About a decade ago, Steve Wolfe encountered a group of teenagers from Paterson during a weekly skateboarding event he hosted in Midland Park. Wolfe, the founder of the nonprofit SOLID Foundation, was deeply impressed by the determination of these teens, who took two buses and walked a mile to attend the event. Moved by their dedication, Wolfe began carpooling with them, learning about their struggles and untapped talent during the rides.
In June, Wolfe began relocating his nonprofit to a new home in an old industrial building at 39 Governor Street in Paterson’s 1st Ward. Since obtaining nonprofit status in 2014, SOLID had operated out of five different locations. However, the organization’s stability has improved significantly thanks to substantial community-based violence intervention grants from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, totaling $293,537 in 2023 and $499,945 in 2024.
The funds are being used for SOLID’s Pushing For Peace program, which combines periodic events and weekly anti-violence workshops for individuals aged 11 to 25 from Paterson’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods. Skateboarding serves as a draw to engage city youths in the program.
“When we asked our community of skaters how they see kids escaping these dangerous situations, the most common answer was opportunity,” Wolfe said. “Everything we do at SOLID is to give kids opportunities to be inspired, feel supported, and connect with community and resources.”
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