Established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2021,
The Bugg Foundation was founded by
Jeanette Bugg in honor of her granddaughter, Nazerah Bugg who was a victim of gun violence.
The Foundation’s mission is to provide environments that are conducive to enriching neighborhoods
by making space more accessible and inviting
to inspire and educate communities.
The Bugg Foundation began its pursuit by adopting parks and beautifying them.
We look to use these spaces to promote a wider implementation of educational awareness
programs including mentoring, cultural
enrichment and social justice. We host art and cultural performances, literature talks and lectures to inspire and educate the community.
In 2021 the Bugg Foundation initiated and bought to fruition renaming Vreeland Park in Paterson to
Amistad Park and since then has hosted
The Amistad Festival in Paterson, NJ in the middle of June, every year. Our goal is to build a platform that is committed to celebrating and educating on the social and cultural importance of America’s
ethnic and racial history, the African Diaspora,
Urban Disparity, Civil Rights, Economic Empowerment while bringing important events
in our history to the forefront such as Juneteenth. We hope to inspire the community with
immersive exhibitions, connect black businesses, strengthen family engagement and establish education outreach. We commemorate the holiday which marked the effective end of slavery in the
United States. This event is an expressive way to celebrate not only the glorious heritage, culture, traditions but honors the blood that was shed by African Americans. The festival includes live entertainment, family activities, HBCU information booths, African American vendors, African American Food Trucks, Arts & Crafts, Community Resource Tables, African American Authors with our Literacy Festival and college scholarship through community organization partnership
The Bugg Foundation believes it is necessary
and beneficial to create environments to
beautify and uplift communities with
visual and educational experiences.
