About

In 1942, The Westside Community Center was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey as the successor to the Urban League. Rev. John Ashby, Lorenzo W. Harris Sr., Leonard J. Martin, and William Griffin were its founding leaders. Located on Dewitt Ave, its building was the former home of Dr. William J. Parks, a prominent African-American doctor in the community.

The organization was dedicated to the promotion of the moral, spiritual, physical, social, and mental welfare of Asbury Park’s Westside, a predominately African-American community.

Since 2022, Wcc Historic Restoration Association Inc. has taken on ownership of the Westside Community Center to improve the lives of the youth and families by providing education and resources, health and wellness, leadership and career training.

In 2023, the Westside Culture & Art Festival was launched to bring communities together in the name of love, justice and community