About Us

OUR MISSION

PRAB’s mission is to equip diverse individuals and families in Central New Jersey to achieve personal, family, and community development.

WHO WE ARE

PRAB is a comprehensive human services organization that offers early childhood, youth, family, and community services to over 25,000 individuals and families annually in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, and Central New Jersey.

We’ve come a long way from 1971, when a group of Puerto Rican/Latino volunteers provided English classes to recently arrived Latinos, and assisted them with securing a high school equivalency diploma. By 1974, we were running state-funded ESL and GED programs, and were operating New Jersey’s first full-time, bilingual/multicultural Daycare Center for children, ages 2 ½ to 5.

Today, we’re a “one-stop shop” that helps diverse Central New Jersey residents identify their assets and abilities, and strengthen themselves, their families, and their community. As the Community Action Agency for Middlesex County West (since 2009), we also address issues of poverty to change people’s lives, bring hope, and improve our local communities.

Click HERE to learn more about PRAB.

OUR VISION

PRAB’s vision is that Central New Jersey is a healthy, diverse community with productive, self-sufficient and socially-responsible individuals and families

HEALTHY

A healthy Central New Jersey will work to improve the social fabric of the society and its members.

 

DIVERSE

Its diverse communities will be welcoming, respectful, and compassionate, and draw from and share their multicultural & multilingual talents and resources.

PRODUCTIVE

Its productive individuals and families will develop personally and professionally, and effectively access and use community services and resources.

SELF-SUFFICIENT

Its self-sufficient individuals and families will take care of themselves, do well in school and work, and maintain stable residences.

SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE

Its socially-responsible individuals and families will work with others to improve conditions in their communities.

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for more about

PRAB’s PURPOSE

Our Service Delivery Approach

WE ARE...RADIANT!

Responsive

We are a bona fide community partner and devoted advocate, speaking on behalf of people whose needs may otherwise go unmet due to social, cultural, linguistic, economic, and other factors.

Age-AppropritaTE

We engage and involve people of all age groups in programs and services that take into account their personal developmental levels.

DEVELOPMENTAL

We help individuals and families develop their assets and abilities through participation in program and community efforts.

INNOVATIVE

We create programs and services that effectively meet the present and future needs of the individuals and families in the community.

ACTION-ORIENTED

We empower individuals and families to be involved in community life and to help others in their individual and family growth.

NURTURING

We strive to understand Central New Jersey’s diverse cultures, challenges, and collective desire to succeed, and provide our services in a multicultural, bilingual environment

TRANSFORMATIVE

We maintain learning environments and collaborative spaces to ensure continuous and lasting improvements in the community.

OUR TRUSTEES

PRAB’s 12-member Board of Trustees governs our affairs, and provides oversight and guidance to the CEO. The Board includes equal numbers of elected officials, representatives of low-income individuals & families, and private sector representatives. Our current Trustees are:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Chairperson

Kenny Obeso

Private Sector Rep
Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley

Private Sector Rep
Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley
Vice Chairperson

Shanel Y. Robinson

Elected Official
Commissioner Director
Somerset County Board of Commissioners

Elected Official
Commissioner Director
Somerset County Board of Commissioners
Treasurer

Tania Lopez

Private Sector Rep
Branch Manager
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Private Sector Rep
Branch Manager
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Secretary

Camilla Comer-Caruthers

Low-Income Representative
Manager
Community Health Education
Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital

Low-Income Representative
Manager
Community Health Education
Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital
Member

José Abreu

Low-Income Representative
Senior Staff Attorney
Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc.

Low-Income Representative
Senior Staff Attorney
Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc.
Member

Gurpreet Bal

Private Sector Rep
Head of Enterprise and Solution Architecture
Guardian Life

Private Sector Rep
Head of Enterprise and Solution Architecture
Guardian Life
Member

Elsie Foster

Elected Official
Mayor
Highland Park

Elected Official
Mayor
Highland Park
Member

Dr. Brenita Mitchell

Low-Income Representative
Founder and Board President
Healing Waters Global Inc.

Low-Income Representative
Founder and Board President
Healing Waters Global Inc.
Member

Shanti Narra

Elected Official
Deputy Commissioner
Middlesex County Board of Commissioners

Elected Official
Deputy Commissioner
Middlesex County Board of Commissioners
Member

Jason Oliveira

Elected Official
Council Member
Borough of South River

Elected Official
Council Member
Borough of South River
Member

Carlos Roman

Private Sector Rep
Operations Manager
Gaby’s Bakery Inc.

Private Sector Rep
Operations Manager
Gaby’s Bakery Inc.
Member

Evelyn Rosa

Low-Income Representative
Director
Middlesex College

Low-Income Representative
Director
Middlesex College

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

PRAB’s Executive Team provides leadership, direction, and management of the organization’s affairs. It also works closely with the Board of Trustees, and partners with a diverse management staff team. Our current Executive Team members are:

Chief Executive Officer

JOSÉ CARLOS MONTES, MDIV

Email: jmontes@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x101

Email: jmontes@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x101
Chief Program Officer

NAKIA MARSHALL

Email: nmarshall@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x140

Email: nmarshall@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x140
Chief Financial Officer

CAROL LARRES

Email: clarres@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x138

Email: clarres@prab.org
Tel: (732) 832-7535 x138

JOIN OUR CAUSE

As long as poverty, injustice & inequality persist, none of us can truly rest. It doesn’t take much to change a life. Get in touch today and start making a difference.