For more than a decade Erich Sekel, associate director of campus ministry for community service at Saint Peter’s University, volunteered his time at Rebuilding Together Jersey City (RTJC). RTJC is a local affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to repairing the homes of people in need. Sekel not only invested his time, but he also got countless Saint Peter’s students involved in supporting the organization’s mission to repair homes, revitalize communities and rebuild lives.
Saint Peter’s student volunteers along with Erich Sekel (center) working with Rebuilding Together in 2017.
This is why Sekel could not stand idly by when the Jersey City chapter faced being shut down in 2017 due to the fact that a majority of the board members planned to retire. Sekel, who served on the board, but had little experience running the chapter, knew the value the non-profit brought to the community. He volunteered to take on the role of board chairman to secure the affiliate’s future in Jersey City; however he could only keep it going with the participation of the Saint Peter’s alumni who volunteered with the group when they were students.
Charles Weening ’17 is one of the Saint Peter’s alumni who currently serves on the RTJC Board.
“I first volunteered with RTJC when I was a Saint Peter’s student at Saint Peter’s,” explained Weening. “I took the #10 bus through Kennedy Blvd to school and would read The Wall Street Journal. I remember specifically reading an article about a study that showed low-income communities advance the best when their living space is improved. My first time volunteering as a student with RTJC was especially impactful. I was serving communities that I would pass everyday on my commute.”
Weening was asked to join the RTJC Board given his experience in accounting. “The Jersey City Jesuits instilled in me the importance of using personal talents to make the world a better place. The blend of professional experience and a service-based faith enables me to help drive the community forward,” Weening explains.
Currently five additional members of the Saint Peter’s alumni community serve on the RTJC Board, including Victor Badaracco ’13, Edward Daniel ’14, Damaris Medina ’13, Andrew Mernar ’13 and Timothy Mernar ’14. Former RTJC Board members and Saint Peter’s alumni include Cassandra Iverson ’14, Will Ryan ’15 and Venny Jean Turner ’13.
Erich Sekel (center) being presented with the Rebuilding Together Volunteer of the Year award.
RTJC has helped countless Jersey City residents that have faced losses due to natural disasters. This year Haven, a youth respite in Jersey City, lost their hot water heater, boiler and office space in their basement during Hurricane Ida. RTJC took on the project and essentially saved the non-profit.
The success of the RTJC affiliate has not gone unnoticed. Recently, Sekel’s efforts were recognized by Rebuilding Together National when he was selected as “Volunteer of the Year” out of all of the 120 affiliates across the country. He was presented with the award at a ceremony in Philadelphia in November 2021.
According to Rebuilding Together National, “Through Erich’s leadership and ingenuity, especially faced with challenges the pandemic presented, Rebuilding Together Jersey City was still able to move the mission forward, safely helping those in need. Erich orchestrated working on fewer locations, carefully directing personnel, and spent more time and resources on those homes to achieve the most needed, in-depth renovation projects possible. Along the way, he kept in touch with the neighbors, assuring the work would be completed and got it done. Erich also serves as the associate director of campus ministry for community service at Saint Peter’s University. He has been a model of encouragement to students, expanding the culture of service, community engagement and action at the University. His influence is evident in the fact that many of the Rebuilding Together Jersey City board members are his former students.”
To learn more about Rebuilding Together Jersey City or to get involved visit RTJC’s website.