The mission of the Jersey City Public Schools' Joint Activities Program is to provide elementary-level in grades five and six opportunities to interact with children of diverse cultures that comprise their city. The program integrates cultural awareness with the sharing of new and meaningful field trip experiences. The goal for district students is to realize that, despite cultural differences, the similarities they share as city residents and as human beings are most important.

Since it's inception in 1980, the Jersey City Public Schools' Joint Activities Program has served over 28,000 children with more than 800 teachers participating. During the past 28 years the program has enabled students to come together with opportunities to discover, learn and enjoy the natural environment.

Mike Vazquez has been co-coordinator of the Joint Activities Program and MVP for the past fourteen years. He has managed the program budget and web site, taught effectively during field trips to the New Jersey School of Conservation, and has supplied many of the ideas and solutions that make the program achieve as it does.

As he leaves with his wife, Rachel, and sons Aiden and Owen for a new life in England, all of us, the kids, teachers, advisory board members, and co-workers at Central Office wish him the very best.

“And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.”

Paul McCartney