Orange Housing Authority Celebrates National Night Out with Event at Walter G. Alexander Village

ORANGE, NJ  – The Housing Authority of the City of Orange, in partnership with the Albert Group, participated in the National Night Out tradition by hosting one of the city’s celebrations at the Walter G. Alexander Village on Wilson Place, August 7.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods more safe, more caring places to live. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across the country and on military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August. Neighborhoods host various community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and exhibits.

“National Night Out is an exciting, fun way to bring our residents and neighbors together,” said Dr. Walter McNeil, HACO’s executive director. “We had food, music, and a lot of dancing. Everyone enjoyed a night out while learning ways to stay safe. The event is a real benefit to the community It promotes many of the housing authority’s goals, which are to build a secure community for all residents and to encourage better relationships with law enforcement.”

Mayor Dwayne Warren and City Council members made an appearance and were hard to miss in their bright orange tee-shirts, which they also handed out to attendees. The Orange EMT squad was also in attendance. Special guests included 23 baseball players from the Dominican Republic, who one attendee called, “the life of the party.” For the last seven years, the team has been sponsored by Cristina Mateo, HACO’s public housing assistant housing manager and a member of the Orange Board of Education, who houses them in her home for their two-week stay. The players, who range in age from nine to 16, will be playing their first game August 8 at the Orange Baseball Field on Central Avenue. Games in New York, Passaic, Newark, and other Essex County communities will follow. The team is part of the Hector Delgado League in the Dominican Republic.

About the Orange Housing Authority

The City of Orange Housing Authority works to transform the City of Orange by providing safe, livable and affordable housing that promotes the development of communities. At the Orange Housing Authority, participants are not statistics, they are neighbors. The agency knows the community and tailors programs to better serve the participant’s needs. Whether it is a search for housing, assistance with foreclosure or neighborhood development, the Orange Housing Authority stands ready to offer its services to all residents.