Former Paterson Youth Council President Joins NJCDC’s Board of Trustees

In 2006, NJCDC founded the Paterson Youth Council (PYC) to create a program that gives Paterson teens a way to engage in civic affairs. Every year, 30 promising Paterson teens are selected as PYC members. Throughout the program, these teens meet to discuss issues impacting youth in their city, including educational, environmental, business, cultural, and governmental affairs. They are also exposed to opportunities to enact real change in the neighborhood through dialogue with community leaders and public officials, such as members of the City Council, the Board of Education, and the Mayor of Paterson.

Fifteen years ago, Christian Callegari — then a Paterson high school student — became the PYC President. Today, he’s leading his community in a different way as the newest member of NJCDC’s Board of Trustees. After his time in the PYC, Christian pursued his passion for law and legislative work while attending Felician University, where he earned his BA in Political Science. Subsequently, Christian attended Rutgers University and completed his master’s degree with a nearly perfect GPA.

Following this achievement, he brought his skills and expertise back to the City of Paterson, where he served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Andre Sayegh. In this position, he played a key role in several development projects, sustainability programs, and successful pursuits of government and private grants. He also worked with NJCDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Bob Guarasci, to launch Paterson’s Financial Empowerment Center, which provides free financial counseling to Paterson residents.

While working at the Mayor’s office, Christian concurrently attended night classes at Rutgers Law School, completing his Juris Doctor degree in 2023. After passing the bar, Christian searched for a law firm that would allow him to continue to nurture his affinity for government affairs and lobbying work. Soon after, he joined McCarter & English, helping clients navigate legislative and governmental issues to attain their goals.

In his new position as a member of NJCDC’s Board of Trustees, Christian has reflected on the many skills and opportunitiesaffordedto him as PYC President. He creditsthe PYC forinstilling inhim the importance of being engaged locally and what it means to be genuinely investedinone’s community. Christian, when asked for his advice to Paterson youth,encouraged young people to identify theirtrueinterests and to give back locally, wherever they go in life.

“I really loved, when I was part of the [PYC], all the speakers that they brought and all the folks I learned from,” said Christian. “I think it’s good for the next generation of PYC members to see somebody who grew up in Paterson, went through this program, who looks like me, and who is now an attorney at a big law firm. I think that will resonate with students who are in PYC.”

This year, we are celebrating NJCDC’s 30th anniversary. Since our founding in 1994, we’ve stayed dedicated to our mission of creating opportunities to transform lives within the City of Paterson. Christian Callegari is a shining example of that mission, its results, and what we hope to achieve for the rest of Paterson’s youth. Through our pipeline of programs and services, such as PYC, NJCDC offers Paterson youth opportunities to build on essential leadership skills and empowers them to make positive, substantial impacts in their community.