symphony Hall with representation from the Arts and Education District, the Office of the Mayor, City of Newark and a yet-to-be-named fiduciary agent.
LINCOLN PARK ALLIANCE
Mandated by the Office of the Mayor Ras J.Baraka, the Lincoln Park Alliance is an advisory board committed to enhanced quality of life and standard of living in and around the historic neighborhood of Lincoln Park in the city of Newark.
The Lincoln Park Alliance’s mission is economic and cultural revitalization through short- and long-term strategies developed and implemented collaboratively by stakeholder institutions and engaged civic leadership.
Founding anchor institutions include Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Newark Arts, Newark Symphony Hall with representation from the Arts and Education District, the Office of the Mayor, City of Newark and a yet-to-be-named fiduciary agent.
FESTIVALS UNITED
Festivals United is an unprecedented coalition of the top music, arts & culture festivals in the city of Newark, NJ the largest metropolis in the State of New Jersey and third oldest in the United States. Founding festivals include the Lincoln Park Music Festival, Halsey Fest, Afrobest Fest, Newark Arts Festival, Newark Gay Pride and Newark Winter Village.
In collaboration with the Newark City Parks Foundation, Festivals United collectively reaches over 10 million in marketing impressions, over 100,000 attendees and creates over 800 creative economy jobs combined each year.
The Festivals United coalition is a proud recipient of the FY 2025-2026 NJEDA A.R.T. Grant.