• Projects

Projects

Driving Local Innovation Across Creative and Sustainable Industries

Local Fashion & Textile Industry

Showcasing and developing Newark’s emerging fashion ecosystem through local talent, sustainable practices, and innovative supply chain models.

Supply Chain Fashion: Recycled Textile Industry

A long-term initiative to build the foundation of a sustainable, recycled-content textile industry in Newark and the region. This project focuses on:

  • Developing property and land assets

  • Identifying and supporting local suppliers

  • Exploring sustainable textile concepts

  • Advancing business strategies and ongoing research

Corporate Partnership & RBS Internship Program

RBS interns collaborate with K. Lyons to research and select textile items that could be integrated into a corporate partner’s supply chain. The project includes:

  • Designing and evaluating new recycled textile materials

  • Conducting supply chain quality assessments

  • Preparing materials that may be adopted into a future Newark Sustainable Textile Industry

  • Presenting supply chain recommendations to corporate supply chain and C-suite decision-makers, who will complete a final evaluation using a shared assessment tool

Local Film & Entertainment Industry

Strengthening connections between major film, media, and sports brands and Newark’s diverse small-business community through events and industry-focused supply chain development.

“Consumed” – Art Exhibition (Fall 2025)

A curated exhibition at the Rutgers Newark Paul Robeson Art Gallery featuring works constructed from waste materials collected through field research and artifacts excavated from the Rutgers Newark Honors College site.

TV & Film Production Supply Chain Network

Supporting the development of New Jersey’s rapidly expanding TV and film production industry in Newark, Monmouth County, Hoboken, and West Orange.

Major studios—including Lionsgate, Netflix, and others—will leverage a supplier and sourcing database currently being built for regional fashion events. Broadway and other production facilities have also expressed interest.

Newark Symphony Hall – Economic Impact Report

A comprehensive analysis of the Hall’s contribution to Newark’s creative economy.
The report will:

  • Evaluate the economic value of arts, culture, and creative industries

  • Highlight spillover benefits and cross-sector impacts

  • Use DCMS industry definitions to measure contributions across film, TV, music, crafts, and related creative sectors

Local & Urban Food Supply Chain

Partnering with corner bodegas, neighborhood markets, schools, and regional farms to strengthen Newark’s urban agriculture ecosystem. Includes collaboration with Bergen Community College.

Food Supply Chain Network for Newark Bodegas

By integrating data from community farms, regional producers, and neighborhood food markets, this project aims to:
Improve planning and decision-making for small food retailers

  • Enhance supply chain resilience and sustainability

  • Support bodegas and corner stores in communicating their sourcing and production stories

  • Increase access to affordable, nutritious food for Newark communities

Pingry Sustainability Hackathons

Collaborative eco-hackathons and climate-focused innovation projects with the Pingry School, including:

  • Student-led sustainability challenges

  • Multi-year climate and waste-reduction initiatives

  • New American Dream Mall Waste Project