COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRIES/ PROGRAMS

Peace & Unity Community Block Party

The Peace & Unity Community Block Party is an annual community awareness event which promotes safe and peaceful neighborhood and anti-gun philosophies. This yearly event, which occurs every July 14 commemorates the life of Zakee who untimely passed away on 07/14/1997. This activity provides an outlet for the community to take a collective stand against violence while reflecting on the loss of love ones who also died too early due to senseless acts of unprovoked aggression. In addition to music, food, and fun activities, reputable presenters and community leaders will educate youth on issues related to violence prevention, the negatives of gang affiliation, the perils of drug addiction, and community safety. The mission of the ZBEF – Peace & Unity Community Block Party is to promote violence prevention/intervention awareness, and unity and peace in the community.

Gift of Love Christmas Toy Drive

The Gift of Love Christmas Toy Drive is an annual outreach ministry which allows the ZBEF with an opportunity to bring joy and Christmas cheer to those less fortunate families in targeted communities. With the help of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens and other local organizations, the ZBEF distributes 300-plus gifts to local schools and community youth. The mission of the ZBEF – Gift of Love Christmas Toy Drive is to provide help, hope and happiness to persons and families in need during the Christmas season.

Blessings And Favor Food Pantry

ZBEF in partnership with First Baptist Church and the Community Food Bank will offer a monthly food pantry to the community. The satellite location will be at FBC.. Monthly distribution of groceries and produce will be provided to families in need.. Our goal is to assist with providing nutritious meals and a little extra help with monthly food expenses.

The ZBEF, From the Heart - Thanksgiving Food Drive is an annual holiday tradition that provides a hot holiday meal to 50 — 60 needy families from the elderly and disabled communities, and food baskets to 25 to 50 members of the community. The mission of From the Heart - Thanksgiving Food Drive is to love and holiday comfort through food, encouragement, and togetherness.

A Mother's Appeal

A Mother’s Appeal represents a dynamic team of mothers joined together by one common cause, the tragic and untimely deaths of their children to senseless gun violence. Forerunners in the statewide crusade against violence, the mission of the ZBEF – A Mother's Appeal is to provide spiritual encouragement and resource support, while promoting the universal message to, "Stop The Violence Increase The Peace".

“Get Your School On” Back to School Supply Drive

The ZBEF – “Get Your School” Back to School Supply Drive is an event that equips students with the essential tools to achieve academic success. From pencils and pens, rulers, and erasers – to paper, highlighters and calculators, children within the surrounding communities are provided with a backpack full of supplies to prepare them for the long school year. The mission of Get Your School On is to provide area students with ample school supplies and inspiration to be academically successful throughout their respective school years.

Billboard Campaign

The ZBEF – Billboard Campaign was launched on Mother’s Day 2003 in memory of two distinct young men, Zakee Bowser and Damian Corrente who lost their lives in random senseless acts of violence. The periodic promotional campaigns was initiated by the ZBEF founder Gina Bowser who said, “I believe as motorists and pedestrians view the billboard featuring photos of our sons, they will realize gangs kill innocent victims as well as themselves.” The mission of the ZBEF – Billboard Campaign is to promote peace and unity in communities through canvased reminders of innocent victims who lost their lives due to senseless violence.

The Founding Ladies of ZBEF

ZBEF Founding Ladies Gina and Dina Bowser are phenomenal women who are dedicated to serving God and the community. Their unselfish love and tenacity has assist them in becoming a great resource to urban communities. Their motto is “ Hope for A Better Tomorrow Changing Lives Today”. Gina along with her twin sister Dina manage the day to day activities of various programs and community outreach sites. Gina after the untimely departure of her son, Zakee Farah Bowser – Gina, a mother in emotional pain eventually embarked on a selfless mission to save lives of urban youth through the Zakee Bowser Enrichment Foundation. Gina, along with her identical twin sister Dina Bowser, as well as other dedicated women championed the causes of promoting non-violence, youth and community development, and self-sufficiency through a plethora of faith-based initiatives, programs, and annual events.

Deemed, earthly ambassadors with a faith-based focus, the Founding Ladies of ZBEF are force-multipliers for good in marginalized urban communities. The vision the Founding Ladies of ZBEF is to establish satellite improvement centers that place emphasis on educational development, and positive and productive self-sufficiency for youth and adults in the state of New Jersey and Nation-Wide. The mission of the Founding Ladies of ZBEF is to provide person and community-centered initiatives, resources, programs, and annual events in the Greater Central New Jersey communities.

Food from the Heart – Food Bank

The ZBEF, Food from the Heart – Food Bank was born out of a sincere love to assist persons and families in the community with needed food due to the national Covid-19 crisis. Through collaborative efforts from multiple city partners, the food bank will be operating from diverse satellite locations throughout the Somerset and New Brunswick, NJ areas during select times. The mission of the Food from the Heart – Food Bank is to, share the love of Jesus through building families one food basket at a time.

Rainbow of Hope Program

The ZBEF – Rainbow of Hope Program is a service oriented, residential program designed to rehabilitate, redirect, and prepare youth participants for successful reentry into society. This community-based rehabilitation program is committed to inspiring hope for a better tomorrow in the lives of youth released from a secure JJC facility or residential program. Services for this program consist of 1) group and family support therapy, 2) daily supervision and mentorship meetings, 3) life-skills development planning, 4) substance abuse counseling, 5) anger management sessions, 6) gang rejection lessons, 7) violence prevention/intervention classes, and 8) community service projects. The mission of the ZBEF – Rainbow of Hope Program is to provide positive and productive services to JJC participants purposed to divert future incarceration to become successfully reintegrated back into society.

Men of Distinction (M.O.B.) Mentoring Program

The ZBEF, Men of Distinction (M.O.D.) Mentoring Program is a ten-week life-skills development path for young boys which focuses on employment and career training, faith-based spiritual maturity, effective communication, critical thinking, and violence intervention/prevention training. The mission of the Men of Distinction (M.O.D.) Mentoring Program is to enrich and transform boys to become positive and productive men who are leaders in their communities. The mentoring program finalizes with a Men of Distinction Awards Gala which honors corporate and community leaders.

Men of Distinction Awards Gala

The ZBEF, Men of Distinction Awards Gala celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of men in central New Jersey and abroad. The award ceremony honors men who demonstrate outstanding individual achievement in their respective professions, while being positive and encouraging role models to their community. The mission of the Men of Distinction Awards Gala is to highlight and celebrate the adult male leaders in our communities who inspire and empower young men to be great in their future endeavors.

Women of Distinction Awards

The ZBEF, Women of Distinction Awards celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of women in Central New Jersey and abroad. It also honors women who demonstrate outstanding individual achievement in their respective professions, while being enlightening and uplifting role models to their community. The distinctive women who are honored throughout America represent selfless community trailblazers who share their hearts and souls to causes that make a major difference to others in their communities. The mission of the Women of Distinction Awards is to honor women of high integrity who live their lives through the spirit of love and giving.

Ladies by Design Debutante Program

Ladies by Design is an illustrious award-winning scholarship and leadership program, designed for young ladies who are juniors or seniors in high school. Debutantes will participate in classroom trainings & social activities focusing on broadening their perspectives educationally, socially and culturally. Ladies by Design Debutantes (LBDDs), goes beyond charm and etiquette and works to introduce critical decision making, relationship building and personal development skills. Our program also provides activities and opportunities which will assist in empowering young ladies to be successful, especially during their transitions from high school to post-secondary education. YBDDs desires to continue our legacy of imparting into the next generation of young women leaders by mentoring and providing life coaching techniques. Our desire is that our debutantes be ushered into their promised future with wisdom and grace. Young ladies of all ages are invited to participant Junior Ladies 7- 11 years old. Young Ladies 12-16 years old Ladies By Design 16- 18 years old. The mentoring programs finalizes with a Imagine Me Multicultural Cotillion where the young ladies are adorned in white gowns and presented to society.

College & University Volunteer Program

The College & University Volunteer Program is a collaborative effort between college and/or university interns and all the ZBEF community outreach programs. With this dual partnership, through volunteering efforts, students can assist the surrounding communities while sharpening their skillsets and education. The ZBEF will also greatly benefit, as student interns will be responsible for: form/document creating, curating monies and resources, maintaining websites, sustaining volunteers, proposal writings, administration duties, counseling, program development, event staffing, etc. The mission of the ZBEF College & University Volunteer Program is to promote community collaborations using college and university interns and volunteers to enrich area communities.

ZBEF V-Free Video

The ZBEF Violence-Free (V-Free) Video is a promotional anti-violence, Hip-hop message established to create peace and unity in the community after the senseless death of Zakee F. Bowser. The mission of the ZBEF Violence-Free (V-Free)Video is to engage and impact youth from the Hip-hop generation to stop the violence and increase the peace.

Stop The Funeral HBCU College Tours

ZBEF is honor to form a collaborative effort with Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr. and several other organizations to sponsor Stop The Funeral HBCU Tours. Our program includes college prep workshops, financial literacy, scholarships, tuition assistance, and individualized support. With more than 100 historically black colleges and universities in the United States, these multi-campus college tours give students a solid understanding the history, culture, and traditions that have shaped the schools’ collective legacy, and a framework for comparison that will help them choose the right HBCU.

HBCU college tours provide African American students and their parent with the unique opportunity to visit multiple college campuses in a single trip. A collaborative initiative design to allow high school students an opportunity to visit several Historical Black Colleges and Universities to learn the rich heritage and great opportunities available to them. Small onsite group conversations with university personnel, onsite admissions, and informational sessions to help prepare students for college.

For more than a century, historically black colleges and universities were the only schools that were open to people of color. Today, they give thousands of students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. in an environment that fosters, encourages and expects black excellence.