Hamilton Partnership for Paterson

Meet the artists for our upcoming Creative Aging Series!

Wafa Ayyad is a Palestinian Tatreez artist, educator, and cultural presenter. She learned the art of traditional Palestinian embroidery from her grandmother, continuing a practice that has been lovingly passed down through generations of women. Deeply committed to preserving this cultural heritage, Wafa has spent years teaching and presenting about Tatreez, sharing the history, symbolism, and stories behind its motifs with diverse audiences.

RSVP for Embroidery with Wafa here: https://hamiltonpartnership.org/events/creative-aging-for-seniors/

Our Creative Aging Mandalas workshop came to a beautiful close with Butterfly Dot Art!

Participants explored patterns, color, and creativity while designing their own butterfly-inspired artwork. It was a wonderful session filled with focus, connection, and beautiful final pieces.

A heartfelt thank you to our teaching artist, Ajita Shah, for guiding participants with such patience and care. We also want to thank our partner once again, the Paterson Museum, for hosting us!!

Stay tuned for more creativity, culture, and community!

Our first Creative Aging Mandalas Workshop was a wonderful success! Participants spent the afternoon designing beautiful mandalas, expressing their creativity, and enjoying meaningful time together in a relaxing and supportive environment.

Thanks to The Paterson Museum for hosting us!
Next week, we’ll continue the fun with a Butterfly-Themed Creative Aging session, where participants can explore new artistic techniques and create something truly special.

Do you have a family member, friend, or neighbor age 55+ who would enjoy connecting with others while expressing their creativity? We’d love to welcome them. Registration is open! Help us spread the word and invite someone to join our growing community.

Register here: https://hamiltonpartnership.org/events/creative-aging-for-seniors/

Stay tuned for more opportunities to create, connect, and thrive together!

Meet the artists for our upcoming Creative Aging Series!

Ajita is a retired bilingual teacher from the Jersey City Public School system, where she dedicated 28 years to teaching and supporting multilingual students. During her career, she was honored to receive the Bilingual Teacher of the Year Award twice, recognizing her commitment to education and student success. After retirement, Ajita continued her love for teaching by sharing her passion for art and creativity with the community. She now conducts art and craft workshops in local libraries, where she teaches a variety of art forms including Mandala Art, Paper Quilling, Satin Ribbon Flowers, and Paper Flower making.

RSVP for Mandala Art with Ajita here: https://hamiltonpartnership.org/events/creative-aging-for-seniors/

What a beautiful close to our Chinese Brush Painting workshop series!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated and shared their creativity, joy, and community with us throughout these sessions.

A very special thank you to Jane Chang for leading this workshop with such talent, patience, and kindness. Your gift for teaching truly inspired our participants and made each class a special experience.

We were honored to close this series surrounded by the beauty of the Great Falls, one of Paterson’s true gems.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this Creative Aging experience so meaningful. Stay tuned for more exciting workshops ahead!

This week, Paterson students joined us at the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park for a special Earth Day celebration focused on community, stewardship, and partnership!

Students participated in a community clean-up, explored interactive partner tables, and connected with organizations like fellow NJ National Park Service sites, the The Paterson Museum, Ramapo College, and many more, while learning, giving back, and enjoying the park together.

Thank you to all of our partners, educators, volunteers, and youth participants for helping make the day a success!

📸: Terry McKenna

Our continued Creative Aging Chinese Brush Painting session was a success this week! We had 15 participants painting beautiful cherry blossoms.

A big shout out to The Paterson Museum for letting us hold the workshop indoors to beat the heat! Next week, we’re excited to continue with a fun new Bumblebee theme. Stay tuned for more creativity and community!

Last week, the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson was proud to celebrate Superintendent Darren Boch of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park as a 2026 Extra Mile Honoree through the Paterson Alliance.

Darren’s leadership, partnership, and commitment to Paterson have helped strengthen the connection between the National Park, our community, and the many organizations working to move the city forward. His steady guidance and collaborative spirit have made a lasting impact on HPP and on all who care deeply about Paterson’s history, culture, and future.

We are grateful for Darren’s friendship, service, and dedication to preserving and uplifting one of America’s great urban national parks. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

Our Creative Aging Chinese Brush Painting workshop officially kicked off today! We had a wonderful time learning the beautiful art of Chinese brush painting with Jane while enjoying creativity, conversation, and community together.

There’s still time to join us for the upcoming sessions! Adults 55+ are welcome to come relax, connect, and explore their creativity in a fun and welcoming environment.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Every Tuesday from 10AM-12PM
Register here: https://hamiltonpartnership.org/events/creative-aging-for-seniors/