Annette Chaparro Joins Board of Hoboken Community Center

The Hoboken Community Center (HCC) welcomes former Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro to its Board of Directors. Born and raised in Hoboken, Chaparro grew up in the Hoboken Housing Authority, went to Hoboken High School, and represented Hoboken and the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey State Assembly from 2016 to 2024.

“Growing up in the Hoboken Housing Authority and facing food insecurity, joining the board of the Hoboken Community Center is a full circle moment for me,” said Annette Chaparro. “Giving back through an organization that supports the most vulnerable members of our community is one of the most meaningful things I’ve had the privilege to do.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Annette to our board,” said Hoboken Community Center Board President Ken Nilsen. “Her passion for service will be an asset to our mission of supporting the well-being of our community.”

The Hoboken Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a three-pronged mission consisting of affordable housing for 96 low-income men, a food, hygiene and pet supply pantry, and a 40,000+ square foot community and recreation center under evaluation for the feasibility of remodeling rehabilitation.

Located at 1301 Washington Street, the building opened its doors in 1927 as the Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA and served the dual purpose of providing housing to low-income men and offering affordable recreational programs for the local community. Today, the HCC manages the residential facility which was extensively renovated in 2013 and contains three levels of affordable single room occupancy for 96 men.

In addition, the Hoboken Community Center Pantry is a community resource for essential food and hygiene supplies in Hoboken as well as surrounding communities. What began as a small operation in 2019 to address food insecurity among the men in the Affordable Housing program has grown to biweekly distributions of fresh and non-perishable groceries and non-food items such as adult and children’s diapers, period products, and other toiletries to any community member in need. Each month, the Pantry distributes more than 900 bags of food. The Pantry is a member agency of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

The HCC also contains three separate levels of currently vacant former recreation space. In 2010, the YMCA closed its doors to the recreational side of its operations due to insufficient funding. The HCC is focused on the revitalization and renovation of this space into a multi-use recreation and community space.

For more information on the Hoboken Community Center, visit: hobokencc.org