There’s a certain quality about Jersey City that can be found in every corner from the bustling commercial districts to the up-and-coming community centers.
Maybe it’s the city’s endless supply of restaurants, or its writers, musicians and visual artists. It might be its historic sights, or maybe it’s just the diversity of the people.
Whatever it is, there’s no denying that Jersey City’s influence can be felt by just about anyone who sets foot here. Just ask the people here who are telling the stories.
Jersey City’s arts community contains a number of active comic book artists, and though they come from dissimilar backgrounds and tell wildly different stories, they all agree that Jersey City played an important role in the creation of their artwork.
Actually, Jersey City has proved that it has the power to not only inspire locals, but also attract outsiders. In 1998, freeform radio station WFMU moved its studios from West Orange to Jersey City’s Historic Downtown district. It was, according to WFMU Program and Music Director Brian Turner, a move that would set the iconoclastic station in the heart of the metropolitan area’s vibrant cultural scene.
That scene would coalesce with another jewel: Jersey City Museum, which moved to a home of its own at 350 Montgomery St. in 2001. As the only full-service art and history museum in Hudson County, Jersey City Museum has strengthened ties throughout the arts community and welcomed thousands of residents to experience its large collection of contemporary art and historical artifacts.
Jersey City’s long history has contributed greatly to its enduring influence. One area that stands out is the city’s role in sports – baseball, in particular. It is fitting that a place as diverse as Jersey City is where baseball’s color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson in 1939. A story in this issue provides a rundown of some of the most important highlights in the city’s baseball history. Future issues will cover other sports.
While Jersey City’s colorful past has cemented its place in history, the next generation of Jersey City leaders has been influenced by the city’s ongoing revitalization. In this issue, we talk to three new graduates from Jersey City’s colleges to find out on whose shoulders the city’s future rests.
If these three young people are any indication, Jersey City is already set to continue its advance toward greatness – and to influence yet another generation with a distinctive blend of culture, commerce, and community.